Stage Fright Read online

  Hilda left them alone, and Nancy checked the printer. It was the same brand as the one at the Barn. “The notes could have been printed on this system. Let’s boot up the computer and see what program he uses,” she suggested.

  “Do you think we should?” Ned asked.

  “It’ll only take a minute.” She turned the computer on and watched the screen. “Oh, boy, I should have guessed. We can’t enter the program until we type in the password and—”

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

  Nancy whirled around as Charles Ferguson strode into the study, his eyes blazing.

  Chapter

  Ten

  NANCY’S HEART RACED SO fast she wondered if Ferguson could see it fluttering under her sweater. “M-Mr. Ferguson,” she stammered. “You startled us.”

  “What are you doing with my computer?” Ferguson’s hands were balled into fists, and his face was a splotchy red.

  “Nothing.” Nancy tried to keep the quaver out of her voice. “The printer at the Barn is broken, and we wondered if yours was compatible with our system. While we were looking at it, we noticed that the computer was turned on.”

  “I never leave it on!”

  “Are you sure? When I have to leave mine for a while, I turn down the brightness on the screen. It’s better than rebooting it too often.”

  Ferguson glared at her. “I know that! What kind of fool do you think I am?”

  “Are you sure you didn’t do that this time? The screen was dark, but I heard the hum.” Nancy gave him an innocent smile. “I have to confess, I was also curious. I’m thinking of upgrading my system, and your computer is one of the ones I’m considering, so I turned up the brightness to take a tiny peek. I’m really sorry. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Ferguson reached past her and switched the machine off. “I do mind. What are you doing poking around in my office?”

  Nancy edged toward the door, followed by Ned. “We really came over to collect Ms. Caldwell’s horses. It was good of you to take care of them.”

  At the mention of the horses, Ferguson’s face softened a little. “Fine animals, especially that big bay gelding. Is he for sale?”

  “I don’t think so, but I’ll tell Ms. Caldwell you’re interested.” Her heart rate slowed to normal, now that Ferguson apparently had accepted her story.

  “Tell her to name her price. And while you’re about it, tell her she’d better reconsider my offer on her property. The terms are not only fair, but very generous, and she’d be smart to accept it before it’s too late.”

  “What does that mean?” Nancy asked.

  He gave her a sharp glance. “Never mind. Just give her my message. And now I assume you want to collect your horses.”

  “Yes. Thanks again for taking care of them.”

  His only answer was a brief nod.

  Nancy was glad to escape to the barn. While Ned helped her saddle the mare, he said firmly, “I don’t want you riding across country. Take the road home, and I’ll follow you.”

  “But it’s shorter to go over the fields.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Ferguson is a ruthless man. I don’t want you roaming around on your own any more.”

  “Ned, you know I can take care of myself.”

  He hugged her. “You’re my girl, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Nancy snuggled in his arms. “Okay, the road it is. Just promise me that when Laura starts her cute little act again, you’ll remember what you just said.”

  “You’re my girl,” he repeated. He kissed the tip of her nose.

  Nancy enjoyed the ride back on Applause, but Bravo didn’t like trailing the mare. He was used to leading, and he insisted on cantering beside them all the way back.

  After they’d turned the horses loose in their own paddock, Nancy stopped at Evelyn’s house to use the phone.

  “I’m going to call my father to ask him to run a check on Ferguson. I want to know about his business background.”

  “Good idea. I’ll meet you in the theater.”

  Evelyn had given Nancy permission to use her phone whenever she needed to. She went into the living room. When she dialed her father’s office, she was immediately put through to Carson Drew.

  “Nancy! I’m glad you called. How are you doing?”

  “Just fine, Dad, but I haven’t solved the case yet. I need some information.” She told him about Ferguson. “And also, could you try to find out if a playwright named Joseph Brunner has any kind of criminal record? He’s my other major suspect.”

