Disclaimer/ Author's notes: I do not own Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. I also do not own The Atrium Hotel which appeared in Nancy Drew Files 110 Hidden Meanings. Many thanks to Cherylann Rivers whose suggestions made this better. Although some plot elements may have changed,the fact that this is not a Nancy/Frank story hasn't. The Fabergé egg mentioned is real although now lost. And as before constructive criticism is welcome.
"Is this a hotel or a greenhouse", Joe Hardy quipped adjusting the bill of his baseball cap. He gazed down at the tropical plants in the lobby of the Atrium Hotel .
" It's certainly unusual", his brother Frank commented. He, too was studying the greenery.
The two brothers were leaning against the glass and metal railing of the hotel's mezzanine. Near them was a cafe set up under the hotel' s one glass wall where a fountain emptied into a water sculpture which sent the water down into a long pool crossed by a central footbridge. The pool fed a series of cascades which splashed down into a pool near the registration desk.
Joe continued to look down but his focus shifted from the greenery to the people milling about.
"One of those people down there could be the crook who's outwitted some of the best police departments in the country", he said.
The brothers were in River Heights because they along with Nancy Drew had been contacted by Maureen Peabody the general manager of the hotel. The hotel was hosting the auction of a newly discovered Faberge egg, The Hen With Sapphire Pendant. However the hotel as well as the River Heights police had received a challenge letter from the thief who called themselves The Caracal. The thief always struck ten days after the date on the letter.
"Each time law enforcement has received one of these letters it's been from a different part of the country", Frank added.
"We've got six days to find and stop this guy", Joe said. His eyes shone. "He' s about to find out he's not the only one who can handle a challenge.
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"No matter how many times I come here I still can't help being amazed every time I do", Nancy Drew admitted to George Fayne as the two girls crossed the lobby. Nancy's reddish blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and she wore a blue t-shirt with a pink heart on it and jeans.
"I know what you mean", George agreed. She also had on a t-shirt and jeans but her t-shirt was green with no design on it.
As the girls headed towards the escalator to the mezzanine Nancy couldn't help taking in the atmosphere. Tables, armchairs and sofas were scattered throughout the lobby, some screened by banks of foliage. Glass elevators whizzed guests to their floors and an elegant boutique selling the latest fashions was busy. As Nancy boarded the escalator a familiar thrill raced through her. She loved the rush of cracking a seemingly impossible puzzle.
"Nancy"
She looked up and saw Joe waving at her and George.
"Joe",she called waving back.
Once the girls reached Frank and Joe both boys greeted them with big hugs.
"Hey, Drew ready to bust the uncatchable crook?" ,Joe asked.
"Always",she replied.
"Where's Bess?", Frank asked.
"At a family reunion. It's on the other side of the family.", George explained. "And Ned's working at a summer camp coaching basketball"
" So, anyone want to ride that elevator to the top", Joe asked.
Frank looked at his watch. "We still have time before our meeting with Ms. Peabody and it might help us get the scale of the place."
The four of them boarded the down escalator. As they rode down Nancy turned her attention to the people in the lobby. Two children chased each other near the lobby pool and an elegant woman and a dark haired guy stood on the central footbridge.
As the group strolled across the lobby Frank said to the others "Breakfast meeting in the girls' suite tomorrow at nine?"
"Sounds good", Joe said.
Nancy was about to agree when a cry caught her attention. She saw one of the kids tumble into the pool!