Illusions of Evil

  • • •

  At eight o’clock that night Nancy bounded down the carpeted stairs of her house to answer the doorbell. Her father had gone straight from his office to his dinner appointment, so Nancy was home alone.

  When she reached the foyer, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and nodded in approval at her flowing scoop-necked dress. Her friend Bess Marvin had helped her pick it out. Its ivory- and rose-colored flowers against an emerald green background set off her reddish blond hair perfectly. She smoothed the dress over her hips, then threw open the door to Ned, leaning casually against the frame.

  “What a babe!” he exclaimed to tease her, then stepped over the threshold and put his arms around her. He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for this all day!”

  He kissed her lips gently, and Nancy caught the lapel of his jacket between her thumb and forefinger. “You don’t look so bad yourself—for a guy with a dent in his head,” she joked back.

  Ned was wearing a trim dark blue suit, a white shirt, and an expensive Italian tie Nancy’s father had given him for Christmas. His broad shoulders filled out the jacket perfectly, and the colors of the tie set off his deep brown eyes.

  “Thanks a lot,” he replied good-naturedly.

  Nancy reached up and touched the bandage on his forehead. “Actually, this makes you look even more handsome—kind of like a pirate. Do you feel okay?” she asked.

  “Good as new,” he replied, then grabbed her hand. “Come on, Nan. We’ve got reservations at eight-thirty, and I don’t want them to give our table away to somebody else.”

  Nancy reached back to the coatrack beside the door for her wrap, then locked the door and went down the walk arm in arm with Ned.

  On the way to Finian’s, Nancy told her boyfriend about what had happened that day. When she got to the part about being run off River Bluff Road, Ned’s brow furrowed.

  “I want you to be careful,” he said. “This case is getting dangerous.”

  Nancy sighed. “I know. I keep thinking about the knife I saw in Grigov’s hand when I was talking to Adriana in her dressing room last night.”

  Ned widened his eyes. “He had a knife?”

  “Didn’t I tell you?” Nancy said. “He’s a professional knife thrower. His stage name is Sabre the Blademaster.”

  “Oh, boy!” Ned exclaimed. “I thought he was kind of weird when I met him. Possessive of Adriana, you know?”

  Nancy frowned. “There’s definitely something between the two of them, but I haven’t had a chance to ask Adriana about it. Even though she doesn’t seem to take him completely seriously, I get the feeling that they’re romantically involved. But it could be a touchy subject, if you know what I mean.”

  Ned nodded. “So, besides Grigov, who are your suspects now?” he wanted to know. “Freda Clarke?”

  “I guess I’ve got to keep her on the list, even though I doubt she’d do anything illegal. I’m not so sure about her fiancé, Vince Garraty, though,” Nancy said. “He was definitely hostile when I met him at Freda’s house. And then there’s Benny Gotnick.”

  “It’s pretty interesting that Benny works for Vince, wouldn’t you say?” Ned asked.

  “No kidding,” Nancy agreed. “I’m going back to his place tomorrow. If he’s not there, I’ll check out the premises.”

  “Breaking and entering again?” Ned teased as he pulled into Finian’s and parked. “It’s getting to be a real habit with you.”

  Nancy laughed.

  The maître d’ greeted them just inside the door. He led them through the dining room to their table. Finian’s was a beautiful restaurant, one of Nancy’s favorites. The walls were oak paneled and covered with oil paintings. The floor was carpeted in deep, plush wool, and the tables were set with fine china and crystal.

  Their table was off to the side of the main dining room, and Nancy sat facing Ned with her back to the entrance. After they ordered their appetizers she leaned across the table to hold Ned’s hand. “This place is so romantic. Being here with you is the greatest, Nickerson.”

  Ned smiled back at her, but then his expression turned quizzical. Nancy noticed that he was staring past her. “What is it?” she asked.

  “You might not be the only Drew who thinks Finian’s is romantic,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” Nancy asked.

  “Your father just walked in.”

