A/N: Kevin McDonnell's address and phone number are, of course, entirely made up, though the area and zip codes for Omaha are legit.
August 3 continued
The day mostly gone, Nancy decided to investigate the gambling angle as much as she could before the banks closed. Mentally, she ran down the list of banks in River Heights, and decided to visit the Ridge Street Credit Union. It was the optimal starting place for two reasons: it was open an hour later than the other banks, and was also the closest to the McGreevy residence. Though she dreaded even a short visit to the house, Nancy knew she would need a photograph of Hank McGreevy to show around.
Twenty-five minutes later, she walked through the double glass doors of the credit union, and took a spot in line. Within a minute, she was at a counter, facing a skinny, red-headed teller. From the way he fumbled as he greeted her, Nancy wondered if perhaps he was a new employee.
"Excuse me...I wonder if you could tell me if this man applied for a loan here?" Nancy held up a picture of Hank McGreevy that his wife had only been too happy to give to her. "Anything to help in the search, dear. I just know you'll find my Hank safe and sound." Nancy tried to avoid grimacing as the woman's words echoed in her head.
"Miss, I'm afraid I can't help you..." The young teller cleared his throat and fumbled with his tie. "Perhaps if you spoke with one of our managers...?"
"Please," Nancy said. "There's no need to talk to a manager...I just need to know if this man came here for any reason."
"Er..." The young man looked nervously about, and then a look of relief came over his face. "Mr. Donatelly! Will you come here for a moment?"
The tall, balding man came over, a frown on his face. "What's the problem, Trevor?"
"She" and Trevor gestured to Nancy, "wants to know if we've had a certain customer in the past few days."
"I see...would you come with me, miss?" Wordlessly, Nancy followed Mr. Donatelly to his office. He turned to face her after he'd closed the door.
"May I ask, miss, if you are associated with any law enforcement agency or court?"
"No...My name is Nancy Drew. I'm an amateur detective hired to find a missing husband."
"I see...well, miss, I'm afraid that I cannot give out client information without the proper paperwork,"
"Please, sir...I just need to know if he was here..."
Mr. Donatelly sighed. "I would like to help you. Truly. But I'm not willing to risk customer security without going through the proper channels."
Disappointed, Nancy nodded, and turned to leave. "I wish you luck," Mr. Donatelly called after her. She left the bank, wondering if every other bank would be just the same. I guess I'll find out tomorrow, she mused with a sigh.
That night, while she was updating the McGreevy file on her laptop, the phone rang. Nancy snatched up the receiver, grateful for a break in writing about the McGreevy family grievances.
"Hi, Nan, it's me!"
"Bess! What's up?" Nancy asked as she leaned back in her chair. "How was Phoenix?"
"Great! Well, except for when I tripped in a shop meant for tourists and got cactus needles in my arm."
"Ouch! Are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine…and the weather was great! Warm and sunny….and cute guys were always in the forecast."
Nancy laughed. "Do I even have to ask if you met one particular cute guy?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it! His name is Carlo, and he was visiting family there, just like my parents and I were…he's adorable, Nancy, you'll have to meet him when he visits!"
"He's visiting?"
"Yes, hopefully. He lives in Colorado…but he thinks he'll be able to come to River Heights to see me within the next month or so. Isn't it great!"
"Yeah…so, tell me more about him."
As she listened to Bess ramble on about her latest beau, Nancy smiled to herself. Bess would probably take an hour or more to relay everything about Carlo, which meant Nancy had gotten the perfect distraction.
August 4
The next morning, Nancy set out early to visit the banks of River Heights. She hoped that today would provide better results than yesterday's.
Two hours, and several "we cannot disclose that information" comments later, she gave up. After the most recent rejection, Nancy went back to her car. She leaned casually against casually the blue Mustang, pulled her cell phone from her purse and called Mrs. McGreevy. When the other woman answered, she asked if the McGreevys shared bank accounts. "Why, no, dear...Hank always understood that I needed a shopping fund...so we got separate accounts."
"I see...thank you." Nancy let out a frustrated growl as she hung up the phone. So much for that plan...Grimly, she punched in the number that would patch her straight to Chief McGinnis. It looked like River Heights PD might need to get involved after all.
"River Heights Police, Chief McGinnis speaking."
"Hi, Chief."
"Nancy!" Chief McGinnis was clearly surprised to hear from her this early. "How's the case going?"
"I need your help."
"Nancy, I would love to help, but I can't offer any officers to-"
"Chief, I can't investigate whether or not Hank McGreevy disappeared because he skipped out on a gambling debt unless I can get information from the banks. They can't give that kind of information to me."
"I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I take it you'll follow up on other leads?"
"Of course. Thanks, Chief."
Nancy hung up, and debated what to do next. She could interview Mrs. Dinalto…or contact Kevin McDonnell. After such a frustrating time pursuing the gambling option, she decided it might be best for her sanity to switch tacks and pursue the McDonnell angle.
