Nancy Drew: Vandalism and Romance

Chapter 7

Serendipity was once again a bit busy, and Nancy parked a bit further down the road from the shop. She grabbed her bag and exited the car before sneaking around towards the back of the shop. Her plan was to spy on the shop a bit and maybe go in and have ice cream to see what is going on.

Though as she approached the back she saw Jacob and ducked down by a bush. She wasnt seen it seemed and she peered around the bush to see him. He was laying bricks in a spot on the ground that looked like a path to a new back patio area. She let out a slight sigh to herself quietly. She wondered if that was the only reason he was using the bricks, but she couldnt see them well enough to know if they were the same bricks.

She decided she would just wait things out, maybe try to snoop on the bricks after everyone left for the night. So she crawled away from the area until she could stand without being seen by Jacob.

Nancy had decided to wait in her car for the rest of the day, mostly just playing a silly phone game to pass the time as she waited for Serendipity to close down for the night.

When she could see Jacob and the last worker leaving and locking up the store she put her phone away and ducked down to not be seen in her car. She waited for about ten minutes before she sat up and saw no cars on the dark street illuminated by a few street lights. She smiled to herself as she climbed out of the car and took her purse with her. She went to her trunk and opened it to get her lock picking stuff and a flashlight from her bag. Then Nancy slid the items into her purse to carry with her.

She went around back to check on the bricks first, the area was coming along nicely and was pretty. But she could only focus on the spare bricks in a pile as she got closer. She picked one up and it was lighter than the one used on the window, it also looked different. She frowned a bit, either he used a different brick from somewhere or he didnt do that. But her curiosity was still getting to her, and she was already here.

So the girl put the brick down and approached the back door. Kneeling down she pulled out the lock picking kit and began fiddling with the lock on the back door.

After a moment of shimmying and using her skills she got the lock undone and the door open with a grin.

"Am I good or what?" she whispered to herself. She then entered the dark and quiet shop. Nancy wasted no time as she went to the office door and found it was unlocked, so she entered with her flashlight. Inside she looked at the mans desk and thought about where he would put things. On the desk was some budgeting and ordering forms align with applications from some people including Bess. She picked up her application and put it on top to be seen with a smile. If this guy wasnt the culprit she felt Bess would love this job.

Then she opened up the drawers and began going through some files he had. Thats when she found a bank statement dated two days ago. Looks like he withdrew 3 grand, even more curious he seemed to have over half a million dollars in his account.

"That's a lot of money," Nancy whispered, putting the paper back. "Wonder how he got it all, and no wonder he can ask to buy so many businesses," She thought out loud before pulling out her notebook and making notes. Then the door opened to the office.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jacob asked as he turned on the light.

"Uh," Nancy was caught and shocked. "How did.."

"I have cameras and an alarm Nancy. You're lucky I didnt call the cops and came down myself when I saw you on the camera!" he scolded her.

"I just need to solve this case Mr Crows, I only had one lead," she informed him.

"Well it isnt me! I told you that! Now leave before I do call the cops!"

"Okay," she caved in and left the shop out the front door with him escorting her the whole way.

Nancy drove home in silence and when she got home the house was quiet and still with everyone already in bed. She snuck up to her room and sat on the bed with a groan as she pulled out her phone. Dialing Bess she thought over who else could really have done this if not Jacob.

"Hey Nance," Bess answered.

"Hey, so I kind of got caught breaking into Serendipity to snoop."

"Oh no! Did you get in any trouble?"

"No not this time, but I really dont know if Jacob did it. The bricks he bought didnt match the one thrown, but he does apparently have a lot of money," she told her.

"Did you ask him about the money?"

"No, he was mad and kicked me out before I could think to."

"Huh, well he is still a suspect but maybe you should sleep on it."

"You're right. Thanks and goodnight Bess."

"Good night." Bess hung up the call and Nancy took her hair down and changed into her nice silk pajamas. She then curled up in her bed and drifted off to sleep for the night.