Nancy Clue Mysteries 2 - The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend (19 page)

But she forgot all about her worrisome young chum when she spied Nancy's summer straw bag crammed under the driver's seat. "So this is where Nancy's purse went to," she smiled, pleased to have found it. While she was startled to see Nancy's purse was wide open, she was equally relieved to find everything in its place, including the handkerchief-wrapped bundle of jewelry.

"I'll have to tease Nancy later about being so careless with her things," Cherry grinned. "It's unwise to leave your purse in the car. Why, someone could step on it!"

"A package of corn-on-the-cob holders for my mother, corn syrup for Head Nurse Margaret Marstad, a box of rubber erasers cleverly shaped like the state of Iowa for the nurses at the hospital, and for my good friend, Nurse Penny Perkins, a lovely wooden pencil box with the Iowa motto, `A Place to Grow,' carved on top."

Cherry showed Lauren the charming, inexpensive gifts she had purchased at the Kornville Five-and-Dime while she was wandering through downtown looking for Midge. She found herself taken with the cute little town and its quaint shops.

"And, look, I got a whole box of assorted, discarded books and magazines at a second-hand book shop. I found a wonderful book that will make a fine addition to my medical library!" Cherry enthused. "It's the Women's Medical Guide by forty specialists. It has a section devoted to the treatment of kleptomania. Do you know what that is, Lauren? It's a nice word for someone who steals. Plus there are many sections explaining the psychology of women and all sorts of personality quizzes and guidelines so you can diagnose and treat mental disorders right in your own home!" Cherry cried excitedly. "With pictures, too."

"That should come in mighty handy," Midge joked.

Cherry whirled around to greet her friend. She was happy to see that Midge had returned, and in better spirits. Cherry's eyes sparkled. She was tempted to let Midge in on her little secret. She was planning to specialize in nervous women, all right, but not at Seattle General Hospital!

"What's this?" Midge wondered, picking up a slim volume entitled Secrets of Life. "I could use this right now," she joked.

"It's by Walt Disney, Midge," Cherry explained. "It's all about the mysterious worlds that exist right here on earth, about plant life and the insect world, fresh-water ponds and the jungles. Did you know that there is great wonder and beauty all around us, Midge?"

"Yeah," Midge cracked. "Her name's Velma."

Cherry had to smile. When it came to Velma, the usually unruffled Midge didn't even try to mask her ardor. Cherry knew she and Velma were lucky to have such devoted girlfriends.

"Speaking of Velma, I purchased these women's magazines for her," Cherry said. "They're chock full of decorating hints and tasty recipes."

"Velma's mother is always sending her articles from magazines like these so she can try out new things on me," Midge laughed.

"I did see a yummy-looking recipe for a new weiners 'n' beans casserole in one of them," Cherry remembered.

Midge laughed. "No, I mean she's always reading those advice columns about love and marriage and stuff. She's always scheming new ways to trick me into changing-trying to get me to talk more, you know, stuff like that."

Cherry, wondered what she meant. Midge was always cracking jokes and tossing off funny remarks. Why, Cherry thought Midge talked plenty!

"Where is my girlfriend?" Midge wondered.

"Velma's powdering her nose while Nancy's on the telephone, calling Bess and George again," Cherry reported. Cherry frowned as she thought of her own unsuccessful attempts to reach her parents by telephone. She had called them three times in the last two days, and each time her efforts had been for naught. Where could her parents be?

Cherry absentmindedly handed Midge a white paper sack. "I got you some chicken-in-a-basket," she said.

Midge perched on the hood of the car and hungrily downed her supper. "Let's get some coffee to go, shall we?" Midge suggested when she was through.

Although normally she didn't partake of any artificial stimulant, Cherry agreed to the plan. "I want to be wide awake when we cross the mighty Mississippi and see Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, for the first time ever!" she enthused. Illinois was the heart of the Midwest, and Cherry didn't want to miss one scenic sight. All day long she had been sneaking a peek at the description of Illinois in her Travel Guide to Corn Country: "It is a flat state. It has a natural topographic monotony."

Cherry shivered as she anticipated the view that would unfold before her eyes. Even if Illinois weren't so naturally exciting, it would be to Cherry. After all, it was Nancy's home state!

"What would you rather be able to do-fly or be invisible, and why?" Lauren asked, ready to take down their answers. "Midge, you first."

"Why on earth do you want to know?" Midge sighed. They had been traveling for four hours now, and Midge was beginning to feel a little weary. She longed for some peace and quiet. Moreover, the closer they got to River Depths, the more anxious she became. Midge was convinced that Nancy's telephone confession to Chief Chumley had been a bad idea. What if they were met at the city limits by a police escort who took them right to jail?

