Mystery of the Midnight Rider (Nancy Drew Diaries #3)(10)

"What is it, dear?” His wife hurried over.

I stepped toward my friends. "You know how you were teasing me about trying to find a mystery earlier?” I said quietly. "Well, I think one just found me. Or us. Or Payton, to be exact.”

Payton wandered toward us just in time to hear her name. "What are you talking about, Nancy?” She sounded confused. "What’s going on?”

I didn’t get a chance to answer. Mrs. Nickerson swept over and dragged Payton off toward the house, while Mr. Nickerson called for attention.



"Something just came up,” he told his friends and neighbors. "We need to talk privately with Payton for a few minutes.” He handed the tongs he was holding to one of the men. "Rick, can “Something just came up,” he told his friends and neighbors. “We need to talk privately with Payton for a few minutes.” He handed the tongs he was holding to one of the men. "Rick, can you see about getting Bertha started?”

"Well, I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try,” the man replied with a smile.

Mr. Nickerson thanked him and headed for the door. He paused and glanced at me. “Nancy, maybe you should join us.”

“Right behind you,” I said, following him into the house.

Ned, Bess, and George came too. “Is everything all right?” Bess asked. "What happened?”

“Mr. Nickerson found a threatening note in the grill,” I said. "It’s addressed to Payton.”

Mr. Nickerson nodded. He handed the note to Ned, who read it with Bess and George looking over his shoulder.

"Whoa,” George said.

Mr. Nickerson grabbed the note back. "I think we’d better call Payton’s parents.”

“And the police, as well,” Mrs. Nickerson added.

“No, wait!” Payton’s face had gone pale. “Please don’t call my parents. I don’t want them to worry.”

"That’s sweet, dear,” Mrs. Nickerson said. “But they’ll want to know their only daughter could be in danger.”

"You don’t understand.” Payton bit her lip. "My parents are always pushing me to be the best. They wouldn’t want me to get scared off by some random jerk trying to steal my focus.” She smiled, though it looked forced. "They’d probably trot out that old line about how sticks and stones might break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

Mrs. Nickerson frowned. “Nonsense,” she said. "I know your parents always encourage you to do your best, but your safety is more important than anything, and I’m sure they’d agree. Hand me that phone,” she ordered her husband.

"But what if this is just some kind of prank?” George spoke up. "Like one of Payton’s fellow riders trying to psych her out or something?”

I guessed she was thinking about that girl from the schooling ring earlier. "It’s possible,” I mused aloud. “Someone from the show grounds could’ve followed Payton here and planted that note.”

Mrs. Nickerson’s eyes widened in alarm. “All the more reason to notify the police!” she exclaimed.



“Or maybe you just need to notify someone who might actually be able to figure out what’s going on.” George pointed at me.



“Done.”

Mr. Nickerson raised an eyebrow. “She has a point,” he said to his wife.

"Yeah,” Ned agreed. "There’s no point getting Mr. and Mrs. Evans all riled up over nothing. Let’s let Nancy look into it first. If it’s just some prankster or crazy competitor, she’ll figure it out.”

His mother glanced at me, seeming uncertain. "Well...”

Meanwhile, Payton just looked confused. "Let Nancy look into it?” she said. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, right.” Bess smiled. “Payton doesn’t know about our local sleuthing prodigy.”

She and the others took turns explaining. Payton listened, nodding along but still looking skeptical.

"Nancy Drew, girl detective—I know it sounds weird, right?” Ned finished with a chuckle. "But trust me, Payton. If anyone can help you, it’s Nancy.”

"I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to give her a chance to look into it a bit,” Mrs. Nickerson said slowly. She glanced at her husband, who nodded.

"It’s worth a try,” Mr. Nickerson said. “But if you can’t clear things up quickly, Nancy—or if you sense any real danger—we’ll definitely be calling in the troops.” He put a hand on Payton’s shoulder. “And I want you to be careful until we know what’s going on, all right? We’ll keep an eye on you while you’re here, of course. But you might want to mention this to your trainer, so she can keep an extra-close watch while you’re at the show.”

“Ned and I were planning to spend the day at the show tomorrow anyway,” I said. "We can help keep a lookout.”

“And we can come help,” Bess said, and George nodded.

"Thanks, you guys.” Payton sounded grateful. "I’m sure this is nothing. Really.”

"All right.” Mrs. Nickerson still didn’t sound completely convinced. "We’ll give this a chance. But please let us know if you un-cover anything worrisome, Nancy.” She stood up. "Now we’d better get back out there before our other guests think we’ve abandoned them.”