The Chocolate-Covered Contest, Page 3

  before Joyce grilled you about it. I'm sorry about the

  confusion.”

  Bess waved her hand. “That's okay. You can bet we'll

  be talking to Joyce again soon.”

  Andrea gave Nancy some papers to hand out to the

  Sleuths as Bess made sure everyone's seat belt was

  fastened.

  “A scavenger hunt. Cool!” Laura exclaimed as

  Andrea turned the key in the ignition.

  Noah read the first item on the list. “In this

  relationship, the female rules the roost. I think,” Noah

  said, “that the correct answer is a member of the bird

  family. Not that we'll be seeing any today. Even birds

  have sense enough to stay out of the rain.”

  Nancy peered out the window. The animal park

  appeared deserted, although it was difficult to see

  more than a few feet in the gray gloom.

  “This is no fun,” Tyler complained.

  “Hey!” Emma shouted. “Someone's throwing candy

  at me.”

  “Come on, guys,” George coaxed. “Let's settle

  down.”

  Andrea turned up the windshield wipers a notch.

  “Maybe we should go back to the motel and wait out

  this storm.”

  Nancy opened her mouth to agree, but she was cut

  off by Bess's scream.

  A car sped around the curve moving toward them,

  and Andrea had to turn the wheel sharply to avoid

  hitting it. Nancy caught a glimpse of the midsize white

  sedan speeding away before Andrea lost control and

  the van veered off the road and down a slippery slope.

  There was a jolt as they hit a wire fence and stopped

  suddenly.

  For a moment there was silence.

  “Is everyone all right?” Nancy asked. She heard

  Laura sniffling. “Laura. Are you hurt?”

  Laura shook her head. “N-n-no. Just scared.”

  “Don't shake your head,” Nancy said gently. “Just

  answer yes or no. Does anyone hurt anywhere?”

  There was a weak chorus of nos.

  “I'll bet that was more exciting than Royal Pain,”

  Kenny said.

  The Sleuths laughed, and the tension was broken.

  Once they were certain no one had been hurt,

  Nancy peeked out the window to see where the van

  had come to rest. The front tires were sunk in a muddy

  stream of water.

  Andrea groaned. “I'm so sorry.”

  “It's not your fault,” Bess assured her. “That car

  came out of nowhere.”

  “The accident was definitely the other driver's fault,”

  Nancy said. “I didn't get the license plate number or

  even the model of the car because it was going so fast.”

  Noah tapped Andrea's shoulder. “Um, do we have to

  walk all the way back to the motel?”

  “The van might be okay to drive,” George said.

  “Why don't we get out and take a look?” Nancy

  suggested.

  She and George climbed out of the van and moved

  carefully on the muddy hillside.

  Nancy ran her fingers over the yellow lettering on

  the side of the van. Science Sleths, she read. A tree had

  scraped off the U entirely.

  “This doesn't look too promising.” Nancy bent to

  examine the front tires. “We're sunk three inches in

  this mud.”

  “Uh, Nan . . .” George stood slowly. “Do alligators

  eat people?”

  “Please tell me there isn't a reason you're asking that

  right now,” Nancy said, following George's gaze. Half-

  submerged in the water near their feet was a seven-

  foot reptile, its muscles tensed as it slid out of the

  stream.

  4. A Day at the Park

  “George,” Nancy cried. “Get inside the van!”

  She heard shouts from inside the van and realized

  the Sleuths had spotted the reptile, too. It lifted its

  head in response to the noise and rose completely out

  of the water, its short legs churning.

  Nancy sprinted to the other side of the van. Before

  she got there, Bess had the sliding door open. Andrea

  reached out and helped pull Nancy and George inside.

  Nancy collapsed into her seat as Bess slammed the

  door shut. “Go away,” Bess shouted to the retreating

  reptile.

  Nancy saw that Bess's face was white. “And to think

  we were complaining a minute ago that all the animals

  were hiding,” Bess said.

  George plopped down across from Nancy. “I guess

  alligators don't mind the rain.”

  “That wasn't an alligator, George.” Noah pressed his

  nose against the window. “It had a long snout, and its

  lower teeth were visible when it closed its mouth. That

  means it was actually a crocodile.”

  Nancy shuddered. “It was close enough for you to

  see its teeth?”

  Noah nodded. “Oh, yes.”

  “Did you know that a crocodile often drowns its

  victim before eating it?” Ashley asked.

  “No. I didn't know that.” Bess locked the door to the

  van. “And I definitely don't think we'll be going back

  out there.”

  “We're trapped,” Emma said. “Like sardines in a

  can.”

  “Unlike sardines in a can,” Bess pointed out, “we're

  alive.”

  “But how are we going to get out?” Emma rolled

  down her window. “Help!” she shouted.

  “Shh,” Andrea said. “We've disturbed the wildlife

  enough for one day. There's no need to panic.”

  “Even if it were safe to go outside, we'd never be

  able to push the van out of the mud,” Nancy told

  Andrea. “We need a tow truck.”

