The Magician's Secret (Nancy Drew Diaries #8)(12)

Hugo, with Gritty Grand’s nieces in tow, pulled his rental car into the space next to mine, and all six of us ran across the parking lot together. I raced up to Ned.

“I wondered when you’d show up,” he said, kissing me hello on the cheek. “News travels fast in River Heights.”

“I saw the arrest on TV.”

He nodded. “But the news only reported that Lonestar was picked up. An hour ago John Smallwood was also brought in for questioning again.”

“Why?” I asked.

Ned opened his mouth, when my dad cut in. “Tell her everything,” my father told Ned. “Every detail.” He looked at me. “We need your big brain on this one,” he said.

“Big brain?” I laughed. “A genetic mutation from your side of the family, I believe.”

“And a good thing, too. Now put that mass of gray matter to use and figure out what is going on, okay?” My dad gave me a kiss on the top of my head.

“I’ll try my best,” I told him, then returned my gaze to Ned.

“The police finally found Drake Lonestar. Turns out that unlike you or me, he needs a lot of sleep,” Ned said. “He was in bed in his hotel room.”

“Performing magic is exhausting,” I repeated what Hugo had told me earlier.

“Right.” Ned rolled his eyes as if Drake was simply a prima donna who had no idea about real work. “Anyway, the officers discovered that not only was the magician staying in the same hotel as Smallwood, but the two men had rooms across the hall from each other.”

I lurched forward in surprise when Ned quickly added, “Apparently the magician was initially put into the same room as Smallwood, but that was a mistake.” He shook his head. “When Drake walked in, Smallwood was in the shower. The hotel cleared it up, putting Drake in the room across the hall.”

“Shower? That must have been awkward.” I chuckled at the thought of walking into a hotel room that was already occupied. “So they had a moment where their paths crossed, but that doesn’t prove they knew each other or that Lonestar was involved in the gem theft,” I said, furrowing my brow. “Did Lonestar have the missing box or the jewels?”

“No,” Ned admitted.

I’d seen Lonestar in handcuffs. “What are the charges against him?”

“He’s under investigation for the jewel theft. The police are focusing on the Lonestar and Smallwood connection.” Ned added, “That’s why Smallwood is being questioned again.”

“Under investigation,” I echoed Ned’s words. “Lonestar shouldn’t have been arrested, then. Escorted to court, yes, but no handcuffs.”

“I’ve got this one.” I turned to see Officer Fernandez approach. “Lonestar was arrested for disorderly conduct.”

I raised my eyebrows. That was unexpected.

“When we showed up, we insisted on knowing how the courthouse disappeared. We figured that if we understood how the trick was done, we could determine how Lonestar managed to break into the evidence locker and steal the box. Instead of answering our questions, Lonestar went crazy and started throwing things around the room.”

“He should have known better,” I said, wrinkling my brow.

“He doesn’t like to be questioned about the magic. We’re all clear on that now.” She continued, “The police chief believes that Smallwood was working with Lonestar. The theory is that Smallwood stole the gems and put them in the box. He was supposed to give the box to Lonestar. But when Smallwood was arrested and all his belongings were collected by the police, Lonestar panicked. He used his magic to snag the box, and thus, stole the gems for himself.” Officer Fernandez’s cell phone beeped. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to take this.” She moved away.

“All this is based on the fact that Drake Lonestar had a room in the hotel across the hall from John Smallwood?” I muttered to myself. The police seemed to be guessing—creating a story about events that they couldn’t prove. I knew it. Officer Fernandez knew it. And my dad knew it.

I asked Ned if anyone had found anything suspicious at the hotel.

“No witnesses,” he told me. “No box. No gems. Nothing out of place. Even with the disorderly conduct charge, the police are going to have to let Lonestar go soon. They might not let him leave town for a while, but they can’t keep here very long.”

“This case is getting more and more complicated,” I told Ned. “Every time I think we’re onto something meaningful, it dissolves into nothing.” I bit my lip in frustration.

“I’ll find out if Lonestar has said anything relevant to the police,” Ned told me.

“My guess is he didn’t,” I said.

“My guess is you’re right,” Ned replied.

He left me standing on the courthouse steps, shaking my head and wondering what to do next.



“Nancy, come sit with me.” Hugo was resting on a bench just outside the courthouse, staring out toward the empty space where the magic show stage had been the day before. “We can wait to hear what’s going on together. It’ll be better than waiting alone.”

Hugo was so devoted to Drake Lonestar, my admiration for him was growing. Their friendship reminded me of mine with Bess and George. I decided to stay with him until either Ned and my dad came out, Drake was released, or I saw Smallwood.