Stage Fright Read online

  THE PARTY BEGAN. Fiona turned on the CD player, and music filled the air. Tables were pushed back to make room for dancing, and the cook brought out chips, dip, cheese and crackers, and a huge pot of mulled cider.

  The cast and crew had friends in the audience who were invited to join the celebration, swelling the group to more than forty people. The noise level rose, and the floor bounced to the beat of dancing feet.

  Nancy watched the fun for a while before she forced herself to take Evelyn, Ned, and George out to the kitchen. She told them about the fire.

  “Nancy, dear, I’m so grateful you discovered it in time.” Evelyn put her hand on Nancy’s arm. “But you don’t think it was arson, do you? Someone probably thought the cigarette was out and tossed it away, not realizing it was still smoldering.”

  “Possibly, but, Evelyn—”

  “Don’t you realize? This play is a hit! There’s a good chance it’s going to Broadway! Janice is definitely interested in backing it. This is one of the happiest nights of my life. Now, don’t worry so much. Come back and join the party!”

  “In a minute.” Nancy watched her push through the swinging doors. “I wish she’d take off those blinders, or rose-colored glasses—whatever you want to call them.”

  “Nan, you’ve got to realize that it takes incredible energy and concentration to put on a play,” George said. “Aunt Evelyn has focused on it for weeks—months. Nothing else exists for her right now.”

  “Okay, but I’ve got to focus on this investigation. We still don’t know who the arsonist is.”

  “Opening night is now over, and the curtain didn’t go up in flames, thanks to you,” Ned said. “And now it looks like Joseph is ruled out as a suspect. He’s out there beaming. He obviously didn’t want to sabotage his own show.”

  “Someone is guilty. We can’t let down our guard,” Nancy said, folding her arms in front of her.

  The kitchen doors swung open, and Laura swept in. “Ned, darling, they’re playing our song.”

  “Since when is ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ your song, Ned?” Nancy asked, trying to smother a laugh.

  Laura narrowed her eyes. “Nancy, darling, it’s just an expression.” She took Ned’s hand and dragged him away.

  As he went through the door, Ned threw Nancy a here-she-goes-again expression.

  “Come on,” George said. “You need to forget you’re a detective for a while. Let’s go have some fun.”

  “I guess you’re right. Anyway, I’ll need to rescue Ned soon. He’s had a little too much of Laura tonight.”

  They returned to the party, and Nancy danced with Jerry, then Ben, and then Howie. Finally she cut in on Laura and Ned.

  Nancy expected Laura to object. Instead the actress glanced at the door and let out a shriek. “Lars! You came!” She ran across the room, her arms outstretched.

  A tall, blond, bearded man literally swept Laura off the floor, spinning her around and around. From that moment on, Laura never left his side. Occasionally Ned and Nancy would glance at them snuggled up together and break out in laughter.

  The party grew louder. Nancy, Ned, and George joined a group playing a hilarious game of Truth or Dare, where the rules changed every few minutes. A conga line started up, and they joined in for some silly, old-fashioned fun. They agreed that the highlight of the evening was when Joseph put a Christmas wreath on his head and danced a jig.

  Much later Nancy went to get a soda and discovered that the ice bucket was empty. She took it out to the kitchen to refill it and found Marla, Ben, Liz, and a couple of their friends playing a game of poker. From the pile of matchsticks in front of Marla, it was obvious who was winning.

  “Come on, guys, ante up.” Marla dealt a new hand, the cards flying from her swift fingers. “Five card stud, jokers and threes wild.”

  “Not again.” Ben groaned. “You’re killing us.”

  “Are you a man or a mouse?” Marla grinned.

  Nancy paused to watch for a while. Marla seemed to remember every card that had been played, and she was an expert bluffer. She raked in one pile of matchsticks with only a pair of fives in her hand. Liz had folded with two queens.

  Was this the same lady who constantly misplaced her glasses and knitting and could never remember a name? Nancy watched as Marla made one lightning-fast decision after another. Now she was seeing the person who had run a theater for a number of years.

  It struck Nancy then that she’d overlooked Marla as a suspect, partly because she was Evelyn’s good friend. It had hardly been friendly of Marla to suggest that Evelyn might be the arsonist, though.

