The Triple Hoax

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1 - A Sudden Trip

  Chapter 2 - Bess’s Strange Caller

  Chapter 3 - Poison!

  Chapter 4 - Airport Theft

  Chapter 5 - A Planned Accident

  Chapter 6 - Clue to a Suspect

  Chapter 7 - Pyramid Chase

  Chapter 8 - Startling News

  Chapter 9 - Stage Attack

  Chapter 10 - A Setback Reversed

  Chapter 11 - An Odd Invention

  Chapter 12 - Smugglers

  Chapter 13 - The Invisible Hand

  Chapter 14 - More Tricks

  Chapter 15 - The Watermark

  Chapter 16 - Hijackers

  Chapter 17 - A Hoax Exposed

  Chapter 18 - Ned’s Disguise

  Chapter 19 - The Young Prisoner

  Chapter 20 - Escape!

  AUNT Eloise Drew invites Nancy, Bess, and George to New York to help a friend who has been swindled out of a sizable sum of money. There the girls see a performance of the Hoaxters, a magicians’ group, who stun their audiences by clever sleight of hand tricks. Because the magicians temporarily remove people’s wallets and handbags, Nancy feels the actors aren’t above suspicion. Her hunch is borne out and a whirlwind chase ensues.

  Nancy, Bess, and George track the Hoaxters to Mexico City, where Nancy is asked to help find a kidnapped child. The young sleuths follow a lead to Los Angeles where danger confronts them at every turn. Their enemies resort to theft—even arson—to scare them off the case.

  With courage and clever deduction, however, Nancy and her friends outmaneuver their cunning adversaries and, after solving the puzzle of the Triple Hoax, bring them to justice.

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  Copyright © 1979 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in 2005

  by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street,

  New York, New York 10014. NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES® is a registered

  trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc. S.A.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-07758-0

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  1

  A Sudden Trip

  “Dad! Aunt Eloise wants me to come to New York immediately to solve a mystery!” eighteen-year-old Nancy Drew called out excitedly.

  Carson Drew, a well-known attorney in River Heights, looked fondly at his attractive, titian-haired daughter as she returned to the breakfast table. “What kind of mystery?”

  Nancy waved a special delivery letter that the mailman had brought. “Listen to this. I’ll read it to you.

  “Dear Nancy,

  A close friend of mine, Mrs. Annabella Richards, has been swindled. She taught in the same school I do, but left a few years ago to marry a wealthy man. He died not long ago, and Annabella is a rich widow. I won’t give you any more details now, but I certainly hope you can visit me and help her. Bring your friends Bess and George if you like, and say hello to my brother for me.

  Lots of love,

  Aunt Eloise”

  “Well, Dad, what do you think?” Nancy asked.

  Mr. Drew laughed. “I think that you want to go and I see no reason why you shouldn’t. The mystery sounds interesting. I’ll be eager to hear more about it.”

  Nancy jumped up, kissed her father, and hurried to the telephone. First she called George Fayne, a slender, dark-haired girl who enjoyed her boyish name. Then she contacted George’s cousin Bess Marvin, who was a slightly plump, pretty blond with dimples. Both girls loved to help Nancy on her mystery cases, and together they had solved many of them.

  Bess and George were keen to join Nancy on her trip to New York. Their parents, after some persuasion, furnished the money. It was arranged that the young sleuths would leave River Heights the following day.

  As Nancy packed her bag, the Drews’ lovable housekeeper, Mrs. Hannah Gruen, came into the girl’s bedroom. She had lived with Nancy and her father since Mrs. Drew’s death, when Nancy was three years old, and had been like a mother to her. The two had shared many secrets and adventures.

  “Nancy,” Hannah said, “judging from past performances, you’re likely to get into all sorts of ticklish situations. I beg you to be careful. You know you’re an indispensable member of this household!”

  Nancy chuckled. “I’m glad to find out I’m really needed here. But you know, when I’m working on a case, it’s pretty hard to keep from running into danger.”

  “I know,” Hannah agreed. “Your father and I will be wishing you the best of luck all the way.”

  The following afternoon Mr. Drew drove the girls to the airport. They boarded a plane that took them directly to La Guardia Airport in New York. After debarking, they were met in the terminal by Nancy’s tall, attractive Aunt Eloise and her friend.

  “Nancy, it’s wonderful to see you!” Miss Drew exclaimed. “And Bess and George. I want all of you to meet Mrs. Annabella Richards.”

  After hugs, kisses, and excited welcomes, the group walked outside and awaited Mrs. Richards’s chauffeur-driven car. Ten minutes passed, but it did not arrive.

  The annoyed woman frowned. “Roscoe is always so prompt and reliable,” she said. “I can’t understand why he isn’t here.”

  “Could you tell us something about your mystery while we’re waiting?” Nancy asked.

  Mrs. Richards nodded. But before she could begin, a strange man walked up to her. “Are you Mrs. Richards?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Your chauffeur, Roscoe, sent me to tell you your car won’t start.”

