Stage Fright Read online

  Instead she found ashes in the bedroom fireplace. From the few charred scraps remaining, it was clear these were the clippings from the envelope in the back of the scrapbook. One scrap showed a picture of Evelyn’s face, crossed out with angry slashes.

  Nancy raced down the stairs and to the Barn. The front doors were locked, but the stage door creaked open when she turned the knob. The stage was lit by fluorescent work lights.

  Marla was kneeling beside the lowered curtain, heaping Laura’s costumes in a pile. A can of lighter fluid stood next to her, and the usual cigarette was in her hand.

  Nancy stepped quietly onto the stage. She was about fifteen feet away when the actress spotted her.

  Marla screamed and jumped to her feet, grabbing the can of lighter fluid. “Stay right there! Don’t move!”

  “Give me the can, Marla.” Nancy spoke calmly and quietly, as she would to a nervous horse.

  Marla popped open the top of the can. “She’s only getting what she deserves! It’s time for her to lose it all, just like I did!”

  “I know you lost your theater, and I know how Evelyn took over your part on Broadway.” Nancy took a step, edging closer to Marla. “I understand why you’re bitter, Marla, but burning down the Barn won’t change the past.”

  “It will change her future!” Marla’s laugh was thin and high-pitched. “She’ll find out how it feels to lose everything you love! They took away my playhouse because it was losing money. Now I’m taking away hers.”

  She waved her arms wildly and cigarette ashes fell on the costumes.

  Nancy knew she had to distract her. “You’re so clever, Marla. That scaffold trap really fooled me. How could you be sure I’d pull you to safety in time?”

  “Ha! You’re the great Nancy Drew, aren’t you? If you failed and I was killed, well, so what? What do I have to live for? And if I was only hurt, I’d sue the socks off Evelyn and she’d be in debt for the rest of her life.”

  Nancy slowly slid one foot forward, then transferred her weight onto it. “Marla, you have a lot to live for. You’re so talented and so clever. How did you manage to rig all those lines in the short time between the end of rehearsal and dinner?”

  She puffed rapidly on her cigarette. “I knew what I was doing. It wasn’t hard. Then I set the prop shed on fire to welcome you. All those lovely old scripts lying around just begging to start a fire.”

  “How did you ever manage to pull off that trick with the wrench?” Nancy had to keep her talking while she inched closer to the actress.

  Marla smiled proudly. “Easy. I ran the fishing line to the back of the theater near the lobby door. I just had to slip inside for a second, give the line a yank, and cut it. Then I was back in the lobby, innocently working on the display.”

  “Did you push Matt off the path?”

  Marla waved the open can and some fluid squirted out. “Of course not. Why would I want to hurt him? That was an accident.”

  “Why did you leave the note on my bed Tuesday night? That was risky. Someone could have seen you,” Nancy said, taking a slow step forward.

  “Not me—I was too careful. I just wanted to test you, to see if I could scare you off.”

  “You could have killed a lot of people in the theater last night if I hadn’t put out that fire in the men’s room,” Nancy said evenly.

  Marla waved her arms, splashing more liquid on the curtain, scattering cigarette ashes. She didn’t seem to notice. “With the great Miss Drew and all those guards around? But I would have busted up the play and Evelyn wouldn’t have had her big success.” She laughed hysterically.

  “How did you know where to find George and me when we were out riding the horses?” Nancy edged closer. A few more feet and she’d be able to tackle Marla.

  “I cruised up and down the road, knowing you’d show up sooner or later.”

  “But Howie said you were in the office, setting up the press conference. He heard you through the door.”

  Marla laughed. “It was a snap. I taped some calls, then left them playing while I was gone.”

  “Clever, Marla. Very clever. Why did you pretend to be friends with Evelyn all these years?”

  “She was a contact! She could have found parts for me in her films or plays. But she didn’t! Not once! She’s a fool!”

  Nancy could tell Marla was out of control. She edged forward another step.

