The Case Of The Not-So-Nice Nurse. Mabel Maney

in the garage of her ranch-style house, and the flames snaking up the side, completely consuming a closet filled with cruise wear, one hundred percent synthetic clothing covered with sparkles and sequins. Her collection, which included tops and bottoms, swimsuits and beach robes, melted into one big toxic blob. Four firefighters carried it from the house, set it on the front lawn, and hosed it down. The house was saved, but the contents had been destroyed by smoke and water. Nothing of our past remained, except for a little wooden bookshelf, tucked in the corner of the basement, containing my complete set of Nancy Drews, which my mother promptly shipped to me. When they arrived, a little smoky, I began reading. I knew I had the Cherry puzzle solved. She would date Nancy, tormenting her with her goodness, medical advice, and cheese puff recipes. And I would get to watch the whole thing.

      Mabel Maney

      San Francisco

      July 2002

       Contents

       Cover

About the Author

       Title Page

       Dedication

       Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 A Tragic Blunder

2 An Important Assignment

3 The Journey Begins

4 What a Conundrum

5 An Odd Occurrence

6 A Quick Escape

       7 An Amazing Coincidence

       8 Kidnapped!

       9 An Important Clue

       10 San Francisco Bound

       11 Follow That Car!

       12 A New Identity

       13 Startling News

       14 Missing!

       15 A Special Kiss

       16 An Unexpected Awakening

       17 Held Captive

       18 A Confession

       19 An Unfortunate Slip

       20 The Countdown Begins

       21 Just in Time!

       22 A Sumptuous Banquet

       23 A Shocking Revelation

       24 Cornered

       25 A Strange Dream?

       26 “Cherry, Come Quick!”

       27 The Call to Duty

       28 A Gay Day

       29 Oh, Nancy

       Endpages

       Copyright

       CHAPTER 1

       A Tragic Blunder

      Cherry Aimless cut an attractive figure as she dashed through the crowded lobby of Seattle General Hospital, her striking royal blue nurse’s cape sailing behind her and her crisp white cap perched precariously on rumpled curls. Her rosy cheeks were even more flushed than usual, for she had run the entire ten blocks from the children’s free clinic so as not to be late for the night shift on the Women’s Psychiatric Ward. On clinic days the head nurse usually forgave a late entrance, but there would be no forgiving smile awaiting her now, for Head Nurse Margaret Marstad, the strictest nurse in the hospital, would be Cherry’s boss tonight.

      Cherry was in a cheery mood, for tomorrow morning she would begin a well-deserved vacation. “In just a few days I’ll be in sunny San Francisco!” she murmured happily. While she was certainly looking forward to visiting her family in Pleasantville, Idaho, for a few days first, she had to admit she was more excited about going to San Francisco to see her beloved Aunt Gertrude. Although they had kept up a regular correspondence for the past five years, the two hadn’t seen each other since Cherry was a child. “And I haven’t had a chance to thank her properly for this nifty graduation present,” Cherry thought, looking fondly at the sturdy nurse’s watch Aunt Gert had sent her when she graduated from Stencer Nursing School, class of 1957.

      “Jeepers!” she cried, realizing the time. “In another minute, I’ll be late!” Cherry took a shortcut through the hospital newsstand, and in her haste caught the toe of her freshly-polished white nurse’s shoe on a crack in the linoleum floor. She landed face first on a bundle of newspapers.

       ATTORNEY CARSON CLUE MURDERED!

       Longtime housekeeper admits dastardly deed!

      screamed the headline.

      “I’ll take a paper!” she cried, searching in the pocket of her white uniform for a dime.

      “I’m sorry miss, I have to count the papers before selling any,” the newsstand operator explained. The frantic look