A Script for Danger (Nancy Drew Diaries #10)(4)

“I don’t have time for that right now!” I turned around to see Brian speaking sharply to the well-dressed man who’d helped move Sal’s table. George noticed too and threw me a quizzical look. Brian had lowered his voice to an angry grumble, so it was impossible to hear what he was saying, but his body language indicated that they were still arguing.

Meanwhile, Alex invited the curly-haired actress to stand next to him. “This is Zo? French, the costar of The Hamilton Inn,” he said proudly. “She’s going to be a big deal one day, so get a picture now before she’s on every magazine cover!”

Zo? stood with poise. “Thanks, Alex,” she said. “I’m really proud to be a part of this.”

Alex continued, “And finally, the star of our film. You all know him from Hospital Tales . . . Brian Newsome! Where are you, Brian?” Alex searched for his lead actor, who finally emerged from the back of the crowd, beaming. Brian joined the rest of the crew and Mayor Scarlett as they posed for the cameras.

Just as the camera flashes started to go off, a hissing noise echoed throughout the parking lot. It seemed to be coming from behind a truck that was parked right next to Alex, the mayor, and the actors.

Before anyone could react, a deafening explosion ripped through the air.





CHAPTER TWO





Snap, Crackle, Pop!


SCREAMS COULD BE HEARD ABOVE the crackling and popping noises. Brian lunged and draped his arms over Zo? and Lali, pulling them down protectively.

“Everyone get down!” someone shouted.

Bess, George, and I huddled on the cement.

As soon as the noises stopped and we shakily stood up, I saw Lali spring to her feet. A dark-haired man in a black fleece vest and a tool belt jogged toward the truck where the sounds had come from.

“Spencer, be careful!” Lali called after him.

I looked around at the shocked faces of the crowd. Ned rushed over to us.

“Are you guys okay?” he asked.

I nodded.

“That was really scary,” Bess whispered, shivering.

“I know,” I replied. Even though my years of sleuthing have put me in more than a few dangerous situations, it never gets any easier.

“Everyone all right over here?” Nysa was moving through the crowd.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” I told her. “Did anyone get hurt?” As I brushed myself off, I noticed that the crowd was moving closer to the site of the explosion, just as curious as I was.

Nysa shook her head. “I don’t think so, thankfully. I’m sure everything’s fine, but the gaffer, Spencer—that’s a fancy word for an electrician on a film set—went with Lali to check it out. It’s safer for all of us to stay put until we know what’s going on,” she said. I could tell from her voice that she was more rattled than she was letting on.

Moments later, Spencer (the man in the fleece) emerged from behind the truck holding an unplugged coffee machine, which was covered in the burnt remains of . . .

“Fireworks,” he announced.

“Someone put fireworks in the coffee machine,” Lali called out matter-of-factly, walking up behind him.

Meanwhile, Brian seemed especially concerned about the people around him, making sure Zo?’s shirt hadn’t been ruined and calming down Mayor Scarlett. Cora stood among the bystanders, capturing the whole scene on camera.

“I thought famous actors were supposed to be self-centered and erratic,” George mused.

Bess watched Brian with admiration in her eyes. “Not Brian. He has a reputation for being really generous. He volunteers at a soup kitchen and his dog is a rescue!”

I was barely listening as Bess gushed. Now that I knew everyone was safe, the wheels in my head began to turn. “Why on earth would someone put fireworks in a coffee machine?” I wondered out loud.

“It’s a mystery to me,” George commented casually—but we locked eyes when she said the word “mystery.” Was this a real-life case of sabotage on the set of Alex’s film? I wanted to banish the thought from my mind, but my detective instincts had already started to kick in. After cracking so many cases, I’ve learned to listen to my gut.

Nearby, I heard a voice come over Nysa’s walkie-talkie. “Does anyone know where Sal is?”

Nysa pressed a button to respond. “I haven’t seen him since we moved his table. You don’t think he did this, do you?”

I couldn’t help offering some insight. I tapped Nysa on the shoulder. “You know, Cora was filming the whole time.” I pointed at Alex’s sister. “Maybe she has some footage of the explosion?”

Nysa pressed her glittery pink lips together thoughtfully. “Great idea,” she said. “I’m Nysa, by the way. I’m the first assistant director, in case you didn’t hear me screaming earlier.”

“I’m Nancy Drew, and these are my friends Bess, George, and Ned. I’m an old friend of Alex’s.”

Nysa nodded gratefully before shoving her way through the crowd to where Cora was filming. “Thanks again, Nancy!” she called over her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Alex took the podium again. “I’d like to apologize for the shock, everyone. It appears that this was just a harmless prank.”

Most of the crowd, dazed by all the chaos, started to leave.