The Silent Suspect Read online

  Nancy reached into her pocket for a tissue, but as she pulled out her hand, something fell onto the carpet. It was the long piece of string she had found with Lisa’s bracelet at the construction site. She stooped to pick it up.

  As she straightened, she caught Mr. Toomey’s eye. “Do you collect string, Nancy?” he asked with a smile.

  “Not really,” she answered. “I just happened to have some on hand.”

  “Oh, this is awful,” Laurel wailed as she dabbed at her eyes.

  “In a way it’s a good thing, too,” said Lisa.

  Everyone turned to stare at her.

  Lisa flushed. “I mean, since the building burned down, no one will ever know about the mistake. And no one will be hurt, either.

  Laurel jumped to her feet. “You think I set the fire!” she cried. “You think I wanted to cover up my mistake!”

  “No!” Lisa gasped. “No, that’s not what I—”

  “Well, you’re wrong!” Laurel shouted. “You’re all wrong!” She rushed out of the library.

  Lisa shut her eyes tightly. “That’s not what I meant,” she whispered. Nancy could see that she was very upset. Mr. Toomey looked uncomfortable, but Mr. Franklin sank into the nearest chair, shaking his head in disbelief.

  When he looked up, Nancy saw there were tears in his eyes. “You don’t think she could have done it, do you?” he asked beseechingly.

  “No!” Lisa cried out in dismay. “Don’t even say that, Dad! Laurel could never have burned down Franklin Place!”

  “I hope you’re right.” Mr. Franklin sounded like a beaten man.

  Nancy walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. Her voice was firm. “Please, Mr. Franklin, don’t worry,” she said. “First thing tomorrow, Ned and I will pay a visit to Jake Ledwell. For now he’s our prime suspect.”

  Nancy didn’t add that there were still lots of unanswered questions about both of Mr. Franklin’s daughters. She didn’t want to stir up even more family trouble.

  “I think I should probably go to bed,” Nancy added. “I’m still pretty sore, and I could use the extra rest.”

  “I’ll be up in a little while,” Lisa told her tonelessly. “I’ll stick around with Dad for a while.”

  “Thank you, Lisa,” Mr. Franklin murmured.

  Nancy couldn’t help wincing a little as she headed out of the room. Ned was right behind her. “I’ll help you up the stairs, Nancy,” he offered.

  When they reached Lisa’s bedroom door, he whispered, “So what do you really think?”

  Nancy sighed. “I didn’t want to say anything to upset Mr. Franklin more, but Laurel just became a real suspect. We have to work fast, Ned—before this whole family falls apart.” She sighed. “I have absolutely no idea who set the fire.”

  “Well, I believe Lisa and Laurel,” Ned declared. “I’m positive they’re both innocent.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Nancy said quietly.

  • • •

  Tired as she was, Nancy didn’t fall asleep right away. She was still awake when Lisa came quietly into the room.

  “Lisa, I have to ask you something,” she said.

  Lisa seemed startled. “I thought you were still asleep! What do you want to ask me?”

  Nancy propped herself up on one elbow. “I couldn’t help noticing that you didn’t seem very surprised about those calculations. You knew before tonight that they were wrong, didn’t you?”

  Even in the dim light Lisa looked shocked. “How did you know?” she blurted out. Then she sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. “I guess I just gave myself away,” she said tiredly.

  “Yes, I knew. I found out a while back when I was going over the plans. I guess I couldn’t bring myself to say anything until it was too late. The longer I put it off, the more work was done on Franklin Place, and then it was even harder to say anything. It was a horrible feeling.”

  “But you finally decided to do something?” Nancy asked gently.

  Lisa nodded. “Yes. I decided to destroy the calculations completely. That way, if anything happened, at least Laurel wouldn’t get the blame. Not from the outside world, anyway.

  “The night of the fire,” Lisa went on, “I went over to Franklin Place, but the night watchman saw me. I checked out and came home.”

  Nancy frowned slightly. “I guess I don’t understand why—”

  “Why I would protect Laurel?” Tears filled Lisa’s eyes. “I know Laurel is jealous of me,” she said. “But she’s still my sister. I don’t want her to go to jail!”