  “My dad!” Nancy exclaimed. “But he said he had a business appointment.”

  “This doesn’t look like a business appointment to me,” said Ned. “This looks like a date.”

  Nancy turned in her seat to peer over her shoulder. Indeed, her father, dressed in a charcoal gray suit, had just entered the restaurant. His eyes were sparkling, and he was smiling broadly. Nancy couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him look so handsome—or so happy.

  It was only when Carson Drew stepped forward that Nancy saw what she assumed was the reason for her father’s joy. With him was a striking woman, dressed in an off-the-shoulder red dress, her black hair piled glamorously on top of her head.

  Nancy’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the woman. It was Adriana Polidori!

  Chapter

  Nine

  NANCY COULDN’T BELIEVE her eyes. “My father,” she whispered, “and Adriana Polidori!”

  “What’s wrong with that?” Ned asked. They both watched as Carson squired Adriana through the restaurant.

  Then Nancy turned back to the table. “She’s a client for one thing,” she said, and took a big swallow of ice water.

  Ned raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “You know I don’t mind my father dating.” She toyed with a lock of her hair. “It’s just that things can become confusing when business and—personal relationships get mixed up,” she finished a little weakly.

  Ned shot her a look. “Keep it down, Nancy. They’re headed this way.”

  Carson stopped dead in his tracks as he passed their table. Nancy could tell from the embarrassed expression on his face that her father wasn’t any more comfortable with the situation than she was. She decided to do her best to make him feel at ease.

  “Dad, what a wonderful surprise!” she said, standing up to give her father a peck on the cheek. “You look gorgeous,” she said, turning to Adriana.

  The magician smiled and glanced up at Carson. “Thank you. Your father said this was one of the best restaurants in River Heights and that I simply had to try it. I told him that as long as we were conducting business, it might as well be pleasurable, too.”

  Carson nervously adjusted his tie, and Nancy’s gaze darted back and forth between them. Maybe it was just a dinner appointment with an important client, she thought. Maybe there wasn’t anything going on between them. Still, Nancy’s instincts were on the alert. If her father got too close to Adriana, he might lose some of his judgment about her case.

  “We’d better take our table,” Carson said.

  “Have a great time,” Ned put in. “The shrimp cocktail’s terrific!”

  For the rest of their meal, Nancy tried to keep her eyes off her father’s table. Every time she looked up, though, it seemed as if Carson and Adriana were laughing and gazing into each other’s eyes.

  When it was time for dessert, Ned ordered a slice of Mississippi mud pie. The waiter brought it with two forks.

  Nancy took a bite of the moist chocolate dessert. “This is incredible!” she said, but her mind was still focused on her father and Adriana. “I want to ask Adriana about Grigov. But something tells me that now is not the time.”

  Ned frowned. “You may be right—especially if there really is something between the two of them.”

  “And I’ve got to tell my dad what happened in the car today. The fact that somebody who drives a black sports car wants me off the case could have a bearing on the way he defends Adriana at her hearing,” Nancy said.

  “This is pretty sticky,” Ned replied thoughtfully. “Do
you think he knows about Grigov?”

  “Adriana wouldn’t be dating my dad at the same time she’s involved with her ex-partner—would she?” Nancy asked.

  “I don’t get the feeling that she’d do that sort of thing,” Ned responded. “But I don’t know her all that well.”

  “Neither do I,” Nancy said.

  On their way out, Ned and Nancy stopped by her dad’s table to say goodbye. The waiter had just taken away Carson and Adriana’s entrée plates.

  Adriana stretched back in her chair, holding on to its oak arms. “Listen, Nancy,” she said, “something happened late today that I think you ought to know about.”

  “What?” Nancy asked.

  “I got a call from a realtor in Conklin Falls—Larry Matthews is his name. He has a client who wants to buy Riverfront.”

  Nancy narrowed her eyes.

  “I told him that I’m not interested in selling, of course,” Adriana went on. “But I thought the timing was a little strange.”

  “I’d call it downright suspicious,” Nancy’s father put in.