  She needed to find out more about Marla, and right away.

  Nancy took the ice bucket back to the table. George and Ned were talking to some of Fiona’s friends from New York, and she didn’t want to interrupt them. She grabbed her jacket and walked over to Evelyn’s house.

  Upstairs in Marla’s room she found clothes and makeup scattered on every surface. And Marla had gloated over the mess in Joseph’s cabin!

  Nancy found what she was looking for in a suitcase in the back of the closet: a thick, worn, leather-covered album. It was bulging with newspaper clippings. The first pages dated back to Marla’s high school days, then the datelines changed to New York City newspapers.

  She replaced the suitcase, turned out the lights, and took the album down to the living room, ready to hide if Marla returned.

  She began to read, first about the actress’s leading roles in high school, then about bit parts she’d played in off-off-Broadway plays. Slowly the parts got larger, until finally one headline proclaimed: “Marla Kramer to Star at Shubert Theater.” Next came another, dated a few days later. “Kramer Seriously 111, Replaced by Caldwell,” it said. Two pictures accompanied the article, one of a young and beautiful Marla, the other of an equally young and lovely Evelyn.

  What a shame, Nancy thought. Marla’s big break, her chance to be a star, and then she gets sick. And who takes over the part? Her friend Evelyn. That must have hurt.

  Nancy read on and found an interview written after the show had opened. It was titled: “Kramer Says to Caldwell, ‘Break a Leg.’ ” Marla was quoted, congratulating Evelyn on her success and wishing her all the best. “ ‘It will be my turn next,’ the plucky actress told this reporter from her hospital bed.”

  The rest of the clippings told another story. It was many years before Marla turned into a success—years of supporting roles off Broadway, leads in touring companies performing in places like Milwaukee and Omaha and Tulsa, a few television commercials, and finally minor roles in several TV series and in movies.

  The clippings from the last ten years were mostly about Marla’s Popcorn Playhouse in Carmel. It had apparently struggled along, producing a hit now and then, an occasional flop, and getting lots of so-so reviews. But whenever Marla performed or directed, the critics praised her talent.

  A large envelope was taped to the inside back cover of the album. Nancy pulled out a thick wad of clippings. “Evelyn Caldwell to Star in Night Magic.” “Caldwell Wins Tony.” “Evelyn Caldwell Filming in Greece.” “Caldwell Nominated for Oscar.”

  “Oh, wow,” Nancy said out loud, shaking her head. One actress never quite becoming a star, the other soaring to the top. It was amazing that they had remained friends.

  Or had they?

  Marla was a talented actress. Was she performing now, pretending to like Evelyn? Was she really forgetful? Or was she the sharp poker player Nancy had seen in the kitchen a little while ago?

  Was Marla here to help Evelyn with the Red Barn or destroy it?

  Nancy replaced the album in the suitcase and instead of returning to the party walked slowly to her cabin. Only two things were certain: They’d made it through the night safely, and she still hadn’t identified the arsonist.

  • • •

  The next day almost everyone slept in, enjoying their first day off in weeks. Breakfast was served late in the morning. During it, Evelyn made a surprise an
nouncement. Charles Ferguson had called to invite them all over to his place for an afternoon of sledding.

  “But, please, everyone, be careful,” Evelyn concluded. “We have a performance tonight plus the rest of the run, and we don’t have room for any more wheelchairs.”

  Everyone laughed, but Nancy was worried. Why would Ferguson ask them over? What was the motive behind this strange invitation?

  While Evelyn gave the cast and crew notes on the previous night’s performance, Nancy warned the security guards she’d be away for a while.

  Evelyn and George wanted to give the horses some exercise, so they rode them over to Ferguson’s. The others went in cars, with Nancy driving Ned, Sherri, and Ben.

  Ferguson appeared delighted to see them. A bonfire was blazing at the foot of a long, steep hill, and sleds and toboggans were lined up ready for action. The snow was thick and crunchy, the sky clear with a bright, cold sun overhead.