  They chatted about Christmas plans for a while, then Nancy sent her love to Hannah, the housekeeper who had been with the family since Nancy was three years old. When she hung up the phone, she realized that Marla was standing in the doorway. How long had she been standing there?

  “Hi! Don’t mind me,” Marla said. “I came back to find my knitting. Have you seen it anywhere?”

  Nancy pointed to a needlepoint bag on a chair. “Is that it?”

  “Why, yes. Silly me, I was searching for it all over the theater. Was that your father on the phone?” Marla rummaged through her bag and pulled out a ball of yarn.

  “Yes,” Nancy said simply, wondering how much of her conversation Marla had overheard. After her disastrous mishandling of Joseph, Nancy was not eager to have her “help” again.

  “Do you think Evelyn will like this color? I’m knitting her a scarf for Christmas, but I wonder if this shade is too green.”

  “Well, it is bright,” Nancy said, “but it should look good on Evelyn.”

  “That’s what I thought at first. Then I thought, no, then I changed my mind again. Oh, well, if she doesn’t like it, she doesn’t have to wear it. Why are Ferguson and Brunner your main suspects?”

  Nancy was startled by the sudden change of subject. “Did—did I say that?”

  “You certainly did, and I think you’re on the right track. Definitely. Someone pointed Charles Ferguson out to me in town the other day, and I could tell right away he’s a dangerous man. He reminds me of that director, the one who did that picture in Spain. Oh, what is his name? Anyway, he has the same cold eyes and those tight, thin lips. Never trust anyone with thin lips, my dear. I should know.” She nodded wisely.

  Nancy smiled. “All right. How’s rehearsal going?”

  “Fine. Now, as to your other suspect, Brunner, I don’t like him either. Heaven knows, the theater world is riddled with egotists, but he really takes the cake. Evelyn is directing this play brilliantly, and all he does is complain. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he’s the one who set those fires and sent those notes.”

  “Then why doesn’t he take the play somewhere else?” Nancy asked.

  “He can’t. Evelyn has a contract giving her exclusive rights. He was happy enough to sign it, and more than happy to take her big, fat check. But now all he does is whine. He’s really a pathetic little man.”

  “That’s very interesting. Well, we should be getting back.” Nancy moved to the door.

  “Wait, my dear. There are two more suspects I don’t think you’ve considered. Fiona Sweeney is one of them.”

  “I think we’ve about eliminated her. She has solid alibis for each accident.”

  “Well, there’s one person who I don’t think has even occurred to you.”

  “Who?” Nancy asked.

  Marla lowered her voice and glanced at the door. “Evelyn. I know she’s my friend and I shouldn’t even think of it, but a good detective can’t let personal feelings get in the way of solving a crime.”

  Nancy blinked in surprise. “But why would Evelyn want to burn down her own theater?”

  “Have you considered the insurance angle? You know she’s having money problems. A nice big chunk of cash from the insurance company would fix that. Then she could sell the property to Ferguson and she’d be rolling in dough.”

  “I don’t know,” Nancy said. “I don’t think she would have asked me to investigate if she was trying
to destroy the Red Barn.”

  Marla stuffed the yarn back in her bag. “You’re probably right. It was just an idea. Well, are you coming or not? I have to finish the display in the lobby.”

  They walked over to the Barn, and Nancy left Marla in the lobby before joining Ned and George in the back of the theater. Above them, Ben was on the catwalk behind their row, adjusting lights with a huge wrench.

  “What do you think of this idea?” Nancy whispered to her friends. “Marla suggested that Evelyn herself might be behind the threats.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” George hissed, angry.

  “I agree,” Ned said. “What possible motive could she have?”

  Nancy explained Marla’s insurance theory.

  George was so mad she was ready to explode. “Aunt Evelyn would never—”

  Just then Ned reached over and shoved Nancy out of her seat!

  Chapter

  Eleven

  A SECOND LATER Ned was kneeling at her side. “I’m sorry, Nan. Are you all right?” He touched her face.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” Her heart was pounding from the sudden surge of adrenaline. “What happened? Why did you shove me?”