  Ned looked at Carson. “You mean that maybe someone’s been rigging these accidents at the park to drive down the selling price?” Ned asked.

  “It’s a distinct possibility,” Carson replied.

  “Did you get the client’s name?” Nancy asked.

  “Unfortunately, Matthews wouldn’t say,” Adriana answered.

  “What do you think the buyer has in mind for the place?” Nancy queried her dad.

  “Well,” he said slowly, removing his linen napkin from his lap and laying it on the table, “it’s a prime riverfront lot. I could see a shopping mall there or a condominium complex.”

  “That’s one more thing I’ve got to do tomorrow then—persuade Larry Matthews to tell me who his client is,” Nancy said.

  Before Ned and Nancy left, Adriana reminded them about the magic show the next day at Conklin Falls General Hospital.

  “I’m counting on you to be there,” Adriana said. “Especially since my other performance came to such a premature end.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” Nancy told the magician, then tried to lighten up a bit. “See you at home, Dad,” Nancy said. She shook her finger at him mischievously. “Now, don’t be out too late.”

  Carson laughed. “I won’t.”

  “That was nice of you to joke with your father,” said Ned as they were leaving Finian’s.

  Nancy sighed. “You’ve got to admit, it was an awkward situation.”

  “It’ll all get sorted out,” Ned assured her.

  They got into Ned’s car and headed back to Nancy’s house. On the way Nancy and Ned plotted strategy for the next day. She would pick up George in the morning and head up to the hospital to catch Adriana’s show. Ned said he’d meet them there. Then Nancy would devote the rest of the day to hunting down Benny Gotnick and seeing whether she could get any information out of the realtor, Larry Matthews.

  Ned pulled to a stop in front of Nancy’s house. “What about the Grigov angle?”

  Nancy peered out into the darkness. “Sheriff Pulaski said he’d question him,” she commented. “I guess I’m counting on him to find Grigov. If he doesn’t, I’ll have to confess my suspicions to Adriana and see how she reacts.” A troubling idea crossed Nancy’s mind.

  “What is it?” Ned asked, picking up on her thoughts.

  “I don’t know how to explain it,” Nancy said, trying to make sense of what was bothering her. “I guess I’m worried that Adriana might get upset if I start accusing Grigov. And what if my father gets in the middle of all this?”

  “Don’t worry, Nan,” Ned said. “As I said, everything will work out.” Then he gave her a long, lingering kiss good night.

  • • •

  “Mmmm, that smells good,” Nancy said as she entered the kitchen the following morning. Carson Drew was cooking breakfast. “Hey—french toast!” she noted happily. “And on a Wednesday. I hope you didn’t forget to put some cinnamon in the batter.”

  “Of course not,” he said with a smile. “I’m the one who taught you to make french toast, remember?” Carson reached out to give Nancy a hug. “I could see you were a little upset last night, Nancy. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was having dinner with Adriana.”

  Nancy stepped back from her father and smiled. “It’s okay. But I guess I was a little surprised.”

  “And worried,” Carson added. He turned back to the stove and flipped two slices of french toast that were cooking in a large frying pan.

  Nancy sat down at the kitchen table. “Maybe.” She paused. “Dad, has Adriana mentioned anything to you about her former partner, Mikhail Grigov?”

  Carson frowned. “Only that he’s been trying very hard to get her to go back on the road.”

  Nancy paused, searching for the right words. “He’s in Conklin Falls this week. He actually warned me not to help Adriana get to the bottom of the accidents. He thinks that Riverfront is cursed.”

  Carson laughed. “That’s putting it a little strongly, I’d say.”

  Nancy could tell that her father had no suspicions whatsoever about Adriana and Grigov, and it concerned her.

  She proceeded to tell him about the incident on River Bluff Road and the fact that Sheriff Pulaski was going to question Grigov about it.

  “Why didn’t you mention it to Adriana last night?” Carson asked.