  “Why would Laurel go to jail?” asked Nancy.

  Lisa stared at her in astonishment. “Why, for arson. Laurel must have tried to cover up her mistake.”

  She gave Nancy a bleak stare. “So what are you going to do now?”

  “I don’t know,” Nancy told her honestly. “I guess the only thing both of us should do now is get some rest. We can talk about this some more in the morning, Lisa. And thanks for telling me.”

  Once Lisa was in bed, she fell asleep quickly. Nancy stayed awake a little longer. She wanted to think about this new development in the case.

  She certainly had more reason now to believe that Lisa didn’t set the fire. In fact, now Lisa had a reason for staying silent about what she was doing at the site. But it didn’t quite let her off the hook—and it didn’t clear things up for Richard, either. Or for Laurel.

  At the moment it seemed most likely to Nancy that Laurel had set the fire. If she had discovered her flawed calculations, would Laurel have had the strength to admit to her father what she’d done? Somehow Nancy could more readily imagine Laurel burning down Franklin Place than confessing her mistake to the father she so wanted to please.

  Nancy stretched out on her side. She was starting to feel sleepy now.

  I can think more about this in the morning, she thought drowsily.

  • • •

  It must have been a couple of hours later that someone shook Nancy roughly out of her deep, dreamless sleep. For a moment, as Nancy struggled to wake up, she thought she heard a strange, evil voice whispering to her.

  “Where is it? Where is it?” the voice seemed to say.

  Nancy couldn’t answer. She had an odd sensation in her throat. As she became more wide awake, she realized dimly that the room was dark except for a tiny glow of moonlight at the window. And someone was standing by her bed.

  Suddenly Nancy was fully conscious. The voice hadn’t been a dream. It was real! A dark, masked figure was leaning over her, hissing something incomprehensible into her ear.

  Nancy felt a scream rise in her throat, but no sound escaped her lips. A pair of strong hands was tightening around her neck—and relentlessly squeezing the life out of her!

  10

  A Puzzling Question

  Nancy struggled desperately to free herself, but the murderous hands only closed tighter around her neck. Spots were dancing in front of her eyes. She was beginning to feel faint. I’ve got to think of something, she told herself dizzily.

  The lamp! It was right next to her bed. Wildly, Nancy threw out her arm and knocked the lamp to the floor.

  There was a loud crash of breaking glass. In the other bed, Lisa sat up. “What was that?” she gasped.

  Then she saw Nancy struggling with the masked intruder.

  Lisa’s scream ripped the air as she rushed to Nancy’s side. “Help!” Lisa shrieked. “Someone, help us!”

  She threw herself at Nancy’s attacker, trying to pull him away. But the intruder threw Lisa aside as if she weighed nothing at all.

  His mask! Nancy thought. Get it off! Her lungs felt as though they were about to burst. She clawed frantically at her assailant’s face. She couldn’t get a firm grip on him, but her fingernails raked across his cheek. Finally, a corner of the mask came loose.

  The intruder jumped back in alarm, pressing the mask to his face. Nancy took a huge breath of air. Then she joined her screams with Lisa’s.

  Footsteps pounded down the hall
, and voices shouted. Without a moment’s hesitation the intruder threw himself out the open window.

  An instant later the bedroom door was flung wide open. The light flashed on overhead, and Ned rushed in, followed by Laurel and Mr. Franklin.

  Ned ran straight to Nancy. “What happened? Are you all right?” he cried.

  “I’m fine,” Nancy managed to say. “Check the window! He got out that way!”

  Mr. Franklin ran to the window. “No sign of anyone out there,” he said. “Whoever it was got away fast. Lisa, what happened? Are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine, Dad,” said Lisa shakily. “But look at this room. Whoever that was, what did he want?”

  Nancy looked around. The entire room had been torn apart. Drawers had been pulled open and rifled. Clothes had been tossed out of Lisa’s closet and onto the floor.

  “He was looking for something,” Nancy said. “But who could it have been?”

  “Isn’t that clear?” said Mr. Franklin angrily. “Who could it be but Richard Bates? First he ran when he saw Nancy. Then he pushed her down the stairs. I’ve had enough!” he burst out. “I’m calling the police and having him arrested!”

