Someone from marketing will be with you in a
moment.”
“She seemed surprised when I said I won the grand
prize, didn't she?” Bess commented as they watched
the receptionist make a phone call.
“I guess it's pretty unusual for people to walk in off
the street and claim their prizes,” Nancy said.
“Yeah. I wonder what the odds are of getting the
winning wrapper while you're actually in the park. One
in a hundred million?”
The receptionist motioned for them to approach the
desk.
“They're expecting you upstairs in marketing,” she
said. “That's on the fifth floor. Take a right when you
get off the elevator and wait in the reception area.
Joyce Palmer is the contest administrator. She'll meet
you there shortly.”
Nancy pressed the Up button beside the elevator.
“Thanks for your help.”
On the fifth floor the chocolate brown walls were
hung with prints of Royal Chocolates wrappers through
the decades. Warm chocolate-chip cookies were spread
on a table beside a carafe filled with cocoa. “If I
worked here, I'd gain fifty pounds,” Bess whispered.
She poured herself a cup of steaming hot chocolate and
took a sip. “Ow!” she cried.
“Burned your tongue?”
“With something this good, there's always a price,”
Bess murmured.
Nancy took a cookie and closed her eyes as she
savored the taste of butter and chocolate mingling on
her tongue. She was startled out of her reverie by the
sound of an irate male voice.
“Joyce!” the man shouted.
“Joyce,” Nancy whispered to Bess. “She's the person
we're supposed to see, right? Maybe she's coming to
get us.”
Bess tapped her foot. “I hope so.”
“Joyce!” the voice repeated. “In my office. Now!”
“Then again, maybe she's not.” Nancy relaxed in her
seat and popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth.
“I'm going to have to get the recipe for these,” she
murmured.
“Yes, Mr. Tumey?” said Joyce in a high-pitched
voice.
“Tell me, Joyce. Why is it that our company holds
contests?”
Nancy felt her muscles tense and glanced over at
Bess. Although they could not see what was going on in
Mr. Tumey's office it was clear from his tone that he
was very upset. Nancy was afraid they were about to
overhear an unpleasant conversation.
“I'm not sure what you're asking,” Joyce stammered.
“I mean, you know why we—”
“Why do we run contests?” Mr. Tumey repeated.
“We run contests,” Joyce replied, “to entice
shoppers to buy our candy with the prospect of
winning a prize. It gives us an edge over the com-
petition and increases our sales.”
“Not only have we not increased sales,” Mr. Tumey
shouted, “but they have dropped by ten percent. We
have made an outlay of millions of dollars in prizes and
marketing materials only to lose money!”
“I can't stand this.” Bess cleared her throat loudly.
Mr. Tumey's voice continued to get louder. “Can
you understand why this makes me upset? Why this
makes my bosses upset?”
“Of course.” Joyce's voice wavered. “It makes me
upset, too. But no one could have predicted this would
happen.”
“That's your job, Joyce. You have to be able to
predict this kind of problem.”
“But you were enthusiastic about the contest—you
and Mr. Castle approved the idea.”
“We approved the idea based on the facts that you
presented to us,” Mr. Tumey said. “It was your
responsibility to do the research.”
Nancy squirmed in her chair. She wondered
whether Mr. Tumey would be yelling at Joyce if he
knew there were visitors in the office.
“That Mr. Tumey sounds mean,” Bess whispered.
“I'm glad we don't have to talk to him.”
“I presented you with all the facts we had at the
time,” Joyce said. “Obviously I couldn't have predicted
that Pleasant Candies would launch a new candy at the
exact same time that we ran our promotion. I couldn't
know that Golden Bars would be a caramel-filled candy
bar just like Crown Jewels.”
“They do taste the same,” Bess whispered to Nancy.
“It was your job to know,” Mr. Tumey said. “Market
research is your area. Furthermore, do you think it's a
coincidence that Pleasant Candies launched this new
candy bar at the same time we ran our promotion?
That they undercut our price by five cents? That they
duplicated the taste of the Crown Jewels chocolate?
Somebody at Pleasant knew our plans, Joyce. Pleasant
Candies is paying someone to steal our secrets.”
Joyce gasped. “Are you saying you think there's a
corporate spy?”
“I know there's a corporate spy.” Mr. Tumey paused.
“I want you to stay alert, Joyce. We have to find this
person before Pleasant carves out a greater share of
our business. Before something else happens. Do you
understand?”
“Yes, Mr. Tumey. I'll do what I can.”
“See that you do.”
Nancy stood as Joyce strode out of the office with
her head down.
“I'm sorry,” Joyce said. “Can I help you?” Then her
hand went to her mouth. “Oh, no. I'm Joyce Palmer.
You're waiting to see me, aren't you? I completely
forgot.”
