Drew.â
As Delia spoke, videotape of Joanna, Nancy, and Bess leaving Beauâs studio filled the screen. âHey,â Bess said, perking up. âWeâre on TV, Nan!â
âToo bad,â Nancy groaned. Now there was no way to keep a low profile on the case.
âJoannaâs bridal gown has been stolen!â Delia said with relish. âThe theft is especially poignant since the gown was made from material from Joannaâs motherâs wedding dress and trimmed in pearls that belonged to Coral Rockwell, who passed away two years ago. What does this mean for the couple?â Images of Sam and Joanna flashed on the screen. In one clip, Sam waswearing the flame-retardant suit of a race car driver. He held a shiny trophy up high before hugging Joanna.
âââFashion Flashâ can name two people who might benefit from this crimp in the wedding plans. First thereâs Mimi Piazzaââ A closeup of a beautiful woman in her twenties flashed on the screen. With her creamy skin and short red hair that curled in wisps around her face, Mimi looked more like a cover girl than a designer.
âââFashion Flashâ viewers will recall that one of Mimiâs bridal designs was Joanna Rockwellâs second choice,â Delia explained. âMimi went ahead and worked up a sample of that design. The dressâa size six, perfect for the petite Joannaâwill make its debut at Mimiâs show on Thursday.â
Delia smiled like a smug cat, adding, âUnless, of course, Joanna now decides to wear Mimiâs dress down the aisle. With Beau Winstonâs gown missing, it may be a possibility.
âAnother person whoâs in no rush to see Joanna at the altar is her father, billionaire Michael Rockwell,â Delia continued as the wide pink face of Mr. Rockwell flashed on the screen. âItâs no secret that Rockwell does not see eye to eye with his future son-in-law. Sources close to Rockwell say he would love to see Sam Speed disqualified from the race to the altar with his beloved Joanna.â
âWhat a story,â Bess said as Delia Rogerssigned off. âMaybe Joannaâs father is the one behind the missing gown.â
Nancy thought the idea through as she finished her toast. âA man with Michael Rockwellâs billions could have paid someone on Beauâs staff or a thug to steal the gown from the vault. He could have assumed the theft would upset the wedding plans.â
âBut what about Beauâs stolen designs?â Bess asked. âWhy would Rockwell want to ruin Beauâs design business?â
âMaybe the stolen designs are just a diversion,â Nancy suggested. âOnly two people were in Beauâs studio the night Joannaâs gown disappearedâAngel and Mrs. Chong,â Nancy went on. âSo it seems that both thefts have to be inside jobs.â
Bess rinsed off the breakfast dishes. âIâll keep an eye on both of them while Iâm modeling at the studio.â
âThanks,â Nancy said. âBut first I think we should check out Mimi Piazza. She might think sheâs got a shot at being Joannaâs designer. I donât know how she could have managed to steal from Beau, but Iâd like to visit her studio this morning to see what we can find out.â
âYou can begin your research right here,â Bess said. âMimi is mentioned in a lot of the fashion magazines I was reading on the plane.â
âGreat!â Nancy said.
As Bess ran to get the magazines, Nancy pickedup the phone to call home. She smiled when she heard the warm voice of her father, Carson Drew. âIs this the Nancy Drew, as featured on âFashion Flashâ?â he teased.
âYou saw the report!â Nancy said.
âI was a little surprised to see my daughter rubbing elbows with a celebrity bride,â Carson said. âWhatâs going on there?â
Quickly Nancy