  “Won’t start!” the woman exclaimed. “He drove me here a little while ago and there was nothing wrong with the car. In fact, it was serviced recently.”

  “I don’t know anything about that, ma’am,” the stranger said. “Roscoe suggests you go home by taxi.” With that, the man turned and walked off.

  Mrs. Richards frowned. “I don’t understand it,” she remarked. “Well, I guess we’d better go.”

  She summoned a limousine and the five climbed inside. As the car pulled away, Mrs. Richards said, “I suppose Eloise has told you a little of my situation.”

  Nancy had a sudden hunch. It might be best if Mrs. Richards did not reveal her story for the taxi driver to hear.

  She leaned over and whispered into the woman’s ear, “Don’t reveal any of your secrets now.” Mrs. Richards nodded and changed the subject. The conversation became general until the group arrived at Aunt Eloise’s attractive apartment.

  Then Mrs. Richards went on with her story. “My husband was very kindhearted and charitable. He donated money to large and small organizations, and even to individuals. After his death I carried on this tradition, but the work became too much for me. I finally hired my husband’s former secretary, who promised to take care of everything so I could go on vacation. About that time, a travel agent contacted me and offered a wonderful bargain world tour.”

  “Sounds fabulous,” Bess said dreamily.

  “It did,” Mrs. Richards agreed. “The agent showed me enticing literature and I fell for it. A few days later he brought the plane tickets and hotel accommodations, and I paid him $3,000. It was too bad that I had not investigated the whole thing.”

  “Why, was something wrong
?” George asked.

  “Indeed it was. When I went to the airport, the airline named on the ticket had a counter, but no such flight.”

  “How dreadful!” Bess exclaimed. “And you paid all this money to a swindler?”

  “Yes, I did,” Mrs. Richards said sadly. She turned to Nancy. “Please help me find that man! I contacted the police, but nothing came of it. Maybe your friends Bess and George can help you. Your Aunt Eloise tells me you’re wonderful young sleuths.”

  The girls smiled and accepted the challenge at once.

  “What was the travel agent’s name and where was he located?” Nancy asked.

  “He gave his name as Henry Clark and his address as 14 Canalee Road in Queens. The police checked it and found both to be phony.”

  “What did he look like?”

  “Oh, he was tall, handsome, and had a dark beard. He was a smooth talker and very pleasant.”

  “Did you pay him by check or in cash?”

  “Cash. He said the airline would not take a personal check.”

  George spoke up. “He probably skipped town with your money.”

  “That’s what the police think. They doubt they’ll ever find him. Perhaps you girls can unravel this mystery for me.”

  “We’ll do our best,” Nancy promised. “Unfortunately we have very little to go on.”

  “I understand that,” Mrs. Richards said. “And now I’d better get home.” She turned to Miss Drew. “Eloise, may I call my apartment and see if Roscoe had the car fixed?”

  “Of course.”

  Mrs. Richards dialed the number and spoke to her housekeeper, Trudie. Suddenly the girls saw her turn ashen white.

  “That’s terrible!” Mrs. Richards cried out. “I’ll be right over. I hope nothing has happened to Roscoe!”

  She put down the receiver. “Trudie told me a man called the apartment. He said I would never see my car again. Before she could ask about Roscoe, the stranger hung up. Oh, dear! I hope my chauffeur hasn’t met with foul play!”

  “So do I,” Aunt Eloise said sympathetically. “I’ll get a taxi for you. Let us know what happened, and if we can be of any help.”

  After the distressed woman had left, Aunt Eloise said she would start dinner. The girls followed her to the kitchen and helped prepare the meal.

  While they were eating, Miss Drew announced, “With all this excitement, I almost forgot that I have four tickets to a magic show tonight. It’s given by a group called the Hoaxters.”

  “That sounds interesting,” Bess remarked.

  Aunt Eloise nodded. “Annabella saw it and said it was fascinating. Incidentally, there is a big surprise in the show. She wouldn’t tell me what it is.”

  The girls were eager to see the performance, which proved, indeed, to be most unusual. A dark-haired sleight of hand man with a perky mustache, listed on the program as Ronaldo Jensen, started with an amazing card trick. He asked people in the audience to name a card, then time after time he pulled the correct one out of his pack.

  “How in the world does he do that?” Bess whispered to Nancy.

  “I wish I knew,” the girl replied.

  Next, a young woman was brought onto the stage in a gilt chair with red plush upholstery. Her eyes were blindfolded. Another performer held a black cloth in front of her legs for a moment. When he pulled it away, her legs were gone!

  The audience gasped, while the girl held her arms up high. The magician put the black cloth in front of them. Seconds later, the arms had disappeared!

  “Oh, this is dreadful!” Bess cried out. “That poor girl!”

  George grinned. “Don’t be silly. You know it’s only a trick!”

  Her cousin settled back. “But it seems so real!”

  Now the man held the cloth in front of the girl’s body. When he removed it, the chair was empty!

  “Oh!” Bess exclaimed.

