FRIDAY, 7 JULY, 2000, PHILADELPHIA |
![]() CHAPTER 5 Oscar in a Pickle It had been four and a half hours since Nancy Drew had tossed Oscar Schwartz out of the blue roadster into the dirt, inadvertenly bruising Oscar severely. Oscar thought of Nancy fondly, When Nancy Drew is on the case, theres nothin doin! Though the sun was beginning to go down, the day was still hot and Oscar had decided to remove her head bandana and fake moustache. How do the gentlemen wear these cumbersome things, thought Oscar to herself, examining the handlebar moustache lying in her palm. I guess Ill never know, she sighed wistfully. Only two cars had passed her in the hours she had been standing on the side of the road and neither had stopped for her because, she came to realize, she looked like a little fat man. Just then a third car, a long white Oldsmobile convertible, was billowing down the road. Oscar stuck her thumb out and as the car neared her, it slowed. A flashy woman wearing plastic jewelry and tight-fitting clothing was driving a man with a pencil-thin moustache and a large floppy fur-lined hat. The man motioned for the woman to pull over and she did, rolling her eyes. Hello little lady. Looks like youre in a spot of trouble. Need a lift somewhere? Good afternoon! Youre sure right about that! Im in a pickle and need a lift back to River Heights so I can pick up my mother from the hospital! Well hop in the back and well see what we can do about that, said the man smiling. Oscar saw his front teeth were oversized and gold, but got into the back of the convertible nonetheless. Then the flashy lady drove off. Odd about his teeth, the thought was maddening to Oscar. I dont suppose it would be polite to inquire after how they became gold. And that lady driving. She is certainly a sight! Probably an exotic show-girl at the Gilded Feather or a beauty pageant contestant off for a glamorous make-over. I wonder if she would like to The thought was aborted as Oscar noticed a street sign they had passed saying Winchester: 8 miles. Excuse me sir, said Oscar tapping the man on the shoulder, but River Heights is in the other direction. Im in a terrible bind already being so late to pick up my mother from the hospital. I should hate to be hollared at more for making the delay longer. Well, pretty uh, lady. I thought wed take you on a quick cultural tour of downtown Winchester first! Thats a very pleasant offer, and I must say that I would love to see any items of cultural interest that you might have to point out to me in Winchester, but as Ive explained already, my mother will pitch a fit if Im not at the hospital at once. Why dont you just come to Winchester with us anyway, honey? said the man and his voice had taken on a threatening tone. Oscar began to feel uneasy about the situation and recalled her mothers advice to never get into a car, elevator or restaurant with a black man. Yah, cmon honey, drawled the fancy lady driving, you wanna be a movie star? Come with us. Stop the car now please, I want to get out, said Oscar firmly, stroking the moustache in her pocket for comfort. Sorry toots, replied the woman, Chicos got other plans for you. W.W.N.D.D.? thought Oscar. In a surmounting panic she spun around in the back seat and tried to climb out of the speeding convertible. Just as she was about to jump from the vehicle, she felt a heavy thud on the back of her neck and everything went black. Nancy crept up the stairs of the Motel No-Tell and found herself in a long, dingey hallway lined with numerous doors on either side. Most of the doors were open and she peeked in to find canopied beds surrounded by mirrors and piled high with stained, satin pillows. What kind of a place is this? she wondered aloud. It seems at once to be a dormitory for fancy ladies, and yet there is something dreadfully odious about the stains on the carpet of some of these rooms! She slithered down the hallway pressing her ear to the three or four closed doors in the hallway. Loud moaning came from most of them and Nancy fancied she was in a make-shift hospital where people with a touch of the stomach flu might find respite. At the last door in the hallway, she heard a distinct banging noise accompanying the woeful moans of a man and a woman. What on earth ? thought Nancy as she pressed her ear against the door. Ohh, Melusine, Melusine, ohhh, wailed the mans voice. Melusine in turn replied, Hugo. You man-stallion-thing you. Oh yah. Dont. Stop. Thinkin about tomorrow but, Nancy thought, it sounded like she was reading from cue cards. She did not have the same joie de vivre she thought she heard in Hugos voice. Hugo! thought Nancy with alarm, Ive found him! And that unfortunate womans name must be Melusine. But what in the heavens can they be doing? She must be giving Hugo a massage. Theres no other explanation! Thats innocent enough, but if poor Betty Benson could hear what Im hearing, she might surely think of a humdinger of a different scenario! Nancy kept her ear pressed to the grimey door. Oh Melusine. You feel so good. You smell so good. Aw, fuck yah! Oh god. Oh god! OH GOD! The banging stopped presently. Then there was complete silence. My, what an abrupt ending to a massage, thought Nancy. Im glad my masseuse treats me to a warm-down at the end of our sessions. A few minutes later Nancy heard rustling sounds behind the door. All right, Hugo, said Melusine, youve had your fun. Gimme the fifties and off you go. I cant leave you, pleaded Hugo. You look so good. You smell so good! I just have to Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape! cried Melusine. Nancy heard a slapping sound. The plane has landed. All passengers must disembark! Ill be seeing you again, said Hugo. Nancy had been listening so intently, she didnt notice that the volume of Hugos voice had grown. Suddenly she perceived the doorknob turning. In a mad panic she looked about the hallway and darted into another room, and peeked around the door to see Hugos retreating form. Soonafter, Melusine, her hair truly a tangled, impossible mess, left the room as well. Nancy breathed a sigh of relief and thought about the situation. I dont think that was a massage at all, she allowed. I have a nagging idea that there was something illicit going on in there. But what could it be! This mystery is becoming more baffling by the minute! Youre the new girl? said a voice in the room. Nancy whirled around to see a mostly undressed man sitting in a dirty, threadbare, overstuffed chair in the corner. Whats your name, honey? he said grinning. Uhh stammered Nancy Drew. to be continued ![]() |
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