Fame: A Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys Mystery

14. Nancy (Part 1)

I tilt my chin up and the yellow rays over sun dance over my cheekbones and my skin glows orange. I smile, my dimples tucking into my cheeks, and recline in my chair. Sticking out my hand, I grab the float of ice cream off the small blue table next to me and gaze out at the crystal clear, aquamarine waters that soothingly lull in and out with the tide. My fingers trail in the perfect white sand under my chair and I can taste the salt in the air. I close my eyes as I let the ice cream hit my tongue, moaning at the pure creamy delight. As I hear feet patter against the sandy shore, I tilt my sunglasses atop my strawberry blonde beach waves and watch as good-looking, tan and muscular blonde man leans down to my level. He gives me a dazzling white grin that makes my heart flutter and beat hard enough that I can hear it in my ears. 

   "Hey beautiful," his beautiful baritone rumbles in his chest and I almost feel my skin vibrate with the sound. I tip my head back to lay deeper on my chair and he leans forward. My heart skips a beat and I feel a peach blush crawl up my cheeks as his breath hits my lips. He smirks cherry red and chortles at me, his lips hovering and floating in the air not a millimeter away from my own. I close my eyes.

When I open them, I realize it was all a dream. I am hot and sweaty from the Texas summer night humidity. I was having a Bess dream. That is what I call every dream that is romantic and that if I told Bess that I had it, she would coo in happiness. I blink wearily and focus on my surroundings, slightly disappointed that there is no salt air or rolling tides. I try to adjust my eyes to the dark and I look up to see the only window in the room is a tiny one with one ray of light coming through. I roll my shoulder and my wrist gives a tug and suddenly pain hits the back of my eyelids. I am sitting in a chair with my hands tied awkwardly around the back. My memory serves me a reminder of what I recollect of the night's events. I was nabbed at the cabin. I was thrust into the kayak. I must have gotten knocked out around then because I don't recall a struggle or another kayak meaning the kayaker must have balanced an unconscious Nancy Drew in the double kayak and paddled without assistance to wherever I happen to be now.

Even though my wrist screams in pain,  I squirm and wiggle to loosen the hold. I think I am tied to something other than the chair. I push whatever I am attached to and it gives a little and then the grip on my wrists tightens and the rope is thrust right back at me.

   "Would you cool it? That is not going to help; I already tried."

It was a person. A male person. The voice was semi-familiar but I was still too groggily to place it.

   "Where are we?" I ask him.

   "In one of the cabins. The producer is in the corner opposite the window, out like a light. The scripts and cameras are even sitting nicely on that bookshelf against the wall. I scooted around the room before you got here and she tied my chair to you. You are just too heavy to pull around, especially sleeping like that. My only pastime has been to try to untie you and that hasn't worked. But it didn't work. At least you entertained me by talking in your sleep. Must have been one heck of a dream."

I am more awake now. "Who is she?" I ask the stranger. "Is it the person who kidnapped me?"

   "Yes, her name is Penelope. She is Peace's stand-in. Her partner is the smart one though. I had no idea who she or he is; whenever they show up they stay outside the cabin. You don't happen to have anything on you that would help break us out. A knife, a key, maybe even a credit card would be helpful. Anything that can loosen or break this cord."

   "I wish I wore my brace today."

   "Brace?"

   "I broke my wrist recently and now that I am out of my cast I am supposed to wear my brace for a couple of weeks to prevent re-injury. It never hurt much before, but now it is hard to even move. If I had put my brace on, not only would my arm not hurt, but I could have slipped out of it and we could be free."

   "Which wrist?" he asks.

   "Why?"

   "I'm going to try harder to untie it and be gentler with it. I don't want you to have any more pain."

Ah, is that not the sweetest thing?

   "It's fine, really. I shouldn't have been complaining." I sigh. "It's just-"

The door opens and a shadow covers the wall that I am facing.

   "Well, Jake, how do you get along with your new cellmate? You two are going to spend a lot of alone time with each other, aren't you?" The person's shadow moves and a young girl about twenty-three comes into view. She is a complete Peace look alike. I assume that this is Penelope, the dumb one.

   "Oh, don't worry, sweetheart," she coos at me. "Your Hardy Boys are on there way. Too bad they'll never find you."

Now, where have I heard that before? Could these criminals be a little bit more original with their taunting "I already won" speeches, please?

I blaze with anger anyways. "If you hurt them, you will never get away with this. If you don't harm anyone and you let us leave now, the police will deal with you nicely."

In response, Penelope pulls a stick out of her pocket and hits me on the arm with it. It hurts like nothing I know and I actually feel a tear leak from my eye.

   "These women's protection products have become so useful," Penelope strokes the taser almost lovingly. She hits me again and coos, "Oh, I am sorry. Did that hurt?"

   "Don't you dare hurt her!" Jake growls. 

Penelope pivots and walks around the chairs to his side. I can still see her in my peripheral vision. She tilts Jake's head up by the chin and looks into his eyes.  "I can see why the girls love you now. With those lips that are so much fun to kiss on set, and a heart that passionately cares for them." She drops his face. "Take good care of your girlfriend, Perrault. You'll need to, seeing that you and her will be leaving here tomorrow. Those Hardys won't find you. You will disappear forever. Won't that be fun!" Penelope hisses. She walks towards the door behind me.

   "Oh, one more thing," I hear her turn and her footfalls get closer. Too late, I see a black cloth draped over my head. I squirm but she slams the stick into my cheek and shoves the cloth into my mouth, tying the gag behind my head.

   "Ta ta for now," she chuckles as she closes the door, plunging us into thick darkness.