  “I was looking up when I saw this start to fall.” Ned showed her a heavy stainless steel wrench a foot and a half long that he picked up from the chair where she’d been sitting. Nancy raised her eyes to the catwalk, where Ben stood, frozen.

  “Did you drop this, Ben?” she asked, standing up.

  “No, I didn’t, I swear. I still have my wrench right here. See?” He held it up.

  “Did you leave another one on the edge of the catwalk?” Evelyn asked as she and everyone else walked toward Nancy.

  “No!” Ben protested. “I wouldn’t do that.” His voice was shaking.

  “Did any of you leave this wrench up there?” Evelyn asked the crew.

  They all shook their heads, shocked into silence.

  “Come on, someone admit to it,” Evelyn said. “It was an accident, and fortunately no one got hurt. If you made a mistake, no one will blame you. It’s important that we know.”

  Fiona and Marla pushed through the lobby doors. “What’s going on?” Fiona asked. “We heard yelling.”

  Nancy explained, then asked Fiona, “Where were you when this happened?”

  “In the office, on the phone, ordering replacement lamps for the Fresnels. Two bulbs blew this morning.”

  “And, darling, I was right out in the lobby doing the display,” Marla offered.

  Nancy counted the group. “Where’s Joseph?”

  “Right here.” He walked out onstage from the wings. “I was getting a cup of coffee. What happened?”

  “Someone apparently left this wrench on the edge of the catwalk,” Evelyn explained. “It fell and almost hit Nancy.”

  “She doesn’t look hurt,” Joseph said gruffly.

  “No, thank goodness. You really are all right, aren’t you?” Evelyn asked her.

  “I’m perfectly fine,” Nancy repeated.

  “I’m so glad.” Evelyn glanced at her watch. “All right, everyone, back to work. We’ll get to the bottom of this later. Right now we have to finish the last scene. It’s nearly dinnertime.”

  While the crew scattered to their posts, Nancy talked to Ned. “How did you happen to see the wrench?”

  “I heard Ben and glanced up at him. It was then I saw the gleam of something falling. Sorry about shoving you. No, actually I’m not, ’cause you’re still here.” He circled her in a giant bear hug, which Nancy gratefully returned.

  “Was it coming from the catwalk?” she asked, still in his arms.

  He remained silent for a moment. “Come to think of it, it was higher up than that, maybe up in the rafters.”

  The Barn’s antique wooden beams were exposed, like the ribs of a skeleton. Apparently once there had been a hayloft, but it had been removed. In its place was the catwalk Ben was working on. It was a narrow balcony that stretched across the back of the theater. A narrow metal ladder on the rear wall led up to it.

  “Did you see anyone up there any place except Ben?” Nancy asked.

  “No,” Ned said. “And, come to think of it, he was working about five feet behind us.”

  “Places, please.” Evelyn clapped her hands. “Let’s take it from Laura’s entrance. Come on, places. Don’t forget, we open tomorrow night.”

  Nancy was itching to investigate the rafters but knew she’d have to wait. She couldn’t disturb rehearsal, and she didn’t want to upset the cast and crew. It was better to let everyone think the wrench had fallen by accident.

  • • •

  The excited talk at dinner was only about the play. The replacement Christmas trees had been decorated, the last of the fake presents wrapped, and Fiona had finally tracked down a set of identical holly plates.

  “I know it’s crazy to be so nervous about my lines,” Matt admitted to George and Nancy as he helped himself to a chicken drumstick. “I really know every word in the script, but during rehearsal I keep going blank.”

  “Stage fright must be really scary,” George said.

  “It’s the worst! The only way I can fight it is to go over the script again and again and again.” He flashed his famous Brent smile at George. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to cue me after dinner?”

  George blushed. “You want me to read the play with you?”

  “If you don’t have any other plans.”

  “Oh, no. I don’t! I’d love to!” She turned to Nancy. “Unless . . .”