  “Dad, no!” shrieked Lisa. “You can’t do that! It wasn’t Richard! It couldn’t possibly have been Richard!”

  “Even if it was Richard,” Nancy put in quietly, “you don’t have enough evidence to have him arrested, Mr. Franklin. I do agree that you should call the police, though. Maybe they could check the room for fingerprints.” She shuddered. “Though from the feel of that guy’s hands on my neck, I think he was wearing gloves.”

  “This is getting too dangerous,” Ned said fiercely. “I don’t like it, Nancy!”

  “It is getting more dangerous,” Nancy said. “But that means we’re getting closer to an answer. Someone really wants me off this case.”

  But what had the masked intruder been looking for? All Nancy could think of was Lisa’s bracelet that she had found at the construction site. And why would anyone want that?

  “Are you all right, Nancy?” Laurel asked. Nancy realized that everyone in the room was staring at her.

  “I’m fine,” she answered. “But maybe, since we’re all okay, we should go back to bed. Do you have a dustpan so I can clean up that lamp I broke?” she asked Laurel.

  “I’ll do it,” Laurel offered. “You stay in bed, Nancy. You’ve had a busy enough day already.”

  “I don’t think ‘busy’ describes it,” said Ned dryly.

  • • •

  When Nancy woke up, she felt a little stiff. After a shower and some breakfast, though, she was eager to get started.

  “Are you still game for meeting with that contractor, Jake Led well?” she asked Ned. He was glancing through the sports section of the paper.

  “Sure,” Ned answered. “But what exactly are we going to say to the guy?”

  “I was thinking about that in the shower,” Nancy said. “And I’ve got a plan.”

  Nancy filled Ned in on the way to Ledwell Builders Associates, which was on the top floor of an old office building. As Nancy and Ned got out of the elevator, they could hear a man’s voice yelling.

  Nancy knocked on the office door, but the shouting didn’t stop. She pushed the door open. Behind a large desk was a swarthy, muscular man talking on the telephone. A nameplate on the desk identified him as Jake Led well. A cigar was clenched firmly in his teeth. He glanced up for a second as Nancy and Ned walked into his office but made no sign that he had seen them.

  “I gave you the lowest prices in town,” he shouted into the phone. “I can’t do better than that!”

  He listened impatiently to the person on the other end. Then he slammed down the receiver and glared at Nancy and Ned.

  “What are you two staring at?” he said crossly.

  Nancy put on a bright smile and walked up to Mr. Led well’s desk.

  “Mr. Ledwell, I hear you’re one of the best builders in town,” she said sweetly.

  “That’s right. Now, if you kids don’t mind, get right to the point. I don’t have a lot of time to waste.”

  Nancy’s smile didn’t waver. “Well, I know we look young, Mr. Ledwell,” she said, “but we’re here to represent my father. I’m Nancy Drew, and this is Ned Nickerson. We both work for my father, Carson Drew. You may have heard of him. He’s very big in real estate.”

  “Can’t be that big. I haven’t heard of him,” Mr. Ledwell said grumpily. But he seemed to be paying attention now.

  “That’s because he usually works out of River Heights,” Nancy explained. “But he’s recently bought property here in San Francisco.”

  “And?” Mr. Ledwell was definitely starting to look interested.

  “My father wants to put a luxury apartment building on his property,” Nancy went on. “But—well—I’m afraid he might change his mind because of the misunderstanding.”

  “What misunderstanding?” Mr. Ledwell said, puzzled.

  Nancy put on a look of wide-eyed innocence. “Well, my father heard such wonderful things about you that he’s sure only you could handle this job.”

  “I don’t have all day!” growled Mr. Ledwell.

  “That’s exactly how my father felt,” Nancy said. “He’s not a very patient man, to tell you the truth. And he didn’t have all day, either. He called and called your office, but no one ever answered the phone.”

  Now Mr. Ledwell looked embarrassed. “Well, I, uh, had to fire my secretary last week,” he said. “I guess I may have been a little hard to reach.”

