The Buried Treasure on Route 66: A Nancy Keene Mystery Read online

  The Buried Treasure on Route 66: A Nancy Keene Mystery

  Louise Hathaway

  Copyright Louise Hathaway 2014

  Smashwords Edition

  Part One

  Nancy Keene, a blonde-haired and blue-eyed teenager, is busy putting the finishing touches on a casserole of Boeuf Bourguignon. She arranges the stew on a serving platter, surrounds it with potatoes, and decorates it with parsley. Dressed as a French maid, she can’t wait to see the costumes that her friends will be wearing for her French-themed birthday party this afternoon.

  She hears the doorbell chime, and greets her boyfriend, Ned, who is dressed in a horizontally-striped black and white long-sleeved T-shirt. He looks very French in his beret. Nancy teases him saying, “Pierre, entre vous.”

  “Nice outfit, Nancy! You look really hot in it.”

  “You better not let my Dad hear you say that.”

  Nancy’s father, Drew, a noted legal scholar, walks into the room and says, “Don’t let me hear what?”

  “Oh, nothing, Dad.”

  Her father says, “How do you two like my outfit? I’m dressed up like Hercule Poirot for your French party.”

  Ned says, “Wow! Mr. Keene. Cool costume!”

  Nancy says, “Dad, you seem to have forgotten that Poirot is Belgian, not French.”

  “Well, excuse me,” her father says, doing his best Steve Martin impression.

  Ned, realizing that it’s always a good strategy to get on the good side of his girlfriend’s father, comes to Mr. Keene’s rescue by telling Nancy that Poirot is from the French part of Belgium.

  Using his best Hercule Poirot impression, her father says, “Mademoiselle, you are not using your little grey cells.”

  “Okay, you two. I stand corrected. Dad, I’m sorry. You look great! Thanks for getting into the spirit of things.”

  Her father walks over to the cd player and puts on an Edith Piaf cd. “This will be nice background music for the party,” he says.

  The doorbell rings and her friend, Beth, is the next to arrive. She is dressed liked Marie Antoinette.

  “Wow!” Nancy says, “You look amazing. We know who’s going to be winning the best-dressed contest. Love your costume.”

  “Cute outfit you’re wearing, Nancy.”

  “Thanks. I made it myself.”

  Why am I not surprised?”

  Beth hands Nancy an apple tart that she’s made.

  Nancy shows off her ability to speak French by saying, “Tarte Aux Pommes. Merci, beaucoup!”

  Beth says that she’s not a gourmet cook like Nancy, but she tried her best to make a decent French dessert. “I’m sure it’s delicious, Beth. I can’t wait to taste it.”

  As they are eating their hors’ d’oeuvres, Nancy’s friend, Hannah, arrives at the party. She is wearing a poodle skirt, cashmere sweater, and ballerina flats. She’s carrying a stuffed poodle.

  Beth says, “You look like you’re ready for the sock hop, not a French party.”

  Hannah says, “It’s a French poodle skirt. French. Get it?!”

  Everyone groans.

  Nancy says, “You are too funny, Hannah. Come right in. Hannah has brought some baguettes for the party. Nancy says, “These will be great with the bourguignon.”

  All of the food at the party is delicious. Julia Child would be impressed.

  Ned ends up winning the French trivia contest by correctly answering that “Giverny” is the garden and home of Claude Monet.

  Nancy gets some great birthday presents. Ned gives her a charm bracelet with French-themed charms of the Eiffel Tower, a passport, an airplane, and a cruise ship. Nancy loves it and immediately puts it on her wrist. Beth gives her a crossword dictionary and a book on how to make sand castles. Nancy says, “Oh, Beth; this is just what I wanted.”

  Beth says, “Only you, Nancy, would want a ‘how-to’ book about making sand castles.”

  “And that’s why you love me, isn’t it?”

  Hannah says, “Open mine. I want to see the look on your face.”

  Nancy unwraps her present and finds a DVD of the movie “Cars”. Hannah has also given her a map and travel guide for Route 66.

