“He’s right, Rick.” Bess seemed quite shaken now. “Maybe there’s more than one crazy fan after you.”
Nancy bit her lip and thought for a moment. This latest incident confirmed her worst fears. She knew now that the crude attempt on Rick’s life on the boat trip was just a sideshow. The main event was still to come.
Gil was still shaking. “Well, I don’t know, about you folks,” he said, “but I’ve had about all the excitement I can take for one day. Next time we get together, Rick, remind me to take out extra insurance.”
“Hey, calm down. It’s the price of life in the fast lane, that’s all.” Rick laughed nervously. “Come on, I’ll give you a lift home on my way downtown. Bess?” Turning to Bess, he pulled her gently to him and gave her a lingering kiss.
They walked back to the limo, and Nancy and Gil climbed in. Nancy turned her head away, embarrassed, while Bess and Rick stood on the sidewalk. They were whispering, probably about what had just happened.
Nancy frowned. Things looked bad, very bad indeed. It was as if Bess hadn’t even noticed that she and Rick had almost been killed!
“It’s just a feeling I get, Ned, but it’s a strong one. Something’s very wrong here.” Nancy flung herself down on the dark blue sofa and filled her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, in on everything that had happened since she’d arrived in New York. “I only wish you weren’t so far away.” She sighed wistfully.
“Same here,” Ned agreed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. And I could really use your help on this case.”
“Can I do anything from here?”
“Honestly, I don’t think so. Except share a little of your wonderful insight. I’m completely baffled by the whole thing right now.”
“Sounds like you need some on-the-scene help. I’d be on the next flight, but I have a big paper due. I do want you to promise not to take any unnecessary chances, though.”
“Come on, Ned, you know me. I’m always very careful,” Nancy said, teasing him.
“Yes, I know. That’s why I want you to keep a low profile. I want you to be in one piece the next time I see you.”
Nancy blew a kiss into the phone and said goodbye. After she hung up, she smiled sadly. If only Ned were able to meet her in New York . . .
Just then, the front doorbell rang. Nancy went to open it, and before her stood Mattie Jensen. Her rich auburn hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. She looked almost as young as Nancy.
“Hiya, kiddo!” the actress said, bubbling. “Eloise told me she was going to the ballet tonight, so I thought you guys might want a little company.”
How could anyone as beautiful and successful as Mattie Jensen be all alone at ten o’clock on a Saturday night? Nancy wondered. It didn’t seem possible. But there she was. She’s lonely! Nancy realized.
“Sure. Come on in,” she said. “Bess is in the shower.”
“Hey, I read about what happened to you today on the boat trip. After everything he’s been through, Rick must be glad they caught the guy. They said the man tried to throw him overboard.”
“Hmm-hmm,” Nancy replied, wishing she could have shared Mattie’s sense of relief.
“They said the guy was released from a mental institution a few weeks ago.”
“I didn’t hear that, but from the way he was acting . . .” Nancy’s voice trailed off.
“Oh, Nancy, I’m so relieved. Now I’ll finally be able to sleep at night!” Mattie smiled softly, but Nancy just turned away. “What’s the matter, Nancy? Are you still upset?”
Nancy heaved an enormous sigh. “Mattie, I hate to say this. I know you’re not going to like it, but I don’t think the man they arrested today is the person we’re after.”
“But—but they said he’d been stalking Rick for weeks.”
“He may have been, but I don’t think he’s the one who tampered with the light, and sent the chocolates.”
Mattie gazed at Nancy in amazement. Then she nodded. “Okay. Tell me why you think it isn’t the same person.”