  Even Nancy was perplexed. She had seen many magic shows and knew how several of the tricks were done. But she could not figure out how this disappearing act was possible.

  As the performer gradually restored the girl, section by section, Bess heaved a great, audible sigh of relief.

  “Feel better now?” George teased her.

  “Much.”

  Next, another member of the troupe stepped from the wings to the edge of the stage. He announced, “We are now inviting a few people from the audience to come forward and see how we do our tricks!”

  At once Bess jumped out of her seat and started up the aisle, handbag swinging over her arm. She was one of the first to reach the stage.

  The sleight of hand man accepted ten people, including Bess, then repeated his card trick. It was just as puzzling to the onlookers as it had been before, even though they were now standing very close to him.

  Suddenly the magician pulled a watch out of a young man’s ear. He compared it with his own watch. “Seems to be an hour ahead. Get it? Ahead,” he quipped, grinning.

  As everyone laughed, the magician put the watch into his own pocket, telling the visitor he would return it later.

  “See this!” he said, and produced a wallet from inside another man’s collar.

  “Hey, that was in my hip pocket which was buttoned!” the amazed fellow shouted. “How’d you do that?”

  The magician chuckled. “We invited you to watch. You tell me! And don’t worry about your wallet. It will be returned to you right after the show.”

  Bess was fascinated. Suddenly it occurred to her: Would these people really receive their property back?

  She felt for her own handbag. It was gone! She stared intently at the sleight of hand man. He did not have the bag, and it was nowhere in sight!

  2

  Bess’s Strange Caller

  Bess startled everyone on stage by crying out, “Someone has taken my handbag!”

  A woman standing near her exclaimed, “And my expense account notebook is gone!”

  George jumped up and announced to Nancy that she was going on stage to help her cousin. Nancy held her friend’s arm. “Please stay here. I’m sure all this is a hoax. Don’t you remember that Mrs. Richards said there was a big surprise during the performance?”

  George sat down again. “I guess you’re right, Nancy.”

  By this time the magician was clapping his hands loudly to restore order on the stage. Over a microphone he announced, “This is all a hoax. Every missing article will be returned to its rightful owner at the end of the show. Please come back here afterward to get your property.”

  Members of the audience who had gathered around him acknowledged that they had come on stage out of curiosity and would wait to claim their property. They filed back to their seats.

  “For a few minutes I was scared,” Bess told Nancy, George, and Aunt Eloise. “Do you think they really mean what they say and will return our things?”

  Nancy nodded. “I’m sure they will. If they hadn’t been doing it in other shows, people would have notified the police.”

  Aunt Eloise added, “There has been no bad publicity or I would have heard about it.”

  Bess agreed, and her flushed face returned to the attractive pink and white it usually was.

  When the show was over, George said to her, “Be sure to check your handbag and see that everything is still in it.”

  Bess caught her breath. “It’s jammed with stuff. I hope I can remember what was there. Let me see: my wallet, credit cards, a little jewel bag with a bracelet and earrings. Perfume. My savings book. A letter from Dorothy Cross, the girl I met during my vacation in Maine. And, oh ... yes.”

  “What?” George asked.

  Bess lowered her eyes. “A picture of Dave.”

  Nancy smiled. “You wouldn’t want to lose that for a million dollars, would you?”

  “No, I wouldn’t,” Bess replied.

  Dave Evans was a special friend of hers, and she knew that both Nancy and George carried photographs of their boyfriends, too. Nancy’s purse contained a snapshot of Ned Nick
erson in his football uniform, and George had Burt Eddleton’s picture tucked in her wallet.

  Bess hurried up to the stage with other members of the audience to claim her property. They were ushered into a back room. As people retrieved their possessions, they were asked to sign releases that read,

  I relieve the Hoaxters of any wrongdoing in playing a hoax on me.

  “This is just a protection for us. We don’t want to be accused later of not returning everything to you,” the magician explained.

  Bess found that the contents of her handbag were intact and signed the paper. Then she joined her friends and they left the theater with Aunt Eloise.

  “That was quite an experience,” Miss Drew remarked. “Annabella was right about a big surprise in the performance.”

  Nancy said nothing, but her mind was working fast. Why was it necessary for the Hoaxters to keep people’s property for such a long time? They could have returned it at once. She began to feel suspicious about the troupe, but had nothing definite to go on.

  As the girls prepared for bed, George yawned. “If the rest of the mystery is going to be filled with days like this one, we’ll have plenty of excitement.” The others agreed and said good night.

  Directly after breakfast the following morning Bess received a phone call. A man who introduced himself as Howie Barker said, “I contacted your home in River Heights. Your mother told me where you were staying. I’d like very much to come and see you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Bess replied. “I’ve never met you.”

  “No, you haven’t,” Mr. Barker admitted. “But your mother felt that you might be interested in an offer I have for you. The company I represent is building a wonderful new seaside hotel. If you avail yourself of this opportunity, you will have perpetual low rates for yourself, your family and friends, and will get reservations anytime you choose to come.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Bess told him. “My friends and I have plans for the day. Maybe some other time—”