Nancy Clue Mysteries 3 - A Ghost in the Closet (2 page)

As always for Miss Lily Bee and for Miss Coco, who will be sadly missed

Special thanks to Leasa Burton for her keen editing skills and buckets of gratitude to my sweet boy chums for their generosity, grace and wit Tom Metz Donald Smith Chuck Stallard

Prologue

"I can hardly wait to get home and show Father all the exciting new French detective techniques we learned while on our vacation!" Joe Hardly said eagerly. The dark-haired, muscular lad, one half of the crime fighting team known far and wide as the Hardly boys, leaned against the rail of the majestic Queen Mary and gazed at the wide expanse of blue water all around them. In two days, they would arrive in New York Harbor, catch a speedy train to their beloved hometown of Feyport, Illinois, and be reunited with their parents, world-famous detective Fennel P. Hardly and his wife, Mrs. Hardly. Although Joe had had a swell time on their six-week jaunt through Europe, the tousled-haired lad was eager to get back home and resume his exciting life as a famous boy detective.

"Are you as anxious as I am to get back to work?" Joe asked his older brother Frank as he took a stick of cherry gum from the pocket of his baby blue cardigan-style overshirt in washable rayon and popped it in his mouth.

"I'm fit and rested and ready to go," Frank replied with a smile as he ran a hand through his thick, closecropped blond hair, then slipped a cable-knit tennis sweater over his head. His cruise-wear outfit of white cotton sunburst-print clamdigger trousers and matching top was just the ticket for a sundrenched day aboard ship, but now that the sun was setting, the boy detective was getting mighty chilled!

"Oh, I do hope Father's got a good mystery brewing for us. After all that sightseeing, I sure am anxious for some real action!" Frank said wistfully.

"Father's probably embroiled in a new case this very minute," Joe cried. "Why, I bet as soon as we get home, we'll be pulled into an exciting adventure!"

CHAPTER 1

"Stop, Thief! "

"I'm sorry, son, you'll have to let me examine the contents of your pockets before I can let you in the auditorium," a man in a trim blue uniform ordered as he kept his eyes on the crowd and grabbed hold of Midge Fontaine's arm, preventing her from entering the Lake Merrimen Auditorium, a civic center in the heart of the bustling resort town that had been host to many an exciting event, from square dances to pie contests, but none so thrilling as the annual Dog Show.

Midge squirmed out of the man's grasp and resolutely crossed her arms over her strong chest. "No one goes through my pockets," she cried angrily, thinking to herself, "except for my girlfriend Velma!"

"If I don't search you, you can't go inside," the officer shot back as he studied Midge's trouser pockets suspiciously.

Girl detective Nancy Clue pushed past her chum. "Officer, what's the problem?" she asked politely.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Nancy Clue!" the man exclaimed as he recognized the famous girl sleuth known far and wide for her keen detective work and fashionable outfits. Today, Nancy was attired in a darling blue and white checkered raincoat and matching hat, and had navy blue rubber boots on her petite feet.

"Here on a case, eh, Miss Clue?" the man smiled knowingly.

"That's right, officer," Nancy played along. If truth be told, she and her chums, the newlywed Midge Fontaine and Velma Pierce, and her own date, Cherry Aimless, Registered Nurse, were there for a frolicsome day amid canine competition and not hot on the trail of a new mystery.

"We're going to miss the beginning of the Obedience Trials," Midge groaned as she peeked inside and saw that, although it was still early on a rainy Saturday morning, the civic center was already teeming with dog lovers dressed in snappy sports outfits, anxious to partake of the festivities promised for that day. "If we don't hurry there's not going to be any place left to sit," she pointed out. The annual canine contest was one of the most eagerly anticipated affairs in the gay resort town, coming as it did in the middle of a typically quiet Illinois summer, and no one was as pleased to see the sights as Midge Fontaine, a dog lover through and through.

A shock of recognition crossed the officer's face as he got a closer look at Midge. She was a muscular girl with closecropped blond hair and a strong jaw, which at that moment was set in a scowl. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you straight off, Frank," the man waved them through, adding, "Chief O'Malley sure will be glad to know his favorite boy detective is back in town."

"Thanks," Midge replied with a grin. Since she and her chums had arrived in the small Midwestern town of River Depths ten days ago to help girl detective Nancy Clue solve the baffling mystery of The Case of the Good-For-Nothing Girlfriend, the handsome girl had been mistaken over and over again for a boy. And not just any fellow, but the celebrated detective Frank Hardly, a clean-cut lad with a sensible nature and a keen eye whose daring exploits had made him as much a household name as his feminine counterpart, Nancy Clue. The two sleuths were in fact old chums who had solved many a mystery together.

On Midge's first day in River Depths, a townswoman had taken one look at her muscular build and masculine appearance and announced to all concerned that Frank Hardly, who had been vacationing in Europe with his brother Joe, was back in town. Midge had done nothing to correct the woman's mistaken impression, and had in fact enjoyed the little charade.

"Being Frank is fun," Midge thought as she and her group hastily strode past the guard and lost themselves in the crowd. "Why are they searching people at the door?" Midge wondered aloud. She had never been to a dog show with so much security!

"Myra Meeks is exhibiting her prize-winning poodle today," Nancy said with a chuckle, "and her husband, Judge Meeks, has probably called in the police to make sure her Precious isn't stolen."

