Stage Fright Read online

  Just as the crew began to cheer, the theater doors banged open and George ran in, breathless and sopping wet from the thighs down. “Help! Help, everyone! Come quick! It’s Matt!”

  “What happened?” Evelyn jumped up.

  “He fell in the river!”

  Chapter

  Five

  I CLIMBED DOWN and pulled him out of the water.” George panted. “But he’s hurt and I was afraid to try to get him up the bank. Hurry!” She turned and ran out of the theater.

  “Fiona, get a rope!” Evelyn ran up the aisle. “Ben, find blankets. I’ll call an ambulance!”

  Not waiting for the others, Nancy dashed for the river. When she reached the shaded path, she slid on a patch of ice and had to make a grab for the railing. The ice had melted in the sun, but it was still solid under the trees. Nancy made her way down the path until she finally reached a spot where the wooden guard rail was broken in two.

  “Down here!” George called. She was kneeling beside Matt, who was lying on the steep rocky slope by the river.

  Nancy scrambled down to him. Matt’s eyes were open, and they registered his pain. “Where are you hurt?” she asked.

  “My ankle,” he gasped. “I think I sprained it.” He was soaked to the waist, and blood trickled from a cut on his cheek.

  “Does anything else hurt?”

  “Not really.”

  Nancy took off her jacket and covered him, then gently loosened his shoelaces and pushed down his sock. The ankle was already red and swollen. “Just lie still,” she told him. “Help is on the way. How did it happen?”

  “I was angry, walking fast, not paying attention. Suddenly I slipped, and before I knew it I was halfway in the river.” His lips were blue, and he was shivering. “Thank goodness for George.”

  “I went looking for him,” George explained, “thinking he might want someone to talk to. Then I saw the broken railing.”

  Nancy raised her eyes up to the splintered rail. “You must have hit it with a lot of force, Matt.”

  “No. I just fell against it and it gave way.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have to ask you this question. Is there any chance you were pushed?”

  “No! Of course not! I was all alone.”

  Just then some others arrived. “An ambulance will be here any minute,” Evelyn called down.

  “Toss us the blankets,” Nancy said. “We don’t want to move him in case there are broken bones. So far, it seems to be only his ankle.”

  Matt was still shivering when the ambulance arrived. The paramedics climbed down the embankment, checked him over, and found no injuries other than the ankle and bruises. They eased him onto the stretcher, and Nancy and George pitched in to help carry it up the slippery slope.

  “I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” Matt told Evelyn as they lifted him into the ambulance. “Don’t replace me. It’s only my ankle. Promise?”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Evelyn answered. “And we wouldn’t think of replacing you.”

  “I’ll be back in time for this afternoon’s rehearsal!” were Matt’s last words before the doors were closed and the ambulance drove away, siren wailing.

  “Maybe I should have gone with him,” George said.

  “He’s in good hands,” Nancy assured her. “Besides, I need you here to help me figure out how he fell.”

  As soon as everyone left the scene, Nancy, Ned, and George inspected the railing. The wood was rotten in the section that had broken. Nancy found no sign that it had been tampered with.

  “Everyone was in the theater when this happened, except for Joseph and Marla,” Nancy said.

  “I saw Marla in the office, working on the computer, when I went out after Matt,” George said. “But I don’t know where Joseph was.”

  “Did you question him or Fiona this morning?”

  George shook her head. “Fiona was too busy, and he wasn’t around. I heard someone say he was rewriting in his cabin, but I didn’t want to leave the theater. What if something happened?”

  “You were right,” Nancy agreed. “I feel uneasy without one of us there, in case the arsonist tries again. And that means we’d better get back right now.”

  Ned checked his watch. “I think they’re going to break for lunch just about now.”

  “Okay,” Nancy replied. “Let’s get a bite to eat ourselves.”

  Matt’s doctor called from the hospital after lunch. His patient was fine and demanding to be released, but the ankle was badly sprained and one bone had a thin stress fracture. Matt could use crutches occasionally, but he’d have to be in a wheelchair for performances.

