sincerely.
âJust how did you manage to get out of Nancyâs knots?â Ned asked.
âItâs an old Houdini trick,â Adriana explained. âThe secret is to grab a bit of slack while the knots are being tied. Nancy thought she had tied the bonds tight, but they were really loose from the start. As she tied them, I breathed in, expanding my chest, so that the loop you put around my body slipped when I relaxed. Then I wiggled until I could get my hands on a knot and started untying.â
âNow thatâs the sort of secret you canât find in books,â Ned said appreciatively.
Dr. McGill came over then and asked Adriana to sign autographs for the children.
âWould you mind if I came around to their ward in a few minutes?â she asked. âI want to get out this costume.â
Then she fixed her deep green eyes on Nancy. âAnd, I think that Nancy and I need to have a little talkââ
Nancy raised her brows.
When the doctor wandered away, Adriana touched her arm. âThereâs a little lounge down the hall. Can you spare a few minutes?â
âOf course,â she replied, smiling at Ned.
âGeorge and I will meet you in the front waiting area,â he said smoothly.
Nancy nodded, then followed Adriana to an exit at the far end of the cafeteria. When theyreached the lounge, Adriana gestured for her to sit down, then collapsed onto the sofa across from her.
âWhew,â she said, taking a handkerchief out of her pocket and running it across her brow. âIt was hot in there.â
Despite the magicianâs air of casualness, all of Nancyâs sense were on alert. Of course, sheâd wanted to talk to her, but somehow she hadnât expected Adriana to take the lead.
Adriana twisted the handkerchief in her hand. Nancy could tell that she was having a hard time choosing her words. âWhat a surprise it was to see you at the restaurant last night,â she finally said.
Nancy smiled. âYes, it was.â
âYour father is a wonderful man,â she went on quietly. âIâve never met anyone quite like him.â
Nancyâs expression softened. âHe is wonderful. Iâm very lucky to have him for a dad.â
Then Adriana frowned. âThis morning I had breakfast with another man,â she began. âMisha.â
The two of them remained silent for a moment.
âTo be honest,â Nancy said, âI was wondering about that. You know, he threatened me in the parking lot at Riverfront yesterday. He really wants you to leave Conklin Falls.â
Adriana sighed deeply. âPlease forgive him.He has a volatile nature. And heâs quite  . . . attached to me.â
âSo I gathered,â Nancy commented dryly. She crossed her legs and put her hands on one thigh. âI really donât mean to pry,â she went on carefully, âbut I need to know about the two of youâfor the sake of the case.â
Adriana shrugged. âWhat can I say? Misha loves me. Heâs asked me to marry him more than once.â The magician began removing bobby pins from her hair and shaking it loose. âBut to me, he is a dear friend, nothing more. Unfortunately, he wonât take no for an answer, and he is very possessive sometimes.â
Relief flooded through Nancy. She was overjoyed to learn that Adriana wasnât really involved with Grigov. But she kept her face impassive. âCan you imagine him feeling so strongly about getting you away from Riverfront that heâd sabotage the place?â
âOh,â Adriana half-cried out, shaking her head energetically, âabsolutely not! Heâd never do anything like that! First of all because heâd never hurt me, and second, because it would be illegal.â
âBut, Adriana,â Nancy said, âyesterday around six a man driving a black sports car very much like his just about ran me over the cliff on River Bluff