She reached into her purse and pulled out Tim McGreevy's phone number. Quickly, she dialed the number into her cell phone. When the young man answered, Nancy got straight to the point.
"It's Nancy Drew. Do you have any contact information for your brother?"
"Sure, give me a moment." There was a pause, during which Nancy withdrew a notepad and pen from her purse, then "Okay, here it is. Kevin McDonnell, 62 Third Street, Omaha Nebraska, 68142. Home phone is 402-555-1013 and cell phone is 402-555-1121."
"Got it," Nancy said as she scribbled the information down. "Thanks a lot, Tim."
"No problem. Good luck finding Dad."
They exchanged goodbyes, and Nancy hung up. Immediately, she punched in the home phone number for Kevin McDonnell.
The phone on the other end rang several times before a young woman answered. Nancy introduced herself and explained why she was calling.
"Well…Kevin isn't in town right now…he's at a teaching conference at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Maybe you can reach him there. I could give you his cell phone number, if you like…"
"I already have it, but thank you. I'll try that next."
The conversation ended, and Nancy found herself punching in yet another phone number. She growled as a voicemail system kicked in. She left a brief message, hung up, and paused to think. She was now back at the same spot she'd been a short time ago.
At that moment, her stomach rumbled loudly, and Nancy decided it was lunchtime. Thinking about the case would be easier on a full stomach, and hers was feeling emptier as the seconds passed. She got into her Mustang and drove home, eager to learn what Hannah had cooked for lunch.
Lunch turned out to be fettuccini alfredo and salad, which Nancy devoured rapidly. Afterward, she helped Hannah with the dishes, before going upstairs to update the McGreevy file and decide her next move.
Just like the night before, however, the phone rang before she finished updating the file. Hoping it was Kevin McDonnell, returning her call, or maybe Chief McGinnis with some information for her, Nancy answered on the first ring.
The caller on the other end was not Kevin McDonnell. Nor was it Chief McGinnis. It was, however, someone Nancy knew well.
"Hi, Nancy..."
"Hi, Frank..." she said slowly, switching the phone to her other shoulder. "Is there a case? Joe in trouble as usual?"
Frank laughed at the other end. "No, Joe's fine...I just wanted to let you know that I've finished high school finally - though I won't officially graduate until December."
"That's great!" Nancy exclaimed. "I know it bothered you to be in the same grade as Joe...of course, I admit I didn't help, making fun of you for it sometimes when you complained about him distracting you in class by acting up..."
"Don't remind me," Frank replied. "My high school days are over, and I no longer need to worry about that. Unless he follows me to college..."
"And then I'll get another chance to laugh at you."
"That's cruel, Nancy," Frank joked. "You've really hurt me with that."
"Oh, I'm sure...so how is Joe, anyway?"
"Well, upset that I'm homework-free at the moment and he's not...though he reminded me that now I have to wait for school to be out to see Callie during the day."
"...How is Callie?" Nancy asked after an awkward pause.
"She's fine. Van's fine too, before you ask. What about Ned?"
"Oh...well..."
"Everything okay between you two?" Frank asked, apparently noticing her reluctance to mention her boyfriend.
She sighed into the phone. "Yes...no...I don't know."
"Want to tell me about it?"
"It's just the usual complaint. We'll work it out."
"Doesn't sound like you're so sure of that."
"We've made it to the three-year mark...I can think we can manage to sort through this."
"Three years? You've been dating that long already? Wow...that means my anniversary with Callie is coming up soon."
"I know...found a gift yet?"
"No...you're a woman, Nancy - any advice?"
"Frank, you know Callie and I aren't great friends...more like...friendly acquaintances. You're better off asking Vanessa for advice on that."
"I still don't understand why you and Callie don't get along better..." Frank ventured, sounding puzzled.
"Well..." Nancy paused, trying to think of how best to explain things. She couldn't just point out that she and Callie were barely friends for the same reasons Frank and Ned acted the way they did around each other...that would bring up the topic she and Frank had resolved to ignore: the spark between them. "Maybe we're just...too similar."
"If you say so…" Frank sounded as though he doubted her, but let the topic drop. "So, what's new in River Heights? Any new cases?"
"Yes, actually. A missing person, one Hank McGreevy. His wife reported him missing after less than a day, since she says he never leaves the house without telling her where he's going, or leaving a note. It's been a couple of days now, and he's still missing, but I have some possible leads."
"Anything Joe and I can help with?"
"No, I think I've got it covered right now…but if I need help, I'll let you know."
"Alright."
They chatted for a few minutes more, and then Nancy hung up. Her head was beginning to ache from being on the phone so often. Ignoring the slight throb, she resolved to get the file entirely up-to-date without interruption. Once she completed that, she would try to reach Kevin McDonnell again, and also call Chief McGinnis to see if he had any information for her yet. After that…she would track down and interview Mrs. Dinalto.