“Yes,” Nancy said apologetically. Joyce must know
that they had overheard Mr. Tumey's every harsh
word, she thought.
“We're sorry to bother you. We know you must be
busy.” Nancy shook Joyce's hand, then introduced
herself and Bess.
“The receptionist said something about your wanting
to claim a contest prize. I don't know why she sent you
to me.” Joyce bit her lip. “But come have a seat in my
office. We'll see if we can take care of it for you.”
Joyce offered Nancy and Bess some hot chocolate.
“No, thanks,” Bess said immediately, her tongue
going to the roof of her mouth.
Joyce settled into her chair. “All right, then. What
can I do for you?”
“This is kind of hard to believe, but”—Bess fumbled
around in her pocket for the wrapper—“I seem to have
won the grand prize in the Crown Jewels
Sweepstakes.”
There was a long pause. “The grand prize?” Joyce
repeated.
“Yes. You know, a million dollars, a trip to Kings
Commons . . .”
“I'm sorry,” Joyce interrupted. “But what you're
saying is absolutely impossible.”
The smile froze on Bess's face. “I'm sorry,” she
stammered. “I don't understand. Why is it impossible
that I won?”
“Well,” Joyce said, “there's only one grand prize.
And it's already been awarded.”
3. Jungle Kingdom
Nancy and Bess stared at Joyce.
“What did you say?” Bess asked.
“You probably misread the wrapper.” Joyce took a
swig of coffee. “It happens all the time.” She motioned
for Bess to hand it to her. “Let me see. I bet you won
one of the smaller prizes. A Crown Jewels tote bag or
something.”
Bess unfolded the wrapper and showed it to Joyce.
“It clearly says grand prize,' “ Bess said. “One million
dollars.”
Joyce frowned as she flattened the wrapper on her
desk. She pulled a magnifying glass from her desk
drawer.
Bess leaned forward. “I'm not wrong, am I?”
“You're not wrong,” Joyce confirmed. “But—the
winning wrapper has already been verified by our
contest prize division. In fact, the winner is enjoying
her vacation at the park right now. And there's only
one winning wrapper. Only one was printed.” Joyce
paused for a moment to let her words sink in. “Do you
understand, then, why I find your claim disturbing?”
“I'm sure you understand why we find your claim
disturbing,” Nancy said. “Are you saying that Bess has
cheated in some way?”
“Nancy is a detective, and her father's a lawyer,”
Bess blurted out. “They'll prove that I won fair and
square.”
Joyce put her hand over Bess's. “You don't need a
detective or a lawyer, Bess. Of course we'll do a
thorough investigation of your claim. Let me make a
copy of the wrapper for you to keep. The original will
be sent to the claim investigators.”
Bess picked up her wrapper and clung tightly to it.
“It's standard procedure for all prize winners,” Joyce
explained.
Nancy nodded to Bess, and Bess handed over the
wrapper.
Joyce moved to a locked file cabinet and removed a
folder from the top drawer. “How old are you, Bess?”
“Eighteen,” Bess replied. “Why?”
“Excellent,” Joyce said. “Contest rules state that you
must be at least eighteen to win. I'll need you to sign
these affidavits to that effect. You must also verify that
you are not directly related to an employee of Royal
Chocolates or Kings Commons, and that you are not
employed here yourself.”
Bess took the pen from Joyce. “I have no problem
with any of that. Where do I sign?”
Nancy glanced over Bess's shoulder. “Do you mind
if I read these first?”
“Of course not.” Bess handed her the papers.
“Thanks.”
“In the meantime, let me ask you a few questions,”
Joyce said. She ran her fingers through her brown
curls. “Where did you purchase the winning Crown
Jewels bar?”
“I'm not exactly sure,” Bess explained.
Joyce raised her eyebrows.
“What I mean is, I'm at Kings Commons with a
nonprofit educational group called the Science Sleuths.
Their leader, Andrea Cassella, bought us the chocolate
this morning from one of the vendors in the park. I'm
not sure which one.”
Joyce set down her pen. “That's very interesting.”
“Why is that interesting?” Bess asked. “It's no big
deal. I'm sure I can find out where she bought them.”
“I'd like you to find out,” Joyce said, “because we're
not selling the instant-win bars inside the park.”
Bess opened her mouth, then closed it again.
“Look,” she said finally, “I don't know what's going on
here, but I didn't cheat. I wouldn't cheat, and if you
want to accuse me of cheating, you're going to have to
prove it.”
“I'm not accusing you of anything,” Joyce said
pleasantly. “As I explained, we'll look into the matter.”
“You can bet Nancy will be looking into the matter,
too.” Bess stood up. “Come on, Nan. Let's go—”
“Don't forget to sign your paperwork,” Joyce said.
