The Magician's Secret (Nancy Drew Diaries #8)(14)

“It’s too expensive to start: renting venues, travel, advertising, plus the tricks have to get bolder and fancier every year,” Hugo said. “I’m happy working for Drake.” Hugo stared down at his hands. I could see a faint red line around each wrist where the cuffs had bitten into his skin. I had to admit I had no idea how he’d done it.

Hugo shook out his hands, looked up at the courthouse door, and let loose a long sigh. “I don’t know what I’ll do if they don’t free him soon.”





CHAPTER NINE





Careful Considerations


BY DINNERTIME I WAS BACK home with Ned, John Smallwood, who had been released into my father’s custody, and my dad. He couldn’t go back to his hotel room anyway, due to all the press gathered in the hallway.

Drake Lonestar was also stuck in River Heights for a few more days. Officer Fernandez had arranged for him to be released to Hugo. The bodyguard was still hopeful they’d be on the Tuesday train out of River Heights, but it didn’t look good.

After the day’s grueling events—not to mention a sleepless night before—I think we were all ready for a hot meal. Our housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, had just served her famous lasagna when the front door burst open.

“Nancy!” Bess shouted from the front hallway.

“Wait until you see—,” George was saying as the two of them rushed up to the table. She stopped short. “Oh . . . is that lasagna?” Whatever she had been about to say was completely lost to the delicious scent of Hannah’s dinner.

“Girls?” My father looked from Bess to George and back again.

“Hello, Mr. Drew,” Bess said, noticing everyone sitting at the table.

“Sit down, ladies,” my father told them, indicating two empty chairs. “Judging by your exciting entry, we are all anxious to see what you’ve discovered.”

Hannah brought them each a plate of lasagna.

Between happy bites, George said to Bess, “Tell them, cuz. You found it.”

Bess’s mouth was full. She pointed at George and handed her cousin her purse.

George pushed the purse back at Bess.

Before Bess could protest again, I grabbed it. There was a magazine sticking out of the top.

“Are you talking about this?” I asked, checking out the magazine’s cover.

“Yes.” Bess put down her fork. “The magazine came in yesterday’s mail, but with the show and everything, I didn’t look until this afternoon.”

Bess opened to a page near the middle. I leaned in for a closer look. There was a large photo of Gritty Grand standing with her arms around Ayela and Ariana. All three had the same tilted posture, leaning on their left hips. All three had the same dark hair and dark eyes.

I read the caption: TWINS. We knew that already.

“Keep going,” Bess encouraged.

“Daughters!” I leaped up from my chair so fast I nearly knocked Ned’s water glass over.

“Whoa,” Ned said, grabbing the glass before it spilled. “Why’s this news?”

I stepped away from the table and began to pace in the space behind John Smallwood’s chair. He was so busy devouring Hannah’s lasagna, he didn’t look back at me.

“Hang on. . . .” My brain was spinning. “Why is this news?” I murmured to myself. It seemed like such a huge revelation. Hugo had lied to us. But how did it connect? “If Gritty Grand’s nieces are really her daughters, then . . .” I was mumbling.

“Maybe the jewel heist was a family operation?” Bess asked, forcing me to wonder if I’d spoken my question aloud.

“Yes. I mean, no. I mean . . .” We hadn’t had any suspects other than John Smallwood and Drake Lonestar up until this point. Could I add Ayela, Ariana, and their mom to the list?

So Hugo had lied. Was that enough to pursue an investigation of him as well?

“Gritty, Ayela, Ariana,” I said to Bess. “Can we connect them to the crime?”

“I’ve got this one,” George chimed in. “The police’s number one suspect, Drake Lonestar, is the twins’ dad.”

“Seriously? Lonestar?” I asked, stunned. “How do you figure that?”

“I did a little Internet digging,” George explained, “and apparently it’s true. Plus, it makes sense. When their mom was in financial trouble and the girls needed a job, who better to help out than their dad?”

“So is Hugo even dating Gritty?” I asked Bess. She flipped through the magazine until she came to a column called “Hot Couples.”

“No,” Bess told me. “She’s dating Hal Thomas.” I looked down at a picture of the designer with her arms around the newest boy-band heartthrob. “She’s old enough to be his mom.” I grimaced.

“He’s the same age as the twins,” George agreed.

Bess fluttered her eyelids dramatically. “True love is beyond age.”

George punched her in the arm. “You’re ridiculous!”

Bess laughed. “You’re just jealous. Hoping to snag Hal Thomas for yourself??”

George gagged. “As if! He uses too much hair gel. I’ll leave him to Gritty.”

“There’s one more thing you need to know, Nancy,” Bess said, pointing down at the magazine. “The bankruptcy rumors are true. When she talks about her business issues, Gritty actually mentions Drake Lonestar by name.”