Race Against Time Read online

  "How on earth do you suppose it got out on that bush, Nancy?" asked Sara.

  The titian-haired sleuth shook her head. "I've no idea. But I'm sure I know whose it is. I've seen it in a portrait of Mr. Harlow's late wife at Rainbow Ranchi"

  There was no time to return the pendant that evening as Nancy had a Saturday night date with Ned. But the following morning, she drove to Rainbow Ranch. As she got out of her car, Tina came skipping up.

  "Hi, Nancy! Did you come over to play with me?"

  "Well, that's partly why I came," Nancy said and smiled. "But I'm also bringing something back to your grandfather."

  Tina's face blanched in terror as she saw the opal. "No, please!" the little girl begged. "You mustn't!"

  17. Tina's Secret

  Nancy was astonished and disturbed. What had come over the child to upset her so dreadfully?

  Tina, meanwhile, was watching the teenager's expression with almost tearful anxiety. "What are you going to do, Nancy?" she asked, clasping and unclasping her hands distractedly.

  Nancy said gently, "I found this in the shrubbery at Grimsby Mansion, and I thought I recognized it. Isn't this the opal pendant that your grandma wore in the painting?"

  "Yes, oh yes, it's Grandmas! But what are you going to do with it?" Tina persisted fearfully.

  "Return it, of course. Surely, that's the right thing to do, isn't it, if you find something that belongs to someone else?"

  But the little girl only trembled and choked back sobs as she struggled to express herself. "Nancy," she gulped, "would you please give it to me so I can take it upstairs right now and put it back in the drawer where it belongs?" Tinas voice broke with emotion. "And would you please, please not say anything to Grandpa about it? Oh, please!" she begged with tears in her eyes.

  Nancy hesitated uncertainly. "Tina," she pleaded, "can't you tell me why you're so upset?" As the little girl shook her head, Nancy went on, "Then can't you at least tell me how the opal got to Grimsby Mansion?"

  Tina gave another vigorous shake of her head, her golden locks swinging from side to side.

  "Where is your grandpa, honey?" Nancy asked after a moment.

  "In the library talking on the phone. But please don't tell him, Nancy!"

  Suddenly, the detective came to a decision. Handing the opal pendant to Tina, she said, "All right, dear. You go on upstairs and put this away right now."

  The little girl's tearful expression gave way to a grateful smile. Without another word, she turned and scampered off with the necklace.

  Did I do the right thing? Nancy wondered. Oh

  dear! I just hope this may help me win Tinas trust and confidence.

  She was just walking to her car as the little girl came running out of the house again.

  "Oh, don't go!" Tina seized Nancy's hand. "I want to thank you."

  "Maybe someday you'll be able to trust me enough to tell me about it."

  Tina nodded solemnly, looking much calmer now.

  "I have to go," Nancy said with a smile. "But I'll be back tomorrow morning to do the last TV commercial. See you then, dear." She waved goodbye.

  As she was driving home, Nancy remembered that Hannah Gruen had asked her to bring back some shampoo. So she stopped at a drugstore in town and went in. While she was looking over the various brands on the shelves, trying to find the one Hannah preferred, Nancy heard a faintly familiar voice raised in protest.

  "I tell you I must have this refilled! It isn't as though I didn't have a prescription."

  Looking up, she saw a tall, black-haired woman standing at the drug counter. As the woman went on speaking in a fretful, demanding fashion, she was interrupted by the patient voice of the pharmacist.

  "I'm really sorry, ma'am, but I'm only allowed to give you one refill on this prescription, and you've used that. What I can do is call your doctor and see if hell allow another refill—although it may take me some time to get through to him. It often does, if they're busy seeing patients."

  "Hmm, very well," the customer agreed grudgingly. "I certainly hope you can do something. I've been having such trouble sleeping these last few nights! I'll drop in later to pick it up."

  As she turned away toward the door, Nancy recognized her with a slight start. The woman was Velma Deene!

  A sudden thought struck the youth sleuth. Was it possible that some of the woman's sleeping pills had been used by the thief to sedate Alf Sanchez on the night that Shooting Star was stolen?

