The Mystery at Lilac Inn - Carolyn Keene [48]
“This girl has been impersonating me for some time!” Gay snapped. “My name is Nancy Drew!”
The young sleuth started to protest, when Gay withdrew a wallet from the pocket of her dress. Nancy was dumfounded when Gay took out a driver’s license and handed it to the captain.
“This license was issued to Miss Nancy Drew of River Heights,” the captain said, frowning.
Nancy realized that Gil must have stolen the license when he planted the bomb in the cottage! Gay smiled triumphantly. “This girl is the thief! She was tied up because she sneaked aboard our boat and tried to steal jewelry from my luggage.”
Nancy realized that the actress in desperation had cleverly reversed the situation to keep from being arrested. No one aboard could, or would, identify the real Nancy Drew. If the gang’s stories were believed the six might be released. Nancy could be taken into custody.
“By the time my identification can be established, the others will have recovered the diamonds and escaped,” she thought desperately.
Just then, a foghorn sounded and the group on board saw a searchlight sweeping across the water. Moments later, a second patrol launch came into view and pulled alongside.
Gay Moreau had pushed forward to stand in front of the young sleuth. At the same time, Nancy and she recognized Carson Drew standing at the railing beside John McBride and Lieutenant Brice. Also present was Chief McGinnis.
“Nancy!” Mr. Drew called. “Oh, Nancy, my dear, you’re safe!”
Gay smiled and waved back. Then she edged furtively toward the stern, as if intending to jump overboard.
Nancy, meanwhile, had been expecting such a move. Unnoticed by Gay she had backed up several feet. The next moment, as the actress hurled herself toward the rail, Nancy tripped her. Gay went sprawling on the deck.
“That’s one score evened,” Nancy said firmly.
But Gay was still undaunted as Carson Drew walked across a plank and was about to step onto the deck of the other craft. She leaped to her feet. Shoving Nancy aside, she dashed toward Mr. Drew.
“Dad—I’m so glad to see you!” she cried, and was about to fling herself into his arms when Nancy intervened.
“No, Dad, it’s a disguise!” she exclaimed, and grasped Gay by the arm. With her free hand, she rubbed off some of the actress’s heavy make-up.
As Gay stood glaring balefully, her true looks were disclosed. Carson Drew said severely, “Well, Gay Moreau, justice is catching up with you again.” Then he kissed his daughter.
All this time Simon had been pinned against the railing by several of the police. Now he made a desperate effort to jump overboard, but was instantly stopped. “Well, I guess we’ve had it, Gay,” he said grimly.
Gay’s features were contorted with rage. “Next time we’ll set a better bomb for you, Nancy Drew!” she screamed.
“There’ll be no next time!” Chief McGinnis spoke sternly, as the river police officers put handcuffs on Gay, Gil, and Simon.
Brief explanations were made to Captain Morgan, who led the chief and Lieutenant Brice to the cabin where the other three captives were being guarded. The officials spent some time interrogating them while Nancy talked to her father and John McBride, bringing them up to date on the recent happenings.
“Gay almost had me fooled, until we came on board,” Carson Drew admitted.
Later, in the captain’s quarters, the officials met with Carson Drew, Nancy, and John.
“Nancy, you deserve an explanation from me,” said John. “I told you once that my Army work was confidential. Actually I’ve been working on a case while visiting at Lilac Inn.”
John stated that he was in reality a major at an Army missile base. “Some top-secret electronics parts had been stolen from the base, and suspicion fell on Frank Logan, a sergeant in the Engineers’ Corps, who had been dishonorably discharged not long before the theft. Nothing was ever proved, but my mission was to follow up on the man and determine his guilt or innocence beyond a doubt.”
The major had obtained