  Nancy made a quick decision. She had planned to ask George help her check out the Barn, but she couldn’t deny her friend a chance to rehearse with Matt. She smiled. “I don’t have any plans.”

  She turned to her left to find Ned deep in conversation with Laura. Nancy couldn’t help herself.

  “Ned, darling,” she said, imitating Laura. “I need to talk to you right after dinner.”

  He started chuckling, then caught himself and just said, “Sure.”

  As soon as coffee was served, Nancy asked Ned and Evelyn to join her by the fire. They kept their voices low so they wouldn’t be overheard by the others at the tables. Everyone was giddy with preopening excitement, and the room buzzed with conversation.

  “Evelyn, I’m very concerned,” Nancy began. “I still haven’t found out who wrote those arson threats, and opening night is tomorrow.”

  “But, dear, we decided not to worry about that anymore. Why don’t you relax and enjoy your visit, as George is doing?” She nodded at George, who was laughing at something Matt had said.

  “Evelyn, I don’t believe the danger is over. I’m going to find out who sent those notes and set those fires, but if I haven’t solved this case by tomorrow night, you have to take some precautions.”

  “Goodness, you’re persistent. Why are you so convinced we still have a problem?”

  “Someone is trying to stop my investigation. I’m positive that falling wrench was planned. Why else did it land on the seat where I always sit to watch rehearsal?”

  “Oh, dear, you don’t really think so, do you? That would be terrible.” She rubbed the back of her neck, then smiled. “Well, if you’re right, I’m sure you’ll find out who it is.”

  “Yes, I will,” Nancy said. “But I still want you to hire extra guards for tomorrow night. Also, we should have plenty of fire extinguishers on hand. Just in case.”

  Evelyn sighed. “More money. Do you really think it’s necessary?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Oh, well, if you insist. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must talk to Joseph about Laura’s monologue in scene four.”

  Ned and Nancy walked over to the Red Barn. The air inside was chilly, and the deserted theater felt hollow. Their hushed voices and footsteps sounded too loud as they echoed in the gloomy stillness.

  Ned and Nancy turned on the lights and also got flashlights from the office. Then they climbed up the ladder to the catwalk, sweeping their flashlights o
ver the rafters. “We’re not up high enough,” Nancy said. “We can’t see from here.”

  “Let’s get the scaffold,” Ned suggested.

  They found it stored behind the rear stage curtain and rolled the tall iron structure down the ramp into the auditorium. “Jerry had moved this into the auditorium yesterday after rehearsal, just before the press conference.” Ned grunted as they wheeled the heavy scaffold up the aisle. “I don’t know how he managed it all by himself.”

  “Wait a minute.” Nancy stopped and brushed a stray curl off her forehead. “Did you mean the scaffold was left in the back of the theater last night? That means anyone could have climbed up with the wrench.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t remember it until just now.”

  “Hurry up, let’s get it in place. I can’t wait to see what’s up there.”

  A couple of minutes later, Nancy scrambled up the iron bars. Ned stayed below to steady the structure. Once on the scaffold’s platform, she found she could reach up and touch the beam over her head.

  Her flashlight revealed a lacy network of cobwebs. “Am I pointing my light directly over the seat?” she called down to Ned.

  “A little more to your right,” he called up to her.

  The flashlight played over the rough timbers. A section about two feet long on the bottom rafter was slightly wider than the rest of the beam. Nancy reached up and ran her hand over the wood. A thin board had been attached to the side of the beam. She found hinges at the top of the board and a hook at the bottom. A length of transparent fish line was tied to the hook. With her flashlight she traced the line as it passed through a series of hooks running along the rafter to the side wall.

  “I found it!” Nancy shouted. “Wow, someone went to a lot of trouble.”

  She stretched up and pulled on the line until the board swung up on its hinges to make a right angle with the rafter and held. Now it formed a shelf just the right size to hold the big wrench. She released the line, and the board dropped. Any object lying on the shelf—such as a wrench—would fall straight down onto her seat.