Lights, Camera . . . Cats! Read online

  I wonder if Lucy ever wore this, Nancy thought. She reached for the hat and tried it on.

  “How do I look?” Nancy asked.

  “Totally glamorous,” Bess said. “There’s just one thing missing.”

  Nancy giggled as Bess brushed pink powder on her face. “Bess, that tickles!”

  Just then the trailer door opened. A man and a woman stepped inside. They were wearing black smocks.

  “Hi!” the woman said. Her red hair was almost pink. “I’m Lily and this is Max.”

  Max pointed at the girls. “You must be the kids for the next scene,” he said.

  Nancy didn’t know what to say. She quickly grabbed the hat off her head.

  “We… uh,” Nancy said.

  “Do we get to wear makeup?” Bess asked quickly.

  “Oh, lots!” Lily said.

  Bess smiled and hopped into a chair. “Then let’s go for it,” she said.

  “But—” Nancy started to say.

  Max clapped his hands. He pointed to the other two chairs. “Hurry, hurry. We have lots of work to do,” he said.

  Before Nancy knew it, they were sitting in makeup chairs with plastic capes around their shoulders.

  “You have fabulous rosy red cheeks,” Lily told Nancy.

  Nancy was about to say “Thank you” when Lily slopped a handful of green goop on her face.

  “Ugh!” Nancy gasped. From the corner of her eye she could see Max smearing silver goop on George’s face.

  “Yuck!” George cried.

  Bess giggled. “I’m probably getting the pretty powder and the pink lipstick.”

  “Not in this scene, sweetie,” Max joked. He reached out and rubbed Bess’s face with purple goop.

  “Eww!” Bess cried.

  The girls stared in the mirror with their mouths wide open.

  “And now for the hair,” Lily said. She and Max held out cans.

  “Oh, no,” Nancy moaned. She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, her hair was a weird shade of electric blue. George’s hair was pink, and Bess’s hair was bright orange.

  “What do you think?” Lily asked.

  George gulped. “We look like something out of a circus,” she said.

  “Fabulous!” Max said. He wiped his hands on a towel. “Now, how would you girls like to snack on a crunchy turtle?”

  Nancy, Bess, and George looked at one another. Then they let out a piercing scream.

  The door flew wide open. Mr. Bluestone and Vera rushed in. Behind them were Jason, David, and Mike.

  “Is there a problem here?” Mr. Bluestone asked.

  Mike pointed to Nancy and laughed “You look soooo weird!” he said.

  “Those aren’t the kids for the clown scene,” Vera told Lily and Max.

  “They aren’t?” Lily asked.

  The clown scene, Nancy thought. So that explains it.

  “These boys are,” Vera said. She pointed to Jason, David, and Mike.

  Mr. Bluestone tilted his head and looked at the girls. “Aren’t you the girls from the pizza parlor scene?” he asked.

  Nancy’s blue hair bobbed as she nodded. “Yes, Mr. Bluestone,” she said.

  “Why did you come back?” Mr. Bluestone asked, confused.

  Nancy decided to get right to the point. She hopped down from the chair and walked up to Mr. Bluestone.

  “We wanted to find out if you and Vera ate up Harry,” Nancy said.

  “Harry the cameraman?” Max said.

  “I think Harry’s a turtle,” Lily whispered.

  “What are you talking about?” Vera asked Nancy.

  “I heard Mr. Bluestone tell you to get rid of Harry,” Nancy explained.

  “And then we heard both of you say that you ate a turtle,” George said.

  Mr. Bluestone and Vera looked at each other. Then they began to laugh.

  “You must mean this,” Vera said. She reached for the box of caramels and shut it. Nancy read the words on the lid: Crunchy Munchy Turtles.

  “They’re called turtles because they’re shaped like them,” Mr. Bluestone explained.

  “Vera would never hurt a real turtle,” Max said. “She’s got lots of pets.”

  “And Mr. Bluestone would never eat one either,” Lily said. “He’s a vegetarian.”

  “Some detective,” Mike scoffed at Nancy. “You don’t even know the difference between an animal and a piece of candy.”

  Nancy felt her face grow hot. She turned and walked quickly out of the trailer. Bess and George followed.

