📚 NANCY DREW📓
in
🎠SNOW MYSTERY🎠
by Ann ♪
~A Nancy Drew Fanfic~
Chapter Five
Staying upright even as someone bumped into her, Nancy’s mind was more on the mystery than the danger from a possible fire. There might not even be a fire, just the alarms. Plus, things happen sometimes that isn’t perpetrated by bad guys. However, Nancy sensed that this was instigated by whomever was behind the other crimes.
Nearer to the door the shoving had gotten amped up. Jostled almost violently, Ned frowned and moved steadily to get to the exit of the dining area. His strong hand was wrapped protectively around Nancy’s. It almost seemed like some of the people were trying forcibly to separate people. Ned wasn’t about to let that happen and neither was Nancy.
A glance to the left, Nancy could see one of the pushy people. A woman with anger on her face reached out and shoved Nancy unprovoked. Was it panic and confusion of where the exit was? Nancy had her doubts. It seemed to be personal, but Nancy had never seen the woman before.
With the hand that wasn’t holding tightly to Ned’s, Nancy slipped her phone out of her pocket and tried to surreptitiously snap a shot. She didn’t really want the angry woman to see her taking a picture, and with the focus on Nancy, it would be difficult to conceal.
The usually very patient Ned was starting to lose his temper at the pushing by a few individuals. He prayed his parents had gotten out of there. He had been trying to keep watch, but when he almost got tripped, they weren’t in his line of vision. As he regained his balance and continued on, his hand still clasped with his girlfriend’s, he caught sight of his parents. They weren’t too far away and Ned could see they were all right.
The restaurant hadn’t been over full, but it definitely seemed as though there were suddenly more people in the dining area than before, including staff. Nancy’s detective instincts picked up on that detail, highlighting it and mentally gathering it to be revisited in her thoughts later.
When Nancy and Ned finally escaped the crowd once they were outside, they spotted Ned’s parents. A brief powwow brought about the decision to find out what had happened then do some sightseeing before the snow presented itself as the clouds above and chill in the air were indicating.
After speaking with members of the police and fire department, they learned that it had been a false alarm. No fire had actually been seen, but the rush to get outside had nearly caused some casualties.
“That makes me think about how some cause alarm about a non-problem and ignore important stuff. People need to have their priorities straight.” Ned glanced over at those standing around. Some of them had acted intelligently while others definitely had failed to do that.
Nancy saw Emmie McCabe talking with the fire chief and hurried to talk with her once they’d finished discussing the situation. Once Nancy introduced herself, her boyfriend, and his parents, she cut right to the chase.
“I think these acts of sabotage are all connected as well. We couldn’t help but overhear your conversation in the restaurant. Ned and I were the two visitors who interrupted the vandals yesterday evening.”
“Well, thank you!” Emmie beamed at Nancy and Ned. “That took guts.”
Nancy went on to tell her about her suspicions about the fire alarm and showed her the picture she’d taken of one of the pushy patrons in the restaurant. Emmie shook her head as she looked at Nancy’s phone.
“No, I’ve never seen her before. And I know pretty much everyone in Hopeville.”
“I already sent the picture to my Dad to see if he could get an ID,” Nancy told her.
Emmie thanked her and told them more about the ousted councilwoman, Miranda Hamm, who’d attempted to remove religious connections to the upcoming Chanukah and Christmas holidays.
“She acted like a jerk before she was a councilwoman. Then once she was in there, she was even worse.”
When Emmie found out they were going on the tour of the town, there were several places she suggested. She had things to get done or she would have offered to show them around.
With a promise to talk with her more later, the couples from River Heights started on their tour of the town. Ned’s parents told them about the history of Hopeville. The residents were made up of people from all over the world, all American. It wasn’t a perfect town, because there isn’t such a thing, and they’d had their share of ups and downs. There was, however, a portion of residents of all ages who were serious about protecting their rights of freedom promised to them in the United States Constitution. To be safe required being brave enough to fight.