  “Did you see the way I jerked her around with those notes?” Marla went on. “The ninny fell for it every time. A puppet on a string, that’s what she is. I pulled the string and she jumped. Did you see how eager she was to believe the note saying the danger was over? All she cared about was her infernal play.”

  “You really hate her, don’t you?” Only a few feet to go, Nancy thought.

  “Hate? That’s too mild. Try loathe, despise, detest.” She spat out the words, then suddenly straightened up. “Stop right there, Miss Nosy Drew. Don’t come any closer.”

  Marla grinned and squirted more liquid on the curtain and the pile of clothes. The sharp odor of the fluid filled the air.

  Nancy made a leap for Marla and managed to grab her by the ankles. They crashed to the stage but Marla was quick and strong. She wiggled out of Nancy’s grasp like a snake and threw herself on top of the girl, pinning her facedown on the pile of costumes.

  The fluid’s acrid odor filled Nancy’s nose. Marla’s knee pressed down on her spine. One hand grabbed her right arm, forcing it back against her shoulder blade.

  “Where’s that cigarette?” Marla grunted. “Ah, here it is.”

  She leaned over to grab the lit cigarette, which had rolled a few feet away. “Now, Miss Detective Drew, the Barn is going up in flames, just as I promised. And you’re going to burn with it!”

  Chapter

  Sixteen

  WHEN MARLA REACHED for the cigarette, Nancy felt the actress’s weight shift off the center of her back and the pressure on her arm lessen. Nancy drew up her knees, wrapped her free arm around the back of Marla’s neck, and violently threw herself to the left, twisting her body and pulling Marla over with her as she rolled.

  Marla roared with anger, and her cigarette dropped onto the pile of costumes. Laura’s velvet dress burst into flames inches from them. Nancy had to ignore the fire while she struggled with the tall, wiry actress.

  Using all her strength, Nancy managed to flip Marla over, pressing her facedown on the stage. She secured one arm in a hammerlock, then the other. The actress kicked and fought furiously, shouting and cursing, vowing to kill Nancy.

  The flames grew, beginning to travel up the curtain. Nancy didn’t dare let go of Marla and could only watch as the fire spread.

  Over Marla’s screams of rage, Nancy heard a door bang open.

  “Nancy!” Ned shouted as he and George ran onto the stage. They took one look at the fire and spun around. “We’ll get the extinguishers!”

  “Hurry!” Nancy shouted.

  They ran back seconds later, armed with one extinguisher each.

  Nancy kept a tight grip on Marla, who bucked and heaved and yelled while Ned and George directed the foam at the flames.

  George sprayed the pile of costumes, and Ned attacked the curtain. Fortunately the huge curtain was made of fire-resistant material, and once the lighter fluid had been consumed the flames died down. Eventually the fire went out.

  George ran to call the police while Nancy stared at the charred curtain, blinking smoke-stung eyes.

  Marla was finally quiet, and Ned helped her to her feet, keeping one arm pressed behind her back. It was only a precaution. All the fight had gone out of the actress. She collapsed on the couch and remained motionless until the police arrived.

  • • •

  It was after midnight by the time the police finished questioning them. They had found the security guard who had been assigned to the Barn that night. He was tied up in Matt’s dressing room, unhurt but groggy from the ether that Marla had used to knock him out.

  Marla h
ad been taken away, looking frail and broken as she was guided into the squad car.

  Now Nancy and her friends relaxed in Evelyn’s living room, sipping steaming mugs of cocoa.

  “I’m going to hire the best lawyer I can find for her,” Evelyn said firmly. “I can hardly believe this has happened. Poor Marla is obviously emotionally ill. She doesn’t belong in prison.”

  Nancy watched the lights twinkling on Evelyn’s Christmas tree. “But she committed a crime.”

  Evelyn leaned forward. “From what you told me, the shock of losing her theater must have caused her to behave that way. I’ll do everything I can to see that she gets proper treatment. I have to take care of her. She’s my friend.”

