📚 NANCY DREW📓
in
🎠SNOW MYSTERY🎠
by Ann ♪
~A Nancy Drew Fanfic~
Chapter Six
“Emmie seemed certain the vanquished councilwoman who’d given them trouble was the one behind the attacks.” Nancy paused for a moment before saying, “I have a feeling she’s right, but I don’t want to assume and miss any clue to whoever the culprit or culprits are, as the case may be.”
Her dad was seeing if he could find any connection between the driver who tried to wreck Nancy and Ned, the vandalism and stuff in Hopeville, and also the pushy woman Nancy had taken a picture of during the false fire alarm. No one she’d shown the picture to recognized her. Nancy suspected the angry stranger was there to cause trouble. She hoped her dad had info about that soon.
Nancy and Ned went back into the suite. They made some hot chocolate and sat down on the sofa, continuing to discuss what might be going on and enjoying each other’s presence.
“Earlier I did some searching and read through a bunch of Miranda’s online activity and found some interesting information that piqued my curiosity.” Nancy paused and took a tentative sip of hot chocolate. It had been too hot a minute or two ago. Now it was cooled off just enough not to burn her. “According to her various comments on a few sites, she had bought a large apartment in New York City recently and uploaded pictures of it. She shared with the world that she was currently writing what she knew would be a bestseller about her experiences in the field of politics.” Nancy looked over and rolled her eyes.
Ned chuckled. “What? You don’t think it would be engrossing reading?”
“No. Just gross. She thinks very highly of herself. I have to admit I had a headache by the time I’d sped-read on my phone just a small portion of the woman’s egotistical ravings.”
“A typical run-of-the-mill nut?” Ned asked.
“With some sinister leanings.” Nancy frowned as she contemplated the depth of Miranda’s vindictive rants. She got out her phone and looked at some of the screenshots she’d taken. Sometimes people just posted stupid things online, but there were also clues to real dangers to be found with a detective or police officer’s investigative search for the truth.
Ned asked her silently with gestures if Nancy wanted more hot chocolate. She nodded. “Please. Half a cup.”
He was back in no time with the refills.
“Thank you.” Nancy took the hot drink into her free hand. “Mmmmmm.”
“I agree.” Ned sat back down and put his arm around his girlfriend again. “You think she is spiteful, huh?”
“Very. She mocks and belittles those who dare to disagree with her. Her communication and people skills are pretty much non-existent. And she’s greedy plus a real control freak.” Nancy shook her head. “She’s the kind of politician who talks a lot about caring about women’s issues, but she really only speaks up for someone who agrees with her on everything. Her environment ideas boil down to making money on fines, particularly targeting the competition for her investments, using extortion tactics and unhelpful, control-crazed restrictions rather than any laws and actions to actually benefit the environment.”
“Doesn’t sound very impressive.”
“Nope, she’s not.” Nancy looked from Ned to her phone screen. “That tells me she’s a horrible person, but not whether she is behind the attacks on Hopeville.”
“But your instincts are yelling ‘yes, it’s her, she’s guilty!’ Right?”
“Definitely. It would be helpful to talk with her….” Getting an idea, Nancy turned to Ned. “This is the perfect time to utilize a resource. Remember the editor of River Heights Gazette told me before that anytime I needed a real cover to gather clues, I could write an article for the paper on whatever subject necessary.” She smiled in appreciation at the helpfulness of their hometown newspaper. There were other newspapers in River Heights, but the Gazette had the courage for justice. “Then all I need to do after that is to write the article. That way I can get info and not be lying.”
Ned nodded in agreement. “Smart. And it sounds like the ex-councilwoman enjoys talking about herself.” He gestured to Nancy’s phone. “You’ll probably have a hard time getting her to stop.”
Nancy laughed. “Probably so. I do enjoy it when crooks talk and brag so much that they help us out by incriminating themselves.”
After using the contact info for Miranda, Nancy requested an interview. Now all she had to do was wait.
************
It wasn’t until the next day that the ex-councilwoman called back.
