into the quiet loading dock area. In five lunging steps she was up the ramp and facing a narrow door. It wasnât locked. She slipped inside, finding herself in a dimly lit stairwellâthe fire stairs.
Mimiâs studio is on the second and third floors, she reminded herself. Her pulse raced at the thrill of being inside. She climbed a few steps.
Then Nancy felt a hand close over her shoulder. Another gripped her upper arm and yanked her back down the stairs.
Chapter
Six
S TRUGGLING TO STAY on her feet, Nancy stumbled down to the landing. The quick descent sent her twisting around, and suddenly she was face-to-face with the burly guard from the lobby.
âNot so fast,â he growled like a bulldog ready to attack. âHeyâyouâre the girl from before.â He darted a look up the stairs, then added, âWhereâs your friend?â
âSheâs waiting outside,â Nancy answered.
âWell, if youâre lying, she wonât get far. Nobody ever does.â He released Nancy and put his hands on his hips. âSo youâre a design student? Letâs see your student ID.â
âIâI didnât bring it with me,â Nancy said, clutching the shoulder bag that hung at her side.
âYeah, sure.â The guard screwed up his face ashe assessed her, then pointed her toward a door. Nancy went through the door first and found that she was back in the lobby. From that angle, she could see the half-dozen monitors concealed behind the guardâs station.
âI donât know what you kids think youâll find up there,â the guard said, âbut youâre not going to score any points with Ms. Piazza by sneaking into her studio. Next time you wonât get off so easily,â he warned as he escorted Nancy to the front door.
When Nancy emerged through the main entrance, Bess was waiting there. She did a double take. âWhat happened?â she asked.
âI got snagged,â Nancy said, explaining how sheâd run into the guard. âI didnât realize they had surveillance cameras everywhere.â
âThat place is guarded like a fortress,â Bess said. âWhat next?â
âWe can walk over to Beauâs studio,â Nancy said, heading down Seventh Avenue. âItâs only four blocks from here.â
âSo I guess Mimi Piazza is a dead end,â Bess said, turning her head to watch as a man rolled a rack of plaid jumpers in plastic bags past them.
âNot yet,â Nancy said, weaving through a group of men who were loading bolts of fabric into a truck. âIâm more determined than ever to check out Mimi Piazza. I just have to figure out how to get close to her.â
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
When Nancy and Bess arrived at Beauâs studio, they found the designer in his office, reviewing sketches with Angel Ortiz. Eager for an update on the case, Beau sent Angel off and closed the door. âAny new developments?â Beau asked the girls.
Nancy told him about her thwarted attempt to sneak into Mimiâs studio.
âKicked out?â Beau winced. âSorry, Nancy. I could have told you that would happen if Iâd known your plan. Nobody gets past the security guards in Mimiâs building.â
âBut thereâs got to be some way to find out whatâs going on at Mimiâs studio,â she said.
âHer show is on Thursday,â Beau said. âMimi always presents her new line at her studio. Sheâs afraid to let her collection leave the building.â
âThen weâll go to her show,â Bess suggested.
âThe only problem is, you need to get on the guest list,â Beau pointed out, âand thatâs impossible unless youâre a buyer, a magazine editor, or a celebrity.â
âCould Jill get us in?â Bess asked.
âSheâs in Tokyo,â Nancy reminded her.
Beau shook his head. âIf you think security was tight
Major Dick Winters, Colonel Cole C. Kingseed