Chapter 21: The Sign of the Uninvited Guest:

Nancy's POV:

So, to recap, someone killed Lucy and my Dad has the blame. Oh, and whoever did it is trying to keep me from finding out. So far, I had to catch a leprechaun, I've been poisoned, I had to run from a phantom, I had to avoid the Scarecrow, oh and a Mad Hatter wannabe trapped me in Dreamland! I wish I knew what I was dealing with. I then talked to my friends at Pop's.

"Is it just me or do we need a secret hideout," asks Shaun.

"Not all detectives have a Batcave," I said, "now, we need to focus. What do we know so far?"

"There's a conspiracy to make sure no one finds out who killed Lucy," says Ned.

"Bingo," I said, "not much, is it?"

"No, but at least we know it couldn't have been your dad," says George.

"Do we have suspects," asks Bess.

"I still think Karen knows something," I said, but this time, we have to be careful. Who knows who's a part of this. Look over there!" We all looked in the direction of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and Jughead. "For all we know, they could be a part of this as well!"

"Yeah, they look like real crooks," says George.

"And who does," asks Bess.

"Good point," says George.

"We have to pull all the stops," I said, "try not to trust anyone!"

. . .

Shaun and I went home, but there was some weird writing on the wall. "We'll talk later," it said.

"I'm starting to think we shouldn't have moved here," says Shaun.

"No kidding," I said.

Carson's POV:

I feel like my life would be a whole lot easier if only I told Nancy the truth. I was staring at the Terrible Trio, Gomber, Kroon, and McKeaver. They were all looking at me with sinister intentions. I had to keep an eye on them.

Gomber's POV:

"When do we strike," asks McKeaver.

"Good things come to those who wait," I said.

Nancy's POV:

Shaun and I were cleaning up the message.

"Do you think it was blood," asks Shaun.

"I'm not sure," I said, "who the heck did this and how did they even get in?"

"Maybe it was Lucy," says Shaun.

"I doubt that," I said.

This town is crazy.

. . .

The next day, we told the rest of the gang about the message.

"Maybe it's the person who killed Lucy," says Ned.

"I'm not sure about that," I said.

"If it is, you better be on guard," says George.

"Maybe it's Sabrina," says Bess.

"No, she doesn't work like that," I said.

"Shouldn't we call the police," asks Shaun.

"I'm not even sure we can trust the police," I said, "they could be on the killer's pay role!"

"You still think Karen could be involved," asks Ned.

"She knew Lucy and didn't tell any of us," I said, "maybe Karen Hart is actually Karen Heartless."

. . .

When Shaun and I returned home, there was another message. "5:30 p.m. Tomorrow."

"At least we know when to expect," says Shaun.

Carson's POV:

I was at the prison gym when McKeaver came.

"I don't suppose you're going to tell me what you, Gomber, and Kroon are up to," I asked.

"Gomber says we should wait," says McKeaver, "but I'm getting impatient!"

McKeaver then attacks me. I was forced to defend myself. The next thing I knew... McKeaver was dead! Everyone saw and it did not look good for me!

Nancy's POV:

It was the next day at 5:30 p.m. and Shaun and I waited. Then we heard something.

"That must be them," says Shaun. We decided to talk to them.

. . .

We met the stranger. "Who are you," I asked.

"It's me," says Laura, "and I have information you can use!"

. . .

"So, what is it, Laura," I asked.

"Well... it turns out, my Father and Lucy were... a lot closer than people thought."

"Woah, this must've been one awkward month," says Shaun.

"There's more," says Laura, "they... had a child and it was years before I was even born."

"Really," I asked.

"I think that child might know something," says Laura.

"Any idea who they are," I asked.

"No clue," says Laura.

"So, you have an older half-sibling," says Shaun, "that's gotta be cool."

"I guess," says Laura.

This keeps getting weirder.

. . .

I then tried to call my Dad, but the police told me something that shocked me. "He's being put in solitary for killing McKeaver!"

Gomber's POV:

"McKeaver did his part," says Kroon.

"Excellent work using a gun that doesn't make a sound," I said.

"I am a trickster," says Kroon.

"The best way to get revenge is to not go directly," I said.

In the next chapter, Nancy and her friends discover a cursed DVD.