  “Hey,” Jason called out. “If you find Harry, let us know. There’s a big turtle race tomorrow.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” George called back.

  As the girls walked back to their bikes, Nancy opened her blue notebook.

  “The turtle thief is not Vera,” she said. “Now I have no suspects at all.”

  “Nancy,” Bess whispered. “I think we’re famous already.”

  “Why?” Nancy asked.

  “Because everyone’s staring at us,” Bess said.

  “But why are they laughing, too?” George asked.

  Nancy stopped walking. She covered her face with her notebook.

  “Because we’re still wearing our crazy makeup, that’s why!” she cried.

  “Oh, no!” Bess and George shouted.

  7

  Miss Snooty’s Revenge

  I wish I could disappear!” Nancy groaned.

  The girls jumped on their bikes. People pointed and cars honked as they rode down Main Street.

  “Look, Mommy,” a little boy shouted. “The circus is here. Can I go?”

  When Nancy reached her house, she ran straight inside. Her Labrador puppy, Chocolate Chip, jumped back and whined.

  The Drews’ housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, shrieked. “What happened to you?” she asked.

  “It’s a long story, Hannah,” Nancy said. “A real long story.”

  Hannah helped Nancy scrub off the makeup and hair goop. When it was completely out, Nancy sat down to dinner with her dad.

  Carson Drew was a lawyer and often helped Nancy with her cases. He listened as Nancy told him everything about Harry.

  “How many suspects do you have so far, Pudding Pie?” Mr. Drew asked.

  “Zero, Daddy,” Nancy said. “Now I’ll have to look for more.”

  “Don’t look for suspects,” Mr. Drew said. He buttered his roll. “Instead, look for clues.”

  “But where?” Nancy asked.

  Mr. Drew gave Nancy a wink. “Sometimes the clues come to you,” he said.

  “Well, they’d better come fast,” Nancy said. “I have to solve this case by Monday—or else.”

  After dinner Nancy called Bess and George. She asked them to get permission to come to her house the next morning.

  That night Nancy had trouble falling asleep. She leaned over her bed and scratched Chip behind her ears.

  I guess Lucy loves her pet just as much as I love mine, Nancy thought. I can’t really blame her for being mad.

  Nancy rolled on her back and stared at the ceiling. “But does she have to take it out on my whole school?” she mumbled.

  • • •

  Nancy woke up early on Sunday morning. She washed and pulled on a pair of jeans. She decided against the turtleneck sweater and chose a sweatshirt instead.

  After a waffle breakfast, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Nancy told Hannah.

  Nancy looked through the peephole. It was Bess and George.

  “Hi,” Nancy said, opening the door.

  “Look what we found on your doorstep,” Bess said. “The Carlton News.”

  Nancy took the paper from Bess.

  “Why would I want the Carlton News?” she asked.

  “Is Chip paper-trained?” George joked.

  Nancy looked at the headline. “Star’s Precious Pet Missing,” she read.

  The three friends sat on the doorstep. Nancy opened the paper and read the article out loud: “‘Thanks to Nancy
Drew, Lucy Webb’s turtle is gone.’”

  “She always has to mention you, Nancy,” George said angrily.

  Nancy went on. “‘The turtle was last seen on Saturday afternoon,’” she read. “‘He has a hard shell with a star-shaped mark on it. There are two white dots on his head.’”

  “She must have gotten a good look at Harry before he disappeared,” George said.

  “Brenda left the movie set early yesterday,” Nancy said. “How could she know exactly what Harry looked like?”

  “Unless,” George said, “Brenda came back and stole Harry.”

  “Let’s go to her house and question her,” Nancy suggested.

  “Go to Brenda’s house?” Bess asked. “I’d rather go to a haunted house!”

  “If we find Harry, it will be worth it,” Nancy said. She looked at the newspaper and smiled. Her dad was right. Sometimes the clues really did come to you.

  The girls rode their bikes to Brenda’s house. Brenda was in her front yard, stacking copies of the Carlton News.

  “Hello, Brenda,” Nancy called as they walked into her yard.

  Brenda pointed to the Carlton News in Nancy’s hand. “I see you got my newspaper, Nancy. Did I spell your name right?”

