Note from the Author: Some of you complained that dialogue in chapter 15 didn't seem natural. Well, I had to put it that way in order for the culprit to explain everything she did and why she did them. Anyway, I originally started writing this story in December, but I didn't know it would take this long to write all sixteen chapters in a story! The setting is actually in December as well, so you might see some Christmas spirit in this last chapter, since the mystery ends on December 24. Enjoy the grand finale of HB & ND's newest mystery! Also, there is a surprise visitor appearing at the end, so don't miss it! Because one reader has been begging me to put a certain "someone" in my novel, I decided to put that person after all. Oh, and please review! I'm aiming to have, if possible, fifty reviews or more:-)


16

Epilogue: Mystery Concludes

Bess screamed as she saw what Bailey had done. "Oh, no! Bailey! How could you! She was your friend! Even though you hated her because of the case she solved, you didn't have to…to…"

George watched in horror as Nancy fell to the ground, holding her chest in pain. "Nancy!"

It was Frank who found the small opening on the floor. "Joe! Kendall!" he called as he took the board that was covering the secret entrance off.

"A secret entrance!" Joe said, amazed. "I'll bet Nancy was dragged down there. Let's go!"

The detectives and the police investigator took out flashlights and went inside. The staircase was narrow, steep, and long. Four of the policemen stood outside guarding the entrance. Frank, Joe, and Kendall then came to a rusty door.

"It looks like it's been here for centuries," Frank said, observing the steel door. "I bet Nancy's kept captive in here."

The three men forced open the rusty door.

"Frank! Joe! Kendall!" Bess and George shouted happily! "Help! Nancy has been stabbed!"

"What!" Frank was astounded. He then saw Bailey, who was in the middle of the room, holding a knife. His eyes then went to Bess and George, who were tied and unable to move.

In an instant, Frank understood what was happening. "Bailey! You…"

Bailey glared at the intruders. She then pointed the knife at the three people. But Frank acted fast. He kicked the knife from her hand and punched her in the stomach.

"Ugh!" Bailey shouted as she fell to her knees, holding her stomach in pain.

Joe grabbed the knife and cut the ropes that tied Bess and George's arms and legs. Bess was worried. "We have to take Nancy to the hospital! I saw Bailey stab her in the chest!"

"It's okay…"

Nancy murmured as she got up. "I'm all right."

George was confused. "How can you be okay? You were stabbed!"

"This protected me." Nancy took out something from inside her sweater. She let the others see it. "It's the necklace I bought this afternoon. The golden oval must have stopped the knife from going any further. I ended up with just a scratch."

Frank and Joe sighed in relief. "I'm glad you're okay, Nancy," Frank said.

"And you came not a moment too soon. Bailey would have killed Bess and George as well if you didn't come along."

The police officers arrested Bailey and took her to the police station. As the detectives went into two other police cars, Nancy explained everything to Frank and Joe. The two high school boys were surprised to find the truth. "You mean, all these were Bailey's doing? Kidnapping Bess and George, attacking Mr. Drew, and attempting to kill you?" asked Joe.

Nancy nodded. "And she was trying to get revenge ever since I found out The Secret of the Old Clock, the first mystery I ever solved. It's really sad. I thought I was doing what I could for the Horner sisters, the Turners, the Mathews brothers, and poor old Abigail Rowen. They desperately needed money, but I had no idea the Tophams had a sick relative to whom they were planning to give most of their fortune to in order to save him. I feel so guilty…"

Frank held her tightly as tears fell out of Nancy's eyes. "It's okay, Nancy. You didn't even know that when you solved the case. You were thinking about those who could have been saved thanks to your sleuthing. Besides, you helped more people by giving them the money they deserved, not just for one sick man."

Kendall looked back from the passenger's seat and smiled apologetically to Nancy. "I'm sorry for following you. I wasn't actually following you in person, but I was following Bailey. I knew she was kind of strange from the moment I set an eye on her. And the one who followed you in front of the Higgins residence was me, too."

Nancy wiped her tears away. "Then, how did you escape? The walls were too high to climb over, and there wasn't another way out. It seemed like you disappeared into thin air!"

Kendall laughed. "Actually, I had a rope ready at that corner. I just hooked it to a tree and actually walked up the wall and into the yard. I got it just in case if the person whom I was stalking came back after me, so I used that trick to get away."