  At first Nancy was watchful, studying both Marla and Ferguson, who had attached himself to Evelyn, taking runs on the toboggan with her. His gruffness was gone, replaced with the charming manner of a good host. Evelyn sparkled under his attention.

  Marla joined in the spirit of the day, trudging up the hill pulling a sled and shouting with joy as she slid down. Hearing her hearty laugh, Nancy found it difficult to believe her suspicions from the night before. Just because Marla had a reason to be jealous of Evelyn didn’t make her a criminal. Besides, she was the victim of the scaffold accident. If she had rigged that trap, she would never have gone up on the stage. She did, though, and came within an inch of being killed.

  “Come on, Nancy.” Ned held up a two-person sled. “Stop wearing your detective face. This baby has your name on it.”

  She couldn’t resist his invitation. They took several runs, then raced each other on single sleds. The crisp air, the clean sky, and the pleasure of whizzing down the snowy slope soon took over, pushing problems out of her mind. Between runs, hot chocolate warmed their cold noses and frozen fingers.

  The sun was getting low in the sky when they once more climbed on the toboggan. Evelyn was up front with Ferguson behind her, followed by Nancy and Ned. Fiona gave them a push and they started down, gaining speed. Suddenly Sherri’s sled cut in front of them. “Lean to the right!” Ned yelled.

  It was too late. The toboggan hit the tail end of the sled and turned over. Nancy heard a yelp of pain.

  When the riders unscrambled themselves, they found Evelyn bent over, holding her wrist. She was half laughing, half crying. “I told everyone to be careful. Why didn’t I listen?”

  Nancy gently checked her wrist. “I don’t think it’s too bad.”

  “I’m taking you to the emergency room,” Charles announced.

  They loaded her on the toboggan and eased her down the hill. As Charles helped her into his sports car, Evelyn said, “The horses. I forgot that I rode over here.”

  “Don’t worry,” Nancy said. “I’ll ride Applause back.”

  George decided to take one last run while Nancy went into the barn to saddle up. She was about to put the bridle on the mare when she sensed movement behind her. Before she could turn around, something cut into her throat, choking off her breath. An evil-smelling pad covered her mouth and nose.

  Nancy struggled and twisted, trying to break free. She tried a sharp jab with her elbow and heard a slight “Umph,” but the pressure on her neck didn’t let up and dizziness overwhelmed her.

  Points of light and darkness stabbed her eyes as she fought for air. Her body grew heavy . . . her knees gave way. She was falling . . . falling. . . .

  Chapter

  Fifteen

  NANCY WOKE UP SLOWLY, her head aching and her neck stiff. She had a terrible taste in her mouth. For a while she lay still, fighting nausea and dizziness. When she tried to open her eyes, she found they’d been taped shut. Her mouth was also taped and her wrists and ankles bound.

  It was terribly cold. She began to wiggle around, partly to get her circulation going and partly to figure out where she was. She was in a small space with a low roof.

  After a couple of minutes, her head began to clear and she realized her kidnapper had made a major mistake. Her hands were tied together in front, rather than behind her. She raised her arms and ripped at the tape on her eyes and mouth. Then with her teeth she pulled it off her wrists. Finally she freed her ankles.

  Now she could identify her surroundings by touch, even though it was pitch-dark. She was lying on rough carpeting, surrounded by metal. Under the carpet she felt a tire, which confirmed her suspicions. She was in the trunk of a car.

  She found the latch and tried to open the trunk, but it wouldn’t budge. Feeling around in the blackness, she uncovered the car’s jack. Using the handle as a lever, she pried at the latch until finally it popped.

  Nancy climbed out and leaned against the fender for a moment, dizzy from the effort. The night sky and the dark woods were a welcome sight, and the cold fresh air helped drive away her nausea. She had no idea where she was, though.

  She recognized the car—it was Evelyn’s. But Evelyn hadn’t driven it. She’d been taken to the hospital. Who, then? It could have been anyone. She remembered that Evelyn usually left the keys under the driver’s seat.

  Don’t waste time worrying about that now, Nancy told herself. The luminous dial of her watch told her it was a half hour to curtain. Someone wanted her out of the way for a reason. He or she could be starting a fire in the Barn right now. She had to get back as fast as she could. She glanced around. Which way to go?

