AN: Thanks for all your kind reviews. Sorry for the wait – I was abroad and computer-less.


The Case of the Missing Paintings – Chapter 12

Nancy turned to see a gun barrel pointed at her head. Moving slowly she straightened, trying to see who was holding it, but the torchlight blinded her eyes.

"Inside. Now. Both of you!" the man said, motioning with the weapon. Nancy nodded to Emily and took her hand, feeling the poor girl suppress a shiver at the sight of the gun. Together they entered the small cottage, followed by the man who, now illuminated by the lamps, appeared to be no older than 25. He was of slight build, with untidy hair, and although he was putting on a mask of bravado, Nancy noticed the hand holding the gun shaking imperceptibly.

"Are you Jonathan Swanson?" she ventured, before she even realised what she was saying.

"How did you…? Never mind my name, what are you doing here?"

Realising that it would be impossible to conceal their identities from him, she said, "I'm Nancy Drew. This is Emily. We were…we were out in the woods and stumbled across your place."

"Nice try. I know who you are. How did you get away?"

"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You are Jonathan Swanson. Your professor at the university told me about you. You're working for criminals, you do realise that – they've kept us imprisoned and they wouldn't hesitate to kill us." Nancy kept a close eye on the student, hoping that her words would make an impact. He didn't seem like a hardened criminal; in fact, his whole demeanour told her that he was just as scared as she was. Perhaps he could be convinced to help them.

"Alright. Yes, I'm Jonathan."

"Look, Jonathan, you have us at gun point. You're in control here. But I would really like to know why you are working for these people, and why you helped them kill my father."

Jonathan blanched. The gun hand dropped. "Wh…What are you talking about?" he whispered, shaken.

Nancy looked down. "My father was killed by the people you are working for, and they used Diretol 5 to do it. You did make it for them, didn't you?"

Jonathan was backing up, shaking his head, "No, no, no, that can't be true. They said…they said they were growing plants and needed a powerful pesticide…" He stopped, realising how it sounded.

"They're criminals, Jonathan. They wouldn't hesitate to lie to you. They've been using you."

The gun forgotten, Jonathan sat down in a corner, looking thoroughly defeated, all his earlier bravado gone. "They gave me this lab. They said I had free rein to experiment, gave me ingredients and equipment. They asked me to make Diretol for them. I didn't stop to think why they might need it. I knew they were shady, but they promised me money and the chance to research whatever I wanted…" He looked at Nancy. "Please believe me. I had no idea what they were going to do."

Nancy considered him for a moment. Although she knew that this man had provided the tools that led to her father's death, she couldn't help feeling sorry for him. Her intuition told her that this man had been manipulated.

"It's ok. I believe you. But what about the paintings?"

"They just asked me if they could store some things here. I didn't realise what they were, or didn't want to. I was in the middle of this experiment, see, and so I just didn't…" He trailed off.

"…didn't think." Nancy finished for him.

He nodded. "Oh god, this is all such a mess. What am I going to do?"

"You can help us. It's not too late to make things right." Nancy said, stepping towards him. He didn't move. The gun was still in his hand. "Jonathan, if you help us, things could turn out ok yet. You've made some mistakes, but you can make up for them, do the right thing." She stepped closer. "Give me the gun, Jonathan."

He looked up at her. She smiled, seeing the lost little boy inside, the student who had rebelled against the constraints of academia because he wanted to set out on his own and who had been unwittingly manipulated by evil men. She held out her hand, waiting.

"I…I don't even know how to use it," Jonathan smiled ruefully, placing the gun in Nancy's hand. She quickly took the clip out, then smiled down at him.

"You did the right thing. Now come on, we have to get out of here now, before someone realises we're gone."

Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, raised voices could be heard outside. Emily dashed to the window, then turned in horror.

"It's them. They're here!" Nancy joined her to see black figures holding torches, clearly sweeping the woods for tracks and heading directly for the cottage. They were only a few hundred yards away.

Nancy turned to Jonathan. "We have to go."

"You won't get away in time. I'll stay here, cover for you. I'll tell them I saw you but you ran away in the other direction." He opened the back door of the cottage, out into the dark woods. "This way. Keep going for 2 or 3 miles and you should hit the city. Go! They're nearly here."

Emily and Nancy headed for the door. At the last moment, Nancy turned. "Thanks, Jonathan. Be careful"

He smiled at her. "You too. Now go."


Sorry, another cliffhanger! I'm already working on the next chapter though, so don't despair!