034 Vanishing Act Read online

  "I'd kept wondering why Mr. Thomas insisted on making me go undercover and made me promise not to tell anyone," Nancy said. "Now I know that it was because he didn't want anyone to notice that his story and mine were so different. And now I know why everyone seemed so unfriendly that first day!"

  "Did he plant that phony package for you, too?" asked Bess.

  "Yes. Mr. Thomas—I mean Tommy—managed to drop it off without the receptionist seeing, and then picked it up when she was off making the copies he'd asked her to do. While I was trying to track it down, he wired my car stereo."

  Bess shivered. "I can't believe how lucky you were, Nan. What if you'd been driving on the freeway when that noise started up? You could have been killed!"

  "Believe me, I thought of that," Nancy said dryly. "So could a lot of other people—but Tommy didn't care about that. He's really charming."

  "What happens to him now?" George asked.

  "Well, he'll be charged with embezzlement, of course," Nancy said, "and attempted murder. You know, he's claiming there's no evidence linking him to that little scene in the preview room. He's so convincing that I'd almost believe him myself. It's lucky he spilled the beans in front of a roomful of reporters."

  "What about TVR?" Bess asked, and Dan smiled.

  "I got the news about that this morning," he said. "Winslow's—I mean Tommy's—second-in-command will take over. She's really great. And I've been promoted, too—to head veejay."

  "Congratulations!" Renee said, and she sounded as though she meant it. "That's great. It will be fun to work for you."

  She cleared her throat nervously. "Nancy, you know I owe you an apology—but at least I behaved badly to you because I thought you were out to sabotage the station. But there's another person here who deserves an apology, too. Jesse—I don't know what to say."

  "I don't, either," said Vint. "We're just really sorry, Jesse. We didn't mean to hurt you."

  "That's why I freaked out so much when I heard that you were still alive," Renee said. "I couldn't stand thinking that you'd find out I'd started seeing Vint. It seemed like one of those horribly sad movies where the hero goes to war or something, and when he gets back his girlfriend has married someone else ..." She took out a tissue and blew her nose.

  "Don't think about it," Jesse said. "It's all past tense now. You're two of my favorite people, and I'm glad you're together. Besides, my life-style for the past few years hasn't exactly been the kind of thing I'd want to make a girl share.

  "Anyway, now that I'm going back into the rock-star biz I'll have lots of money again. And I'll be able to date all kinds of incredible girls," he added teasingly—then dodged as Renee hurled a throw pillow at his head.

  "What are you planning to do, Nancy?" Renee asked.

  "Oh, we're heading home," Nancy told her.

  "You know, you don't have to leave right away," said Dan. "I found out something interesting just before I came over here. It seems that guest-veejay interview you did was a big hit. We've been getting a lot of calls about it— everyone wants to see you on TVR again. Any chance you'd consider taking a job with us?"

  "You're kidding!" Nancy gasped. "Me, a veejay? That's great! I mean, it's a great compliment. But, Dan, I'm a detective. I like being a detective. I like my life in River Heights. Thanks, though."

  "Well, couldn't the three of you stay a little longer just for a vacation?" Dan asked. "As head veejay, I have an even bigger expense account now. I'd be more than happy to put you up at the hotel a little longer. And I could make some time to show you the sights, too."

  Nancy looked at Bess and George. They all shook their heads.

  "It's a tempting offer. Maybe we could take you up on it in a couple of months. But I want to go home for now," George said. "All I seem to do is sit in cars here."

  "I'd love to come back here someday, but I want to go home, too," said Bess. "But I'll watch you every day, Dan. And Jesse, I expect you to write at least one song about all this."

  He smiled at her. "It'll be dedicated to you, Bess," he said, and Bess giggled happily.

  "I have to go home, too," said Nancy. "I miss Ned too much—and besides, there are sure to be other cases waiting for me back in River Heights."

  "But they won't be as glamorous as this one was, will they?" Renee teased her.

  "I hope not!" Nancy said fervently. "I've had enough of the glamorous music world to last me a lifetime. From now on, I'm sticking to plain, ordinary, uncomplicated everyday life."

  But no one in the room believed her for a second.