I decided to go back and edit the story. This will mainly stay the same, but I'm removing some characters that were making it too hard to continue with the story and fixing some other technical issues.
It was a brisk Friday evening. Nancy was getting ready for her dinner date with Ned. Earlier that week, she had solved a murder case of a local teacher living in the next county over. Deception, jealousy, revenge, and redemption wove together to form one of the most intricate cases Nancy had seen in a long time. She looked forward to some R&R with Ned, far away from the drama of the crime world.
Just as Nancy was pulling on her boots, her phone started to ring.
"Drat!" she thought, "well maybe it's just Ned letting me know he'll be late."
Her hopes were in vain when she heard a female voice ask, "Is this Miss Drew?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?" she responded.
The lady chuckled nervously, "Oh is this not Miss Drew?"
"Sorry, it is. It's just been a really long week for me. What can I do for you?"
"Oh thank goodness! Miss Drew, my name is Eliza Lane. I work for Stonewell Cruise lines. We need your help."
"So much for my relaxation time," Nancy thought.
"Ever since we started chartering trips through the Baltic," she continued, "things have been going missing….well stolen." Ms. Lane sighed.
"What things have been taken?"
"Well it all started off with small things from the gift shop," Eliza began, "snack foods, toothpaste, that sort of thing. However, over the last few months it's been escalating. Guests have been robbed of valuables and the gift shop was hit as well. The crook took over one million dollars in jewelry."
"That's awful!" Nancy exclaimed, "Do you have any leads to who the culprits are? Do the robberies occur on every voyage?"
"They do, but we've been unable to find any leads. We have combed the manifests and there are no repeat visitors. Security has even looked at the surveillance tapes and we have nothing. "
"This sounds more like a job for the police." said Nancy.
"The captain and I have both reported the incidents and they have come to investigate, but they couldn't find anything either." Eliza stated, "That's why I called. We at Stonewell Cruise lines believe you will be able to find something that the rest of us have missed. I've called to offer you a place onboard the next trip out. Free of charge of course."
"What makes you think I'll be able to find something the police haven't?" Nancy questioned.
"We'll have you on board, under cover. That way, hopefully, no one will be suspicious of you and you will be able to do more digging than the police could." said Eliza.
"Won't it look fishy to have an eighteen year old girl on a cruise by herself?"
"You're welcome to invite any friend you'd like to join you." she responded.
Nancy pondered a moment while checking the clock. It was 5:45 and Ned was coming to pick her up at 6:00. Finally, Nancy let out a sigh.
"Alright, what's the plan?" she said finally.
"You and your friend must pack anything you may need and come to the New River Heights Pier to board the ship. Oh and Nancy? Choose your companion wisely. It seems like these robbers are getting more bold and this job won't be easy." said Eliza.
"What makes you say that?"
"There was a note stuck to the captain's door this morning. It was stuck there with a knife and said 'If anyone dares to stand in our way, there will be consequences.'"
"Eh, I've had scarier." Nancy retorted. "I'll be ready with my friend. Anything else you think I should know about the case?"
"That's about all. Be at the dock by 8:30 sharp with everything you'll need. Until then, Nancy Drew." Eliza said and hung up the phone.
Nancy glanced at her clock. It read 5:55. "Drat," she thought, "not much time left and I still have to finish getting ready."
Like a whirlwind, Nancy finished getting ready for her date. During her prep, she pondered who she should ask to come with her on the case.
Before she knew it, the doorbell rang. At the same moment, she realized who exactly the best person to come with her on the case would be.
