Chapter 42: The Mysterious Mannequin:
Dexter Howard's POV:
I was working as a security guard at the Mannequin warehouse. This place really creeps me out, but hey, a job's a job. I was looking at all the dummies. Man, they give me the creeps. Then I thought I heard something. I looked and it was just a mannequin. I then read a note. "Long ago, Farouk Tahmasp was a brilliant maker of mannequins, but then a jealous doll maker framed him for a crime, he tried to kill her, so she killed him. He swore revenge, so his spirit possessed this very mannequin. Yeah right." But as soon as I put the note down..."
Nancy's POV:
My old friend, Helen Corning, was coming over for a visit. "Isn't this exciting," I asked.
"Sure," says George.
"I'm delighted," says Bess.
Weird, they didn't seem so enthusiastic. Oh well. Then Ned and Shaun arrived.
"Sorry we're late," says Ned, "you can blame Shaun."
"Hey, I'm just trying to make sure I don't look like a dork," says Shaun.
Shaun's always had a crush on Helen, but she was never really interested. Then Helen arrived.
"Nancy!"
"Helen!"
We then hugged. Helen was sort of my sidekick in mystery solving before I got my crew.
"It's so good to see you again," says Helen.
"Helen, you remember the crew, right," I asked.
"Sure," says Helen, "hey Ned."
"Good to see you again," says Ned.
"Shaun, looking good," says Helen. Shaun then faints. "Joe and Beck."
"George and Bess," says Bess.
"Now would be a good time for her to take over so I don't have to put up with this," says George.
"Come on, Guys," I said, "she's just kidding."
"So, show me around Riverdale," says Helen.
"Let's go," I said.
. . .
We took her to Pop's, and we heard Archie and Jughead's conversation.
"So, how do you think he died," asks Jughead.
"Some say it was a ghost," says Archie.
"What kind of ghost haunts a mannequin warehouse," asks Jughead.
"You know how ghosts work, right," asks Archie.
"Good point," says Jughead.
"Sounds like a murder mystery if you ask me," says Helen, "someone should tell them there are no such things as ghosts."
"You'd be surprised," I said, "we should take a look at this."
. . .
We were then at the warehouse.
"Now this place is creepy," says Ned.
"Kind of makes me think of an episode of the Twilight Zone," says George, "if I find out I've been a mannequin the whole time, I am going to scream."
"Remember the one where the man's life turned into a movie," says Bess, "I'm still trying to figure out the ending."
"Hey, Helen, maybe we should hold hands," says Shaun.
"Well, if you're scared," says Helen.
"That's not what I meant," says Shaun, "I just thought..."
I then found a mannequin with a note, and I read it. "We have to get out of here," I said.
"Why," asks Helen, "there's nothing scary about these mannequins... except these... oh, sorry John and Ben."
"George and Bess," says George.
Then the mannequin started to move.
"Yeah, we're running," says Ned.
"It must be animatronic," says Helen.
"Just run," says Shaun.
We then ran and the mannequin chased after us.
. . .
We were back at Pop's. Bess was reading the note. "Well, maybe we can put Farouk's spirit to rest if we find proof that he was framed," says Bess.
"This is ridiculous," says Helen, "you guys actually think it was a ghost?"
"Helen, something you should know," I said, "this town is full of ghosts! An old enemy of mine is unleashing them on Riverdale!"
Gomber's POV:
I was watching the Twilight Zone. "The man finally has time to read all those books, but he can't because his glasses are broken," I said, "I just love tragic irony!" Then the mannequin enters. "Farouk, how are things?" Nothing. "Right, as long as you're in that dummy, you can't talk. But don't worry, you won't have to be in it for long, just as long as you do what I say. The only way for you to be free is for the name of the doll maker to be revealed and in order for that to happen, you must follow my orders. Now, be a good dummy and go kill Nancy Drew." Farouk then leaves.
Nancy's POV:
"The museum might know something," I said.
"Great, I can come with you," says Helen.
"Cool," I said. We then headed for the museum.
. . .
At the museum, Helen and I were trying to figure out anything we can about Farouk Tahmasp.
"So, the Hidden Staircase Guy's unleashed an army of ghosts and is having them hurt a lot of people," asks Helen.
"Yep," I said, "oh and by the way, turns out I was adopted."
"Okay, now that is news," says Helen.
"Yeah, my real Mom's also dead."
"Well, she and your adoptive Mom are probably hanging out in Heaven."
"Maybe." I then saw Betty. "Hey, Betty."
"Oh, hey Nancy."
"Betty, do you know anything about Farouk Tahmasp?"
"Oh yeah, some say he kissed the Mayor's wife, but he says he was framed by a doll maker," says Betty.
"We found a note that says he was framed," I said.
"No one else has ever discovered that note," says Betty, "but I always did find something odd about that story."
"Like what," I asked.