  She spotted the moon reflecting off a glimmer of water in the distance. Stumbling over roots and vines, she made her way to the river and the path along it. Was the Barn downriver to her left or upriver to her right? Closing her eyes, she tried to visualize the area, as if looking at a map. She turned right, praying she had made the correct choice.

  Half walking, half trotting, she moved along the slippery path as quickly as she could. The minutes dragged on forever. The path seemed endless. Finally she came upon the cabins. She didn’t pause but ran straight ahead toward the Barn.

  The lobby was empty except for a security guard. The doors to the theater were closed, and Howie was alone in the box office. He looked up in surprise. “What happened to you? We were all worried. Evelyn called the police.”

  “Tell you later. Is everything all right?” He and the security guard nodded. Nancy slipped through the door into the theater. The play had just begun, and she stood watching for a moment. All was normal.

  She went out to check the rest of the Barn, to make sure there were no problems in the office or bathrooms.

  She was headed outside to go around backstage when Marla came out of the theater into the lobby. The actress stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Nancy. Her mouth fell open in surprise. “What are you doing here? I—I mean, what happened? Where did you go? We’ve had the police looking for you.”

  “Someone kidnapped me.” Nancy watched Marla closely for her reaction.

  “Kidnapped? What do you mean?” The actress’s face was very pale.

  Nancy explained. Marla said nothing for a moment, then turned to the box office. “Howie, call the police and tell them she’s back safe and sound.” She studied Nancy. “You’re rather a mess, aren’t you?”

  Nancy glanced down. The sleeve of her pink jacket was torn, probably snagged on a bush. Grease and dirt were smeared on her clothes. “I’ll clean up later.”

  Instead she stood outside, watching the lobby through a window until she saw Marla pour a cup of coffee at the refreshment stand and go back into the theater. Had she come out to set another fire and changed her mind? She certainly had been very surprised to see Nancy.

  Nancy waited a minute, then sneaked back inside and told the security guard to keep an eye on Marla. Then she walked around the Barn to the stage entrance.

  Ned and George were overjoyed to see Nancy. Ned wrapped her in a warm hug. “We were so worried about
you,” he whispered. “We looked everywhere.”

  Nancy told them the story, then asked, “Who was missing after I disappeared?”

  “Well, people began to leave after Evelyn was hurt, but Joseph and Fiona helped us search for you,” Ned said.

  “Joseph!”

  “Yeah, can you believe it?” George grinned. “He was really nice about it, too.”

  “What about Marla?” Nancy asked.

  Ned frowned. “I don’t remember seeing her.”

  “Neither do I,” George said. “But—it couldn’t be her, could it?”

  “I don’t want to believe it either, but she has just become my number-one suspect. Anyway, someone wanted me out of the way for a reason. Come on, we need to make a thorough check backstage.” Nancy headed for Laura’s dressing room. “Look for anything suspicious, anything that might start a fire.”

  They searched carefully but found nothing. When the first act ended, Nancy quietly checked the stage and set while the curtain was down, then hurried around front to keep an eye on Marla.

  The actress stood calmly next to Evelyn, who was chatting with people during intermission, her arm in a sling. “It’s nothing really, just a slight sprain,” Evelyn said in answer to a man’s question. As soon as she spotted Nancy, she excused herself and hurried over. “What happened? I’m so relieved to see you!”

  “I’ll explain later,” Nancy said. “But don’t worry, I’m fine.”

  Intermission and the second act passed without any problems. Nancy changed into clean clothes before joining the others in the Lodge after the play.

  The second night’s gathering was more subdued. Evelyn, Laura, and Matt all had important friends up from New York, and the young crew members were happy to be introduced to well-known theater folk. Music played softly while groups chatted and mingled.

  Nancy was talking to a Broadway director and his wife when she noticed that Marla was gone. Excusing herself, she glanced around but didn’t see either George or Ned. No time to waste, she thought, and hurried outside. A light was on in Marla’s room. She ran to Evelyn’s house and dashed upstairs. She was hoping against hope that the actress was simply tired and had left the party early.