Nancy Drew and the Mysterious Package

Chapter I

It was a warm Sunday afternoon when attractive blonde-haired, blue-eyed, nineteen year old Nancy Drew entered her hometown of River Heights. She had just returned from one of her many adventures as an amateur sleuth. Ever since she had solved her first case in 'The Secret of The Old Clock', Nancy has been viewed as one of the most successful detectives ever to emerge and was called upon whenever there was an enigma at large.

Think I'll drop by the post office on my way home, The young detective thought to herself as she rode along the dirt road in her dark-blue convertible.

As Nancy parked her car, a familiar voice called, "Nancy, hi." Nancy turned in the voice's direction to find Mrs. Struthers, an elderly woman for whom she had aided on one of her earlier cases. Nancy waved and exited her vehicle to embrace the old friend.

"It's so good to see you dear, you were away for so long that everyone was beginning to think you might never solve the case you were working on." The kind woman said.

Nancy laughed. "Well, I must admit, it was a little challenging compared to some of my previous cases but I wasn't about to let one mystery defeat me.

"No indeed."

"How is Rose?" Nancy asked the woman of her granddaughter.

"Very well, thank you. She just excels in her dance and violin lessons and it's all thanks to you."

"I'm glad, do give her my best."

"Oh, I will. You be sure to stop by the house for tea sometime. Bring your friends Bess and George, I'm sure Rose would love to see you girls again." The woman invited.

Nancy smiled, delighted at the invitation. "I promise to do so, you take care Mrs. Struthers." Nancy waved goodbye to the woman and entered the post office.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Nancy Drew, back from another one of your mysteries are we?" Mr. Ryan called from behind the counter.

"Hello Mr. Ryan, lovely weather we're having today aren't we?"

"We sure are Miss Drew, best day all year." The good-natured man replied.

"Has anything arrived for my father or me?" Nancy inquired.

"I'm afraid not Miss Drew."

"Alright then, I suppose I'll just head home now. You take care Mr. Ryan and say hello to your wife for me." Nancy called on her way out the door.

"Will do Miss Drew, and you say hi to your father for me."

Nancy nodded and stepped into the light of the day.

A short drive to the young detective's's residence later, Nancy emptied her vehicle of all the souvenirs she brought home for her friends and pulled her key from her pocket to let herself in the door, only to find that every light in the room was switched off with every curtain drawn shut. Nancy set down her packages and began to open the curtains, when all around her came the shouts of "Happy Birthday Nancy!"
Nancy jumped at the cries and whirled around in alarm to find all of her closest friends and family jumping out from their hiding places.
It was Nancy's nineteenth birthday that day and all of her friends had put together a surprise celebration upon the young sleuth's return home. All her dear friends were there; Bess and George with their dates, Burt and Dave. Her father, Carson Drew along with the Drew's housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, who had treated Nancy like her own daughter since she was three after the passing of her mother. And finally, Nancy's date, Ned Nickerson.

Ned came up to Nancy and hugged her tightly saying, "Nancy, I'm so glad you're back. Happy Birthday."

Nancy hugged him back. "Thank you Ned, what a surprise!"

Many greetings and hugs were exchanged between Nancy and her friends before Hannah announced, "Alright everyone, we better take this gathering into the kitchen for our dinner will get cold if we don't start eating soon."

Nancy nodded. "Okay, but first I want to give everyone the gifts I have brought back for them." She said with a wide grin.

"Gifts!" Bess exclaimed. "Oh Nancy, you ought to be the only person in this house receiving presents today." Bess pointed out as Nancy began passing out the many packages to everyone.

"Oh don't even worry about it Bess, it's no trouble at all."

"But Nancy it's just not right, it's your birthday aft-..." Bess had ceased to protest as soon as she laid eyes on the beautiful handcrafted bracelet Nancy had bought her.

Nancy had to giggle at the sight of the dazed look in her friend's eyes.

After everyone's gifts had been unwrapped, the group filed into the dining room where a large feast that consisted of roast chicken, baked potatoes and grilled tomatoes with chocolate cheesecake for dessert awaited them.
Lively conversation of Nancy's recent adventure went on throughout the meal, as well as Nancy's mentioning to the girls of Mrs. Struthers' invitation to tea.
When the food was all eaten and the dishes were cleared away, the party returned to the front living-room where Nancy received all her birthday gifts.

"Oh Bess, this is absolutely beautiful!" Nancy exclaimed, as she pulled a silver chain with a small peridot pendent attached to the end from the tiny lavender gift box Bess had given her.
Bess was about to reply when there was an abrupt knock at the door.
Heads were turned as Hannah Gruen opened the door for the unexpected visitor.

"Mr. Ryan! What brings you here?" Nancy said as she came up behind the housekeeper.

The man was panting hard as he was invited into the living room and led to a seat.

"Ned, will you go get Mr. Ryan some water please?" Nancy asked.
Ned nodded and took off for the kitchen.

Mr. Ryan tried his best to get some words out but the man hardly had any breath left in him, so he instead, presented a brown package labeled with Nancy's name.
Nancy took the package, looking quizzically at the object.

"Look-... Look at, at the bottom." Mr. Ryan panted as Ned returned with his glass of water.

Nancy did as she was told and discovered something that nearly made her heart stop and sent shivers down her spine.
Where the sender's name should be, was this; Eleanor Drew.