The Swami's Ring Page 2
She was tempted to explore the alley next to the store, but the scene inside was more fascinating. Lisa was showing Cliff’s ring to the shopkeeper. Suddenly, he left the counter, and the stranger pocketed the ring. He hurried to the door, which Nancy flung open with such force that he slipped off balance.
“You took that young woman’s ring,” Nancy accused, alerting both Lisa and the shopkeeper.
Instantly, the man shoved Nancy against the counter. He grabbed the door, ready to dart outside, but the shopkeeper and Lisa rushed forward, tackling him. Nancy dived into his coat pocket and quickly retrieved the ring.
“Let go of me!” the man shouted, unaware that the valuable trinket had been removed.
He tore away from the group and ran across the street to a bus that had stopped at the corner.
“We’ll catch him!” Nancy exclaimed.
Without another word, Lisa hurried after her friend to Nancy’s car. As quickly as she could, Nancy pulled around in the opposite direction. The bus was several stoplights away from her.
“Why didn’t you put Cliffs ring into the hospital safe?” Nancy asked as they sped forward.
“I meant to, but Cliff suggested I take it to a local jeweler—to find out more about it. Next thing I knew, that man in the turban was standing there, asking all sorts of questions.”
By now, Nancy’s car had caught up to the bus at a bus stop, where several people debarked. She signaled to the driver to wait.
“What do you want?” the man shouted through his window. “I’ve got a lot of people to let off.”
“One of them tried to rob us,” Lisa called back.
Before Nancy could park, her friend had jumped out of the car and raced to the policeman on the corner, leading him quickly to the bus. When the last of several passengers had stepped off, Lisa and the officer jumped on board. There were only a few people left, and the man in the turban was not among them!
3
Mean Accusation
Through her rearview mirror, Nancy watched Lisa and the policeman step off the bus without the Indian. The girl detective immediately switched on her hazard lights, leaving the car double-parked, and leaped out.
“What happened?” she asked, hurrying toward them.
“I don’t know. He must have sneaked off without our seeing him,” Lisa replied.
The officer listened to the girls’ story while Nancy displayed Cliffs ring. “Lucky you were on the scene, Nancy Drew,” he complimented her.
Nancy’s reputation as a keen detective was well-known to the police of River Heights.
“I was planning to see Chief McGinnis tomorrow,” Nancy said. “But maybe Lisa and I ought to go to headquarters now.”
“Good idea,” the policeman grinned, “especially since I don’t want to tow your car away.”
The girls glanced in the direction of Nancy’s flashing rear lights. She suddenly realized she had double-parked next to a patrol car!
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.
When the pair reached the station, Nancy explained that she had two important matters to discuss with the chief. One related to the identity of a local amnesia patient who had been assaulted in the hospital. The other had to do with the driver of a car that had nearly run down Tommy Johnson.
“I know about both cases,” Chief McGinnis said, “but I have no lead on the first and only a very slim one on the second.”
Nancy gave a description of the bearded man.
“I’ve seen him twice now,” she said. “The first time he took off in a tan-colored car with a blue racing stripe on the trunk.”
“What’s the license number?”
Nancy shrugged. “I couldn’t see it.”
The chief hunched forward on his elbows and shook his head thoughtfully.
“Do you have any idea whom it belongs to?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, I think so. Of course, I can’t be absolutely positive, but—”
“But what?”
“It sounds like the same car that caused the Johnson boy’s accident.”
Nancy was stunned into silence as her mind raced over the events of the afternoon. What was the connection between the Indian businessman and the bearded stranger?
“I have a hunch the bearded man may be the driver we’re looking for!” Nancy exclaimed.
“You could be right,” Chief McGinnis said. “I’ll let you know if anything definite turns up on either of those men.”
Nancy promised to reciprocate and said good-bye. As the girls headed for Lisa’s house, the young nurse suggested that Nancy keep the ring.
“It’ll be safer with you,” Lisa insisted, adding an apology for what had occurred earlier. “I should have put it in the hospital safe.”
“Just be glad we have it,” Nancy smiled. “Besides, your visit to the jewelry shop turned up an interesting character.”
“And some interesting information,” Lisa said. “This is the first chance I’ve had to tell you what Mr. Jhaveri, the jeweler, said about the ring. He’s quite an expert on foreign jewelry, and he believes the design is Asiatic.
“The other man disagreed, however. He kept saying the ring was Middle Eastern. That’s when Mr. Jhaveri said he would show me some pictures as proof.”
“And that’s when the Indian businessman tried to steal the ring,” Nancy put in.
“Exactly.”
“He didn’t count on Nancy Drew,” Lisa added, causing a blush of crimson to cross her friend’s face.
They pulled up in front of the Scotti home and Lisa opened the car door instantly.
“I promised Mom I’d cook dinner tonight, so I’d better run,” she said. “Thanks a lot. See you tomorrow.”
Nancy said good-bye, all the while thinking about the scene in the jewelry shop. She was tempted to return there, but a glance at her watch told her she was more than an hour late for dinner.
Hannah is probably worried about me, Nancy thought. I can just imagine the phone calls she must have made to the hospital.
