Nancy Drew: 2 . The Hidden Staircase

An Unwanted Visitor

"I vote that we stay at Twin Elms!" said Emily.

"I second that!" said Helen.

Ida bounced up and down. "Oooh, I want to go! This could be an extended sleep-over!"

Izzy sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'd better come prepared then." But then she smirked. "But that 'ghost' better beware, I'm coming prepared to catch him too!"

Nancy laughed. "You hear that Dad? We have our own little band of Ghostbusters!"

Carson chuckled. "Ghosts for miles around better beware! But I would feel better if you had a few others you can call in case of emergencies."

"Well, there is still Jenny, who couldn't make it tonight because of other plans," said Nancy. "And Don and Richie and their friends are always willing to help."

"And Nancy does have Frank's and Joe's numbers, she can call them if she needs any help they can give," said Helen slyly.

Carson glanced in surprise at Nancy for a moment before he brightened and nodded. "Well good then, I'm glad you have a fantastic team you have there. It's always good to have people you can trust watching your back."

Ida wrapped her arms around Nancy's neck. "And with everything she's done for us, how could we not have her back?"

Carson grinned. "Right?" Togo began barking as the doorbell echoed throughout the house. Carson stood up. "That might be Hannah, trying to carry everything in at once." Nancy nodded with a chuckle as she too got up and followed her father out. But she paused after shooing Togo outside. This was a different kind of bark than what he announced Hannah's arrival with.

She quickly walked towards her father's side. "Um, Dad?" He had opened the door by this time and they saw that it most certainly wasn't Hannah Gruen standing there. Carson narrowed his eyes.

"What do you want, Mr. Gomber?" There stood the man Carson had just been describing to Nancy. Nancy disliked him at once, his shifty eyes was enough of a red flag, but she was getting others. She was glad her father and her friends were there with her. She didn't want to be caught alone with this creep.

"Your daughter, I presume?" asked Gomber, giving Nancy a look that sent chills up her spine.

Carson cleared his throat. "Yes, this is my daughter, Nancy. Nancy, this is Nathan Gomber."

"Pleasure to meet you," said Nancy as civilly as she could. She couldn't help letting a bit of ice show through in her voice. She wanted him to leave, immediately.

"A pleasure to meet you too," said Gomber. "Your daughter's quite nice." He glanced at Carson. "May I come in?"

"What do you want, Gomber?"

Gomber sighed. "To talk civilly about Twin Elms, if that's alright with you."

Carson opened the door all the way. "Yes, that's alright, if it's alright if my daughter listens in."

Gomber glanced again at Nancy. "Fine." Nancy led them into the living room. She and Carson sat together on the sofa while Gomber took a chair. "Now listen, my employers are willing to pay whatever price they name."

Carson raised an eyebrow. "You mean anything more than ten thousand?"

Gomber seemed to shift a little in his seat. "If, uh, that's what they're asking."

"That all depends on if they want to sell, which they don't want to, at the moment."

Gomber's face became a little flustered. "They don't want to sell yet? What on Earth are they thinking? Why haven't you persuaded them to sell?"