📚 NANCY DREW📓
in
🎠SNOW MYSTERY🎠
by Ann ♪
~A Nancy Drew Fanfic~
Chapter Eighteen
Miranda was startled the next day when Nancy and Ned showed up at her house. She hadn’t planned on being anywhere near them, not only for an alibi, but also because she didn’t have a whole lot of confidence in her cousin’s accuracy, after that whole car thing. Although, her cousin did claim she had put the explosive on Emmie’s car. Miranda still didn’t know what had happened with that.
“What do you want?” Miranda didn’t even bother to be faux polite. “You keep trying to cause me problems.”
“We wanted to ask if you think someone might be trying to frame you.” Nancy watched in amusement as Miranda reacted in surprise.
“Why, that’s very astute of you.” Miranda looked at the two of them in suspicion. “How did you come up with that?”
“Well, the evidence, statements of guilty parties, all point to you. We try to look at it from every aspect. Can we come in and talk it over?”
“I guess. It all doesn’t really concern you, though.” Miranda opened the door.
Stepping into the overdone entryway, Ned kept on alert. His dark eyes took in the ugly paintings on the walls and the furnishings in one quick glance.
“It does concern us,” stated Nancy. “We still think that there’s a connection between everything happening in Hopeville and the attack on the way here, as well as while we’ve been in town.”
“I think you have quite an imagination.” Miranda led the way into her den. Once there, she indicated the expensive couch and chairs. “Have a seat.”
Nancy and Ned sat down on a couch while Miranda stared down at them. It didn’t exactly make her guests feel very comfortable. Like she cared.
Miranda used her often-used condescending tone. “Before we discuss the frame-up, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you. You’re both religious persons, aren’t you?”
“God is important and real to us.” Nancy’s voice was even and held no apology, just matter of fact.
“Figures.” The sneer was prominent in Miranda’s comment, besides on her face. She sat down and stared again at the couple. “Do you ever nauseate yourselves?”
“Funny, I was wondering the same thing about you.” Ned felt Nancy nudge him while he was reciprocating.
“Well, Nancy, he’s not just a pretty face. How lucky for you.”
Nancy placed her hand surreptitiously on Ned’s strong forearm, calming him without words as he bristled at Miranda’s words. Nancy tried to steer the conversation back to the case. “Let’s talk about the frame-up. Who do you think is the most likely to have motive and also opportunity?”
“I just really don’t understand it. Everyone loves me.”
If Ned or Nancy had been drinking something right then, they would have had a terrible time not spitting it out from laughing.
“Can’t you think of anyone?” prompted Nancy in an encouraging tone to think harder.
“Well, Emmie, of course.” Miranda shrugged. “That’s about it.”
Nancy put a hand to her forehead for a moment and closed her eyes. Ned asked her quietly if she was okay, and Miranda overheard.
“I’m fine.” Nancy smiled reassuringly. She cleared her throat and continued discussing the possibility of a frame-up. “You’ve met and dealt with a lot of people in your public and private life. Are you certain there aren’t any other potential motives?”
As Miranda thought over people who didn’t like her, she kept looking at Nancy and Ned. They both were looking like they didn’t feel too good. Miranda’s eyes narrowed even more as Nancy again put her hand to her head very briefly. Ned sighed and appeared to sway slightly, looking like he was fighting unconsciousness. Nancy turned to her boyfriend and touched his arm. He looked into her eyes and gave a perplexed shrug.
“Where were you two before you came here?” Miranda looked at Nancy and Ned, concerned, but not for them. She didn’t feel any better when she found out they’d just been to a restaurant that happened to be one of Patricia’s favorites. Being friends with the owner made it a likely place for a fugitive like her cousin to stop by. And maybe poison a couple of the dinner patrons. Ones that Miranda had basically called a hit on.
“Have you thought of anyone else?” Nancy spoke up, waiting enough time for Miranda’s thoughts to be giving her a lot of trouble.