  Andrea pulled a cell phone from the* glove

  compartment. “And we'll get one. Sit tight, everybody.”

  While Andrea made the call, Laura pulled out a

  pack of Kings Commons playing cards. “I bought these

  in the Candy Shoppe. Does anybody want to play?”

  Bess surveyed her hand a few minutes later with

  disgust. “Do Kings Commons cards have extra kings? I

  think they all went to Noah.”

  Nancy set her cards down as she heard a vehicle pull

  up behind them. “That must be the tow truck.”

  “Whoa,” said a man's voice. “This is not exactly what

  I pictured when you said van. This here is more like a

  minibus.”

  “Be careful!” Andrea called out the window.

  “There's a crocodile out there. We just had a close

  call.”

  A man and a woman wearing khaki Jungle Kingdom

  uniforms hopped out of the tow truck. “You don't need

  to tell us, ma'am,” said the man. “Not that there would

  be any danger from Crocus if our nice, expensive fence

  were intact.” He kicked at the sagging wire where the

  van had broken through.

  “Crocus?” Bess asked.

  “The crocodile,” the woman explained, peering into

  the murky water. “You've scared her indoors. The

  keeper radioed that she's closed in her pen. That

  means it's safe to move around out here.”

  “Great,” George said. “Let's get out of this van.”

  The chaperons helped the kids down. �
�Watch your

  step,” Bess repeated to each of them. “Watch your step

  in this mud.”

  Andrea ran a hand over the side of the van. “Look at

  this dent.”

  “That'll cost a couple hundred dollars to fix,” the tow

  truck driver said.

  “Do you think we can drive it?” Andrea asked him.

  The driver shook his head. “No, ma'am. The wheel

  rim's bent. It'll be in the shop at least a day.”

  “At least a day?” Andrea turned to Nancy and her

  friends. “But we're supposed to go home tomorrow

  evening.”

  “Sorry,” the driver said.

  He went to work attaching the tow truck to the van

  under George's watchful eye as Nancy, Bess, and

  Andrea climbed the hill with the Sleuths. Meanwhile,

  Hal and his partner began patching the damaged

  fence.

  “The Sleuths' parents are not going to be happy,”

  Andrea mumbled. “I'm not looking forward to telling

  them I need to keep their kids for an extra day. And

  how am I going to pay for another night in a motel—

  not to mention the van repairs?”

  “Look,” Bess said, “I just won a million dollars—I

  think. Now, I know I won't get the money right away,

  but half of it is yours the minute I do.”

  Andrea shook her head. “You really don't have to do

  that.”

  Bess smiled. “I know I don't have to, but I want to.

  Anyhow, given the shabby way the contest people have

  treated us—I mean, they practically accused me of

  cheating—I think the least they owe us is a free night

  at the motel.”

  “I agree,” Andrea said, “but I doubt they'll be so

  gracious. In fact, I'm sure they won't.” She took Bess's

  hand. “I appreciate your offer, Bess, and we can discuss

  it later when things are settled. For now, the motel fees

  will go on my already overtaxed credit card.”

  “I wish there was something we could do for you

  now,” Nancy said.

  Andrea grimaced. “I don't suppose you'd care to

  help me call ten sets of angry parents regarding our

  extended stay at Kings Commons?”

  “That's a tame assignment,” Nancy assured her.

  “You can count on us.”

  After a trip back to the motel to change into clean

  clothes, the Sleuths returned to the park for dinner.

  A mock jousting session went on below them as they

  feasted on roast chicken and vegetables.

  “Are we really eating like kings?” Tyler asked

  Andrea.

  “I don't think kings used plastic knives and forks,”

  Andrea said.

  Bess set down her plastic fork with a contented sigh.

  “I don't care. I was starving.”

  George nodded toward a woman at an adjacent table

  who was eating a double hot fudge sundae. “I think

  that woman could eat anyone under the table.”

  Bess narrowed her eyes. “I'd like to leave her there.”

  “That's Diana, owner of the alleged winning

  wrapper,” Nancy murmured to George.

  “Ah,” George said. “I recognize her now.”

  Diana and Phil were looking at large black-and-

  white photographs of themselves taken at the park.

  “Queen Diana and King Phillip. The last time I'll wear

  a tiara, I'm sure,” Diana said. “Do you think we should

  reprint our company brochures with these photos?

  Diana and Phil Nugent, president and vice-president . .

  .” She stopped when she spotted Nancy watching her.

  “You know what, Phil?” Diana said. “I think I just

  lost my appetite.” She crumpled her napkin and stood.

  “Don't leave on our account,” Andrea said. “You

  haven't finished your dessert.”

  “Why don't you just help yourselves?” Diana

  snapped.

  “I don't think so,” Andrea said sweetly. “I'm allergic

  to nuts. Not to mention rudeness.”

  “You tell her, Andrea,” Kenny said. “She tells us all

  the time how she's allergic to rudeness,” he explained

  to Diana.

