Read Stage Fright (Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Book 6) for Free Online

Apparently, Claire is known for never missing a show.”
    “Except for the other night,” George teased.
    I was trying not to think about that. I could imagine a few things worse than having to sing on a Broadway stage—but they all involved tarring and feathering.
    “They think she was poisoned! It wasn’t her fault. And with me as her understudy, nothing is going to pass through her lips unless I’ve checked it first.”
    “I told you that you looked like Claire Cleveland!” said Bess, hitting the steering wheel with her hand. “See, it would have been the perfect Halloween outfit last year. All you needed was a wig.”
    As suddenly as it had stopped, traffic started moving again. We were over on the west side of Manhattan, making our way down along the Hudson River. To the right, the view of the parks and the river was so pretty that you’d never know you were in New York City—until you turned your head in the other direction, and saw the dozens upon dozens of skyscrapers clawing up at the sky. There were a lot of people in this city, and atleast one of them wanted to hurt, or possibly kill, a girl who looked like my twin.
    Just great , I thought. Still, I had to admit I was excited. I guess that was why I became a private detective in the first place.
    Finally, Forty-third Street appeared on our left. I looked at my watch. I was only … twenty minutes late.
    “That’s it up ahead,” said George, pointing to an elegant marble façade. The words “Wake—Starring Claire Cleveland!” were picked out in neon across the marquee. A large crowd of people had gathered in front of the theater. They had to be waiting for tonight’s show.
    “Nancy, why don’t you get out here and we’ll find somewhere to park?” Bess offered, and I agreed, eager to hit the ground running on this case. Besides, I couldn’t think of anything less fun than circling Manhattan looking for a parking space.
    “You’re the best!” I yelled, as I hopped out of the car. The delicious smell of roasted nuts wafted from a vendor’s cart, and for a second, I was tempted to be even later than I was. But my need for clues was stronger than my need for sweets.
    As Bess and George drove away, I crossed the street toward the crowd waiting for the show. They were mostly people around my own age, although I saw some kids who barely came up to my waist, and a few older folks as well. As I got closer, I could see that manyof them were holding pictures of Claire, or Playbill s from the show. I guess they were waiting to see it for a second time. As I pushed through the back edge of the crowd, I stared at one of the photos. Bess was right. Claire and I looked a lot alike.
    “Excuse me!” I said, worming my way through a moving wall of arms and legs and backpacks. “I’m late, please let me through.”
    “Oh, wow!” A girl about my age grabbed my hand as I tried to move past her. She was taller than I was, and surprisingly strong. “It’s her! I’m touching her.”
    Clearly, she had mistaken me for Claire. I was about to explain, when she turned to the rest of the crowd and screamed.
    “She’s here! Claire Cleveland is here, and I’m holding her hand!”
    The entire crowd turned to face us. People started whispering and pointing, then screaming and shoving. Suddenly, I realized I was alone and completely cut off from any escape route.
    “No, no!” I said, trying to shake the girl off. If I could just get loose, I might make a run for the theater. But she had me in a death grip. “I’m sorry, there’s been some confusion. I’m not Claire Cleveland. My name is Nancy. Nancy Drew!”
    No one listened. People were pushing in, crowding around us, grabbing at me. Some were thrusting pens andpictures in my face, while others were taking photos with their cell phones. The space around me was getting smaller and smaller, until people were pressed up against me on every side! I could barely breathe. The excited shrieks of the crowd were