Read Online Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew by The Twin Dilemma - Free Book Online

spring catalog before the originals were made public?” Nancy asked.
    “I have no idea.”
    “But you admit the Millington dresses are copies of Mr. Reese‘s,” the girl reiterated.
    “I’m not admitting anything. We run a very clean business here. Anyway, the Reese name doesn’t appear with any of our merchandise, so obviously we’re not making extra money off it.”
    That was an interesting clue, Nancy thought. Without the name of the designer attached to the clothes, they wouldn’t be so valuable. So perhaps the thief cared less about the designs themselves and more about destroying Mr. Reese’s business!
    “Mr. Reese is very upset,” the girl continued. “He’s determined to get to the bottom of this and to sue whoever is involved in the matter.”
    The man yielded reluctantly. “What do you want me to do about it?” he asked.
    “I want you to hire me so I can get to know a few of the people who work around here.”
    Again there was a long pause.
    “Tell me what kind of work you’re capable of doing,” Mr. Iannone sighed.
    As he spoke, Nancy was aware of someone eavesdropping outside the door, but the person moved away upon realizing the manager was in conference.
    “I’ll gladly take any job that will provide contact with your staff.”
    “In that case, I suggest you help out as a stylist,” he said, “You can begin tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll introduce you to someone who’ll show you what to do.”
    He led the girl to a windowless workroom filled with a large table, dressing mirrors, an ironing board, and racks on which hung dresses with tags. In one corner stood a small desk.
    “Now wait here,” the manager said, closing the door.
    “Thank you,” Nancy said.
    She peeked at the dresses, which were made of a rough cotton material, and noted the uneven stitching along the seams. Unlike the apparel in the Chalmers book, these clothes were cheap-looking.
    Nancy went to a chair at the far end of the room and sat down. Suddenly, the lights went out, throwing her into total darkness!
    A moment later, she heard shouts in the hallway. Doors were slamming, people were yelling, and it seemed to Nancy that a general panic had broken out.
    The electricity must have gone off in all the offices, the girl said to herself. I’d better get out of here!
    She groped her way through the room, careful to avoid the clothing racks, but then grazed against the corner of the table.
    “Ouch!” Nancy winced and rubbed her hip. “That hurt!” From then on, she hesitated before every step. Finally, she made it to the door and fumbled for the knob. When she turned it, a flash of fear stabbed through her. The door was locked!
    The young detective paused a moment, her mind whirling. Did someone lock her in on purpose? Mr. Iannone, perhaps? It must have happened after the lights went out, when all the noise started, she reasoned. Otherwise, she would have heard the click.
    Who else knew I was in here? Did Mr. Iannone tell the person who was to train me? Nancy asked herself.
    She banged her fist against the door and called out, but no one came.
    Bess, in the meantime, was struggling through her own typing test. She went along more slowly than George, careful not to make any mistakes. But she had finished only half the assignment when the personnel manager stopped her.
    “Time’s up, dear,” she said. “Now let me see what you’ve done.”
    Her smile faded rapidly when she realized that Bess had filled less than a page.
    “It’s very neat,” she said, “but you’ll have to build up your speed if you want to work here.”
    “Yes, ma‘am,” Bess replied, adding hopefully, “Is there something else I could try?” George had raised the same question.
    “I don’t think so,” the woman said. “Let me check my files, though.”
    She disappeared briefly, letting the girls chat during her absence. Bess quickly told George that Chris Chavez had done the photos for the store catalog.
    Soon the personnel