📚 NANCY DREW📓
in
🎠SNOW MYSTERY🎠
by Ann ♪
~A Nancy Drew Fanfic~
Chapter Eleven
Nancy, Ned, his parents, and a number of Hopeville’s residents were very busy making preparations for the evening’s festivities and surprises. Miranda would be pleased if she were to know how much time and focus were spent on her. However, what was being thought and the reason for it she wouldn’t like, especially since she liked to lie to herself and assumed everyone’s opinion of her matched her own elevated one.
“Nan, you’re not going to believe the car they found. It needs some quick tweaks, but it’s going to do the trick.” Ned grinned like a happy little boy. “And Dad said it would be ready to do even if he has to work right through the banquet.”
“Awesome! I’ll try to make sure he gets something to eat while he’s working.” Nancy looked at her notes. “Timing is going to be very important. As soon as Miranda arrives, the valet, Ed Wallace, Jr., will park her car in the previously determined spot. Then, well, I think we’re in for an entertaining evening.”
“Good intel can make a big difference. Between what we’ve learned from the townspeople, along with what we’ve gathered and what the Dana sisters found out, that inspired and fueled your ideas.”
“And yours. Don’t give me all the credit, Ned, you deserve it just as much as me.”
“That’s one of the many things I like about you, Drew.” Ned smiled lovingly at her. “You’re not greedy for recognition.”
A lingering kiss followed then the couple went back to putting the finishing touches on the plans they were working toward implementing. Nancy and Ned knew that even a small number of people could get a lot accomplished in a very short amount of time when plenty of energy is put toward the worthwhile goal.
************
Nancy felt the adrenaline and excitement build in anticipation to the evening as it got closer. She went over details in her head and with the Nickersons. She’d already called Phil back and the Boomerang had been okayed and installed. The somewhat duplicate car, close enough for what was planned, was hidden and ready to go. Unknown to Nancy, Ned, Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson, and the residents of Hopeville, there was another warrior watching and waiting to help when needed. The mysterious rider from Arizona, who’d already stopped one murder attempt, sensed more danger coming in. He’d found a good spot to focus his steely blue gaze from. There was no way to know exactly how things were going to go that evening, so it paid to be prepared for anything.
************
“Ned, your dad wants us to meet him where the car is hidden. He said he’d be ready for showtime at the right time. Your mom is already at the banquet and monitoring the cameras,” Nancy told her boyfriend once he’d jogged up to her after putting the finishing touches on some of the tasks related to their strategic plans.
“I have to admit, I’m really looking forward to this, particularly the poetic justice. So are my mom and dad. The people of Hopeville, unlike Miranda, are nice, hard-working, and decent.” Ned’s dark eyes sparked with the righteous indignation he felt for the people. Miranda had caused so many problems and hopefully tonight they would be able to stop her ongoing attacks. “Okay, let’s go meet up Dad.”
Nancy and Ned walked quickly to the parking lot at the restaurant where the banquet was being held. Ned’s dad was finishing up as they arrived at the car.
“All set, with a couple of minutes to spare.” Ned’s handsome dad grinned. When he’d bravely and expertly served in the United States Marine Corps, he’d trained for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD. His knowledge in that field of expertise was also coming in handy for the plans to stop Miranda. He was happy to help. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
“We’ll be able to see exactly when Miranda’s ride gets here. I just got notified that her jet landed. When she arrives here and Ed parks her car, he will let us know. Then we’ll move things into action once whoever Miranda has put the ‘surprise’ in Emmie’s car does so. No one has been near it yet. I’ve been monitoring some of the cameras,” stated Nancy. She and Ned’s mom had the apps open on their phones to keep watch on things and be ready. A few others did as well, with the agreement to text each other if anything needed attention and keep interested parties up-to-date. “With the two vandals in jail who were going to put the nasty ‘surprise’ in Emmie’s car, Miranda could have scratched that, but much more likely she’ll probably get someone else to do it.”
“Just about showtime.” Ned glanced again at the time on his phone. “The Hopeville Airport isn’t far from here.”
“Let’s go take our places.” Nancy slipped her arm around Ned’s left arm on one side and Ned’s dad on the other. “I think we’re as prepared as possible.” That preparation included some necessary prayer.