  The company went into a huddle in the Lodge. It was too late to replace Matt, even if he’d allow it. A small theater like the Red Barn couldn’t afford to hire understudies. Also, the audience was coming to see Matt Duncan, not a replacement. They came to the only logical conclusion—the play would have to be blocked to accommodate his wheelchair.

  “Think of it this way,” Marla said. “It’s a simply marvelous opportunity for publicity. I can see the headlines: ‘Star injured, the play goes on.’ I’m going to call the newspapers and TV stations. We’ll set up a press conference for late this afternoon.”

  “Do we need more publicity? The box office is almost sold out,” Evelyn said.

  “ ‘Almost’? We’ll have them banging down the doors.” Marla rubbed her hands. “When I did Plaza Suite in Phoenix with what’s-his-name . . . the dark guy with the mustache . . . you know who I mean. He showed up with his arm in a cast one day. Sales were sluggish so he pulled the old show-must-go-on bit and, boom, they went through the roof. Just one problem—he wasn’t hurt at all! Faked the whole thing!” She laughed.

  Evelyn barely smiled. “Well, we have our work cut out for us. Ned, would you mind filling in for Matt again? We’ll put you in a chair, move you around, so we can start refocusing lights at least.”

  He nodded and she continued. “I’ll call Matt and tell him. Now, anyone not needed in the theater has plenty to do on the props. Jill and Ben, go into town to buy whatever we need. Take my car. The keys are under the front seat.”

  People hurried off in different directions. Evelyn started for the Barn, and Nancy and George caught up to her. “Can we help?” Nancy offered.

  Evelyn considered, then said, “Thanks, but we can handle it.” She paused. “On second thought, there is one favor I’d like to ask. My horses haven’t been exercised for several days, thanks to all the confusion. I know George is an excellent rider, and she told me you are, too.”

  “Well, yes,” Nancy said. “But I’m not sure I should leave the compound—”

  “Just for an hour. The radio says snow is on the way, and the poor dears are so restless. George, you take Bravo and, Nancy, you’ll like Applause. Give them a good long canter, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

  She led them to the stable. It was hard to resist the two beautiful horses waiting in the paddock. Bravo was a big chestnut gelding, and the mare, Applause, a pretty bay. Evelyn left, and while George and Nancy saddled up, the horses pawed at the ground, eager to be off.

  “I don’t know,” Nancy said, tightening the girth. “I feel uneasy about leaving the compound.”

  George glanced up at the sky. Thick clouds had rolled in, and the temperature was dropping. “Sure looks like snow. Before it hits, this guy needs to have a little fun, don’t you, fellow?” She stroked his coppery neck. “Don’t worry, Nan, we’ll be back in an hour.”

  “Well, all right.” Nancy mounted. They walked down the driveway, the horses dancing in anticipation. After they crossed the road they found a break in the stone wall bordering a large field and let the horses out into a canter.

  Nancy’s mare fell into place behind the gelding. She had a smooth rolling stride that Nancy adjusted to easily. George had more difficulty keeping Bravo from bolting into a gallop.

  “This is one wild horse!” George called, laughing. The wind whipped the words over her sh
oulder.

  Keeping the road on their right, they cantered up a long slope and down the far side, then skirted a stand of trees until they found a wide path through the woods. Jumping a shallow creek here and a low wall there, they rode up and down the hills, as exhilarated as the horses. The sharp air reddened their cheeks, and their breath came out in frosty puffs.

  Finally they paused to rest, and Nancy noticed that a few soft snowflakes were swirling from the sky. “We’d better head back,” she told George.

  “Gosh, I hate to,” George said. “This big guy could run all day, but I guess you’re right.”

  They trotted back to the road, then slowed to a walk. Bravo kept trying to break into a faster gait, but George’s hands were firm on the reins.

  “I’m worried about this case,” Nancy said. “First, I’m not convinced that Matt wasn’t pushed.”

