Read Online Designs in Crime by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

her gown billowed out gracefully.
    Nancy had found Bess in the vault with Angel.
    â€œWe need you to try on two more gowns,” Angel said, pushing through the dresses on one of the wall racks. He stopped when he revealed a rust-colored dress made of suede. “This is one of Beau’s wilder designs—it’s backless, and it’s the first time he’s used suede for an evening dress.”
    â€œIt does stand out from his other designs,” Bess said.
    Nancy reached out and ran her hand along the gown. She could imagine herself wearing this dress as she and Ned spun around on the dance floor. “I love it,” she said. As she lifted the dress, she noticed a dark grate on the wall behind it.
    â€œWait a minute,” Nancy said, sliding the gown along the rack to clear a space. The grid, about three feet wide and two feet high, covered an air vent. “I didn’t know this was here.”
    â€œDidn’t you notice it yesterday when you checked out the vault?” Bess asked.
    Nancy shook her head. “I asked Beau to check for any cracks or holes on this wall. I guess he didn’t think the vent counted.” She ran her fingers over the metal grate.
    â€œWow,” Bess said. “Do you think—”
    Nancy was already one step ahead of her. “Will you help me pry off this cover?” Nancy asked Angel. “The screws have been removed.”
    â€œSure,” he said, digging his fingers into the edge of the frame. “We’ll probably need a screwdriver to get some leverage—” He tugged, and all at once the vent cover popped off.
    â€œIt must have been loose,” Bess said as Angel placed the grate on the floor.
    â€œOr maybe it was removed recently.” Nancy peered into the dark opening that led to a wide air shaft. “Maybe the person who stole Joanna’s gown came in this way.” She pulled her penlight out of her pocket. “I’ll check it out.”
    â€œBe careful,” Angel said. “I don’t know where this thing leads.”
    Inside the dark shaft, Nancy gripped her pen-light in one fist as she moved forward on her hands and knees. The walls of the vent were coated with dust, but a trail was worn clear on the bottom, as if someone had crawled through the space recently.
    Did the thief sneak in this way, grab the dress, and drag it back out through the vent?
    Nancy reached a place where another shaft intersected. Should I turn? she wondered. Then the beam of the penlight revealed the trail worn through the dust. It led straight ahead. She crept forward.
    The beam of light bounced over a jagged seamin the vent, and a tiny kernel glistened there. Nancy paused and turned the light on the object. It was a seed pearl. Could it be like the ones on Joanna’s dress?
    Excited, Nancy picked up the pearl and continued on, following the clean trail. She began to hear muffled voices, then noticed light streaming in through a grid ahead of her.
    The thief must have come in through this opening, she thought, pressing against the grate. It took a couple of shoves, but finally the vent cover gave way.
    The grate crashed to the floor, startling a roomful of workers who spun around to face her. Nancy peered out into the sunny workroom and saw the startled expressions of Beau, Mrs. Chong, and the design team.
    Just a few feet from the vent, Mrs. Chong wheeled defensively, her face fierce. She raised her hand over her head, ready to attack the intruder.
    Light glinted off the gold-handled scissors in Mrs. Chong’s hand as the razor-sharp points rushed toward Nancy.

Chapter

Eight
    S TOP !” Nancy backed deeper into the shaft, covering her head with her arms.
    â€œIt’s okay, Mrs. Chong,” Beau shouted, rushing forward. He grabbed the woman around the shoulders, pulling her backward so that she stabbed at thin air.
    â€œI thought . . .” Mrs. Chong eyed Nancy suspiciously, then relaxed. She