Smiling, Nancy said, "Very clever, Kendall." To Frank and Joe, she said. "After this, I would like to visit Dad in the hospital. I'm sure he's itching to see me. After all, I did solve three cases at once!"

Carson Drew heard a knock on the door as he was reading the newspaper. "Come in," he said, laying the newspaper down. It was already nine o'clock. Who could it be, coming so late in the evening?

"Hi, Dad!" Nancy said, entering the room. "Guess what? I solved the mystery! I know completely who is the culprit and why they did it."

Mr. Drew was interested. "Well! It seems like my daughter solved yet another mystery!"

But Nancy didn't seem so cheerful. As she explained everything about the kidnapping and the first mystery she ever solved, Mr. Drew seemed just as disturbed.

"And did you find out who was the vandal who vandalized the old theater?"

Nancy nodded. "It was Bailey, too. She found out that Mr. Saraland was your friend somehow and sabotaged his theater so he might call you to investigate. After all, you are a prominent attorney and a prideful investigator."

Mr. Drew laughed. "The latter is about you. You are my pride, Nancy. Nothing comes even close."

"Not even all those cases you won in court?" Nancy asked with a grin.

"Nope, not even all my victories and times I've spent investigating combined."

"I love you, Dad," Nancy said, hugging her father. "And will you be home soon?"

Mr. Drew nodded. "The doctor said my head is all right now. I'll be out of here in less than three hours."

Nancy smiled. "Great. I'll see you at River Heights."

As Nancy got out, she saw a tall figure standing in front of the reception desk. He had the familiar brown hair and the looks. Could it be?

"Ned!" Nancy called. Ned Nickerson looked around. "Over here!"

"Nancy!" Ned exclaimed, surprised. "I heard from Hannah that you were on a case with Bess and George, so I came here to see you. How was it?"

"I solved it," Nancy said with a smile. "But the culprit was the person I trusted the most in the City of New York."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Well, I came here to say hi. I was really worried about you because you didn't even call me."

Nancy smiled embarrassedly. "Sorry, I forgot. There were so many things going on."

"Nancy!"

Two voices called at once. They belonged to Bess and George. The two girls ran toward the couple and grinned broadly. "I got this sweater from Joe!" George said happily.

"And I got this scarf from Kendall," said Bess. "Isn't he so dreamy?"

Nancy smiled. "You know, he was on the top of my suspect list!"

"And here's what Frank told me to give you before they left," George said, handing a small box to Nancy.

"He…He left?" Nancy was surprised.

George nodded. "He seemed to be in a hurry because he had another case to work on back in Bayport."

"Open it! Open it!" Bess urged.

Nancy carefully unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside was the most beautiful watch. It didn't seem very expensive, but the message in the box made Nancy's smile even bigger. " 'To our timeless girl detective,'" she read, " 'I'll give you this watch in remembrance of your first and the recent mystery. Keep sleuthing and Merry Christmas! Frank.'"

"Ooh, that's really sweet!" Bess squealed. "Seems like Frank has an eye on you, Nancy!"

"Come on, Bess!" Nancy said. "Frank is my best friend, but Ned is someone I'm looking forward to spend a nice Christmas with." She looked at Ned, who grinned shyly. "Let's go back to my house. I'll bet Hannah and Togo are really worried about me right now."

As the four people exited the hospital, Nancy felt something light and cold fall from the sky. It was snow.

"Snow! It's the first snow of the season!" exclaimed George. "And guess what? It's Christmas Eve, too!"

Nancy never realized this, but now, there were many Christmas decorations all over New York City. She could even hear people singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

"Merry Christmas!" she said to her friends as they went into Ned's car and headed toward the Higgins residence.


Final Note from Author: Did you enjoy the story? I really hope you did, since it's the first full-length novel I wrote about Frank, Joe, and Nancy. I'm sure some of you enjoyed finally seeing Ned appear in this story. In my next story, the Hardys will be the main characters (since this story has been focused on Nancy and her case), and there will be murder (like the real HB&ND super mystery) in the plot. I want to hear from you about what you liked/disliked, what you suggest you would like to see in the next story, etc. I would like to hear from my readers.

Thank you for reading my novel. And thank you for waiting patiently six long months for the story to conclude. I wish you to review my next mystery as well as this chapter.

James Stapleton