2. Trouble
The plane ride began uneventfully. Nancy and George had arrived at the airport just as the plane finished fueling. Take off was almost immediate.
George sighed as she looked out the window. The ground was steadily sinking below the clouds. The tiny puddle jumper plane leveled out and George sat back, settling in for the three hour flight.
Nancy was silent beside George. In fact she hadn't spoken much since she had heard that tape before their flight. George knew that Nancy had a bad feeling about Frank's disappearance. Deep down she was as terrified for Nick, as much as Nancy was for Frank.
"I can't believe this!" Joe groaned.
"Take it easy. We will get out of here."
"How, Frank? This place has nothing. One locked door and that's it." Nick pointed out.
"I'm working on that. But the worst thing we can do is panic. We need to think through this and look at our options."
"What I want to know is why we were targeted. We solved our case. That was just a simple jewelry theft. Even if she did think her jewelry was taken by ghosts." Joe complained.
"Well, when we get out we'll ask this guy what his problem is, okay. Besides, I know Nancy is on her way. Does she ever not take a case?" Frank replied.
Joe sat down and leaned against the stone wall. The building was barely big enough for the three to sit comfortably. But somehow they made the space work. Joe sighed, hoping that they would be out soon.
The three hours passed quickly. George was as nervous as Nancy was anxious. Both were ready to start the search for their missing friends. But neither had any idea of where to begin.
"There must be something that we can go on." George moaned.
"But Frank didn't tell me anything. What would we have to go on?" Nancy objected.
George thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. "That's it. He did tell you something. In his last few comments. Some of the words were stressed, like they were more important. What did he say?"
"The place was wild, the people were animals, and it reminded him of the Wild West." Nancy answered. "Wait, that's it. He must be in an old western town, like a ghost town. But which one?"
"Let's grab our bags, then see what the nearest ghost town is. We might as well begin our search around here since we're right here already." George suggested reasonably.
"That sounds like a plan." Nancy agreed as she led the way to the luggage claim. Since she and George only brought one bag apiece they could get their bags and get out quickly.
The baggage claim was swarming with people. Several children weaved in and out of the crowd, causing their parents great distress. Nancy made her way up to wait for her and George's bags to appear.
It seemed to take forever but finally the bags came sliding onto the claim belt. Nancy quickly grabbed the ones she was waiting for and moved to where George was waiting. Handing George her bag Nancy slung her own on her shoulder and walked outside.
"We need a car. There is no way to get from town to town without one here."
"It looks like you need one just to get through town here." George commented, staring at the busy roadways beyond the airport.
Nancy was about to agree when a movement caught her eye. A young woman with deeply tanned skin and long black hair was making her way toward them. The young woman, somewhere in her mid-twenties to Nancy's guess, was dressed in work clothes.
"I think we have company." Nancy whispered to George.
"Nobody knew we were coming. Who would meet us out here?" George murmured back.
Before Nancy could even voice a guess the girl walked up. "Drew and Fayne." It was more of a statement then a question.
"Who are you?" Nancy questioned guardedly.
"Frank was right, you are a true detective. My name is Tracy Whitehorse. Come with me and I will explain everything. It isn't safe here."
"How is it not safe here?" George wondered.
"Look over your left shoulder. That man in the blue suit and dark glasses has been watching you. You are already famous here, with the wrong people."
"Well, what choice do we have? Alright, lead the way." Nancy replied.
"You two hungry? I know a small restaurant where we will be safe. And we can talk without interruption."
Nancy and George were led to a battered pickup truck. Nancy thought the vehicle looked like it belonged on a farm rather than on a road. George put the two bags in the truck bed and climbed in next to Nancy.
Tracy expertly guided her truck out of the airport lot and onto the highway. They had only gone about fifteen miles when Tracy looked in her mirror.
"Don't look now, but we're being followed."
Nancy and George glanced in the mirror. A dark suburban was about a car length behind them. The windows were very dark making the driver unidentifiable. Nancy glanced at Tracy with uncertainty. Her face was set in a grim mask.