The girl pressed down on the accelerator, watching the speedometer needle waver just under the speed limit. Rush-hour traffic had eased up, and she found herself in the driveway of the Drew home within fifteen minutes. Mrs. Gruen opened the door with a mixture of disapproval and relief on her face.
“I’m sorry,” Nancy said, hugging the woman. “I was on my way home when—”
“You caught two robbers, found three clues, and went to see Chief McGinnis,” Hannah replied, unable to keep from smiling.
“How did you guess?”
“Because I know you. That’s how.” The housekeeper grinned.
Before Nancy said another word, she raced upstairs to freshen up. The aroma of home-baked peach pie trailed after her, speeding her back to the dining room table where her father was already seated.
“Do I have lots of news!” Nancy said excitedly.
Carson Drew, a distinguished-looking man in his forties, did not respond immediately. Nancy thought he seemed disturbed.
“Is something wrong, Dad?”
“Oh, no,” he answered quickly.
“Sure?”
“Sure.”
“I really am sorry about being late.”
Her father merely nodded as he took a sip of water. “Bring me up to date on what happened today,” he said at last.
Despite her eagerness to tell him, she could not help being distracted by Mr. Drew’s sullen manner. Nonetheless, she revealed her encounters at the hospital, the discovery of the ring, and Tommy Johnson’s accident.
“How terrible!” Hannah commented when the girl finished speaking.
For the first time since dinner began, Mr. Drew’s expression was also animated. He asked several questions, then lapsed into silence until he rose from the table.
“Let’s go into the living room, Nancy,” he said.
What was on her father’s mind? Nancy wondered in puzzlement. She sank into the deep, soft cushions of the chair by the fireplace and waited anxiously.
“Does it have to do with the music festival?”
“In a way, yes.” Her father paused. “You’ll have to stop doing your detective work for a while.”
Nancy blinked in disbelief. “But why? What have I done?”
“Oh, you haven’t done anything wrong. The townspeople of Castleton think I have.”
“You’ve lost me, Dad.”
“As I told you yesterday, I’ve been handling negotiations for the River Heights festival on behalf of River Heights.”
“Negotiations between the city and the different performing groups who are appearing here this summer,” Nancy put in.
“That’s right,” her father replied. “Well, I’ve been accused of theft.”
“Theft?” Nancy repeated in utter astonishment. “That’s absolutely crazy.”
“Castleton claims that River Heights has deliberately stolen one of the theater companies it booked for its own outdoor pavilion.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“It’s very simple, dear. The Jansen Music Theater Company was scheduled to perform at the Castleton Theater, but Jansen canceled out on Castleton in favor of River Heights. The town council of Castleton thinks I’m responsible for the last-minute switch.” Mr. Drew interrupted himself, laughing nervously. “It just isn’t true, but I can’t seem to convince anyone, including the mayor of River Heights!”
“But he’s your friend, Dad.”
“He is, but he’s also in an awkward situation with Castleton, since both communities have been working together on some environmental issues.”
Nancy took a deep breath. “I’ll help you,” she said.
“No, Nancy, I think it’s better if you don’t. A number of unexplained things have happened to the Jansen troupe, and I’m afraid something could happen to you.”
“You know I can take care of myself,” Nancy pleaded.
“I would feel better if you just contented yourself with the amnesia patient.”
The firmness in his voice told Nancy she ought not to push him on the subject.
It’s the first time Dad has ever told me to quit on something before I even started, Nancy said to herself.
Worse than that, her own father needed her help, but would not accept it!
4
Suspect?
“Nancy, I don’t want you to worry about me or the festival,” Mr. Drew said.
“But Dad—”
He raised his hand as if he didn’t want to hear another word.
“I have two complimentary tickets to the festival tomorrow evening. Perhaps you’d like to take Ned.”
Nancy’s face lit up into a smile immediately.
“Promise me, though, you’ll just enjoy the performance. No investigating, okay?”
“Whatever you say, Dad.”
She leaped out of her chair to call her friend, Ned Nickerson, who was home on vacation from Emerson College. At first Nancy was tempted to mention her father’s predicament, but she refrained as Mr. Drew strode past her.
Instead, she conveyed the invitation, adding in a whisper, “I have a lot to tell you, too.”
“In that case,” Ned said, “how can I resist?”
It was decided that he would stop by for Nancy at seven-thirty the next evening. In the meantime, she had several things to discuss with Bess and George.
“Hello. Is George there?” Nancy said, after dialing the number of the Fayne household.
To her surprise, the girl was not home.
Maybe she went to see Bess, Nancy surmised. She was about to call the Marvin number when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Nancy announced, dropping the receiver.
It was the two cousins.
“When we didn’t hear from you, we figured something must’ve happened,” Bess said.
“Right?” George asked.
“Right,” Nancy said. “Come on in.”
While she cut pieces of Hannah’s peach pie for each girl, she told them everything that had occurred after they left Rosemont Hospital.
“Fortunately, I still have Cliffs ring,” Nancy concluded, excusing herself to get it.