At the mention of the town's meanest matron, Midge made a face. Since their arrival in Illinois, the girls had had many an unpleasant encounter with the worrisome woman. "I hope we don't run into her today," Midge groaned. She checked her watch. "Let's catch the end of the Obedience Trials," she suggested.

"I know you're in a hurry, Midge, but first I simply must powder my nose," Cherry insisted.

While her girlish chums ducked into the ladies' lounge, Midge waited nearby with her face buried in the dog show program.

Five minutes later Midge checked her watch and frowned. The Parade of Hounds would begin soon, followed by the Toy Dogs Procession in which miniature animals were wheeled around the center ring on specially built carts.

"Honey, we're going to miss the best parts," Midge pleaded through the cheery pink door of the lounge, but there was no reply. "They're probably doing their hair," she realized. She ran a hand through her own short, masculine hairstyle, which required little more than a quick combing and an application of hair preparation.

"Velma, let's go," she cried. Golly, they were missing the opening remarks from experts in the field. As a devoted dog lover, Midge knew there were one hundred and twenty breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, and the stories of these dogs were filled with heroism and humor, delightful anecdotes and high adventure-and she didn't want to miss one little bit!

Midge felt a sudden tug at her elbow. "Pardon me, young man," a soft voice said politely. Midge whirled around to find a slender elderly woman dressed in an impeccably tailored lightweight navy blue suit with a prim lace collar and starched white cuffs standing behind her. Tucked under each arm was a miniature teacup poodle the exact color of her nicely coifed gray hair. The woman peered at Midge through hornrimmed glasses, with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Er-I'm just waiting for my wife," Midge explained weakly. "She and her friends went in to fix their hair." Midge was telling the truth, for just last week in a touching ceremony sure to be remembered by all, she and her longtime love Velma had been united in marriage.

The woman smiled sympathetically, then nodded at the program in Midge's hand and said, "Would you be a dear and tell me where the petite poodles are being housed? I have a program in my purse," she went on, indicating the worn yet still good black clutch under one arm, "but my hands are too full to retrieve it. I do so want to win this year," she confided as Midge leafed through her program detailing the 1959 Lake Merrimen Dog Show. "If I can only keep Pierre and Patsy calm until show time, one of them is sure to win Best of Show in their breed!" The woman's friendly brown eyes lit up in delight as she dreamt of the shiny trophy awaiting the top pet poodle.

Midge thought that the handsome pets were sure to impress the judges, and told her so. The woman flushed with excitement at the kind words. "I'm Miss Penelope Parsnips, but everyone calls me Miss Pansy," she offered. "It's an old family nickname," she explained. "I'm the local librarian, and while you could say books are my business, poodles are my passion!"

"I'm-" Midge began, but the excited woman cut her off. "Oh, everyone knows who you are," Miss Pansy cried in delight. "I've heard about you and your brother and your expert detective work on many occasions, Frank Hardly. Your father, the world-famous detective Fennel P. Hardly, must be awfully proud that his sons are following in his footsteps to such great acclaim!"

Midge had to grin. These Hardly boys sure had a reputation!

After ascertaining the location of the event, Miss Pansy bade Midge a fond farewell. "I hope your wife comes out soon before you miss any more of today's excitement," she cried. "Be sure to come see us perform in the Pageant of Poodles."

Midge took the pencil she had tucked behind her ear and made a bold check next to the one o'clock show. In the margin, she wrote the names Pierre and Patsy. Midge's keen eye told her Miss Pansy's pet poodles were top notch.

"One sees more poodles in dog acts than all other breeds combined," Midge was fascinated to read as she browsed through her catalog. A feminine giggle interrupted her. It was her girlfriend, the vivacious Velma Pierce, and she had brushed her short, dark curly locks until they shone. Right behind her was Nancy, who had shed her raincoat to reveal a crisp shirtwaist cinched with a slender belt, in the prettiest blue that set off her shiny titian locks to their best advantage, and her date Cherry, similarly attired in a smart shirtwaist of the palest yellow and carrying a white patent-leather clutch purse.

Midge sighed with relief and jammed her program into the back pocket of her rumpled men's trousers. She did her best to look annoyed.

"I'm sorry we took so long," Velma exclaimed as she gave her patient girlfriend a kiss. Midge's frown immediately turned into a big grin.

"I'm afraid it's all my fault," Cherry admitted. "While I was powdering my nose I noticed a girl wearing the cute cornflower blue uniform of a Veterinarian Nurse, and I just had to ask her a few pertinent questions about her exciting profession." If truth be told, the conversation had done Cherry a world of good. Although she was greatly enjoying her stay in this lovely Midwestern town, she had to admit she was a little lonesome for the hustle and bustle of the big city hospital that had, until three weeks ago, been her whole world.

Until her recent adventure brought her to Illinois, Nurse Cherry Aimless had been a happily overworked Ward Nurse specializing in women with nervous disorders at Seattle General Hospital. During a visit to San Francisco to see her Aunt Gertrude, she had been caught up in the exciting Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse, where she had met her longtime idol, detective Nancy Clue, and Midge and Velma, too! That simple vacation had turned into the adventure of a lifetime, for not only had Cherry helped rescue a convent of kidnapped nuns, she had also fallen deeply and truly in love with her favorite girl detective!

Only days later, the chums had been swept up in their most recent mystery, the dramatic Case of the Good-For-Nothing Girlfriend, which had proven to be their scariest adventure ever! Helpful housekeeper Hannah Gruel, who had been like a mother to Nancy Clue since the death of her real mother many years ago, had been charged with killing Nancy's father, famous attorney Carson Clue!