************
Miranda arrived with an entourage and the valet accepted the keys she handed to him as she got out of her car like she was a celebrity.
“I’ll park your car right over there.” Ed Wallace, Jr., gestured toward a parking space where it would have plenty of room. “Nice and safe, lotsa space on both sides.” He grinned and waited as she looked to where he’d indicated. “If you want, even though this is a packed event, with the right incentive, I could make sure I don’t park any other cars near your very nice vehicle.”
“Hmmm. Alright.” Miranda stuck her hand in her purse and when she drew it back out her hand clutched a rectangular item. “How about this gift card? I probably wouldn’t have used it anyway.”
“Thank you.” He took the $25 gift card and strode toward her car. “Your car will be waiting for you.”
After that, Miranda swept into the restaurant with an air about her that shouted she was extremely impressed with herself. She nodded to people and acted like they were her subjects who lived only to do her bidding.
“Hi, I’m Nancy Drew. We talked on the phone-,” Nancy just barely had a chance to introduce herself before Miranda started talking loudly.
“Oh yes! You’re the one who begged me for an interview!”
Nancy didn’t remember that, probably because that’s not what actually happened. She didn’t interrupt Miranda, though, because Nancy wanted her to talk as much as possible. The purpose being for Miranda to incriminate herself with her own words and to let people see more of what’s she’s really like.
“You’re very lucky, Cassie,” Miranda told Nancy while possibly intentionally getting her name wrong. “You’ll have a lot to write about very soon.” Miranda swept up toward the main table.
Nancy exchanged a look with Ned. Yep, letting her talk promised to be helpful for their investigation.
Miranda spotted Emmie and went over to her, wanting to annoy her.
“You’ve always had it in for me. You must be very miserable that I’m here.”
“I’ll leave being miserable to the experts, and defer to you for that.” Emmie smiled her perky smile, while her eyes flashed.
“You just can’t stand it that I’ve come back.”
“What an appropriate description. Same definition for your being here and indigestion.” Emmie’s smile didn’t waver.
Miranda glared at her then got a self satisfied look on her face. “I think things will be much different around here soon.”
Anyone who was close enough to hear it didn’t miss the ominous tone.
“I just sent a text to my pilot here at the airport. I told him I’d been staying here and what’s more, everyone will want me to.”
“Why do you use a personal jet when you think everyone else shouldn’t even use any fuel to get to school, work, places of worship, health facilities, stores, or vacations? You expect others to sacrifice, but not yourself?” Emmie asked, while she rolled her eyes.
Miranda looked pinched and angry, but she didn’t really have the grace to be embarrassed. “You always accuse me of stuff like that.”
“Only when it’s true.”
“It’s offensive.”
Emmie nodded. “You can say that again.”
If possible, Miranda looked even more pinched and angry, stomping away without saying anything else. When she got to the main table, where she was to be seated, she looked at the others about to sit down. She informed them with a haughty tone and a matching expression, “I need more seats.” She indicated her posse, which was more in number than she had previously said she would be bringing.
With some quick shuffling around, and the agreement of those being moved, everyone was soon seated. Those who’d basically gotten kicked out of their seats by Miranda didn’t mind, comforted by the prospect of what the evening hopefully meant. Namely, stopping the onslaught of attacks.
Dinner itself went pretty smoothly with good food then good music from a talented band from the Hopeville High School. The good guys and girls were keeping watch, and waiting, trying to anticipate what Miranda might try.
“Oh no, she’s going to make a speech,” whispered Ned in Nancy’s ear.
Ned’s nearness thrilled Nancy and she made herself focus on the dinner activities. She looked over to where Miranda had stood up and was calling for everyone’s attention. Everyone had been enjoying the dessert of cake and having to divide attention between the delicious food and a self-serving speech by Miranda didn’t appeal to anyone there, even her entourage.
“You people are fortunate that I was taught to be forgiving and gracious. I can see by this wonderful banquet that you regret how you treated me and are humbly apologizing. It must be awful to have to feel so bad about your unfairness and other wrongs. But don’t worry, I forgive each one of you.”
Nancy thought about the fact that some people accuse others of things they themselves are guilty of. Too many politicians are notorious concerning that.
~ TAP/CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER TWELVE! ~
Hardy and Drew Mysteries 