  Velma Deene walked out without noticing Nancy, who purchased the bottle of shampoo she had chosen and left the store.

  Soon after the Drews had finished a quiet Sunday dinner, Bess, George, and then Ned dropped over. They listened to records for a while and chatted. Then Nancy brought them up to date on the Shooting Star mystery, including her morning glimpse of Velma Deene. In doing so, she mentioned the fleeting thought that had passed through her mind.

  "It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find out she was mixed up in something like that," George declared. "If you ask me, that woman's capable of anything!"

  "She's certainly very unpleasant," Bess said. "I think it's strange that someone like her should be running an art gallery."

  "Why, Bess?" Ned asked, smiling.

  "Well, people who appreciate beauty are more sensitive than her type, I think." Bess added shyly. But that's just a personal feeling."

  That evening Hannah Gruen went off to visit a friend, while Nancy and her father spent the time catching up on their reading.

  On Monday morning, Nancy awoke with a sense of excitement. Not only was this the day for shooting the last TV commercial, but she had a feeling that something significant was going to happen.

  Nancy laughed at herself as she set out for Rainbow Ranch. Whatever happens, let's hope it's good, and not something like my car breaking down! she thought.

  Tina was waiting for her as she drove up and parked. The little girl seemed in high spirits. She took Nancy's hand and chattered, "Those TV people just came a little while ago. Mr. Traynor's chosen the horse that you're going to be on. Its Firebird. She's my mother's horse, and she's so beautiful! She's trained to do just about everything. I bet Mr. Traynor chose Firebird because she's red and your hair is, too!"

  Nancy chuckled. "Perhaps so, dear. I'd better go join them. Are you coming?''

  Tina shook her head. "I'm going over to sit by the brook where I usually do." And she ran off.

  On her way to the stables, Nancy met Roger Harlow. After greeting him, she said, "Tina tells me I'm to ride your daughter's horse this morning. I hope that's all right."

  "Of course, it is," he said and laughed. "She'd be glad to have someone like you take Firebird out every day. Has Tina gone inside?"

  "No, she's over there by the brook, all set to watch the filming."

  Mr. Harlow said earnestly, "Nancy, she's almost her old self again, and I know I have you to thank for it. I'm very grateful!"

  Nancy smiled at him. "I'm glad if I've been able to help a little."

  As she walked away, however, Nancy reflected that Tina evidently still didn't trust her enough to confide in her.

  Tony was especially pleased with the filming that morning. "Nancy, with you on that beautiful red horse—well, it just makes a stunning picture!" He shook his head. "I don't know how you did it, but each new commercial seems to turn out better than the last one!"

  The crew quickly packed up and prepared to return to New York in his station wagon. Tony turned to his model with a parting remark. "Young lady, if you ever decide you'd like a career in this field, just give me a call and it's yours!"

  Nancy smiled and thanked him warmly. "It's kind of you to say so, but I don't think that's where my real interests lie. If I ever change my mind, though, I'll remember what you said."

  She waved as the TV group drove off. Afterwards, Nancy continued to ride Firebird for a while since the filly seemed to enjoy the exercise. Finally she dismounted and walked the beautiful horse to the stables where she tur
ned her over to a groom.

  Coming out, she found Tina waiting for her, obviously seeking her company. The little girl was bouncing a large, orange-and-yellow-striped beach ball. "Would you like to play catch with me?" she asked shyly.

  "Oh yes, I'd love to, dear," Nancy replied.

  They crossed the brook, heading toward a hilly meadow with plenty of room in which to play. Tina was very agile, and the game got wilder and wilder. She dashed about with her golden hair flying.

  Finally, in running after the ball, which had gotten past her, Tina stumbled and lost her footing. The next moment, she was tumbling down a rough slope toward a marshy pond!

  18. Suspect's Return

  Just in time, Tina grabbed hold of some bushes and saved herself from falling into the pond.

  "Are you all right?" Nancy called out, running to her assistance.

  "Y-Y-Yes, I think so."

  Thankfully, Nancy helped her up the slope. Except for some scratches and a slight tear in her shirt, the little girl seemed unharmed.

