Supper that night was a gloomy affair in the Pierce household . Nancy couldn't help thinking back to the engagement party, when the house had seemed so joyful . What a contrast ! Too bad Bess hadn't gotten to see then .

Charles Pierce didn't even come downstairs to join them . Eventually Jarvis the butler came in to say that Mr. Pierce was feeling tired after his long session with Mr. Bishop that afternoon and was going to have dinner in his room .

Turning to Nancy and Bess, Jarvis told them that Mr. Pierce had requested that they stay the night, and "conduct their business" first thing in the morning, before breakfast .

Nancy looked at Bess, whose eyes were bright with eager anticipation . "All right," Nancy told Jarvis . "We'll call our parents, but I'm sure it won't be a problem ."

"Yes !" Bess whispered under her breath .

"Mr. Pierce wishes to see all of you at breakfast," Jarvis told the family members before departing . "There is something he'd like to announce ."

With that, he headed for the kitchen, leaving a heavy feeling of dread behind . Ominous, Nancy thought . Even dangerous . Everyone was sneaking silent glances at everyone else . Nila tried making a few casual remarks about the weather, but nobody replied . Not even Philip .

As soon as the meal was over, Nila said she wanted to check on Charles . The mood did not improve after she left . The rest of them sat around for another half hour, quietly eating dessert . Then Eleanor and Cecilia excused themselves, saying they were tired and wanted to get to bed early .

When they had gone, Philip turned to the others, and to Nancy's surprise, smiled mischievously . "Well," he said, "I think it's time we had a frank little talk ."

Karen raised her eyebrows . "What's there to talk about, Phil ?" she asked . "It's over . The ice queen has won . Nila's going to get all Dad's money, and we're all going to have to get regular jobs and work for a living like everyone else . I suppose there are worse fates . In fact," she concluded, looking meaningfully at her husband, "it might be just the thing for some of us ."

"Hey, don't start on that again," Jack warned her .

"Oh, stop it, the two of you !" Philip broke in . "No fighting in front of our guests . Besides, we family members have to stick together if we're going to salvage anything out of this . First of all, I think it's time to start mending fences with our new stepmother-to-be ."

"Ugh," Karen said, making a face . "I'll never be able to be nice to her," she said .

"Well, try at least," Philip insisted .

"I don't know why you're all acting so blasé," Jack said bitterly .

"Look, Jack, nothing terrible's going to happen," Philip assured him, letting out an exasperated sigh . "Nila may hate us, but Dad certainly isn't going to let her cut us off completely . I'll be able to stay here and collect an allowance, and you can go on working for the company, at least for a while . As long as Dad's around, we won't be totally rejected ."

"And how long do you think that's going to be, you idiot !" Jack shouted, slamming his fist on the table and rising to his feet . "As soon as that will's official, I wouldn't give you two cents for your father's life !"

Jack was clearly furious, and Nancy had to wonder if he had a point .

"Just what are you suggesting, Jack ?" Karen asked .

"You know exactly what I mean," he retorted . "And don't pretend it hasn't occurred to you, too . Once she's in the will, she doesn't need him anymore . In fact, it will be better for her if he's out of the way . You're all acting so naive !" Throwing down his napkin, Jack stormed out of the dining room .

"Jack, wait !" Karen called, and quickly ran after him . "Let's not fight anymore ."

Philip shook his head . "They've been at it for the past couple of hours," he said with a crooked smile . "Ah, married bliss ."

"I'm afraid I had something to do with them fighting," Nancy said .

Philip shrugged . "It had to happen sooner or later," he said . "It's better this way . Maybe now Jack will face up to things and stop being such a jerk to Karen . Who knows, it may be the best thing that ever happened to that marriage ."

"I'm relieved to hear you say that," Nancy said . "I was feeling kind of guilty ."

"Aw, cheer up," he said, patting her shoulder affectionately . "Say, how would you two girls like to hear some really hot new CDs ? The sound system I've got set up downstairs is totally awesome . Anyway, I think we could use a little distraction from all the gloom and doom around here . A little dancing might be just the thing ."

"Sounds great to me," Nancy said . "Bess ?"

"Great idea, Philip," Bess said, finishing her dish of sorbet and getting up . "Lead the way ."

He guided them out through the kitchen and down the back stairs to the basement level, where an enormous space had been created for Philip's personal use . "Make yourselves at home down here," he told Nancy and Bess . "I've got to go up to my room and get the CDs . I was listening to them last night in bed ."

Nancy and Bess used the time to call home and explore . There were billiard and Ping-Pong tables, and a parquet dance floor, complete with lighting effects available at the push of a button . They were just beginning to wonder what happened to Philip when he showed up, carrying a handful of disks . "Wait till you hear the sound quality down here," he said enthusiastically .

Nancy marveled at how easily he shrugged off the evening's worries . Maybe Philip had the right idea, she thought, as he twirled her onto the dance floor . Maybe if she stopped concentrating so hard on the case, some answers might just come to her . She let herself give in to the steady pulse of the music .

As they danced, with Bess playing with the high-tech equalizer controls, Nancy again felt a strong attraction for Philip Pierce .

"Tell me something," he said to Nancy as they took a break while Bess removed the CD from the deck . "Would you have gone out with me if you'd known I'd be flat broke in a week ?"

Nancy took his hand, looking him straight in the eye . "I didn't go out with you because you were rich," she said .

"Ah . You wanted to investigate me," he remembered .

Nancy shook her head . "That's not why, either ."

"I'd better open the window," Philip said as he released her . "It's getting warm in here ."

He reached up and opened the basement window . As soon as he did, they hard an unmistakable sound . A scream . Nila's scream ! Then another and another and another . . . . .

The basement door flew open and Cecilia was standing there . "Come quickly !" she told them . "I think something's happened to Uncle Charles !"
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