by Mabel Maney
"Hello, girl," Sally exclaimed, planting a big wet kiss on Cherry's cheek. Cherry was relieved to see someone she knew, even if it was silly Sally.
"So where's your great big good-looking friend in uniform?" Sally wanted to know, looking over Cherry's shoulder. "I was sure she'd be here. After all, it is Butch Night."
Cherry explained that Jackie and Midge had left town on business. Sally looked disappointed.
"I was here with Chris, but I lost her in the crowd, and now I see that her girlfriend's here, so I guess I'm single Sally now."
Cherry's head swam. Nothing Sally said made any sense. But Cherry was tired of sitting in bars alone, feeling lost. She told Sally she was searching for her long-lost cousin, and invited her to come along. Sally liked the idea.
"But I've really got to be serious," Cherry warned.
"That's me-serious Sally."
They headed for a bar a few blocks away. The night air was chilly, and Cherry pulled her coat closer. Sally chattered all the way to the What If Club. They paid their dollar at the door and took seats at the bar.
The bartender served them tall frothy drinks topped with big chunks of fruit skewered on plastic swords. Cherry was reluctant to imbibe further-after all, she'd already had four drinks. "I'll just eat the fruit," she told herself and popped a cherry into her mouth. "Oh, just one tiny sip," she thought, tasting the sweet drink.
"This is delicious," she exclaimed to Sally, already on her second.
Sally introduced Cherry to the bartender, a friendly southern girl named Babe. "Good, huh?" asked Babe, pointing to the drink.
"It's the house special. It's called Tutti-Fruity."
"It's wonderful," giggled Cherry, feeling a little flushed. She emptied her glass. For the first time that evening, she was beginning to relax. Babe placed another drink in front of her, and before she knew it, that too was gone.
"Oh, dear," she thought. "I'd better slow down."
She turned to Sally to suggest they leave and find some food, which, as a nurse, Cherry knew would absorb some of the alcohol in her system. But Sally was gone!
Babe caught her puzzled expression. "You never know when that girl's going to disappear," she confided. "Trust me; I should know."
Cherry was pondering Babe's cryptic comment when she felt someone at her elbow. An attractive girl with silky titian hair, startling blue eyes and a forward manner wanted to know if she was alone. Was she alone? Sally was nowhere to be seen.
The girl hopped onto the stool next to Cherry and ordered a sloe gin fizz. "And give my chum here another drink," she said, gesturing toward Cherry's empty glass.
Cherry knew she should be getting on with her search, but something about the titian-haired girl was so riveting she found herself unable to move on. She slyly checked her lipstick in her compact mirror. Suddenly, she desperately wanted to look her best!
The girl laughed. "You look lovely," she purred. She reached over and touched Cherry's hand ever so lightly. "You have such tiny hands," she said. "Like a child's." She toyed with the gold charm bracelet around Cherry's slim wrist. "How cute! " she cried. "You have a tiny nurse's cap on your bracelet."
"My mother gave it to me when I graduated from nursing school two years ago," Cherry said, a little flushed from the attention.
"That's nice," the girl said softly, a misty look in her eyes. "Tell me about yourself," she said. Afraid to divulge any information about the mystery she was working on, Cherry instead told the girl about life in Pleasantville, about her parents and her twin Charley, their summers together on their grandmother's farm, and about the day she found a bird with a broken wing and nursed it back to health, thus beginning her lifelong desire to be a nurse.
Cherry stopped talking, embarrassed by how much she had revealed.
"Go on," the girl urged. "It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood."
"It was just your average childhood," Cherry said. "What about your family?"
The girl shook her head. "I'm all alone in the world." She stared into space for a minute. "But let's not talk about me. I want to hear more about you."
"I have tons of hilarious nurse stories!" Cherry exclaimed.
The girl ordered more drinks. "Tell me all of them," she urged.
So Cherry did, and after a while, the girls felt like old friends. Why, this girl was so easy to talk to, Cherry felt as if she had known her forever!
