Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Six and a Half Keys
Chapter Ten
Nancy talked to Patricie. "I need a laptop," Nancy said. "I've got an important jewel document, coming my way."
"You can probably get one at Aparat Computers," Patricie said. "Tell them I sent you, and you might even get a discount!"
"Ugh, I don't want to buy a laptop, just to read one file," Nancy complained. "I was wondering if you had a laptop I could use."
"I have a laptop charger," Patricie said. "I keep it on the desk over there, next to the gentleman who sits and stares at his computer screensaver for nine hours a day."
Nancy glanced at the corner of the room. There was indeed a man sitting at a table, staring blankly at a computer screen.
"Is he okay?" Nancy asked.
"Probably not, but he orders a coffee every two hours, and that's all that matters to me," Patricie said.
Nancy considered asking to borrow the stranger's computer, when she got an even better idea. "Adela!"
Nancy skipped to the table where Adela was sipping a coffee. "I have nothing more to say," Adela said.
"Can I borrow your laptop?" Nancy asked.
"I have one thing more to say," Adela said. "No."
"But I need to check my email!" Nancy said.
"Use your phone," Adela said.
"I can't, the file I'm getting is super complicated," Nancy said. "It's a list of every single time your necklace changed hands."
"That...is only three times," Adela said. "When I gave it Vladena, when I gave it to SecondShine, and when I first got it from my mother."
"Ah, but what about when the culprit stole the necklace and swapped the gems?" Nancy asked. "All we have to do is look at the column for who took the gem, and we'll see who the culprit is!"
"Do you really think the thief would be stupid enough to fill out an official log and sign their name to it?" Adela asked.
"The only way to find out is to check my email," Nancy said. "Look, I'll make it easy on you. Either you let me borrow your laptop, or I'm going to buy a new laptop, call it a business expense, and force you to pay for it that way. Which do you prefer?"
Adela grumbled. "I suppose I should be grateful that you are so determined to solve this case..."
"Great!" Nancy said. She pulled out her phone. "I'll let you know when the email is—wait, I already got it." She tapped on the file, and it started downloading. "Huh, it seems to be working. I don't know what Frank was all worried—oh no!"
An annoying picture pop-up appeared on her phone.
Prove you're a human! Select all the pictures with mountains in them!
"Oh no, this is way too complicated for me," Nancy said. "I'll have to get a computer expert's help, after all."