  “But why would he lie?” George asked. “To protect someone? Who?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, Nan, you’ve trusted my instincts before. I’m sure Matt’s telling the truth.”

  “Okay, I’ll agree with you, but he can only tell the truth as he knows it. Maybe he didn’t realize he was being pushed—or he’s forgotten.”

  “That’s right. Shock can do that sometimes.”

  Nancy brushed snow from Applause’s mane. “This is the second accident. The first one was definitely planned. Marla was almost killed in that booby trap, but we don’t know that she was the intended victim.”

  “Easy, boy.” George reined in the big, frisky horse. “And we don’t know that the arsonist is the same one who set the trap.”

  “Let’s assume for the moment it’s one person and focus on alibis. I checked with Sherri and Jill at lunch. They repeated that Fiona was with them and I believe them. That leaves Joseph and—”

  “And Matt. Nancy, I just can’t believe he would do such a thing. Besides, today he was the victim of an accident.”

  “Let’s keep an open mind about him.”

  George frowned. “If you’re going to include victims in your suspicions, what about Marla?”

  “If we think in terms of two different suspects, one who rigs booby traps and one who sets fires, she’s a possibility,” Nancy commented.

  “But she’s so forgetful,” George said. “If she tried to set fire to the Barn, she’d probably end up burning the Lodge down instead.”

  Nancy laughed.

  “Besides,” George added, “why would she do it?”

  “Motive is the problem. Within the company, no one stands to gain by destroying the Barn, with the possible exception of Fiona. We know she was upset when Evelyn chose this play, and she didn’t want to work on it. We have to find out why.”

  “I’ll try to talk to her.” George reined back her horse as he broke into a trot. “Easy, easy. The road’s too slippery, Bravo.”

  The snow was falling thick and fast now, the ground already coated white.

  “Meanwhile,” Nancy said, “I want to dig into the neighbor’s background. Evelyn tried to call Ferguson this morning, but he was out.”

  “Don’t forget our playwright, Joseph Brunner. He has no alibi, and he’s kind of weird.”

  “Weird, yes, but why would he destroy his own play? And Evelyn thinks it’s unlikely that anyone would want to do something like that to him. But I’m going to talk to him as soon as we get back. If I can’t get anywhere with him, I think we should call in the police. First Marla was almost killed, now Matt’s been hurt. We can’t take any more chances.”

  “You’re right.” George squinted, trying to see through the swirling snow. “The road curves up ahead. We must be getting close to the turnoff to the Barn—”

  A dark car suddenly appeared out of the whiteness, rushing toward them like a locomotive. Instead of slowing, it picked up speed.

  Nancy dug her heels in the bay’s sides, urging her to run. The mare dashed to the side of the road, then reared as she faced a high fence. Nancy pulled down on the reins, bringing the horse’s head low while she struggled to stay in the saddle.

  The car rushed by, almost striking George and Bravo. Neighing in fear, the chestnut whirled and bolted. In two strides he jumped and cleared the top of the wall.

  George, thrown off balance, lost her stirrups. Bravo broke into a full gallop, his outstretched neck yanking the reins free.

  Nancy managed to settle her horse, then swung her in a wide circle and pointed her toward the fence. “Go for it, Applause, go!”

  Horse and rider sailed over the wall, landing without a stumble. Nancy spotted Bravo racing through the snow, headed for a stand of trees. If he galloped through the woods, George could be swept off his back. George had no way to control Bravo—she had no reins or stirrups. All she could do was cling to the neck of the powerful horse as he thundered into the distance.

  Chapter

  Six

  NANCY URGED THE MARE into a gallop and they pounded after the gelding. Snow whipped her face, making her eyes water, but she did see George find the stirrups with her feet just before she reached the trees. Maybe now Bravo would respond, even without reins.

  A moment later Bravo veered to the right, skimming past the woods and heading for open country. Nancy turned Applause to try to cut him off. The mare gained a little on him, but couldn’t catch up with the long-legged chestnut.