People of Hopeville weren’t all the same shade of skin, and they were smart, realizing that didn’t matter. For the most part, the town’s citizens looked out for each other in good times and bad. They didn’t all go to the same house of worship and that was theirs to choose.
As they walked along, Nancy spotted something in the town park that she’d been interested in as soon as Ned had told her about it when they’d first started talking about the town. “There’s the carousel!” She looked at it in little girl delight. She’d watched the video of it quite a few times. “It’s even better in person.”
Due to the inclement weather, it wasn’t running right then, but Nancy really hoped it would during their stay. The horses were almost lifelike as they stood poised for the gallant prancing they appeared ready to begin. Fancy designs and filigree decorated the carousel along the border and base as well as around the mirrors in the center. Nancy could easily imagine the music that would play when the ride was in motion.
Ned squeezed Nancy’s hand gently and grinned. “Hopefully the weather will allow for it very soon. Then as soon as it is running, we’ll be here.”
“Sounds like a great plan to me.” Nancy smiled back.
They continued walking on the cleared sidewalks. The air was chilly and the sun was shining.
“This shop has beautifully designed pieces of jewelry,” said Ned’s mom as they continued checking out the various places. The shop she referred to wasn’t very big in comparison to some, but you sensed the draw it held, even just seeing the name of it, Jewels of Light.
Stepping inside they were greeted warmly by the shop owners. After reciprocating, they began to peruse the fine items available. Both the owners and customers enjoyed the time spent discussing the finely crafted jewelry, life, the universe and anything else they wanted to.
************
That evening in the suite, Nancy sat on the sofa, quietly deep in thought after talking with her dad about the attacks in Hopeville. Both she and Carson had a feeling that the attack on her and Ned on the way there had a connection to what was going on with the town. Nancy played with the bracelet purchased from what she decided was her favorite shop there, Jewels of Light. There were other ones she also liked, but that one she enjoyed the most. As she mentally went over the case in her head, her blue eyes studied the gold bracelet with the natural sapphires shining from the delicate setting. Intricately detailed, it was sturdy and well made by an artisan from Shimron Valley. Nancy loved it and where it was from, Israel, for much more reason than because one of her favorite chocolates came from there.
She looked around the suite as she thought over things. As her eyes focused on one area, she decided to step out onto the balcony to enjoy the view even though it was pretty much dark out and more than a little chilly. Nancy went over to the double glass sliding doors that led onto a balcony. She opened the curtains then one of the doors. The cold of the December evening could be felt immediately, but it didn’t deter her from stepping onto the balcony.
The panoramic view was spectacular with the sparkling lights decorating buildings and beautiful trees. Reasons to like the town kept expanding. The clear, velvety sky provided a perfect backdrop to accentuate the numerous stars twinkling happily.
As Nancy gazed upward, her heart’s prayers were given on wings of faith. No matter what, she knew they were always heard.
Just about to turn and leave, she smiled as she felt familiar, loving arms come around her. Her contented sigh made Ned smile.
“Guess who, Detective.” His deep voice thrilled her.
“I just have no idea.”
“Isn’t it too cold out here without a coat?”
“Not anymore.” Nancy turned and put her arms around Ned and sighed again with contentment as she laid her head on his chest.
“Don’t need a coat.”
“Oh?”
“That’s right.”
“Okay,” he chuckled.
“Mmmm, you smell wonderful, but then again that’s nothing unusual.”
Ned grinned and hugged her good. He agreed it didn’t feel cold out there anymore.
Ned and Nancy stayed like that for a while. Then they decided it would be a good idea to start a conversation.
“Do you have the mystery solved yet?” whispered Ned quietly, his lips against her head.
“Not quite.” She went back to what she’d been thinking over right before Ned had entered the picture very, very nicely. “But I have been thinking about it more than a little bit.”
“I suspected that.”
~ CHECK BACK FOR CHAPTER SIX! ~
Hardy and Drew Mysteries 