  “This is great, Hannah! Look at all of the pictures of the landmarks along the way.” Thumbing through the book she finds a building she recognizes and says, “Look at this picture of the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. It looks just like ‘Ramone’s Body Art Shop’ in the movie ‘Cars’. Love it!”

  She walks over to Hannah and gives her a big hug.

  Nancy’s father has the biggest surprise of all for his daughter. He puts a blindfold on her and walks her out the front door as her chums follow. Her father whispers to her friends, “Don’t make a sound,” as he walks Nancy a few feet more, and takes off her blindfold.

  “Oh, my God! Dad, thank you ever so much! This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had!” She is now the proud owner of a brand new Toyota Prius.

  “My first hybrid!”

  “Do you like it?”

  Oh, Dad. It’s fantastic and it’s blue, like my old car. You think of everything. I love it,” she says, as she hugs her father.

  He tells her, “Something new to replace the vintage blue roadster that you’ve been driving around since your 16th birthday.”

  ****

  Nancy is dying to try out her new roadster, but is too polite to hurry the birthday party along; she patiently waits until her last guest is ready to leave. Besides, she doesn’t want to miss the “Name that French Tune” contest that she’s dreamed up. She asks her friends to all be quiet and listen to the music. She plays selections from 10 famous French songs but nobody guesses the right answers. Nancy thinks, “Note to self: next party, ask for Ned’s help in choosing songs.” Nobody wins the prize, but Nancy gives it to Beth. “What is it, Nancy?”

  “Open it and find out.”

  Beth unwraps her present and loves finding a Barnes and Noble gift card. “This is perfect, Nancy. You know how much I like to read.”

  After Nancy’s last guest departs, she asks her Dad, “So, where are the car keys?”

  He fishes them out of his desk drawer, and asks her if she wants him to come with her in case there are any problems.

  “Oh, Dad. I’ll be fine.”

  Her father says, “You haven’t even looked at the manual yet.”

  “I promise I will when I get back.”

  “See that you do. You’re the only person I know who’s not bored reading instruction manuals. I’m sure you’ll have it all memorized by tomorrow.”

  Her father continues, “Honey, you might want to change out of that French maid costume. I don’t want any old geezers getting themselves or you in a car accident while they’re ogling at you.”

  “Oh, Dad. That’ll never happen.”

  “There’s always a first time.”

  “Well, it’s my birthday and I want to wear this outfit until I wake up tomorrow.”

  “Be careful out there.”

  “I love you, Dad. Don’t worry. I’m an 18-year-old now. I’m officially an adult.”

  ****

  Nancy is cruising out of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona and going on the back roads, enjoying the beautiful summer day. She says to herself, ‘This is my favorite time of the year. My friends and I are going to have a great summer going on road trips in this car.’ She’s been reading about Route 66 ever since she went to Disney’s California Adventure and saw the Radiator Springs racers. She’s found a book that shows the real-life locations for some of the buildings in the movie, “Cars”. As she’s dreaming about some of Route 66’s landmarks,
she sees a black Mercedes speeding up ahead into oncoming traffic. She’s afraid that it’s going to hit her head-on.

  As it’s zooming down the highway, she sees an elderly lady waving her hands at the people in the vehicle, and they swerve to avoid hitting her. As the car nears Nancy’s, she has to drive onto the shoulder of the road to avoid an accident. After she recovers from the shock, she starts wondering what happened to the little old lady who almost got hit. There is no sign of her anywhere.

  Nancy gets out of her car and starts searching for her. The lady couldn’t have just vanished into thin air, she thinks. She discovers the lady sitting in a meadow, crying. “You poor little thing,” Nancy tells her. “They almost hit you. Are you alright?”

  The lady looks at Nancy and does a double-take. “Why are you dressed like a French maid?”

  Nancy says, “Let’s talk about you first. Are you hurt? Do you have any cuts? I am a certified Red Cross volunteer and I know first aid. Can you get up?”