Cherry's head felt fuzzy. She knew it was probably partly the alcohol, but she felt a peculiar exhilaration being around this girl.
"I know there's something I'm supposed to be doing," she thought. "But for the life of me, I can't remember what it is!"
When the girl suggested they get some air, Cherry eagerly agreed. She felt wonderful-all warm and tingly inside-but there was something nagging at the back of her mind.
"Maybe some fresh air will wake me up," she thought, checking her lipstick in the mirror behind the bar before slipping her coat over her shoulders.
She followed the titian-haired girl through a back door that led to an alley. The girl lit a cigarette and leaned against the brick wall. "Mind if I smoke?" she asked. Cherry shook her head. If truth be known, she was too relaxed to mind anything right now!
The night air cut right through her silk dress. She pulled her wrap closer.
"Don't do that," her companion whispered. "I like looking at you."
The girl surveyed Cherry, looking her up and down. She whistled, a long, low appreciative whistle.
Cherry dropped her coat.
"It's a full moon," the girl said. "You never know what will happen."
A shiver went down Cherry's back, for she was having that very same thought.
Cherry began to wish she had worn panties. She had decided against them so as to preserve the line of her dress, but they would be a big help right now.
The air was so still and quiet, she was sure the girl could hear her heart beating. She was wondering what to do next, when the decision was made for her.
The girl finished her cigarette. She leaned over and kissed Cherry, first on her neck and then full on her mouth. She caressed her breasts through the silk dress.
"This shouldn't be happening," Cherry thought. "Why, I don't even know her name." But it didn't matter. She kissed the girl back with all her might.
It took the headlights of an approaching patrol car to pry the two girls apart. Cherry pulled down her dress, which had somehow become hiked up over her thighs. They ran into the street and quickly found a cab. Cherry didn't know where she was going, and, frankly, she didn't care!
Within minutes they were at the girl's motel suite. The sitting room was strewn with clothing, jewelry and half-empty containers of take-out food. The girl switched on the hi-fi.
"Sinatra okay?" she asked. Cherry nodded.
The girl dropped her velvet evening jacket on the floor and swayed into the tiny kitchenette.
She returned a few minutes later with two snifters of brandy, and waved Cherry in the direction of the davenport. The girl settled into an easy chair and sipped her drink.
Cherry suddenly felt embarrassed. What should she do next? What would Midge do, she wondered?
She blushed. She knew just what Midge would do in this situation!
The girl stretched and yawned, looking very much like a sleek and soft cat. Cherry had a vision of the girl purring, and she tingled at the thought. She took a sip of brandy. As the warm liquid slid down her throat, she began to relax, and before she knew it, she was stretched out on the couch with her shoes off, telling more stories about her life as a big city nurse.
"I used to be like you," the girl said sadly. "I had work I cared about. But now I just can't seem to focus on anything." The girl didn't seem to want to say more, so Cherry didn't press her.
The girl looked into her glass, as if looking for an answer. "I know where I could get work," she said, "but I'm not sure I'm up to it."
Cherry meant to ask her what she did for a living; she meant
to ask her a lot of things. But, somehow, something else came up.
* * *
CHAPTER 16
* * *
An Unexpected Awakening
"Where am I?" gasped Cherry, trying to focus her blurry eyes. "Golly, it's bright in here!" she groaned, burying her face in her pillow. Suddenly she bolted out of bed. "Oh, no!" she cried, clutching her head. "Now I remember what I was supposed to be doing last night!"
She wasn't alone. The attractive titian-haired girl was asleep next to her, with only a thin sheet covering her naked body. "Golly," gulped Cherry as she realized she was naked, too. She ran to the small bathroom, practically tripping over a pile of stockings and lingerie on the floor. The sink was littered with cosmetics. She quickly splashed some cold water on her face. She noticed a girl's robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door with the monogram "N.C." on the pocket.
She racked her brain for her hostess's name. "Nadine? Norine? Nina? Why can't I remember anything?" she groaned, donning the robe so she could search for her clothing without catching a chill.