  “Well, I think I'm allergic to children,” Diana told

  Kenny. “If you'll excuse us.” She scraped her chair

  along the floor as she pushed it up to the table. She and

  Phil stalked out of the restaurant, leaving her sundae

  melting.

  “I wonder why Diana is so rude to us?” Nancy asked

  Bess that evening in their motel room. “She seemed

  quite pleasant when she was talking to her husband

  tonight.”

  “Until she saw us,” Bess said.

  Nancy nodded. “Exactly.”

  Bess slipped off her tennis shoes and massaged her

  feet. “She said she hates kids. She probably finds the

  Sleuths a little overwhelming.” She fell back on the

  bed. “I love them, but they are tiring.”

  George hung up the phone. “Okay, I talked to

  Emma's parents. After we call Kenny's, we're done.”

  She waved the receiver at Nancy and Bess. “Any

  volunteers?”

  Bess groaned and rolled over on her stomach.

  Nancy laughed. “I'll do it. I want to call my dad

  when we're through, anyhow.”

  When Nancy reached her father, she told him about

  her meeting with Bess in Joyce's office. Carson Drew

  was a criminal defense attorney, but Nancy felt sure he

  would know something about the legal implications of

  Bess's situation.

  “Well,” Mr. Drew said when Nancy had finished,

  “that's some story. I presume you're on the case?”

  Nancy laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am. But I wanted to

  see if there was anything else we should be doing.

  Legally, I mean.”

  “You know this isn't my area of expertise,” Mr. Drew

  said, “but it sounds to me as though you've done fine so

  far. Let me know if you have any specific questions,

  and I'll ask an expert.”

  Nancy thanked her father. “You're the best. And

  please send Hannah my love. Oh—tell her I bought

  her a great cookbook. Maybe we can bake some

  cookies when I get back.”

  Hannah Gruen was the Drews' housekeeper and

  had been like a mother to Nancy since Nancy's own

  mother had died when she was three.

  “Cookies?” Mr. Drew laughed at his daughter.

  “When was the last time you had time to bake

  cookies?”

  “I don't know,” Nancy admitted. “But once this case

  is solved, I'll have a little bit of free time before—”

  “Before your next big case,” Mr. Drew finished.

  “Have fun, Nancy. Let me know if there's anything I

  can do for you.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I'll see you in a couple of days.”

  Nancy replaced the receiver and was startled when the

  phone rang immediately.

  “Hello?” she said breathlessly, glancing at her watch.

  It was after ten o'clock.

  “Hello. Is this Bess Marvin?” asked a female voice,

  which Nancy recognized instantly as Joyce's.

  “No, Ms. Palmer. This is Nancy Drew. Would you

  like to speak with Bess?”

  “Please c
all me Joyce. And I'd like to speak with

  both of you—but not over the phone. Do you think you

  could come to my office to see me?”

  Nancy caught Bess's eye. “Sure,” she said. “We'll

  have to work out a time with Andrea, though. Our

  schedule tomorrow is kind of packed.”

  “Actually, I was hoping you could come right now.

  It's vital that I talk to you immediately.”

  5. Battle Royal

  “At this hour? Joyce wants us to go back to her office

  now?” Bess winced as she shoved her feet into her

  shoes. “She obviously has no idea what kind of day

  we've had.”

  “Something weird is going on,” Nancy said. “I got

  the impression Joyce didn't want anyone to know she's

  talking to us. And why is she working so late, anyway?”

  “Well, I guess I can catch a baseball game, since you

  two won't be here to object.” George leaned back

  against her pillow and flipped on the TV to a sports

  channel. “Let me know how it goes.”

  Although the rain had stopped, Nancy was surprised

  at the chill in the air when she and Bess stepped

  outside. “It feels like fall,” she said.

  “Kings Commons will close for the season in a few

  weeks,” Bess observed. “I guess I won't be claiming my

  trip part of the prize until next year. If ever.”

  “I can't wait to hear what Joyce has to tell us,” Nancy

  said.

  Joyce met Nancy and Bess at the entrance to the

  Royal Chocolates building. “Thanks for coming over so

  late. I wouldn't have asked you if it wasn't important.”

  She punched a code into the security keypad and

  ushered them inside.

  “Do you usually keep such late hours?” Nancy asked.

  “Sometimes,” Joyce said. “It's been land of crazy in

  our department lately.” She pressed the elevator

  button. “We've all been edgy. I know it's no excuse, but

  I want to apologize for the way I treated you earlier

  today. I had just been chewed out by my boss. ...”

  “We heard,” Bess said.

  “I'm sure.” Joyce grimaced. “I guess you can imagine

  how I felt when I saw your winning wrapper—the

  second winning wrapper. You see, I'm in charge of

  contest security. If someone finds a way to crack the

  system and cheat, then it's my fault. And that means

  Mr. Tumey has a perfect excuse to fire me.”

  Nancy wondered why Joyce would think Mr. Tumey

  was looking for a reason to fire her.