Thanks to all who have waited patiently, or impatiently, as the case may be. My computer and I were having creative differences. But I won and now chapter 4 is here.
4. Unexpected Complications
"Well, I guess we should find the house, since our ride deserted us." Nancy suggested.
"I can't believe they just took off like that." grumbled Frank as he and Joe turned around and stared at the departing ferry.
Without much enthusiasm the trio made their way into the dark forest. An overgrown footpath wound through the dark, dense growth. Following the path Nancy tried to familiarize herself with the area. Frank led the way down the path, studying the area carefully for any dangers. Joe brought up the end of the line, just hoping that they didn't get lost.
After a lengthy walk through the woods a large Victorian style mansion came into view. A grand veranda graced the front of the house. Roses grew wild over the front lawn. The house looked like an abandoned plantation that hadn't been bothered by time.
Joe let out a low whistle. "That is some kind of summer home. I think this place was in Gone with the Wind."
"I don't think it was, but it could have been. This place is amazing." Nancy agreed.
"Well I vote for checking out the inside, especially the pillows." Frank commented with a yawn.
Nancy and Joe agreed as the three made their way up the front steps. The boards creaked with age at every step. Frank reached the door and tried the knob. The door remained shut.
"What are you waiting for?" Joe asked.
"The door is locked tight." Frank answered back. "We have to look for another way in."
Frank led the way around the side of the house. Every window was shut and securely locked. In the back of the house was small, plain door. It too was locked. The three detectives circled the house twice more before slumping down on the veranda next to the front door.
"I don't understand. If Nick knew the house was locked why didn't he give us a key or something?" Nancy wondered aloud.
"I wish I knew. I thought we would finally be safe here, at least for a little while. I guess not." Frank sighed.
After a few moments Joe sat up with a start. "Do you guys see lights down the trail?" he whispered to the others.
Nancy and Frank stared at the trail quietly then nodded. A beam of light was making its way to the house. More discomforting was that the light seemed very familiar with the trail. Quickly and silently the trio hid, waiting to see who was walking the trail.
The seconds it took for the figure to make his way to the house seemed to drag. Nancy could see the person was a young man with a strong build. In the dim moonlight she could just make out the features behind the flashlight beam. Nick! Nancy was startled to see him here.
"Nick what is going on? Are you trying to make me have heart failure?" Nancy asked as she went to meet Nick.
"Sorry." Nick replied sheepishly. "I realized that I never gave you the key to get into this place. So I got my cousin to stay at the hotel for the night. And I came to get you into the house."
Nancy smiled weakly at Nick as he walked up to the front door. She had a hard time believing his story. Something just didn't seem right. Nancy made her way up the steps and grabbed her stuff. Nick had unlocked the door and was holding it open for her. Frank and Joe followed Nancy as she entered the large reception hall.
"The rooms are upstairs. You are probably ready for a good night's sleep." Nick murmured to Nancy.
"I am. Let's get some sleep." Nancy replied hesitantly. To Frank she whispered, "I need to talk to you. Privately."
Nick led the others up the stairs and down a long hall. Six doors lined the hall. Nick pointed to the second door and offered that room to Frank. The third room was Joe's. Nick took the fifth room and gave Nancy the sixth. Nancy watched as the Hardy brothers went into their rooms, then said goodnight to Nick and entered her own room.
Nancy closed the door behind her and walked over to the four poster bed. Nancy dropped her overnight bag on the bed then walked into the wash room. Five minutes later Nancy was feeling much better as she emerged wrapped in a terry bath robe. She was drying her hair with a small towel when a soft knock sounded at her door.
Nancy walked over and opened the door. Frank stood in the hall, glancing from side to side. Nancy motioned Frank inside and quickly closed the door. Then she walked across the thick carpet to the two chairs that sat under the large window. Frank sat in one chair while Nancy sat in the other.
"What's up Nan?"
"It's Nick. He seems to be everywhere. There is something about him that just doesn't make sense."
"I know what you mean. And he seems very watchful around Joe and me. It's almost like he doesn't want us near you."
"What should we do? He said he's leaving tomorrow, should we go somewhere else too? Can we even trust him? I'm just not sure."
"I think we should stay here, we just have to keep an eye on him. This is the only safe place we have right now. Tomorrow I'll call dad and get him to run Nick's name, see if he has had any run-ins with the law."
"Okay. But tomorrow we search this place from top to bottom. Something about this place just doesn't feel right."
That settled Frank tiptoed back to his room and Nancy crawled under the heavy comforter on the bed. Within minutes she was sound asleep. The stress of the last few days and the pains from the previous hours melted away with each passing second.
The next morning dawned bright and cheery. Nancy woke to the sound of birds outside her window. She sat up in bed and stretched, working out the last traces of sleep. She had some important plans for the day.
Nancy climbed out of bed and quickly dressed. As soon as she was dressed, Nancy made her way downstairs. In the kitchen Nick was standing by the counter, drinking from a coffee cup. At the table Frank and Joe were talking quietly.
Nancy went over and pulled out the chair next to Frank. "Hey Nancy, have a good sleep?" Frank asked as she sat down.
"I could have handled a few more hours of sleep, actually. But it feels good to get a good night sleep."
Nick walked over and sat across from Nancy. "Well everything is set for you guys. I have to leave now but everything you need is here."
"Thanks Nick." Nancy smiled.
Nick nodded then handed Nancy a key. After finishing the last of his drink Nick stood up and bid everyone goodbye. Then he walked out of the kitchen. A few moments later Nancy, Joe, and Frank heard the front door close as Nick left the house.
Nancy sighed. "I was beginning to wonder if he ever planned to leave. I want to get some answers."
Frank nodded and went to the phone. He dialed his father's office and waited. When his father answered the phone Frank filled him in on what had happened. Then he requested background information on Nick Dumont. After hanging up he turned and smiled at Nancy and Joe.
"We'll have something in half an hour. So in the mean time, should we explore this place?"
Nancy and Joe enthusiastically agreed. Frank led the way upstairs and into one of the empty bedrooms. The first three they checked held no information. The fourth one, however, held promise.
"I found a diary. But the name on it is Nicoletta Dumont." Joe sang out.
Nancy's head shot up immediately. "Nicoletta? That can't be."
"Wasn't that the name of the woman with the necklace?" Frank questioned.
"Yeah. That would explain why he is so interested in me."
Frank looked hard at Nancy. "Are you sure it's just because of Nicoletta, or is there more to it?"
"What more could there be?"
"Come on Nan, Frank and I both can tell. He likes you. He's trying to do anything to be with you."
"That's crazy." Nancy protested, but her voice lacked conviction.
After some time Nancy suggested a lemonade break. She wanted to find out everything that Nick Dumont was hiding. By now his background report would be in. Nancy had a feeling it would answer a lot of questions.
While Nancy poured lemonade for everyone Frank called his father back. Nancy brought all three glasses out to the porch where Joe was waiting and sat down. Nancy was on edge. She wanted to know what Frank had found out but she had to wait until he got off the phone.
"Relax. We can handle any surprise. Besides, we have the best help in the country when it comes to getting background information."
Nancy smiled a little. "I know, but I just feel like there is something he isn't telling me. I think that some of the answers we need are in his past."
"I know how you feel." Joe soothed. "But it doesn't do us any good to worry about it until Frank lets us know what's up."
At that exact moment Frank walked out the door, a grim look on his face. He went to the chair next to Nancy and sat down. Joe and Nancy watched Frank, waiting for him to tell them what he had learned.
"We can't stay here." Frank said quietly.