“Anyone else what?” Miranda’s mind was still thinking about the coincidence of what restaurant they’d eaten at and the likelihood that Patricia had put Miranda’s demands into play. She hadn’t specified how she wanted them killed. Poison was definitely a possibility.
“Anyone who might have some grudge against you,” prompted Nancy.
“Or anyone you did wrong and might want revenge.”
Miranda’s expression said she didn’t appreciate that possibility suggested by Ned. “I told you. Everyone. Loves. Me.” She smiled, but it wasn’t friendly.
“Oh, right. I remember you saying that.”
“Emmie. It has to be her.” Miranda nodded and gestured with her arm toward the doorway. “Thank you for stopping by–“
“I can’t really imagine Emmie framing you. Not her style. She tells you right to your face what she thinks of you.” Nancy appeared to be mulling it over carefully.
“That’s certainly true,” muttered Miranda.
“I…think…” Nancy paused, seemingly a little groggy. She closed her eyes a moment.
Trying not to panic, Miranda attempted to get them to go. She was beginning to suspect more and more that Patricia had poisoned Nancy and Ned before they got there. This was so not good.
“Look, why don’t you two run along and I’ll get back to you about this, hmmm?”
Nancy opened her eyes back up and shook her head. “I don’t like to sideline a theory…..without thoroughly investigating it.”
Miranda tried to sift through whether or not she could spin this potentially bad PR to her advantage, while also controlling the narrative to redirect them to Patricia. “Look, I’m starting to get very concerned that you two might have been poisoned by my cousin. You probably should go to the hospital. Now.”
“We’re fine.” Nancy brushed off the concern.
“Not too sure about that,” muttered Miranda under her breath. Well, she could say Patricia was trying to get her and got Nancy and Ned instead. That would gain sympathy for Miranda.
“Why do you think your cousin poisoned us?” Nancy watched a few different expressions cross Miranda’s face.
“Well, you know…she escaped and you two are the reason she was arrested…so….”
“Interesting theory. So it might be revenge directed at us.” Nancy noticed Ned lean back against the couch and looked over with concern at her handsome boyfriend. “Are you alright, Ned?”
“Sure.” Ned managed a smile.
Miranda was sweating. Things were not going the way she wanted.
“Do you have any idea where your cousin would go to hide?”
“We’re not that close, really, so I can’t really guess where that might be.” Miranda glanced at the time on her watch. “She has a lot of problems. We don’t really think the same.”
A voice from the hallway spoke up right then. “For which I’m happy about. That’s apparently not one of my problems.”
Miranda jumped and looked at Patricia. “How did you get in here?”
“Exactly like I did earlier.” Miranda’s cousin stepped into the large room, staring at Miranda. She glanced at Nancy and Ned. “She loves to throw me under the bus. I’ve been listening to her blame me and I’m getting tired of it.”
“That’s not true! I don’t blame you for anything.” Miranda’s voice was intoxicated with whine.
Patricia rolled her eyes. “Too late, Miranda. I do your dirty work for you and you’ll make sure I’ll take the rap for it. Your loyalty is only to yourself.”
“I’ll pay you to not kill us.”
“That’s so typical of your attitude, always assuming money will pay your way out of anything. And like you actually would, anyway.”
“Look, we can work something out.” Miranda held up her phone. “I’ll transfer funds into an account for you right now. Just don’t kill me. Um, I mean, us.” She looked over at Nancy while her cousin wasn’t watching. Miranda mouthed that she would try to humor her.
“So thoughtful of you, Miranda,” Patricia scoffed.
“I know.” Miranda tapped the screen of her phone, pretending she was working on paying off her cousin, but she had a much different plan. She also knew what angle she’d claim concerning the events she had planned to follow, one that would be to her advantage. The text she sent was short and prearranged.
It’s sooner than later. My house.
The text she received moments later was even shorter, but it said much more.
Understood.
In his apartment, Officer Jeremy sent that one word reply then began putting plans in motion.
~ TAP/CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER NINETEEN! ~
Hardy and Drew Mysteries 