Free Stay Tuned for Danger by Carolyn Keene Page A

Or maybe she was just hiding the identity of the person who really was.
    Nancy decided not to mention running into her. Still, she had to know what Lillian’s personal situation regarding Rick was. “Mattie,” she began offhandedly, “tell me more about Lillian Weiss. I know you said lots of people hate Rick, but she seems to hate him more than most.”
    Mattie looked up, amazed. “You don’t think she’s behind it all, do you?”
    “I don’t really know,” Nancy replied. “But I’d like to know more about her.”
    “Lillian’s the one Rick broke up with me for,” Mattie blurted out. She looked down at her plate unhappily. “I couldn’t believe it when he fold me. I mean, I’d stuck by him through all the bad times. When he finally made it, he just dropped me. It was so—” she paused for a moment, unable to go on “—so humiliating.” She took out her handkerchief and blew her nose. Suddenly Mattie laughed. “But that’s Rick for you. They were only together for two months. He stuck with her till she introduced him to the film people she knew, then he dumped her. I really can’t blame Lillian for hating him. I just wish she’d get on with her life. She’s Just—I don’t know—the kind of person who nurses a grudge. The kind that never lets go of anything, know what I mean?”
    “Yes,” said Nancy thoughtfully. “I think I do.”
    “Oh, do I dare try one of these?” Eloise was asking with a smile as the waiter held up a plate of miniature pastries.
    “Oh, go ahead, Eloise,” Mattie said with a grin, trying to put all thoughts of Rick and Lillian behind her.
    Eloise looked at the pastries and thought for a moment. “Why not?” she quipped, lifting a small one onto her plate.
    Just then, the manager came up to the table. “Excuse me, ladies. Is there a Nancy Drew at this table?”
    “Why, yes,” Eloise answered, looking at her niece.
    “Ms. Drew, you have a phone call,” the manager said. “You can pick it up at the main desk by the coatrack.”
    “It must be Bess,” Eloise guessed. “She probably woke up and realized she’d never be able to make it here after all.”
    Nancy thanked the manager and made her way to the phone.
    “Hi, Bess,” she said into the receiver.
    But it wasn’t Bess. A raspy electronic voice warned her, “Stay away from Rick Arlen, Nancy Drew! And tell your little friend she’d better stay away, too!” With that, the phone line went dead in Nancy’s trembling hand.

Chapter Eleven
    “ B Y A PPOINTMENT O NLY!” “Put Your Picture And Résumé Under The Door!” “Do Not Ring Buzzer Without An Appointment!”
    Nancy read the signs and gulped. Although she’d called earlier and left a message on Dwayne’s answering machine, Nancy felt she’d have a better chance of seeing him if she went in person. But getting inside Dwayne Casper’s office wasn’t exactly going to be easy.
    With a sigh and a deep breath, she pressed the buzzer. For a moment it was so quiet that she wondered whether anybody was in the office at all. Then, crisp footsteps sounded on the other side of the door.
    “Do you have an appointment?” Dwayne’s voice was all business.
    “Well, no,” Nancy replied. “Not exactly.”
    “In that case, I suggest you learn to read!”
    “But, Mr. Casper!” Nancy said in her most polite voice. “I left a message on your machine. Mattie Jensen said you would talk to me. My name is Diane Elliot. . . .”
    Nancy heard a click as he unlocked the door. It swung open, and a smiling Dwayne Casper greeted her. “Well, why didn’t you just say you’re a friend of Mattie’s?” he asked. “Come in! You must understand that if I opened the door to every struggling actor in this town, I’d never be able to get any work done.”
    “Oh, thank you, Mr. Casper,” Nancy said, sounding grateful. In the front reception area was a large empty desk. No receptionist, Nancy noted.
    “Right this way,” Dwayne said with a sugary smile. He led her