After a quick tour through the messy motel suite, she located her slip in the kitchenette, and her dress on the back of the couch. She blushed when she remembered how she had lost it the night before.
Her stockings were nowhere to be found, so she decided to throw caution to the wind and go out onto the street barelegged.
"You in a hurry?" A sleepy voice called from the doorway. The girl brushed her long silky hair from her forehead and wrapped the thin sheet tighter around her body. Even in the harsh morning light she looked lovely. "You want some coffee? Or some breakfast?" the girl blinked.
Cherry shook her head. "Good thing," the girl laughed, "I'm a terrible cook, although I do make a pretty decent cup of instant coffee. We had a housekeeper the whole time I was growing up, and she waited on me hand and foot. Now look where I ended up," she said ruefully, waving her hand at the piles of clothing and newspaper strewn about the messy room. "In this depressing place, filled with sterile, serviceable furniture."
Cherry folded the borrowed robe and put it on the couch. She rummaged through her purse for some cab fare. "I really have to be going," she said.
The girl looked disappointed. "Are you in town long?" she asked.
"I don't know," Cherry said truthfully. "I'm with some people and our plans are uncertain. I'm really dreadfully sorry I have to go like this. Perhaps I could call you later?" Cherry realized she would like to spend more time getting to know this girl. A lot more time. She blushed.
"Gee, you're even cuter when you blush," the girl giggled. She scribbled her phone number on a torn piece of paper. "Well, then, suppose you call me sometime?"
Cherry put the slip of paper in her purse. As anxious as she was to stay, she was even more anxious to resume her search for Nancy Clue. On her way out the door, she realized she hadn't even told the girl her name.
"By the way, I'm Cherry Aimless, R. N., from Seattle."
The girl laughed, took her by the hand and pulled her close. She kissed her. "I'm Nancy. Nancy Nobody. From Nowhere!" She laughed at her own joke. Her blue eyes sparkled.
"I've seen those eyes before last night," Cherry thought. Suddenly it came to her. "Why, you're Nancy Clue!" Cherry exclaimed.
"Guilty," Nancy said, not looking at all pleased that her secret was out.
"I was looking for you last night," Cherry cried.
"Oh, golly," Nancy grimaced. "I hope you're not here to tell me you're my long-lost sister."
Cherry laughed so hard that she had to sit down. "I'll take that cup of coffee now," she said. "You'd better make it strong. Have I got a story to tell you! "
Nancy sat quietly as Cherry told her everything. The party girl from last night had been replaced by a solemn and clear-headed sleuth. She was suddenly Nancy Clue, girl detective, again.
"We can't call the police," Cherry said. "Midge won't say why, but she's adamant about not letting anyone we don't really know in on this. I think she's hiding something, and when this is all over, I intend to find out what. The officer who is helping us is doing it on the sly," she explained.
"I used to think the police were my friends," Nancy said. "But after the last few days..." Her voice trailed off.
Cherry took her hand. "I know all about the murder of your father," she said. "I read about it in the newspaper. That's how we knew you were in San Francisco staying with relatives."
"I don't have anybody here," Nancy said sadly. "When I got to town, I put on dark glasses and a scarf and checked into this motel. Hannah told me to forget about the past and start a new life." Nancy burst into tears.
"But I just can't," she sobbed, wiping her tears on the clean handkerchief Cherry had quickly fished out of her purse. Cherry waited for an explanation, but none followed. Nancy looked lost.
Suddenly she snapped out of it. "We'd better hurry," she said. "We've got a lot to do."
"First I've got to go back to my room and change!" Cherry cried. "I can't possibly chase anyone in this tight dress."
"There's no time to waste," Nancy said. "Your chums could be in terrible danger. We've got to get to the convent." She looked Cherry up and down. "I'd say we were about the same size. I'm sure I've got something that will fit you." Nancy went to the bedroom and brought back three pieces of powder-blue luggage embossed with her initials.