"Take this." Tracy ordered, handing Nancy a cell phone. "Push button three. That will connect you to Chief Rodgers. Tell him the suspect is on Route 75 going north. In need of backup."
Nancy did as she was told. When she was through she hung up and glanced in the mirror again. "There is supposed to be a car up here. He is being alerted."
A mile passed in silence before Nancy saw the unmarked squad car. Tracy passed the car and waved to the man sitting behind the wheel. As soon as the suburban passed the car red and blue lights flashed on.
"Hang on." Tracy called as the suburban sped past followed by the squad car.
Nancy watched in shock as the driver of the suburban clipped the front bumper of Tracy's truck, and then took off. Tracy momentarily lost control of her vehicle as the squad car came around her.
When Tracy finally gained control of her truck she pulled to the side of the road. All three girls were shaking after their ordeal. Quietly Tracy climbed out and inspected the damage to her truck.
"That guy owes me a new bumper and headlight." she said in annoyance as she climbed back inside the cab and pulled out onto the road again. "We better get out of here. Chances are good that he will have reported his failure to his boss. He may be incompetent, but the next one might be more dangerous."
"His boss?" George questioned, startled.
"Yeah. The boss is the one who has your boyfriend, Nick, along with the Hardys. We have a good idea of where they are, but never could get the backup we needed. Frank mentioned a girlfriend. A bright, never say die girl. He said that if something ever happened to him she would be on the first plane to him. He was right."
"Are they okay?" Nancy asked in a rush.
"The last anyone saw of them they were alive. But there has been no communication for almost a day now."
"You said you had an idea of where the boys are?" George mentioned hopefully.
"In a rundown old mining town. It's abandoned now. A perfect place to hide from the law. It's extremely hard to get to, since all the roads have grown over. We'll have to go up on foot. Here's the place I was telling you about."
Tracy pulled up in front of an old diner. A handmade sign hung in the window, giving the hour of operation. The three girls walked into the building and were overcome with the smell of food.
"I know it doesn't look like much, but it has the best food around." Tracy explained. "I have been telling Granny for years that she needs to leave this place to someone else, but she just can't stand the thought."
"Trace. The usual table, baby?" a woman asked from the back.
"How'd you guess?"
"You're my best customer. Besides, I knew you before you were knee high to a coyote."
A woman with silver hair and a lined face walked out. She reminded Nancy of the pictures of the grandmother that is always baking pies or making lemonade. From the lines around her mouth Nancy figured the woman laughed a great deal of the time. And her eyes held an intelligent twinkle that the years hadn't dimmed.
"Besides, who else would show up at this time of the day? The supper rush has come and gone."
Tracy laughed and hugged the old woman affectionately. Then she allowed the woman to grab some menus and lead them to the back of the diner. The table she seated the group at was a well worn table that had seen many guests. Tracy helped place the menus and the silverware that her grandmother had grabbed.
"Is Walter working tonight?"
"Ha, that cousin of yours don't know the meaning of work. He ain't nothin' but a crazy kid. But you know I love him."
"Of course Grannyma." Tracy smiled.
"Why don't I get you girls some soda?"
Everyone agreed and the woman hurried off to fill the order. Nancy watched her leave then turned to Tracy. "I can see why we won't be disturbed here."
"Granny Rosewood has worked here for years. Always said that this was the best spot for a place to pull off and eat. There's not another diner for miles." Tracy looked toward the kitchen. "I worry though. There have been more punk kids around this area lately. They like to give the older residents trouble."
Mrs. Rosewood came bustling back carrying three drinks and a basket of breadsticks. Carefully she sat the food and drinks in front of the trio then waited patiently for the girls orders. George looked up and was about to speak when a loud explosion came from the kitchen area.
Nancy jumped up and raced toward the kitchen. She opened the door and gasped in horror. Flames danced across the old wooden floor, racing for the dining area. Nancy raced back as the others came to meet her.
"The kitchen is on fire. We have to get out now!"
The four rushed out the front door and stood back while Tracy called the fire department. Mrs. Rosewood just stared at her beloved diner as flames danced across the roof that had been part of the kitchen.