NANCY DREW, I can't believe you!" Bess Marvin's voice on the other end of the line was even more excited than usual. "How in the world did you get yourself invite "Oh, just lucky, I guess, " Nancy answered, checking herself out in her bedroom mirror.
Her slinky, dark green dress showed off her shoulder-length reddish blond hair and big blue eyes to perfection.
Too bad that her longtime boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, was off at Emerson College.
He would definitely have appreciated the way she looked that evening. "Mr. Pierce had his chauffeur hand-deliver an engraved invitation into my hot little hands, " Nancy fibbed, enjoying the effect she knew she was having on Bess.
Bess was one of her two oldest and best friends. The other, Bess's cousin George Fayne, was in Florida for the week, competing in a tennis tournament. "No way!" Bess cried. "Tell the truth, Nan. You're just saying that to torture me." "Oh, okay, " Nancy said with a laugh. "My dad did some legal work for Mr. Pierce's software company last year. I guess that's why we were invited." "I get it, " Bess said. "And the invitation said 'Carson Drew and guest, ' right?" Nancy's mom had died years earlier, and Nancy often accompanied her dad to social events. "Actually, " Nancy replied, holding up the fancy, gold-trimmed invitation to examine it, "it says 'Carson and Nancy Drew.' Good old Dad, huh?
He must have put in a good word for me." "Wow!" Bess exclaimed. "A personal invite. I'm impressed, Nan. Do you know how many time I've driven by the Pierce estate and wondered what it was like inside?
I'd die to get in there." There was a short pause. "I don't suppose you'd like to trade places for the night?
I cou festive and lively -- not at all as stuffy and formal as Nancy had expected.
The many wildflower arrangements, the chatter of happy guests, and the soft music played by a string quartet all contributed to the welcoming atmosphere. Nancy and Carson gave their coats to a valet and walked through the parlor and sitting room.
Here and there, Carson said hello to someone he recognized.
They wove their way through the milling guests and entered the large ballroom, which had been set up with dozens of small tables along the walls.
The string quartet was positioned at the far end of the room. Nancy and her father strolled among the many guests scattered about in small clusters.
Nancy overheard people talking about software and guessed that a lot of these were business associates of Pierce Software, Inc.
Some of the others were probably Pierce Foundation people, she thought to herself. "Ah, here's someone I want you to meet, Nan, " Carson Drew said, leading her over to a tall, balding man of about forty. "Hello, Sam -- this is my daughter, Nancy. Nan, meet Samuel Bishop, a colleague of mine who's Mr. Pierce's attorney." "Pleased to meet you, " Nancy said, shaking his hand. "Likewise, " Bishop replied. "Your father's told me a lot about you. Apparently, you're quite the detective." Nancy nodded modestly and stole a look at her dad.
He was beaming at her proudly. "I brag about Nancy every chance I get, " he said. "She gives me good reason." "Carson, " Bi