Nancy gave Bess the papers. “Everything looks okay
to me. Do you want me to ask my dad to review them?”
“That's okay. I just want to get out of here.” Bess
seized the pen and scrawled her signature in several
places.
“Make sure you list your address and phone number
so we'll be able to contact you,” Joyce said.
Bess nodded. “And I can be reached at the King's
Quarters Motel tonight.”
Joyce opened the supply closet, which was filled
with Crown Jewels hats and canvas bags and T-shirts.
She stuffed several chocolate bars into a bag and gave
them to Bess. “For your students,” she said. “I hope
you enjoy your stay at Kings Commons.” She smiled.
“Do you have big plans for your day?”
“Well,” Bess said, “since the Royal Pain is broken
and it's raining and Nancy and I wasted half our day
here, I guess that leaves the animal park.”
“Oh, you'll enjoy Jungle Kingdom.” Joyce rifled
through her desk drawer for a brochure. “You'll want to
be sure to see the baby white tiger.” She stood and
shook each of the girls' hands. “I apologize for the
inconvenience and any offense you might have taken. I
promise I'll be in touch as soon as I have news.”
“Thanks,” Nancy said. “We'll see ourselves out.”
As they walked into the reception area, a woman
barreled into Joyce's office, brushing against Nancy's
sleeve.
“Does that woman ever watch where she's going?”
Nancy realized it was the same woman who had run
into Kenny earlier in the park. Her husband followed a
few paces behind her.
“Hi, Diana. Phil,” Joyce greeted the couple
cheerfully. “What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering whether a new shirt might be
included in my all-expenses-paid trip,” Diana said.
“Mine was soiled by a careless kid in the park. I got a
huge bruise on my knee, too.”
“All-expenses-paid trip?” Bess pressed her hand
against her mouth. “Do you mean to tell me that nasty
lady is the real contest winner?”
“Not the real contest winner,” Nancy corrected.
“You're the real contest winner.”
“Right. And how much do you want to bet that next
she'll try suing them over her stupid bruise.” Bess
shook her head as they moved to the elevator. “I'm so
glad you're here, Nan. I know you'll be able to figure
out what's going on.”
Nancy put a hand on Bess's shoulder. “Don't worry.
I'll do everything I can to prove you're the real
winner.” She stared back at Joyce's office. “And I think
I'll start with a close look at Diana and Phil.”
The weather had turned dreary, and a steady rain
fell on Kings Commons. Nancy saw Bess shiver and
suggested that they stop and buy parkas before
meeting the Science Sleuths at the Moat Float. They
ducked into a country store with a candy cane-striped
awning.
George waved at them from behind a display of
sweatshirts. “Hey, guys. We came in here to get out of
the rain. How'd it go?”
Ten Science Sleuths rushed to Bess's side.
“What happened?”
“Where's the chocolate?”
“I won't be getting the money until later.” Bess
patted the tote bag. “I do have chocolate bars— for
later,” she added firmly.
Bess then picked up a book and absently flipped
through pages of dessert recipes. After a minute
George nudged her. “What's up? You're looking at
chocolate and you seem totally unexcited.”
“I'll tell you later,” Bess murmured. “How was the
Moat Float?” she asked the Sleuths.
“We got really wet,” Laura said with relish. “But you
can hardly tell now that it's raining so hard.”
“I knew it was going to rain.” Kenny sighed. “Our
whole day's ruined.”
“Not ruined.” Andrea clapped her hands. “Come on,
Sleuths. We're going to take in the Jungle Kingdom
from our van, where it's dry and cozy. Find your
partners. Let's go.”
As the group trudged across the parking lot in the
steady rain, Nancy quietly filled George and Andrea in
on their meeting with Joyce.
George frowned. “What a way to do business. You
can bet I won't be buying Royal Chocolates anymore.”
“George, you never bought Royal Chocolates,” Bess
said.
“Okay, well, you shouldn't buy them anymore,
then,” George suggested. “That'll really hurt their
business.”
Bess punched her cousin's arm. “Very funny.”
“I think I can clear up one mystery here.” Andrea
unlocked the van and motioned for the Sleuths to
climb in. “If Joyce says your claim is suspicious because
Royal isn't selling instant-win bars in the park, you can
tell her I didn't buy them in the park.”
“You didn't?” Nancy examined a Crown Jewels bar
from the tote bag Joyce had given Bess. She noticed
that, as Joyce said, the wrapper did not advertise the
instant-win contest.
“You know we're pinching pennies,” Andrea ex-
plained. “Crown Jewels bars were on sale at a grocery
store last week in River Heights, so I bought them
then.”
“You plan ahead for everything, don't you?” Bess
said with admiration.
“Obviously not,” Andrea replied. “Otherwise, I
would have made sure you knew where I got the candy