  “You always do,” George snapped.

  “How did you know so much about Harry, Brenda?” Nancy asked.

  “Because I’m an awesome reporter,” Brenda said with a grin.

  Nancy sighed to herself. Brenda was a tough nut to crack. Then she had an idea.

  “You left before Harry came out of his blue case,” Nancy said quickly.

  Brenda shook her head. “It’s a pink case—” she started to say. Then she stopped herself.

  Nancy smiled to herself. It worked! “How do you know Harry’s case is pink, Brenda?” she asked.

  Brenda stood up. She put her hands on her hips. “Are you saying that I stole Harry, Detective Drew?” she asked.

  “I’m asking,” Nancy said.

  “Nicely,” Bess added.

  Brenda stuck her chin out. “Well, I don’t have to answer. Who cares about your dumb detective cases anyway?” she asked.

  “And who cares about your dumb newspaper?” George asked. She grabbed the Carlton News from Nancy. Then she walked toward the Carltons’ trash cans.

  “George—wait!” Nancy called as she ran after her.

  “I’m putting this junk where it belongs,” George said. She lifted the lid of the blue recycle can. Then she gasped.

  “Nancy,” George said. “Look!”

  Nancy looked inside. She saw an empty bag of Turtle Chops just like the kind Rebecca had bought.

  Nancy carried the bag over to Brenda.

  “Give me that,” Brenda said. She grabbed the bag from Nancy.

  “You did steal Harry, didn’t you?” Nancy asked.

  “So what if I did?” Brenda asked. “It serves Lucy right.”

  “Why?” Nancy asked.

  “Because she wouldn’t let me interview her yesterday,” Brenda said.

  “Then why did you come back to the movie set later?” Nancy asked.

  “I wanted to ask Lucy one more time,” Brenda said. “But then I saw her giving you the pink case.”

  “We didn’t see you,” Bess said.

  Brenda nodded. “I was standing behind a huge camera. I saw and heard everything.”

  “So you stole Harry just because Lucy wouldn’t let you interview her?” Nancy asked.

  “No,” Brenda said, annoyed. “I did it because a story about a missing pet is much better than a boring interview.”

  Nancy couldn’t believe her ears.

  “You stole Harry so you could write about it?” she asked.

  “I was going to give him back,” Brenda admitted. “Harry is such a pest. Last night I found him swimming in my bubble bath.”

  The girls were silent as Brenda stacked the papers.

  “I’ll bet you make up all your silly stories,” George finally said.

  “Only when I have to,” Brenda said. She flipped a paper open. “Like this one.”

  Nancy stared at the page. There was a picture of Lucy. Over it were the words, “Lucy Webb Thinks All Boys Are Icky!”

  “It’s not true,” Brenda said. “But it makes a great story.”

  Nancy frowned. “It’s dishonest, that’s what it is,” she said.

  “And all boys aren’t icky,” Bess said. “Just Jason, David, and Mike.”

  Brenda shrugged. She picked up the papers and headed toward her house.

  Nancy was glad she had solved the case. There was just one thing she had to do.

  “Brenda, wait,” Nancy called. “Give Harry back to us. Right now.”

  Brenda looked over her shoulder. “I can’t do that,” she said.

  “Why not?” Bess asked.

  “Because,” Brenda said with a grin, “I gave Harry away.”

  8

  Show and Shell

  You what?” Nancy gulped.

  “I gave him away,” Brenda repeated.

  “To whom?” Nancy asked.

  “If you must know,” Brenda said, “I gave him to Orson Wong.”

  “Orson?” Nancy asked.

  “It was a swap,” Brenda explained. “One turtle for one picture of Lucy. I needed it for my article.”

  The girls turned and walked quickly to their bikes.

  “Good luck,” Brenda shouted. But it was a mean good luck.

  “Orson will never give Harry to us,” Bess said as they hopped on their bikes.

  “Maybe he gave Harry back to Lucy,” Nancy said. “Let’s go to his house and find out.”

  “I don’t want to see any more little monsters,” George said.

  “Taco is probably back in his tank,” Nancy said.

  “I meant Lonny and Lenny!” George said.

