Chapter
One
OH, THAT SMELL!” Nancy Drew said, wrinkling her nose as she walked into the front hall of her friend George Fayne’s house. Sweet, heavy aromas perfumed the air.
George Fayne grinned as she took Nancy’s blue and white ski jacket. “It is a little much. You get used to it when you’ve been inside for a while. I just hope my mom’s not sorry she gave Bess permission to have a perfume party at our house.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. Bess can be very persuasive,” Nancy reminded her, taking off her hat and shaking out her reddish blond hair. She sniffed the air close to George and smiled. “Is that Whisper of Spring you’re wearing?”
George reddened. “I know it’s a little old and heavy for me, but—”
“Bess can be very persuasive,” Nancy finished for her, laughing.
The friends were interrupted by a call from the other room. “George, where did you disappear to? Oh, hi, Nan!” Bess Marvin greeted her friend as she strolled out into the hall. She was waving two perfume atomizers. “Try this, it’s really yummy.” She pointed the larger bottle at Nancy. “It’s called Fantasy.”
“Thanks, I think I’ll pass,” said Nancy, skillfully sidestepping a cloud of spray.
“Me, too,” George said, dancing behind Nancy. “I’m fragrant enough as it is.”
“Oh, come on, just a little, George. It’s perfect for you,” Bess said coaxingly.
Nancy, caught between the two girls, laughed as Bess stalked her cousin with the spray bottle. The two girls, cousins and best friends, couldn’t have been more different. Bess was all blond hair, blue eyes, and pink organza. Dark-haired George was slender, athletic, and hot-color sweats.
“Okay, okay, I give,” George said, holding out her wrist so Bess could spray it. “Let’s go back in,” she added, leading the way into the living room of the Faynes’ modest suburban house.
Bess introduced Nancy to the two other girls who had been invited to try on various scents. A short redhead with freckles named Lauren looked up from the floor at Nancy and smiled.
“I’ve heard of you,” she said. “You’re that detective, aren’t you?”
Nancy tried not to blush. She took pride in the fact that she’d solved some mysteries in and out of River Heights, but having kids her own age recognize her like some kind of celebrity was a little embarrassing.
“She sure is!” Bess said enthusiastically. “In fact, just last month—”
“Oh, Bess, stop,” Nancy interrupted her friend. “Why don’t you guys get back to the party?”
“That’s a great idea,” the other girl, Paula, asserted, looking at her watch. “We’ve got to be home really soon, and there are at least five more perfumes I want to try.”
As Bess, Lauren, and Paula went back to picking up various colored bottles and atomizers, Nancy sat down next to George on a comfortable, overstuffed sofa in a corner of the room. “At least here we’re out of the line of spray,” George said to her.
“Maybe we should open a window,” Nancy suggested.
“Good idea.” George jumped up and tugged at the window, letting in a blast of cold air. “Brrr!” She shivered, adjusting the window so it was open only a crack. She turned to Nancy, a concerned expression on her face. “This weather is really hard on the warm-weather animals at the zoo.”
“Oh, George, I completely forgot,” Nancy said, frowning at her own absentmindedness. “You started your new job!” George had signed up as a volunteer tour guide at the River Heights Zoo. “How’s it going?”
“I love it,” George answered, her face lighting up. “I’m working at a brand-new exhibit that actually simulates living conditions in the African wild.”
“How does it do that?” Nancy asked, fascinated.
“The animals live in totally glassed-in cases that are planted like grasslands and forests. They’re temperature controlled. There’s even a desert environment,” she explained excitedly. “Owen says it’s very close to the way they live in the wild.”
“It does sound much more humane,” Nancy said with a nod.
“That’s what Owen says,” George agreed.
“So long, Nancy!” Lauren called out. She and Paula were standing in the hallway, putting on their winter coats. “It was great meeting you.” Paula pulled her friend out of the doorway, saying, “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
“Who is this Owen, George?” Bess asked, coming back into the living room. “I notice his name keeps coming up.”