"Like the fact that Farouk Tahmasp was way too shy around women," says Betty, "at least that's what the books say."
"Do you know who the doll maker was," I asked.
"Her name was lost for years," says Betty.
"Thanks," I said.
Bess' POV:
"Okay, spill," says Ned.
"What do you mean," asks George.
"You girls have been acting weird," says Shaun.
"Start talking," says Ned.
"I'm gone," says George, but as she tries to leave, her body won't let her.
"Looks like Odette wants to hear the story too," says Ned.
"I hate her," says George, "fine! Helen has always been a jerk to me and Bess!"
"It's true," says Bess, "for some reason, Helen doesn't like us!"
"I think I know what is it," says Ned, "before Helen got transferred to another school, she was Nancy's best friend. I guess she just feels replaced."
"That's probably it," says George.
"Guys, there's a weird guy in a trench coat outside," says Shaun, "and he's walking like a dummy!"
We all look and he's right. I take a good look and his legs are plastic. "We have to follow him," I said.
Nancy's POV:
Helen and I were still at the museum. "There has to be something," I said.
"Night of the Living Dummy at 12:00," says Helen.
I turned around and saw the Mannequin was right there. "I know why you're doing this," I said, "we can help you!"
The Mannequin then comes after us, but Ned comes in and grabs it. "For the record, I am having trouble beating a giant doll!"
The rest of the gang show up. "Did you find out anything," asks George.
"There's nothing here," I said.
"Ned, did you find an off switch," asks Helen.
"It's not a robot," says Shaun, "it's a ghost possessing a dummy!"
"And it's a lot tougher than it looks," says Ned.
"Ned, get off it so we can run," I said.
"Fine with me," says Ned.
Ned gets off and we run.
. . .
We were then hiding in the next building over. An old doll factory.
"Wait, this is the perfect place," I said.
"Unless Emmy Hesire's evil brother comes after us," says George.
"No, I mean we can learn the story here," I said, "let's get searching!"
"Look, Nancy, we've always looked for logical explanations..." Helen began.
"Stahp weeth your fooleesh denial! You ahre nahtheeng but a wheeny bahby who cahn't hahndle ze idea of sahmeone hahveeng new friends!"
"Okay, you wanna go," asks Helen.
"Wait," I said, "it's not her fault! George is being possessed by a ghost!"
"Okay, what has happened to you guys," asks Helen, "suddenly you think you're the main characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer!"
"Helen, ghosts and witches are real," says Shaun.
"Who said anything about witches," asks Helen.
"I haven't introduced you to Sabrina," I said.
"This is crazy," says Helen.
"UUUUUUUUUhhhhhhhhh... Guys," says Ned, "you might wanna look at this." It was a picture of a doll maker and she looks like Helen.
"That's spooky," says Helen.
"Didn't your parents mention an ancestor in Riverdale," I asked.
"No," says Helen.
"Guys, the Mannequin is lurking around," says Shaun.
"Let's see what we have," I said. We started looking around. I then found an old book under a desk. I then read it.
Bridget Armstrong's POV - Flashback:
My name is Bridget Armstrong, and my husband is the mayor of Riverdale. We all loved the mannequins Farouk Tahmasp made. He was a good friend of mine. But there was one woman. A doll maker. She was jealous of the popularity Farouk had. She decided to ruin his reputation. One night, while I was asleep, someone snuck into my room and kissed me. I told my husband and he demanded to know who did it! There was evidence that said it was Farouk, so he was hanged, but then I overheard the doll maker gloating, and I realized it was her! I had to tell people. The Doll maker then left town. Her name was Kendall Barrera, but I heard she changed her name to Alicia McIntosh and then married a man named..."
Nancy's POV - Present:
"... Corning."
"She's my ancestor, isn't she," asks Helen.
The mannequin then broke in and was walking towards us. Helen then stood in front of him. "What are you doing," asks George.
"I know why you're doing this," says Helen, "it wasn't right for Kendall Barrera to do something so horrible to you just out of jealousy! It's not right for anyone to act that way!" The mannequin then stops, and the spirit of Farouk Tahmasp came out. "Thank you." He then leaves.
"I bet you believe us now," says Bess.
"Yeah," says Helen.
. . .
It was time for Helen to go.
"I can't believe you're leaving already," I said.
"Yeah, but it's been... spooky," says Helen. She then walks to George and Bess. "I'm so, so sorry for the way I've treated you guys."
"Wait, what are you talking about," I asked.
"For a detective, you can be clueless," says Helen, "Nancy, I've been a jerk to George and Bess because I was jealous of them!" I'm not sure how I missed that.
"Just when I was finally starting to like you," says George.
The three then hug.
"See ya later, Helen," says Ned. They then hug.
"It was cool to have you here," says Shaun.
Helen then kisses him on the cheek. "Goodbye everyone." Helen then leaves.
In the next chapter, Nancy's dealing with an invisible guy.