False Moves (5 page)

Certainly, it was possible. Ana had been in charge of all the plans on the Indian side for lending the diamond. She'd be in a perfect position to set up the theft. And since the Raja family trusted her so completely, the police wouldn't be likely to suspect her. The thing was, Nancy realized, that Ana would have had to have had an accomplice, someone to actually lift the pin from Katya. Nancy just couldn't imagine Ana sneaking onstage in the dark and grabbing the gem. In which case, Nancy would be looking for two thieves—the person who had planned the theft and the one who had carried it out. Ana could have recruited a helper, just as James or Colby
could have, if either of them was responsible for the robbery.

Nancy flashed a tiny smile at Ana. “I'm sorry you don't have much confidence in me as a detective, Ms. Lokhar,” she said. “But I know that in time I'll figure out who the thief is. In fact, I have a few suspects already.”

Ana just stared at Nancy, her expression unchanged.

“Now please excuse me,” Nancy finished. “I've got some clues to track down.” She turned away from Ana and Liane and left the theater, knowing it would be useless to continue her search there. The thief would be long gone—if she hadn't already confronted her in the person of Ana Lokhar.

Once back on the second floor, Nancy couldn't remember exactly where the costume storage room was. She wandered down a few hallways, hoping she'd come across it or someone who could direct her to it. By the time she ran into someone to ask, she had already wasted precious minutes, and she hurried quickly down the hall the woman pointed out.

When Nancy got back to the room, Ned was nowhere in sight. Maybe he had better luck chasing the intruder than I did, she thought hopefully. Well, I guess I've just got to wait until he gets back here.

But then Nancy noticed something disturbing.
The padlock was no longer on its hasp. It was on the floor leaning against the wall, partially hidden by the door frame. That meant that someone had gotten inside since she and Ned had been there.

What if the intruder in black had come back and stolen the costume with the secret hiding place? That would blow any chance for an easy solution to the mystery.

Nancy couldn't wait for Ned any longer. She had to see what was in the room, to find out what kind of damage had been done. Cautiously, she pushed open the door, remaining in the hall and looking in. The hinges squeaked slightly as she stepped inside.

CBT's costume storage room was jammed. Tutus, leotards, loose-fitting street pants, ball gowns—just about anything possible to dance in—was carefully labeled and hung on three large rolling racks in the middle of the room. On the walls were shelves holding hats, headdresses, and props, all covered with plastic sheets.

It didn't seem to Nancy as though anyone had ransacked the room. That was lucky for CBT because if any of the costumes had been ruined, it could have killed their budget.

But the fact that the clothes looked all right didn't mean that the company hadn't lost something very important. If the intruder had snatched just one costume—the one which held the clue to
the identity of the thief—she was in big trouble. It could mess up the investigation for weeks!

Nancy stared at the outfits, accessories, and the dozens of props stashed in the room. Searching for clues is going to be a gigantic job, she thought. I might as well get started. The sooner I begin, the sooner I'll find what I'm looking for. She took a few steps forward into the room and closed the door behind her.

As it swung shut, a silent figure, masked and dressed in black, was revealed standing behind the door. And that person was glaring at Nancy.

Nancy knew she had only a split second to act, and only time enough for a single thought. Obviously, I surprised the intruder in the middle of his or her own search, and now I'm in big trouble.

Nancy settled into a karate stance, ready to lash out at the figure at any moment if it should decide to attack her. She opened her mouth to scream.

But she never had a chance to get a sound out. The figure lunged—not for Nancy but for one of the heavy racks of costumes on wheels. With no time to jump out of the way, Nancy watched in horror as the crushing weight came hurtling toward her.

N
ANCY
! N
ANCY, WAKE
up! Please . . .” Somewhere through the fog that had overcome her, Nancy heard those words. All she could remember was the intruder in black pushing a rack of costumes down on her. Then she had slipped into blackness herself.

Now someone was calling her. With great effort, Nancy opened her eyes and peeked through. Ned was kneeling by her side, a look of frantic concern on his face. “Come on, Nancy. Please get up,” he whispered as he reached out to stroke her hair.

Nancy couldn't help but smile. This was the old Ned—caring, attentive, loving.

“Oooh,” Nancy groaned as she opened her eyes. Her body throbbed from where the costume rack had hit her.

“Nancy!” Ned exclaimed. “Thank goodness!” He threw his arms open and in another instant, Nancy found herself enfolded in his warm embrace. The hug lasted for one delicious moment. Then Ned pulled away gently.

And even though the hug had been brief, Nancy couldn't help but feel wonderful—despite her bruises! From the expression in his eyes, she knew Ned felt good, too. Unfortunately, she realized, he was now involved with someone else and couldn't let his feelings for Nancy show. Belinda was coming between them even in the deserted room.

“Are you all right?” Ned asked. He let the palm of his hand rest on Nancy's cheek.

“I think so,” she replied. She stared into Ned's eyes for a moment. But then turned quickly away and got up, brushing dust off her jeans and sweater. “Hmmm,” she said, glancing around the costume room, “it doesn't look like any damage was done to the costumes—except, of course, that they're all in a heap. But I hope nothing's destroyed or missing.”