  Nancy played with her fork for a minute. “It just didn’t seem the right time,” she finally replied. “But I will talk to her about it today.”

  “Do that,” Carson said, bringing a plate piled high with french toast to the table and sitting down. “Now, dig in before it gets cold.”

  As they ate, they chatted about the upcoming hearing. When they finished, Carson pushed his chair back. “I’d better get to the office,” he said. “I’ve got a busy day.”

  “I’ll do the dishes,” Nancy replied. “And thanks for breakfast. It was great!”

  “Anything for my girl,” he said, kissing her on the forehead as he passed by.

  • • •

  Half an hour later Nancy and George pulled into the parking lot at Conklin Falls General Hospital. Ned was waiting for them at the front door.

  When they were inside the hospital, a nurse directed them to the cafeteria in the children’s wing. It had a low, paneled ceiling and a bank of windows that overlooked the parking lot. At the far end was a platform with several hospital room dividers in front of it.

  Folding chairs had been set up in front of it. The audience, composed of young patients and their parents, was already seated and waiting.

  Nancy and her friends were about to sit when a voice called out. “Hey, George, over here!” They looked around, and George spotted Chris Clarke sitting in a wheelchair parked across the aisle.

  “Hi, Chris,” she greeted him. “Considering who’s performing, I’m surprised your mom let you come here today.”

  “Aw, she doesn’t know about the magic show. She just dropped me off for my regular physical therapy session. Why don’t you pull a chair over and sit with me?”

  George smiled at Nancy and Ned. “How can I resist? See you two after the show.”

  Just then Dr. McGill stood up in front of the audience. “I want to thank you all for being here,” she said. “And now, without further ado, I am proud to present the great Adriana Polidori!”

  Two nurses pulled apart the dividers, and Adriana stepped out. She was wearing a classic magician’s costume consisting of a top hat, tails, and trousers, but the dressy men’s clothes were cut to fit her figure, and she looked strikingly feminine. She smiled warmly at the audience.

  “You know,” she said, leaning toward them and winking conspiratorially, “I don’t get a chance to work with a small audience much anymore, and that’s a shame. All the best magic tricks are done close up. That’s part of the—”

  She was interrupted when a small girl in the front row sneezed. Adriana reached into her pocket and handed
the little girl a red handkerchief. “Bless you,” Adriana said.

  “Thank you,” the girl answered as Adriana took a step back.

  But there was something surprising about the handkerchief, and both the girl and Adriana watched in amazement as a blue handkerchief, tied to the first, came out of Adriana’s pocket. Adriana tugged on it, and a yellow one emerged. A green handkerchief followed, then another red one, and another and another, until a small pile of handkerchiefs lay at the girl’s feet.

  For the next half hour, Adriana maintained a constant patter of jokes and small talk as she did card tricks, pulled rabbits and doves out of her hat, and juggled. She involved several of the children in her act, giving them bunnies to hold, pretending to pull coins and eggs from their ears, letting them choose cards from her deck.

  The children were delighted.

  For her finale she produced a length of rope from her top hat. “Who will help me?” she asked. Then her eyes settled on Nancy. “Aha! A volunteer!”

  She explained that she wanted Nancy to tie her to a chair. “And make certain the knots are tight.”

  Nancy worked for several minutes, using all her best knots. At last she stepped away. “There,” she said. “You’ll never get out of that!”

  Nancy returned to her seat, and several audience members stepped up to check the knots. The last was Dr. McGill, who said, “If she escapes from this, I’ll eat her top hat!”

  The magician nodded to a nurse, who wheeled one of the room dividers in front of her so that the audience couldn’t see her. For long moments the audience fidgeted.

  Then Dr. McGill called, “Ms. Polidori, are you all right?” There was no answer. “Ms. Polidori?” Now the doctor was concerned, and she told the nurse to move the divider aside.

  When she did, the audience gasped!

  Chapter

  Ten

  THERE SAT ADRIANA, reading a newspaper, her limbs totally free of the ropes!

  The audience broke out in amazed cries and applause.