  Nancy remembered the way Marla viciously spat out the words loathe, despise, detest.

  “She’s certainly a talented actress,” George said. “Pretending to be so silly and forgetful, and all the while rigging those traps. She even had the sense to start a fire in the men’s room instead of the ladies’.”

  “With the wastebasket so near the door,” Ned said, “we should have guessed that anyone could have tossed a cigarette into it.”

  Evelyn took a small sip from her mug. “I should have been suspicious when she arrived here, acting so absentminded. But it had been years since I’d seen her, and we all change over time.”

  “It was a clever disguise,” Nancy said. “She could show up wherever she wanted with the excuse that she was searching for something.”

  “Marla’s always been clever,” Evelyn said. “We did summer stock together one year as apprentices. She could take on any job in the theater, from set design to box office to—”

  “Rigging special effects?” Nancy asked.

  “Yes. It’s too bad I didn’t remember that earlier.” Evelyn’s smile was sad.

  “You had a lot on your mind,” Nancy said gently.

  Evelyn sighed. “Yes, the play. I was foolish not to listen to you, Nancy. You could have been killed tonight.”

  “I’m good at investigating crimes, and you’re good at producing and directing hit plays.” Nancy paused. “What will happen with Alias Angel Divine? Will you be able to continue the run?”

  “Yes, just as soon as we can replace Laura’s costumes and the curtain, and clean up the smoke damage. I hope to reopen in a few days.”

  Nancy stood up and walked to the window. “Between the repairs and the tickets you’ll have to refund, it’s going to be costly.”

  “I’m not too worried about finances now.” Evelyn leaned back against the couch. “After the performance tonight, two more people offered to back a Broadway production, and Joseph’s had an offer for the film rights.”

  “You mean it’s going to be made into a movie?” George asked. “That’s great, Aunt Evelyn!”

  “Nothing is definite until the contracts are signed, but Broadway, at least, is certain now.” She winked at George. “I didn’t tell you yet, but I picked up another angel this afternoon.”

  “Who?” George looked puzzled.

  “Our friendly neighbor, Charles Ferguson.”

  “You’re kidding!” Ned said.

  “And he also seems to be, um—interested in pursuing a . . . relationship.” She blushed slightly.

  “What?” George said.

  Evelyn held up her hand, stopping her. “He’s really not so bad. That crusty act he puts on covers his soft spots. Inside he’s rather a sweetheart.”

  Nancy was as surprised as the others. “So that’s why he invited us sledding.”

  Evelyn nodded. “I’ve had a lot of men fall for me in the past, but he really took me by surprise.”

  George leaned over and hugged her. “I’m happy for you, Aunt Evelyn.”

  Later Nancy, Ned, and George headed down the path toward their cabins. They’d be going home the next day.

  Nancy linked arms with her two friends. “How did you guys know to come to the Red Barn?”

  “It was funny,” George said. “I was talking to Matt and suddenly saw Ned. At that same moment he noticed me. We both realized you were gone, and we just knew you were in trouble.”

  “I said, ‘Nancy,’ and George said, ‘Let’s go.’ We didn’t waste any time getting over there.” Ned kissed the top of Nancy’s head.

  “Thank goodness for that.” Nancy sighed. “I sure was glad to see you two.”

  “Hey, what are friends for?” George’s laugh rang out in the crisp night air.

  “I guess it will be hard to say goodbye to Matt tomorrow, won’t it?” Nancy said.

  “Yes. He said he’d call or write, but I don’t know if he means it. Even if I never see him again, it’s been wonderful. Besides, Bess is going to just die when she finds out I’ve spent all this time with Brent of ‘Ventura Boulevard.’ ”

  “She sure will.” Nancy squeezed Ned’s arm. “What about you, Ned? Are you going to miss Laura?”

  “Yeah, a lot.”

  “What?” Nancy stopped to stare up at him.

  He smiled. “Get real, Drew.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s flattering to have a beautiful actress fall all over you. But I like my women strong and independent—just like someone I happen to know.”

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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