  • • •

  When Nancy and her friends reached Orson’s house, Lonny and Lenny were tossing a ball in the front yard.

  “Where’s Orson?” Nancy called.

  The twins smiled.

  “We know you like him!” Lenny said.

  “This is important,” George said. “Tell us where your brother is.”

  “And don’t lie this time,” Bess said.

  “Okay, okay,” Lenny said. “He’s in the backyard. He’s having an awk-ton.”

  “A what?” Nancy asked.

  “You know,” Lonny said. “Where a bunch of people try to buy the same thing.”

  Nancy turned to Bess and George. “I think he means an auction,” she said. “I went to one with my dad once.”

  “What’s he selling?” George asked.

  Lenny threw the ball in the air and caught it. “He’s selling all his Lucy Webb stuff,” he said.

  “His souvenirs?” Nancy asked.

  Lenny nodded. “Orson read in the Carlton News that Lucy thinks boys are icky. Now he’s real mad.”

  “I had to help Orson carry all the stuff into the backyard,” Lonny complained.

  “And I had to get all the kids on the block to come over,” Lenny grumbled.

  “We’re exhausted!” they cried together.

  Nancy grabbed one twin by the shoulders. “Lonny—”

  “I’m Lenny!” the boy said angrily.

  “Okay, Lenny,” Nancy said. “Is he also selling a turtle?”

  “You bet,” Lenny said. “We wanted to keep him, but Orson doesn’t want anything that makes him think of Lucy.”

  Nancy felt her stomach flip. She had to stop Orson before it was too late.

  “Let’s go,” she told Bess and George. They ran around the house to the backyard.

  Nancy counted seven kids in the yard. Orson stood on top of a picnic table. He held up an empty soda can.

  “How much do I hear for this can of soda that Lucy drank from?” he called out.

  Nancy could hear the kids mumbling to each other.

  A girl raised her hand. “One bottle of my sister’s nail polish!” she shouted
.

  Orson made a face. “Nah!” he said.

  A boy with glasses raised his hand. “Two Winky Dinky bars!” he shouted.

  “With nuts?” Orson asked, excited.

  The boy nodded.

  Orson smiled. “Sold! To the kid with the Winky Dinkys!” he cried.

  Nancy watched as Orson exchanged the soda can for the candy bars.

  “The next item…,” Orson shouted. He reached into his pocket. “… is Lucy’s pet turtle.”

  Bess squeezed Nancy’s arm.

  Orson held up the turtle. “How much do I hear?” he asked.

  Bess raised her hand. “A page of stickers. With glitter!” she shouted.

  Orson rolled his eyes. “I don’t think so,” he said.

  George’s hand shot up. “A package of football cards,” she shouted.

  “Now you’re talking,” Orson said. He looked like he was about to yell “sold” when a boy shouted out.

  “A package of football cards—and a brand-new football!”

  Nancy, Bess, and George turned around. Jason, David, and Mike stood behind them.

  “We want Harry for the turtle race,” Jason said. “And we’re going to get him.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Nancy asked. She raised her hand.

  Orson pointed to Nancy. “What do I hear?” he asked.

  “An autographed picture of Wammo the Magician,” Nancy shouted.

  “Wammo?” Orson asked.

  Nancy nodded. Wammo was her dad’s friend from high school. She could get the picture in just a few days.

  Orson scratched his head. “I always wanted a picture of Wammo,” he said.

  Jason waved his hands. “I can get you a nickel that Gonzo the Magician pulled from his ear!” he yelled.

  Excited murmurs filled the air.

  Oh, great, Nancy thought. Gonzo is superfamous. He just had a big show on TV.

  “Goodbye, Harry,” George whispered.

  But then Orson scowled. “Gonzo is a lazy dork,” he shouted. “He stuffs everything up his sleeve!”

  The kids in the yard gasped.

  Orson pointed to Nancy. “Sold! To Nancy for a picture of Wammo,” he said.

  “Bummer,” Jason grumbled.

  The girls jumped up and down.

  “You did it, Nancy,” Bess said.

  Nancy took the turtle from Orson. He had two white dots and a star-shaped mark.

  “Lucy doesn’t think boys are icky, Orson,” Nancy said. “Brenda made the whole thing up.”