"I left in kind of a hurry, so I didn't get to pack much," she said, pulling blouses and skirts from the largest suitcase. "But I think we'll find something suitable. That silk sheath looks divine on you, Cherry, but for where we're going, these make more sense." She handed her a pleated skirt and simple blouse.
Cherry slipped into the outfit, and checked herself in the mirror. "These heels look silly with this outfit!" she cried, staring at Nancy's impossibly small feet. "But I guess I'm stuck with them."
"You look adorable," Nancy said, kissing her on the nape of her neck. She threw a red wool car coat over her own out fit, tossed Cherry a sweater and found her car keys. "Let's go!" she cried.
It was almost noon by the time they backed Nancy's sporty yellow convertible out of the garage and headed toward the convent. Nancy handled the swift car with skill, and for once Cherry paid no heed to traffic laws, urging Nancy to drive faster and faster.
"I didn't think I'd ever race to the scene of a mystery again," Nancy said happily as she expertly steered her car through city traffic. "And I never dreamt I'd be in such beautiful company."
Cherry smiled. All this would be so thrilling, she thought, if only she didn't have the most dreadful feeling that her chums were in terrible danger!
* * *
CHAPTER 17
* * *
Held Captive
Cherry would have broken any number of speeding laws racing to the convent had she known the dilemma her chums were already in!
By the time Cherry had hopped onto the bar stool at The Black Cat and was sipping her second Pink Squirrel with a certain blond movie star, her chums had already arrived at the outskirts of Napa Valley, eighty miles northeast of San Francisco. They were driving slowly through the moonlight, searching the vine-covered landscape for the road that would lead them to the convent.
The drive to Napa had been a breeze, except that Midge couldn't stop worrying about Cherry. "I feel bad about sending that shy kid out into the night all by herself," she confessed to Jackie, keeping her voice low so as not to awaken Lauren, who was sound asleep in the back seat.
"Well, if Cherry's not actually here, at least she's here in spirit," Midge added with a laugh, indicating the pile of carefully folded maps in a leatherette portfolio under the seat.
"I couldn't help but notice you got us here without having to check any of those maps," Jackie said.
"Oh, I was up here once a long time ago," Midge answered casually. "But it's changed a lot. Perhaps if we drive around a bit, I'll remember which road leads to the convent property."
"What in the world would have brought you, of all peop
le, to a convent, of all places?" Jackie quizzed her.
"Once I thought I might take the veil," Midge said quickly.
"Will wonders never cease," Jackie laughed.
While they searched in the dark for the right road, Jackie told Midge everything she knew about The Sisters of Mercy.
Midge listened with a studied attentiveness. "It's a self-sufficient teaching order," Jackie said. "The nuns support their school for girls by growing grapes for local vineyards. Rumor has it that the church wants to take back the convent from the good sisters and develop the land into a retirement home for priests. The locals are sure to fight that. Everyone considers the nuns to be a calming influence in an unstable region. For as serene as this area seems, this county has the highest rate of runaway wives in the state!" she revealed. "It's the funniest thing. These women seem to vanish into thin air."
"Imagine that," Midge said, turning her face to the window.
"Imagine being married," Jackie shuddered. The girls had a good laugh.
Suddenly Jackie jammed on the brakes, narrowly missing a deer bounding across the road. Lauren jerked awake. "Are we there yet?" she groaned.
"We'll be there in a few minutes," Midge assured her. "Turn here," she said, pointing out a dirt road to the left. Soon Jackie was navigating dark, bumpy country roads with only the moon and the stars to guide her.
"If memory serves, we should be behind the convent soon," Midge said, peering into the darkness ahead.
Just then Jackie noticed a pair of headlights in the rearview mirror.
"Gee, this must be a popular joint. Who else would be visiting a convent at this hour?" Jackie wondered.
The car that had been behind them sped past, almost sideswiping them. "That's Gertrude's car," Lauren shouted. The car turned onto a side road and stopped suddenly. Jackie turned off her headlights and pulled over. She peered at the scene through her binoculars.