Ned laughed. “Nancy, you're the only girl in the world who'd be struck unconscious and then wake up with mystery on her mind. What happened, by the way?”

“I surprised a woman dressed in black in here, and she shoved that costume rack over on me.”

“Woman?” Ned asked. “How do you know it wasn't a guy?”

“Well,” Nancy answered. “I got a good look at her just before she pushed over those costumes. She was definitely female.”

Ned got to his feet. “So what are we looking for? Let's get started.”

Nancy smiled. “Thanks for offering to help, Ned. I appreciate it. Actually, I'm not sure exactly
what
we're searching for. Maybe something strange or damaged about a costume—if the intruder had to tear it up in order to get what she was after. Or it could be that we're looking for an item that's missing.”

“Nancy, how are we going to find something that isn't here—especially when we don't know what it is that isn't here?”

Nancy laughed. “That's what being a detective is all about—solving impossible problems!” She and Ned stood the fallen rack up and began to rehang the costumes on it. Nancy searched that rack while Ned headed for one of the others.

The search progressed slowly, and even though neither she nor Ned found anything, Nancy loved every minute of it. Being with Ned, working on a case together—it felt just like the old days when they were a couple.

Nancy could tell Ned was having fun, too. He
really did love the excitement and adventure of detective work, even though he hated the amount of time Nancy devoted to it. He also hated the dangerous situations Nancy found herself in.

But to Nancy danger was just part of the game when she was investigating a mystery. The woman who had attacked her had certainly proven that.

“So who do you think rolled that rack of costumes on you?” Ned wanted to know as he carefully examined a pink satin costume.

“If I knew that, I'd probably have the mystery solved,” Nancy said with a sigh. “But right now, I'm tending toward Ana Lokhar. I met her just now in the theater before I got knocked out. And, Ned, she was wearing black pants and shoes, just like our masked figure!”

Ned considered what Nancy had said. “That's an interesting possibility. With all her connections with the Raja family and CBT, she would have the opportunity to set up the heist.”

“Right. And because the Rajas trust her so much, no one would be likely to suspect her! If she was ruthless enough to betray them, she'd stand to make millions with that jewel!” Nancy sat back on her heels. “I figure she came up to me in the theater to try to find out how much I knew and if I suspected her. When I left the theater, she didn't realize I planned to come back to the costume room, so she thought she could return herself to finish the job here while she had the chance. I got
lost on my way back here and that would have given her just enough time to grab what she'd come for—”

“But you surprised her again and she had to knock you out,” Ned finished.

Nancy frowned thoughtfully. “The problem is, it's just a theory. All the evidence is circumstantial. The intruder could have been any woman.”

Ned shot Nancy a sympathetic look from across the costume room. “Don't worry. Whoever it is, she's not going to get away with it. Not with Nancy Drew after her!”

“Thanks, Ned,” Nancy said with a smile as she pulled yet another outfit off the pile on the floor. “It sure feels good to have you rooting for me.”

By the time Nancy had checked through the last of the costumes, she ached all over and was covered with fine dust. She hadn't found anything that looked even remotely like a clue—though she had gotten a few great ideas for evening dresses since CBT used fancy ball gowns in a number of their dances.

Nancy decided to look quickly around the room one last time. Under the rack, which she and Ned had stood up, she noticed one last costume lying on the floor. She picked up the white tulle gown with a pair of high heels slung over the same hanger. “Wow,” she exclaimed. “It must be tough dancing in these.”

But what was that she had uncovered lying on
the floor beneath the dress? Nancy reached down and picked up a small frayed piece of pink silk.

“Nancy,” Ned asked, “what'd you find?”

Nancy examined the scrap of cloth intently. “It could be our first clue. The intruder might have left this here after she ripped apart some costume or . . .” Nancy knew she had seen fabric like that before. But where? Some skirt or blouse or pair of pointe shoes. She picked up her purse and said, “I'm not sure what this means—yet. But I intend to find out. I'm going to save it. Maybe one of the dancers will know where it came from.” She opened her bag and dropped the piece of silk into it.

She dug around for her hairbrush. I must look like a total mess, she thought. And because Ned's been sneaking glances at me for the past hour, I think I should at least try to give Belinda some competition.

But before Nancy could find her brush, her hand closed around a folded piece of paper. Curious, she pulled it out and opened it. The typed message was short and to the point. Nancy read it out loud.

“ ‘If you value your life, stay off the case.' ”

N
ANCY LEANED BACK
in her chair and watched the three figures on the TV screen whirl once again through the difficult steps that had ended so disastrously two days before. The dance company's video equipment was so good and the picture was so clear that Nancy hoped she would be able to see something that would give her a clue as to who could have stolen the pin.

Unfortunately Nancy was having a difficult time concentrating because the words of the note from the day before kept echoing through her head. The warning, on top of the attack in the costume
room, truly frightened her because now she knew her attacker was someone who'd get violent before standing by and watching Nancy solve the mystery.