  “I think so,” the lady says.

  Nancy helps her rise and steadies her as they take a few steps. “Let’s get you to my car and then I’ll drive you home.”

  “Okay, honey. You’re an angel.”

  Nancy says, “Why were you waving at that car?”

  “Long story.”

  Nancy says, “I like long stories.”

  “Let’s get me to your car first, and then I’ll tell you.”

  ****

  Nancy drives to the lady’s house and helps her get out of the car. She tells her, “My name is Nancy. What’s yours?”

  “I’m Mrs. Wood.”

  They enter her house and Nancy helps her to the sofa. “I like your house. Very cozy. Would you like something to drink?”

  “You’ve been so helpful already. Let me catch my breath and I’ll go in and make us some tea to calm my nerves.”

  “I can make it, if you’d like. That way, you can rest.”

  “You’re a dear. The teapot and loose tea are on the kitchen countertop. The kettle is on the stove. Let me know if you can’t find anything.”

  “It’ll be up in a jiffy,” Nancy says.

  After about 15 minutes, Nancy comes out of the kitchen carrying a large tray that holds a teapot, two china cups, a creamer, a sugar bowl, and two spoons. She’s also managed to find some shortbread cookies. On the upper corner of the tray, she’s put a small doily underneath a silver vase with a fresh red rose in it.

  “Mercy me,” Mrs. Wood says. “How did you ever manage to find room on the tray for all of those items?”

  Nancy just laughs as she sets the tray down on the coffee table. “I hope you don’t mind that I did some digging around in your cupboards to find all these?”

  “Of course not. This is great! I feel like the Queen of Sheba. Especially with you waiting on me in your French maid’s costume.”

  Nancy tells her that she’s had a French-themed birthday party and is keeping her outfit on all day.

  “What fun!” Mrs. Wood answers. “That sounds like my kind of party.”

  “Would you like to tell me about why you were waving at that Mercedes?”

  “Those two young men are my ex-husband’s stepsons. My former husband passed away about a month ago, and his stepsons have been coming over and taking things from my house that they think belong to them. They are being insufferable. Today, they came and told me that they wanted my car because my ex-husband’s name is on the pink slip. I helped my husband pay for the car with money I’d made as a receptionist. It’s so unfair! Today, they had a friend drop them off at my house and stole my car. Those kids have a lot of money. There’s no reason for them to take away my car. They’re just being mean.”

  Nancy says, “I’ve heard that things can get ugly when wills are contested and families feel entitled to get what they think is their ‘fair share’.”

  “My ex-husband married a very wealthy woman. Rumor had it that her father was part of a Mafia gang in Chicago during Prohibition. Her father left her a lot of money. Those sons of hers have managed to squander their inheritance from their grandfather by spending it all on drugs and gambling. That’s why they’re coming here and picking on me.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear this. That’s terrible of them. Makes you wonder how those kind of people sleep at night.”

  “The worst part of it is that my ex-husband had always told me that he’d be leaving me something in his will to make sure that I’m well taken care of when he passed away.”

  “Have you seen the will?”

  “Those stepsons showed it to me. I just don’t believe them. I think there’s another will. I just feel it in my bones.”

  “Is their mother still alive?”

  “No. She died. Now, all that’s left are her rotten sons.”

  “If your ex-husband did have another will, where do you think it is? Do you know who his attorney is?”

  “Yes. His name is Oliver Brown. His office is in Scottsdale. Nancy, I just know there’s another will. My ex-husband promised me. He may be guilty of a lot of things--such as infidelity--but he would not blatantly lie to me. Even though we were no longer married, he still looked upon me as his friend.”

  Nancy tells Mrs. Wood, “We’ve got to find that other will.” She says to herself, Oh boy!! Another mystery to solve!! It’s time for Nancy Keene, “teenage sleuth”, to begin her next adventure.

