Mystery at Moorsea Manor by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

9. Behind Closed Doors

Nancy examined the note, which was written on

Moorsea Manor stationery. Begone? she mused. Give

me a break. I mean, how many people in this century

talk that way?

She met Hugh's anguished gaze. “I didn't tell the

other guests this,” he said, “but Annabel's upstairs in

bed. She's too upset to oversee dinner tonight, so

Peggy is handling the meal. Annabel wouldn't want

anyone to think she's shirking her duties, though, so

please don't tell the other guests.”

“I won't,” Nancy said. Her stomach churned as she

thought of Maisie being kidnapped by someone.

“Please, Hugh,” she went on, “tell me everything you

can remember about where and when you last saw

Maisie. You noticed she was missing this afternoon?”

“Yes. Annabel last remembers seeing Maisie after

the treasure hunt when everyone was gathered in the

front hall describing their accidents. But she can't

remember seeing her after you spoke with us about

Billy Tremain being in the barn. Oh, and by the way,

Nancy, I couldn't find Billy after I left you and Annabel

so rudely.” He flashed her an apologetic half-smile.

“I don't blame you for hurrying away to look for

him,” Nancy said. “Billy was trespassing. And if he is

guilty of the pranks, that means he has Maisie with him

now.” Fingering Maisie's collar, Nancy asked, “Exactly

when did you find this?”

“About five o'clock,” Hugh answered. “Long after

we first realized she was missing, which was shortly

after I returned from scouting for Billy. It's very

unusual that Maisie would be gone even for an hour—

she's a real homebody, she doesn't roam.”

Nancy cast her mind back over the events of the day.

After interviewing the staff, she had taken a long walk

on the beach and then headed upstairs to dress for

dinner. She hadn't noticed anything suspicious at all.

“So you and Annabel called Maisie for a while?” she

asked.

“Yes, we called her and looked everywhere we could

think of—the barn, the shops, the beach, everywhere.

And then we found the note and collar.” Hugh was

almost pleading with Nancy. “What on earth is going

on?”

“I don't know,” Nancy said. “But I promise I'll get to

the bottom of this. And I promise to find Maisie.”

Nancy stared down at the note. “Would it be okay if I

keep this? I'd like to investigate it later.”

At dinner Nancy and George invited Malcolm to

join them. Unlike the merry atmosphere that had

bubbled among the guests after dinner the previous

evening, a gloom hung over the group. Each guest took

a seat in silence. Mrs. Macmillan-Brown's forehead was

creased with worry, and even the normally cheerful

Ashley was glum. Georgina Trevor seemed even more

distracted than usual, pouring water into her already

filled glass and taking no notice of the puddle that

quickly formed below it.

Everyone started as Nigel spoke. “I wonder what

will befall the next unlucky guest, and who he or she

will be,” he remarked.

“Must you ruin my dinner by indulging in such

morbid speculation?” Mr. Macmillan-Brown said

irritably.

“I beg your pardon,” Nigel said. “But that is the

question on everyone's mind, isn't it?”

Hugh appeared through the pantry door to serve the

appetizer. As everyone began eating, occasional

murmurs of delight filled the room.

“It's lucky for the Petersons their food's so

delicious,” Malcolm said, eyeing his food happily.

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