When she returned to the kitchen, she was also holding her magnifying glass. The trio took turns examining the ring. On close inspection, they saw that the intricate design consisted of finely intertwined water lilies. Inside the band was a well-worn initial, together with an indistinct figure standing on a flower. To the untrained eye, they could pass for mere scratches.
“I can’t figure out what the letter is,” Bess said. “Can you?”
“I’m not sure, but it looks like ‘P,’ ” Nancy said. “Lisa said Mr. Jhaveri was about to show her a book when the businessman took the ring.”
“Maybe we should go to the store tomorrow,” George suggested.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Nancy said.
That night, Nancy slept uneasily as the ring tossed through her dreams. Someone on the stage of the River Heights Theater was throwing it toward her, but she couldn’t catch it because of an imaginary rope that held her arms back.
“Nancy ... Nancy,” a voice was calling.
The girl mumbled back into her pillow as the shade on her window snapped open and sunlight poured across the room.
“Nancy, dear, it’s after nine.”
The young detective pulled the bedsheet over her head while Hannah tickled her foot.
“Time to rise and shine. Bess and George are waiting for you downstairs.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Nancy cried, bolting out of bed. “They’re here already?”
After a quick shower, she slipped into a skirt and blouse, put Cliff’s ring in her shoulder bag, and hurried to the dining room, where a glass of orange juice awaited her.
“Didn’t we say nine o‘clock?” George asked.
Nancy nodded. “I overslept,” she said, gulping down the juice.
“Don’t drink so fast, Nancy,” Hannah scolded. “You’ll get indigestion.”
Despite the warning, Nancy hurried through breakfast, explaining that she had several things to do.
“I promised to be at the hospital for a couple of hours at least,” she said. “Now that I’m running so late, maybe you ought to see Mr. Jhaveri without me.”
“Are you sure?” Bess asked.
“Yes. Besides, I want to check on how Tommy is and make a few inquiries at the hospital.”
“What about the ring?” George replied. “Shall we take it with us?”
“Definitely,” Nancy said. “When you’re done at the store, then please bring it to Rosemont.”
While Nancy headed for the hospital, Bess and George went downtown. To their delight, Mr. Jhaveri remembered the unusual ring and was more than willing to discuss it.
“I didn’t have a chance to show my book to your friend,” he said, “but I will show it to you. Do you have time?”
“Oh yes,” George replied eagerly.
“I will only be a moment,” the proprietor said, disappearing into the anteroom behind the main counter.
For an instant, the cousins sensed that someone was watching them, but when they glanced toward the front window, no one was there.
“We’re just being overly suspicious,” Bess whispered.
Mr. Jhaveri returned holding a large book. “There are many wonderful stories in here about unusual pieces of jewelry and their owners.” He leafed through the pages, stopping now and then to show photographs of fantastic jewels—rubies, diamonds, and emeralds cut in various shapes.
“Ah, here it is,” he said at last. “The Maharajah Prithviraj of Lakshmipur.”
Bess and George giggled as they looked at the roly-poly man whose face was as round as Hannah’s peach pie. He wore a loose-fitting robe that concealed his rotund figure, and on every finger except one was an exquisite ring.
“It seems that the maharajah had a passion for water lilies,” M
r. Jhaveri said. “They grew profusely in his garden pool—”
“And decorated his linen, silver, and jewelry,” Bess said, reading the caption under the picture.
Was it possible that Cliffs ring had once belonged to the maharajah? the girls wondered. But, if so, how had it traveled from India to the United States?
The bell on the front door jingled suddenly, and the girls stared at the bearded man who entered. Was he the same person Nancy had chased out of Rosemont Hospital?
George quickly dropped the ring into her purse and shut the book.
“Are you finished with it?” Mr. Jhaveri asked politely.
“Yes, thank you,” George said, trying to conceal her nervousness. She nudged Bess to leave. “We must be on our way, but I’m sure we’ll be back.”
“Don’t hurry on my account,” the bearded customer said. “I’m just browsing.”
The girls did not bother to reply, but hurried to their car.
“Maybe we should’ve stayed around to check that guy out,” Bess said.
“And risk having him hear something about the ring?” George replied. “No, ma‘am.”
She started the car, then noticed that the jeweler had emerged from his store. The bearded man was with him.
“Don’t go yet, miss!” Mr. Jhaveri was shouting at the girls. “Please—come back!”
“What should we do?” Bess gasped. Her heart pounded nervously as the stranger raced toward them.
5
Untimely Ruse
“I’m positive that man is after Cliffs ring!” Bess exclaimed fearfully.
“Just keep cool,” George said, turning off the ignition.
By now, the bearded man was standing next to the girl’s car.
“I am Dr. DeNiro, the anthropologist,” he introduced himself.
George recognized the name immediately. Dr. DeNiro was a professor at Oberon College, a local university and had recently returned from field work in Asia. An article about him had appeared in the last issue of the River Heights Gazette.
“I’m George Fayne, and this is my cousin, Bess Marvin,” George said.
“How do you do?”
Bess smiled sweetly, lifting her eyes to the thin, almost invisible scar that traveled down the man’s cheek and disappeared under the ragged beard.