“You wanted to interview me for your Illinois newspaper?” Miranda asked. She sounded like a thinks-too-much-of-herself queen doing something wonderful for someone not as important, in her own mind, as herself.
“Yes, I’ve been hearing about you and reading online, what you say on social media. I really wanted to talk with you.” Nancy told the truth. She really wanted to ask her questions for the investigation.
“Yes, I’m loved by so many. They hang on to my every word. They need someone like me to guide them. They don’t really know what’s best for them or what to think about various issues. It’s like my mission in life, my burden, if you will.”
Nancy rolled her eyes, thankful this was not a call where her face – specifically, her expressions – could be seen on the screen. “Could you tell me more about your background and your….’accomplishments’?” She did air quotes and bit back the sarcastic tone that really wanted to be heard.
“I was educated at the one of the top schools in America….” She went on to say that she earned her way into the school and claimed numerous achievements during her time there. To hear her talk, no one before her was anywhere as brilliant as she and no one would ever beat her academic records that she supposedly made.
Yes, thought Nancy, I know about that, you cheated and stole someone else’s place. The incident had mostly been covered up with money, but that was one of the things Carson had found out. Another student had their work stolen by Miranda and she received the scholarship from the pilfered paper.
As the ex-councilwoman went on and on about her favorite person, namely herself, Nancy had to jump back in the conversation and try to ask some important questions. Even though she did have unlimited talk minutes, she didn’t want them all used up by the Me-Fest Miranda was putting on.
Ned came into the room at that moment and smiled at Nancy. He sat down on the couch next to her, a favorite spot, giving her encouragement. Nancy signed to him who was on the phone and Ned nodded in understanding.
“So after my success at college, I was in much demand. Both of my parents are in politics and I know a lot of people. I had to turn down so many offers, to be a partner in a law firm, a professor, the head of a think tank, financial adviser. In all modesty, so many wanted me to share my talents and expertise with them.”
What modesty? wondered Nancy. Ned questioned that, also.
Nancy tried to steer the topic toward the town of Hopeville. “Um, you mentioned politics. What political aspirations do you have? What positions have you held?”
“Well, if you’d done your homework, you’d know I’ve been on several important committees, and recently ended a successful run as councilwoman, where they wanted me to stay and become mayor, but I felt that wasn’t expedient for my political career.”
She can really lie to people, and, if she actually believes the lies, to herself. Nancy rolled her eyes and Ned laughed silently.
“This was in Hopeville?”
“Yes. They so wanted me to stay. I could have helped the poor, misguided people so much, but I had to look at the bigger picture where I could do more good for more people.”
“Misguided? Could you tell me more?” requested Nancy for the sake of actually helping the town. This was one of those sacrificial things she did to solve a mystery.
As the ousted councilwoman painted a much different picture than what Nancy and Ned knew by their own observations, they rolled their eyes. They’d witnessed for themselves the thriving town with the talent and capabilities of the residents and those they did business with. Technology was utilized in helpful ways, taking care of the land was done with wisdom, and freedom fueled the economy.
Miranda continued telling her fantasy version. “So, you can see, with the poor financial state-“
Ned and Nancy didn’t see the actual records, but everything pointed to what Emmie had told them. The town had plenty of funds, being careful to manage it well, so the truth of the matter was that Miranda wanted the money misappropriated into her pocket.
“And their, well, naiveté and superstitious ways are in need of changing.” The politician made a scoffing, derisive sound. “Even if it meant forcing them, I was more than willing to do that. A few misinformed people attacked my ideas. You wouldn’t believe what I had to put up with. I was trying to motivate everyone to embrace other ideas than the ones they were stuck on. At a town meeting, while I was telling people that and thoughtfully asked for input, this Navajo guy had the nerve to tell me that I was motivating the town to change the name from Hopeville to LeaveMeAloneville.” She muttered about that for a while.
Nancy and Ned looked at each other and smiled. The member of the Diné aka Navajo tribe sounded very cool.
~ TAP/CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER SEVEN! ~
Hardy and Drew Mysteries 