The Stolen Kiss (15 page)

Authors: Carolyn Keene

BOOK: The Stolen Kiss

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Opening her purse, Nancy pulled out her pocketknife. “Hereâfor slashing Dr. Morrison's tires,” she told Jamie. Jamie stared at Nancy and then at the knife. Then she scrambled out of the Mustang and took off for the sports car.

Nancy headed for the airport's single runway. She reached it just as the plane began to taxi toward her. Nancy steered straight for it.

Part of Nancy knew she was acting crazy. But another part of her was infuriated with Dr. Morrison. He had the makings of a cold-blooded murderer, and Nancy was determined to stop him. The plane continued to taxi toward Nancy's Mustang, gathering speed. Nancy drove forward, sheets of rain dousing her windshield.

If the plane didn't stop, Nancy would have to veer off and let the police at the other end deal with Sanders. She decided to hold out until the last possible second. The plane bore down on her, but something inside Nancy refused to give up and turn the wheel. In another second it would be too late.

Suddenly the plane slowed, brakes squealing, water spraying out from its tires. It came to a jolting stop, nose to nose with the Mustang. Jumping out of his cockpit, the pilot shook his fists angrily.

Nancy smiled in relief when she saw the police cars zoom onto the field. The pilot bolted, but the squad car gave chase. One police car headed for her and stopped. Sergeant Weinberg leaped out. Nancy sprinted toward him and pointed out Dr. Morrison hurrying across the parking lot to his car. “That's the thief!” she told the sergeant, who started after him. “But don't worry,” Nancy said, and explained about the tires. “Jamie's hiding over there in the bushes. Maybe we'd better rescue her before Morrison spots her.”

â¢Â â¢Â â¢

“So it's a wrap-up,” Dean Jarvis said the next day after hanging
First Kiss
in its place on the museum wall. “And we have you to thank.” He beamed at Nancy.

“I had a lot of help, Dean Jarvis,” Nancy said. Standing at Nancy's side, Ned gave her hand a squeeze. Also gathered round were George, Bryan, Michael Jared, and Debbie. Nancy couldn't help but notice how Michael was looking at Debbie. And for the first time she realized Debbie bore a slight resemblance to the girl in
First Kiss.

“I'm afraid I was overly impressed by Morrison's credentials, since the Cabbott is such a major museum,” Dean Jarvis confessed. “I should have checked his references more carefully. I've learned an important lesson.”

Michael turned to Nancy. “I don't know how to thank you,” he said, staring deeply into her eyes. For exactly one second Nancy imagined that she was the girl in
First Kiss,
Michael's inspiration. Then she tore herself away and looked at Ned. He was smiling at her, his eyes filled with love. Nancy turned back to Michael. He was a handsome, fascinating man who had needed her help, but he wasn't Ned.

“What will happen now?” George asked.

“I spoke with Sergeant Weinberg a short while ago,” Nancy answered. “Dr. Morrison, Jenkins, and Sanders face criminal charges. Rina will be prosecuted, too, but the authorities are likely to be lenient because she's agreed to testify against Dr. Morrison in the earlier forgery.”

“What about Jamie?” Ned asked.

“Debbie took Jamie back to the halfway house last night,” Dean Jarvis told them.

“Mrs. Shephard is making sure Jamie gets more intensive counseling, and I told Jamie if she worked on her high school equivalency degree, she can apply to Emerson next fall,” Debbie informed them. Then she took Nancy aside a moment. “I spoke with Michael and he arranged to pay for those art supplies Jamie took.”

As the group drifted out of the museum, Nancy watched, amazed: Bryan was inviting George to a climbing trip the next weekend; Dean Jarvis had asked Debbie to temporarily take over as curator of the museum; Michael was taking Debbie to lunch to celebrate. Romance and good fortune seemed to be in the air. Nancy turned to find Ned.

“Hi, gorgeous,” he said, stepping up behind her.

She leaned back against his chest and let out a sigh. “One more case over and done with.”

“Almost. There's one detail unexplained,” Ned said as they walked into the sunshine hand in hand. “What about that EC ticket stub?”

“That bothered me, too,” Nancy admitted. “But here's my theory. When Rina stole Bryan's climbing gear, she took his windbreaker, too. He'd worn it to the EC concert.”

“And he put the ticket stub in his pocket.”

“Right. Rina wore the jacket when she skated across campusâremember the hooded figure? She must have had it on the roof. The stub fell out.”

“Brilliant, Nancy.” Ned gave Nancy a big hug. “Dean Jarvis has a lot to thank you for.”

“Actually,” Nancy said, a twinkle in her eye, “it's Michael who should be thanking me now.”

“Him again?”

“Yup,” Nancy pointed to the parking lot. Michael was climbing into Debbie's white Subaru. “I didn't just find his painting. I may have helped him find the girl of his dreams.”

Ned threw back his head and laughed. “Like I said, Drew, positively brilliant.”

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.