“He works at the zoo.” Nancy noticed that George developed a sudden interest in the flowered pattern on the couch. She ran her fingers over it, looking at the couch instead of Bess as she explained. “Actually, he’s a college student. He’s doing a research project on the behavior of civets.”
“What-its?” Bess asked.
“They’re sort of like wild cats,” George explained. “They live in Africa and Asia.”
“Is Owen a zoology major?” Nancy asked.
George nodded. “He was sure he’d have to go to Africa for his civet project, but then the zoo got a special donation to start its own project and he came to River Heights instead. He says he’s not too sorry he didn’t go to Africa.”
“I’ll bet he isn’t,” Nancy teased her friend gently. “He would never have gotten a chance to meet you.” George’s blush confirmed Nancy’s suspicion that Owen wasn’t just interested in civets.
“He’s pretty cute,” George admitted, “and I think he likes me. He always comes over to answer questions when I bring groups around.”
“Has he asked you out?” asked Bess, eager for the details.
George shook her head no. “He’s only at the zoo a few days a week—the rest of the time he does research in Chicago. He’s very serious about his work.”
“What a drag,” Bess said sympathetically.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Nancy said. “Ned takes school very seriously, too. That’s part of what I like about him.” Ned Nickerson, Nancy’s boyfriend, was a student at Emerson College, which meant they only saw each other for vacations and occasional weekends.
“Nancy’s right. I wouldn’t want a lightweight.” She let out a little sigh. “I just wish he had more time to hang out, that’s all.”
“He’ll find time,” Bess said comfortingly. “We’ll make him!” She rummaged through the box of perfume bottles, coming up with a mysterious dark green flask. “This one’s called Temptress. It’s absolutely guaranteed to make men fall at your feet.” She held it out to her cousin.
George grabbed a magazine off the coffee table and held it in front of her face. “I don’t think I want him at my feet,” she said from behind her fortress.
“She just wants him at her door.” Nancy laughed.
“Oh, well.” Bess shrugged, undaunted. “Maybe I’ll use a little myself.”
“If you had any more men at your feet, you wouldn’t be able to walk,” George teased. Her curvy cousin was a bit of a temptress herself.
“Maybe I’ll attract someone serious,” she shot back, liberally dabbing herself with the perfume.
George fanned herself with the magazine to clear the air. “Phew! That should bring them running.” Her face grew serious. “I doubt it would work on Owen, though. He’s got so much on his mind, I’m surprised he notices me at all.”
“You mean his project?” Nancy asked.
“Not exactly. In fact, I wanted to talk to both of you about it, but—”
“Go on, George,” Bess urged. “What’s wrong?”
George paused a moment before continuing. “Some strange things have been going on at the zoo.”
“Strange, how?” Nancy asked, puzzled.
“Well, a few days ago two of the civets disappeared,”
George said.
“You mean they escaped?”
“Some people thought so, but then I heard a rumor that Owen let them out by mistake,” George said angrily. “I know that’s not true. I’m positive they were stolen!”
Nancy started to ask her friend how she could be so sure, then stopped herself. George obviously believed that Owen could do no wrong. She must really like him, Nancy thought. It wasn’t like George to get so emotional.
Bess was more direct. “Why would anyone want to steal the civets?” she asked.
“I-I’m not sure,” George said uncertainly. “That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Maybe Owen did let them out. Anyone can make a mistake,” Bess pressed.
“If he’d made a mistake, he would have admitted it,” George said defensively. “I think—” The jangle of the telephone interrupted her.
She got up to pick up the phone. “Hello—oh, Owen!” she said, barely containing the excitement in her voice. “How are you?”
Bess raised an eyebrow at Nancy. “I told you the perfume would get him,” she whispered. Nancy laughed and shushed her.