  ****

  Nancy realizes that it’s getting late and fears that her father will be worried about her if she doesn’t start for home soon. She asks Mrs. Wood if it’d be okay if she came by tomorrow. Nancy tells her, “I have a big surprise for you.”

  Mrs. Wood’s eyes get big and she says, “Oh, my. I love surprises.”

  “Okay. See you then. When would you like me to come?”

  “Around 10:00 in the morning.”

  “See you then,” Nancy says, as she drives away. She has decided to give Mrs. Wood her vintage roadster so that her elderly friend can have some transportation, now that her stepsons have taken away her car. Nancy’s going to ask Ned if he’d drive it to Mrs. Wood’s house, while Nancy follows him in her new car.

  The next morning, Ned is over at Nancy’s house at 9:30. He sees Nancy packing up some Tupperware. “Hi Nancy. You’re looking good today. How’s about putting that French maid’s outfit back on?”

  Nancy says, “Down, boy.”

  “Woof! Woof!” Ned says. “What are you doing, Nancy?”

  “I’m packing up some leftovers from our party to give to Mrs. Wood.”

  “But I was looking forward to those leftovers.”

  “She’s much needier than you’ll ever be.”

  “Okay. What can I do to help?”

  “I’m almost ready. Thanks for coming over to drive my old car for the last time.”

  Ned says, “We sure had some good times in that car, didn’t we?”

  Her father walks in and says, “You had good times in that car doing what?”

  Nancy says, “Dad! You’re always lurking about. Can’t a girl have some privacy?”

  “Relax. I’m just coming in to pour myself another cup of coffee. What are your plans for the day?”

  “Well, I’m donating my old car to a little old lady I met.”

  “Good for you, honey. I was planning on donating it to one of your favorite charities. I’m glad that it’ll be going to a good home.”

  “Ned is going to drive the roadster over to her house, while I follow him in my new hybrid.”

  “Okay. Call me if you have any problems?”

  “Dad. You’re such a worry wart,” she says, as she kisses him good-bye.

  As she is walking out to the driveway, she tells Ned, “I think you’ll really like Mrs. Wood. And I know she’ll like you.”

  “I can’t wait until we get our own place.”

  “A little privacy would be nice.”

  ****

  She and Ned arrive at Mrs. Wood’s house. The elderly lady greets them at the door
in her apron. “What have you got there?” she asks, looking at the Tupperware that Nancy is carrying.

  “Oh, it’s just some French food from the party,” Nancy answers.

  “Oh, thank you. You really shouldn’t have, dear. I’m making lunch for you today. I have some chili in the Crockpot.”

  “Sounds great,” Nancy says. “You can keep this food for later.” Just then, Mrs. Wood notices that Nancy has brought along a cute, red-headed friend with her.

  “Hello, young man. What’s your name?”

  Nancy says, “Oh, I’m so sorry I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my boyfriend, Ned.”

  Ned reaches out and shakes hands with Mrs. Wood. “I drove the other car here.”

  “Why take two cars?”

  “I’ll let Nancy explain,” he says.

  Nancy tells her that, since she got a new car for her birthday, she’d like to donate her old one to her.

  Mrs. Wood is amazed that Nancy, someone she’s only met yesterday, is giving her a car. “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” she says, hugging Nancy and crying.

  “Well, you’d better wait until you drive it, before you get all that overjoyed about it,” Ned says.

  “Oh, don’t listen to him. This car runs like a top.”

  After the three of them go out for a test drive, Nancy is reassured that her old car is going to a good home. As they have a seat in Mrs. Wood’s living room, they talk about the problems with the will.

  Ned says, “Nancy’s father is a lawyer. He’ll be able to help you contest the will.”

  “If she can find it,” Nancy says. “That’s the problem.” Nancy asks Mrs. Wood if the stepsons have taken away any more of her ex-husband’s belongings from the house. She tells Nancy that the sons have ransacked her ex-husband’s den. She explains that when he remarried, his new wife didn’t want him bringing “all of his old stuff” with him because it didn’t match her decor. She told him to leave it here.”