  Nancy gave her a reassuring hug. "Do they hurt much?" she said, looking at the scratches.

  Tina shook her head and gave a little grin.

  "Let's get over to the stables and attend to those, shall we?" Nancy had noticed a well-stocked, first-aid cabinet there earlier.

  After cleaning off the scratches with sterile cotton and hot water, Nancy prepared to paint them with iodine. "This may hurt a little," she said.

  Tina had taken her fall bravely enough and, up until now, had shown no apprehension about the first-aid treatment. But as Nancy took the bottle of iodine out of the cabinet, the little girl suddenly lost her composure. She ran out of the stables with a look of fright on her face!

  Puzzled and alarmed, Nancy capped the bottle and ran after her.

  Assuming that Tina feared the pain of iodine on her open cuts, Nancy said soothingly, "Don't worry, dear. It won't hurt that much. Come on, well go in the house and find something else to treat those scratches with."

  Mr. Harlow's maid brought another kind of antiseptic from a bathroom medicine cabinet. This time there was no flinching as it was applied. In fact, Tina scarcely noticed because she was so busy telling Nancy about the letter with a colorful foreign stamp on it that she had gotten from her mom and dad that morning.

  The whole incident seemed trivial once it was over. Yet it bothered Nancy in a way she could not quite explain. It seemed to remind her of something else, perhaps something connected with the mysteries she was trying to solve. If only she could remember whatl

  Never mind, Nancy told herself. If it's really important, it will come back to me.

  She had said good-bye and was just about to step into her car when Tina came running out of the house. "Nancy, Nancy! Wait!" she shouted. "There's a phone call for you!"

  The pretty detective hurried back to the house. Tina led her into a side hall and pointed to a beige phone on a small table.

  "Hello, Nancy," Carson Drew said. "One of my investigators just gave me some information that you'll be interested in. Do you have a pencil and paper handy?"

  Nancy picked up a pen and notepad kept beside the phone. "All right, I'm ready, Dad."

  "This concerns Pepper Nash, that jockey you asked me to have traced. It seems he's been living and racing in England since he left here. But he returned about the first of the month, and he's now living at 172 Hickory Court in River Heights!"

  Nancy was startled. "Dad, that's great news!" she exclaimed. "Thanks a lot. I think I'll go talk to him right now. See you tonight."

  "Good-bye, honey. Drive carefully," Carson Drew said and hung up.

  Heading into town, Nancy turned this latest development over in her mind. The fact that Pepper Nash had returned to River Heights just before Shooting Star was stolen was bound to make him an even more likely suspect in the case.

  She found him to be a slender, sandy-haired young man in his early twenties. He met her at the door and invited her into a small living room that looked comfortable but not very neat.

  "Please excuse the disorder," he smiled. "I'm not too good in the housekeeping department."

  Pushing a book out of the way, he sat down opposite Nancy. "Now, what can I do for you?" His blue eyes looked frankly into hers.

  "I understand you've just returned from England," Nancy remarked. "Did you race over there?"

  "I certainly did!" He quickly got up and brought her a large, leather-covered book from a shelf. "My scrapbook," he smiled. Opening it, he pointed out pictures and news reports of various races clipped from British papers.

  Judging by the stories and photos, he seemed to be a winning jockey.

  "Congratulations." Nancy smiled up at him. "You ought to show this to Roger Harlow."

  "What do you mean?" Pepper's eyes narrowed.

  "Oh, you know about that old dispute, do you?"

  When Nancy nodded, he went on, "Well, part of my reason for coming back here was to clear up that misunderstanding. I know what he believed—that I threw that race—even though he didn't complain officially."

  "But you knew how he felt?" Nancy inquired gently.

  "I'll say I did! He made that very clear . . . really blasted me with both barrels! All the same, he was decent enough not to spread word around or try to give me a bad name. Someone else who overheard our quarrel did that."

  Nancy said, "Now that you're back, what exactly do you intend to do?"

  "Admit the truth to him, that I was a bullheaded know-it-all. You see, I thought the instructions he gave me for running the race were all wrong. He wanted me to hold back and take it easy at first, not really open up until the final stretch. Instead, I ran it my own way. I set a hot pace right from the start and lost—by two lengths! I was mad at myself, and Mr. Harlow's bawling out made me madder than ever. That's why I couldn't face the truth and take my medicine."