  Blinking away tears and snowflakes, Nancy watched as George tried to grab Bravo’s reins, which were caught in the mane near his head. They were just out of reach. Nancy gasped as George rose up in the stirrups. No, George, she thought, it’s too dangerous. Let him run.

  George almost seemed to hear her. She settled back in the saddle, crouched low. The horses galloped across fields, up and down rolling hills, jumping ditches and stone walls. Nancy prayed that neither horse would stumble.

  The snow thickened and Nancy could barely keep George in sight. Finally, when Applause gradually closed the distance, she realized Bravo was beginning to slow. As she caught up, Nancy saw that George had managed to grab the reins and was now easing the horse down to a walk.

  “What a ride!” George called as Nancy rode up. She was breathing heavily.

  “I didn’t know if you could hang on!” Nancy said.

  The chestnut tossed his head and whinnied. “It was close,” George said. “Did you get a good look at that car? I’m sure it tried to run us down.”

  “I saw part of the license plate, and I know it was a dark sedan, but I’m not sure what make the car was.”

  “Me neither.” George shrugged. “Come on, we’d better get back to the compound.”

  Nancy saw only a whirling white world. Nothing was visible—not a building or road or sign. “Good idea, but where is it?”

  Applause raised her head and nickered softly. “Maybe she knows,” George said. “She seems to smell something.”

  “All right, let’s see where she goes, but you’d better keep a tight rein on Bravo. He’s still excited.” Nancy relaxed her reins, and Applause started off at a fast walk.

  They rode through the snowstorm, unable to see more than a few feet ahead. Sounds were muffled and nothing was visible. They seemed shut off from the real world.

  At last they spotted a glow ahead. A light, then several lights, then a huge house emerged out of the storm. Applause broke into a trot and made straight for what turned out to be a barn. Bravo whinnied and another horse answered.

  They rode into the barn and dismounted. “Let’s leave them here while we go up to the house,” Nancy said.

  “They should be rubbed down.” George brushed snow off Bravo’s copper-colored coat.

  “In a few minutes. We’d better ask permission before we make ourselves at home.”

  They walked up to the front door of the stone mansion and rang the bell. A plump lady wearing an apron opened the massive door. Nancy introduced herself and George, briefly explaining how they came to be lost. She finished by asking, “May we borrow your telephone?”r />
  “Of course. Come with me.” She led them down the hall to a book-lined study. “Mr. Ferguson, these young ladies would like to use the phone.”

  A wiry man in his fifties raised his head from a chair by the fireplace and peered at them over his reading glasses. “Well, hello. And who might you be?” He put down the pipe he’d been smoking and stood up. “I’m Charles Ferguson.”

  Nancy glanced at George, delighted to have stumbled onto one of her main suspects. She repeated her story, then called the Red Barn but didn’t tell Evelyn where she was calling from or why. Evelyn assured her that everything was peaceful, or as peaceful as it could be under the circumstances. Matt had gone straight from the hospital to rehearsal. She hoped he wouldn’t be too tired for the press conference she had scheduled for five o’clock.

  After Nancy hung up she took a moment to study her host. Charles Ferguson was fine-boned, with a face that was all angles. Everything from his stylish haircut to the toes of his polished shoes spelled money.

  His study was a blend of the old and the new, and all of it expensive. There were oriental carpets, red velvet drapes, gold-framed oil paintings, and near the bay window, a mahogany desk with a fax machine and computer.

  Ferguson had been talking to George. Now he said, “Why don’t you leave the horses here and let me drive you home?” He didn’t wait for an answer but crossed the room and pulled a satin bell cord.

  The housekeeper appeared at the door moments later. “Hilda, please tell Jenkins that the young ladies’ horses are in the barn. Ask him to give them a good rubdown. We could do with a little refreshment, I think.”

  “Certainly, Mr. Ferguson.”

  “Please have a seat.” He indicated a couple of heavy carved chairs. “So, you’re staying at the Red Barn,” he said to Nancy.

  “Yes, Evelyn Caldwell is a friend of George’s family. Have you met her?” she asked, knowing that he hadn’t.