Whatever Owen was saying made George smile and blush. Then her friend’s expression changed to one of concern. “Not again,” George said breathily into the receiver.
Nancy leaned forward. Whatever had happened sounded serious. As George listened quietly to Owen, her expression grew more and more concerned. Finally George hung up with a goodbye and turned back to Nancy and Bess.
“That was Owen,” she said. Her voice sounded strained, and she nervously wiped her hands on her pants.
Nancy jumped up and walked over to put a reassuring hand on George’s arm. “Tell us what’s wrong, George.”
George looked into Nancy’s eyes. She looked as if she was about to burst into tears. “Oh, Nancy,” she said, a catch in her voice. “Two more civets have disappeared, and zoo security now thinks Owen stole them!”
Chapter
Two
WHY DO THEY THINK Owen would do it?” Nancy asked, calmly trying to cut through George’s panic. “What kind of proof do they have?”
George looked angry. “I don’t know. I do know one thing for sure—he didn’t do it,” she said loyally. “If you ask me, it’s all one big setup!” She began pacing the room.
Nancy followed her friend with her eyes. It seemed to her that George was letting her emotions run away with her. Thinking that Owen was being framed was a big leap.
“How can you be so sure?” Bess asked, almost reading Nancy’s thoughts. “Maybe the civets escaped on their own.”
“That’s nearly impossible,” George told her. “The glass enclosure has only one door, and it’s always locked.”
“So what makes you think Owen’s being set up? That’s a pretty heavy accusation, you know,” Nancy pointed out.
“I realize that,” George said. “But I think other people are jealous because Owen’s project is going so well,” she added.
Nancy frowned. “What other people? Other researchers?”
George nodded. “Research can get pretty cutthroat.”
“Now that he’s been accused, how is Owen going to defend himself?” Bess put in.
“He hasn’t been formally accused, so he says he isn’t going to defend himself.” George looked worried. “He says his reputation should speak for itself.” She turned to Nancy. “I’m worried, though. If someone at the zoo is out to get him, his reputation will be ruined. Nancy, I wish you’d look into this.”
“That’s a great idea!” Bess said enthusiastically. “I’m sure you could figure out who’s setting Owen up.”
If he has been set up, Nancy thought to herself. What if he was guilty? If she found evidence against Owen, that could cause a big strain on her friendship with George.
Hiding her misgivings, she said lightly, “I don’t know if I’m ready for another case. I’m still recovering from the last one.”
“I bet you could solve this in no time,” Bess said stubbornly. “I think you ought to try to help Owen.”
“I’d really appreciate it,” George added.
Nancy raised her hands in surrender. “All right, lead the way.” How could she resist the pleas of her two best friends? They were always there when she needed them.
“Thanks!” George said, giving her a quick hug. “Can you come to the zoo with me in the morning?”
“Sure. What time?”
“I’m coming, too,” Bess broke in. “I want a look at this guy. Anyone who gets George to put on perfume is worth checking out,” she added, poking her cousin in the ribs.
“I have to be there at eight-thirty,” George said.
Bess groaned. “On second thought—” Nancy grinned, knowing how much Bess hated to get up early. Bess took a deep breath and announced, “I’ll go anyway. You might need moral support.”
“That’s the Bess I know and love!” said Nancy approvingly. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Not me,” George said. “I might need my car. Bess, could you put that stuff away and open some windows?” George asked, fanning her face. “The house has to be aired out before my mother gets home.”
• • •
“The things I do for my friends,” Bess grumbled, yawning. “No one should ever have to wake up before ten.”
She and Nancy had just pulled into the parking lot of the River Heights Zoo. “You’re amazing,” Nancy agreed, choosing a spot near the entrance. Bess might complain, but when her friends needed help she always came through.
As Nancy was pulling into the spot, she saw George coming out of the entrance, followed by a blond boy in horn-rimmed glasses. “Look, there’s George. She really got here early.”