"I've compiled a questionnaire from various quizzes in the Women's Medical Guide," Lauren explained. "I'm going to figure out what you are, exactly. I've made a chart with everyone's name on it. If you answer these questions, I can give you an accurate description of your personality type.

"Now, what would you rather be able to do-fly or be invisible, and why?"

"Fly," Midge said curtly.

"Because?" Lauren prompted her.

"Because then I could leave this stupid car and fly to River Depths!"

"You sure are a crab," Lauren scowled. "In fact, you're all a little crabby tonight."

"I'm cheerful," Cherry pointed out. Cherry was in the front seat beside Nancy, her map of Illinois spread over her lap. Cherry was as excited as Midge had ever seen her.

"Yeah, Cherry, but you're cheerful all the time," Midge retorted. "Even first thing in the morning."

Midge made it sound like it wasn't a good thing at all, Cherry thought.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," Nancy teased, giving Cherry's thigh a little squeeze.

"Yeah. Happy people are annoying in the morning. Well, they're annoying at any time, but especially first thing in the morning," Midge declared.

"Oh, Midge, you'll feel much better when your visitor finally gets here!" Cherry cried as she reached over the seat to put a sympathetic hand on her chum's arm. "Velma told us you always get like this."

Midge shot her girlfriend a pained look. "Thanks, Velma," she grumbled.

"Midge, if you need any sanitary products, I've got plenty," Cherry added helpfully. "I've got belts and pads and pain reliever in my purse. You don't have to ask. Just help yourself. Regular and," she turned around to wink at Lauren, "Junior Miss."

"It's okay, Cherry," Midge said hastily. Lauren just turned scarlet.

"Midge, are you cramping?" Cherry continued. "We can stop at a service station and I can fill my hot water bottle," she offered.

"I'm fine, Cherry," Midge said as she slumped against the car door, using her jacket as a pillow.

"Can we get back to the quiz?" Lauren wanted to know. "Velma, you're next. Would you rather fly or be invisible?"

"Could I do both?" Velma asked.

Lauren thought about it for a minute. "It would throw off the study, but if you really want to pick both, I can redo the whole thing."

Velma smiled sweetly. "I'll pick flying, then."

"Why?"

"So I could fly away from my grumpy girlfriend, of course," Velma replied with a smile.

"Excellent," Lauren grinned.

Midge put her arm around Velma and pulled her close. "You know why I'm so grumpy, don't you?" she said softly. She dropped her voice so no one could hear what came next. But whatever she said, it sure made Velma turn red!

"Let's continue," Lauren said in a gruff voice. "Cherry?"

Cherry knew her mind on this matter. "I'd fly. If I were invisible, I wouldn't need to wear my uniform, and that would be like going naked and I wouldn't like that at all. I'd only fly in slacks, of course," she added.

"Nancy, you're last," Lauren prodded.

Nancy thought a while before answering. "If I could fly, I could leave right now and get home to Hannah. But being invisible would certainly have its advantages, wouldn't it?" she mused. "What if I could have been invisible? Then none of this would be happening, would it, if I could have really made myself disappear?"

Midge leaned over and put a hand on Nancy's shoulder. "You know, the mood I'm in today, if you hadn't already killed your father, I'd do it for you," she said. Cherry smiled. Midge could be really sweet when she wanted to be!

"Was that fly or be invisible?" was all Lauren wanted to know.

"Let's move on," Midge suggested.

Lauren sighed and wrote "undecided" next to Nancy's name. "Okay, but it's going to throw off Nancy's score," she grumbled before she read the next question.

"Question number two. Which would you rather be? A lumberjack or a librarian?"

"Librarian," Nancy, Cherry, and Velma said in unison. They didn't have to think twice about that one!

Lauren looked at Midge and without saying a word checked the lumberjack box next to her name. "Number three."

Midge groaned. "How many questions does this quiz have?" she asked.

"Sixty. And you are all going to answer every one of them." Lauren fumed. "Question number three. Now, pay attention. This is a true or false question. 'True or False. I am attracted to mannish women.' "

Velma burst into laughter. Midge began pinching her, which only made her laugh harder. Soon all the girls were giggling-everyone except Lauren, that is, who was scowling.

"Fine. If you're not going to take this seriously, I'm not going to analyze any of you," she fumed.

"Why don't you read aloud, Lauren?" Cherry asked. "Read something from the Walt Disney book. That will be soothing."

"Yes, you have a lovely voice," Velma chimed in. "I could listen to you all night."