  Pepper Nash began walking about the room. "I think I've grown up quite a bit since then. I'm going to apologize and ask Roger Harlow for another chance. I want to clear my name with him."

  "I hope you do," Nancy said earnestly.

  As she got up to leave, he said in a puzzled tone, "We never got around to why you came to see me. Are you a reporter or what?"

  Nancy smiled. "No, I'm trying to solve a mystery. Originally, I came to talk to you about a racehorse called Shooting Star. He's disappeared. But now I realize you couldn't have had anything to do with it."

  An understanding expression came over Pepper Nash's face, and he smiled back ruefully at Nancy. "I read the news stories, of course, about him being stolen. But you're right, I know nothing more about it, and I certainly had nothing to do with the theft. I hope Harlow gets him back, though. From his record, Shooting Star sounds like a promising horse." He held the door open for Nancy and solemnly said good-bye.

  Before going out to the Grimsby Mansion, Nancy decided to have a sandwich and milkshake at The Hangout. As she ate, she mused on her interview with the jockey. If nothing else, Nancy felt it had at least eliminated one suspect.

  Soon she was on her way again, refreshed and looking eagerly forward to the afternoon's shooting at the mansion. This time, her only role would be that of spectator. Her own scenes were finished.

  When she arrived, Ned came out to greet her, smiling happily. He told her that he expected to wrap up the project that afternoon, a whole day ahead of schedule. Everyone seemed in high spirits at the prospect, and things went smoothly.

  In between scenes, Nancy went out to walk around a bit and enjoy the fresh air. The sun was shining down brightly through the treetops, and at this moment the only sign of past troubles were the blackened ruins of the burned-down stables.

  Wisps of hay were scattered about nearby. This was not the first time she had noticed them. But suddenly Nancy stood stock still, struck by an idea. The old Grimsby Mansion had stood empty for years. Yet this was fresh hay, which meant a horse must have been stabled here recently!

  Nancy's brain was in a whirl. Ev
erything began falling into place.

  A horse had been kept here recently. Of course! And that was precisely why the stable had been burned down. To keep the film club from discovering that very fact!

  As for the silver bud vase and that missing painting, Nancy already knew they were items of loot from the country-house burglaries. And perhaps they were not the only such items to have been brought here. For some reason, the Grimsby Mansion must have served as a storage place until the loot was disposed of! But then the club members had spoiled it all by reopening the old house!

  Was there any connection between the two halves of the puzzle?

  Another thought flashed into Nancys mind. What was it that had tantalized her earlier that day? Something she couldn't quite recall to memory. It had occurred to her after Tina's downhill fall when the little girl had been scared by the sight of that iodine bottle.

  Suddenly, the final piece of the jigsaw clicked into place. All at once the young detective knew why Tina had been so frightened!

  Impulsively, Nancy got into her car and set out for Rainbow Ranch. She was determined to get the full story from Tina!

  19. Dusty Fur

  When Nancy reached Rainbow Ranch, she left her car in the drive and rang the front door bell. The maid who answered said Tina had taken a book outdoors. "She's probably reading somewhere in back. Shall I come out and help you look for her?"

  "No, thanks," Nancy said and smiled. "I'm sure I can find her."

  As she expected, the little girl was ensconced in the pavilion, deeply absorbed in a story. But at the sight of Nancy, she jumped up eagerly and let the book fall from her lap. "Hi, Nancy! Did you come over just to see me?"

  "How did you guess?" Nancy chuckled. She was relieved to find Tina in such a bright, cheerful mood. This might make a difference in her willingness to answer questions.

  Nancy sat down on the ledge of the summerhouse and waited until the little girl was settled comfortably beside her. Then she took her hand and said, "I've come to tell you something, dear."

  "Tell me what?"

  "That I know what scared you about that iodine bottle this morning." Nancy paused before going on gently, "It was that skull and crossbones on the label, to warn people that iodine can be dangerous, wasn't it?"