Bess leaned forward, all traces of tiredness gone. “That must be Owen. Hey, he’s cute! I’m not crazy about the glasses, but check out his muscles. He looks like he works out.”
George recognized Nancy’s blue Mustang and waved to her. “You can park in the staff area!” she called, indicating a roped-off section of the lot.
After Nancy parked, she and Bess joined George and Owen by the gate. George introduced everyone. “This is my cousin, Bess Marvin, and Nancy Drew. Bess, Nancy, this is Owen Harris.”
“You’re the detective, right?” Owen said, raising his eyebrows in disbelief as he shook Nancy’s hand.
Bess must have picked up on Owen’s expression, because she quickly defended her friend. “Nancy’s a very well-known detective. She’s never blown a case.”
“Really?” Owen said. He looked pointedly at Nancy’s jeans and ski jacket. He obviously wasn’t convinced. What did he expect, Nancy thought, a Sherlock Holmes outfit?
Nancy found herself liking Owen more as she listened to him talk about his work. “World of Africa is a special exhibit because it considers the animals’ needs,” he explained, leading them into the building where the exhibit was housed. “For instance, some animals tend to form colonies, while others prefer to live alone. By studying their behavior, zoologists can learn the best way to group them in captivity.”
They stopped in front of a large glass cage. Inside was a single chimp. “This is Dibo,” Owen said. “Most chimpanzees like to live in family groups, but this one’s a loner. His cage has a trapdoor that connects with the rest of the family, so he can choose when he wants company and when he’d rather be by himself.”
“Like giving a kid his own room,” Bess said, fascinated.
Owen smiled. “Exactly. In monkey years Dibo is about fifteen. He needs his space just like teenagers do.”
“You care so much about animals,” Nancy commented. Watching how animated his face became as he talked about Dibo, Nancy found it difficult to believe that Owen could have stolen the civets.
Owen nodded. “Always have. I was the kind of kid who brought home lame squirrels. I always wanted to talk to them.” He laughed and his eyes twinkled behind the glasses. “I guess being a zoologist is the closest I can get to them.”
He led them away from the chimp, stopping to whisper something to George, who smiled up at him. “You should see this place when the zoo’s open,” she said to Nancy and Bess as they followed him across the large room. “It’s packed.”
Owen stopped at a glassed-in area about thirty feet square. Inside were some bushes and small trees, which appeared to be flourishing under the fluorescent lights. “This is the civet colony,” he explained. “As you can see, it doesn’t look anything like a cage.”
“Where are the civets?” Nancy asked.
“Most of them are sleeping—up in the trees,” Owen told her. “They sleep as much as twenty hours a day.”
Suddenly one of the civets leapt from a tree, causing Bess to scream and jump backward. “I forgot there was glass,” she said sheepishly as the others turned to her in surprise.
“I think this one is a female,” Owen said, pointing to the civet.
“She’s adorable,” Bess said, having recovered from her fright. To Nancy the civet looked like a large housecat, except that it had an extremely long tail. The cat was tan with black markings. “Sort of like a leopard,” Bess commented.
“How many are there?” Nancy asked.
Owen frowned. “There used to be ten, but now we’re down to six.”
“George explained to us what happened,” Nancy told Owen. “Is there any way the civets could have escaped?”
“No way,” Owen said firmly. “There’s only one door to the exhibit—you can’t see it. It’s designed to be hidden.” Nancy followed the direction of his finger to some bushes near the back of the enclosure. “The door is locked, and it leads to a supply room that’s also kept locked.”
Nancy mused aloud. “So even if the civet got out of the exhibit, it would be trapped in the supply room.”
“That’s right. There’s also an alarm that rings in the security office whenever anyone enters or leaves the exhibit. You can turn it off, but you need a special key. The security people didn’t hear any alarm. That’s why they’re sure it was a theft.”
“And they think you did it,” Nancy concluded, turning her back on the exhibit to look hard at Owen.