  Nancy nodded. “Anyway, when he couldn’t reach you, my father decided to find another contractor.”

  “That’s right,” Ned added. “Mr. Drew was very disappointed, but he couldn’t wait any longer.”

  “He shouldn’t have given up so fast,” Mr. Ledwell protested. “I’m the best!”

  “My father tried to reach you again on the day before yesterday,” Nancy continued. The day someone set fire to Franklin Place, she added silently.

  Mr. Ledwell frowned. “That’s the day I went to the bank, I think.” He gave Nancy a weak smile. “My business has been a little short of cash lately.”

  “Maybe if I tell my father where you were, and that you couldn’t get away, he just might give you another chance.”

  Mr. Ledwell pushed a large appointment book across the desk to her without a word. He’s certainly more cooperative now, Nancy thought as she studied the page. He thinks there’s big money in it for him.

  “I see,” she said aloud. “An afternoon appointment with a Mr. Casey.”

  “Went on for several hours,” Mr. Ledwell said.

  “And Mr. Casey will confirm that?” Nancy prodded.

  “Sure. But you know, your father sounds like an awfully hard man to deal with,” said Mr. Ledwell. “Can’t you give me his number and let me call him myself?”

  Nancy hadn’t planned on that.

  “Of course,” she said. “Here it is.” She jotted down the number on a piece of paper. “He’s in River Heights this week, so you’ll have to call him there.”

  “No problem,” said Mr. Ledwell. This time he actually sounded cordial. “Thank you, Miss Drew.”

  “What if he really calls your father?” Ned asked once he and Nancy were safely in the elevator.

  Nancy grinned. “Dad’s out of town on business. I’ll have plenty of time to warn him.”

  “Did you hear the guy talking about being short of cash?” Ned asked as they reached the ground floor.

  “I sure did,” Nancy replied. “That would make him even angrier with Mr. Franklin for not hiring him. But at least his alibi is easy to check. I’ll call the bank and talk to Mr. Casey when we get home.”

  • • •

  A half hour later Nancy put down the receiver thoughtfully. “I guess Mr. Ledwell doesn’t have an alibi after all,” she said. “Mr. Casey says the appointment ended around four. That would have given him plenty of time to get over to Franklin Place and set the fire.
We can’t cross Mr. Ledwell off the suspect list quite yet.”

  Nancy and Ned were in the kitchen, eating lunch. “Let’s hear the list again,” said Ned, taking a bite of his sandwich.

  “Well, there are two lists, really. The people who might have set the fire, and the people who might have attacked me last night. Mr. Ledwell, Lisa, Laurel, and Richard all have motives for setting the fire. As for last night—well, I suppose the guy might have been Ledwell. It’s hard to imagine what he could have been looking for in Lisa’s room, though. The only other possibilities are Richard and Mr. Toomey. And why would either of them—”

  Just then the door burst open, and Lisa and Richard rushed into the kitchen.

  “Have you heard?” asked Lisa breathlessly.

  “Heard about what?” Nancy said, puzzled.

  “Do you remember the trailer?” Lisa asked. “The one we used as an office at the Franklin Place site?”

  Nancy thought for a second. “I think so. It was off to one side.”

  “That’s right,” Lisa told her grimly. “It was. And someone just tried to burn it down!”

  11

  A Sudden Flight

  “Another fire!” gasped Nancy. “When did it happen?”

  “Just now,” Richard said. “Mr. Franklin called to tell Lisa. We were out in the yard, studying.”

  “Was anyone hurt?” Ned asked.

  Lisa shook her head. “No. Laurel was the only one there. My father was out having lunch with Mr. Toomey. Laurel must have stayed behind to do some extra work. Anyway, Dad said Laurel saw smoke coming from under the trailer and called the fire department.”

  “She must have been terrified,” Nancy said.

  “Absolutely,” Lisa agreed. “I mean, we’re still recovering from the first fire—and now this!”

  “Lisa wanted to drive over there right away,” Richard said. “But I made her stay here. People might say she set this fire, too.”

  “Good thinking,” said Nancy. “By the way, Richard, how long have you been here?”

  Richard stared at her. “All morning. You’re not going to try to pin this one on me, are you?”