The Dubious Pageant

CHAPTER ONE


Katie Spencer was relaxing on a lounge chair next to the hotel swimming pool.
The teen detective was at the Sheraton Resort in Tampa, Florida. She was
spending her spring break, visiting relatives who reside north of Clearwater.
Her older cousin, Julie, was a contestant in the Miss Florida Teen Pageant,
which was being held at the hotel during a weeklong extravaganza. The winner
will then go on to represent the state of Florida in the Miss Teen USA Pageant
in Los Angeles later in the fall.

When Katie heard that Julie was competing, she saw the perfect opportunity to
visit family she had not seen in a while. Katie was fascinated at witnessing a
televised beauty pageant from behind the scenes, and even though she should be
enjoying herself, she was deeply troubled at the moment.

>>From the start of the pageant, strange and suspicious events had been
occurring. One of the contestants had been injured when a spotlight fell onto
the stage during a rehearsal, another girl had found her evening gown
shredded, which caused her to miss an important part of the competition, and
several other contestants were forced to drop out after a mysterious attack of
food poisoning occurred following a pageant luncheon.

It was obvious that someone was trying to sabotage the pageant. But who? And
why? That's what Katie was pondering as she bathed in the warm sun. She prided
herself as being an amateur sleuth, and loved solving mysteries, plus given
the fact that her cousin had a very good chance of winning the pageant, she
was especially determined to get to the bottom of this one.

Katie had narrowed her suspicions down to two people""the first was Suzanne
Wainright. The eighteen-year-old contestant was last year's runner-up, and was
a favorite to win the whole thing this year. Her angelic face and public
graciousness however, as everyone who knew her realized, belied the fact that
she was extremely arrogant and obnoxious, traits that she had obviously picked
up from her overbearing, omni-present mother, Gail. Katie had no doubt that
Suzanne, and her mother were ruthless enough to do whatever was necessary to
eliminate her rivals, and she had also skipped the luncheon where the tainted
food had been served.

The other suspect she thought was Harriet Stanton, a local feminist activist
who had launched a high profile public relations campaign to discredit the
pageant. She had been quoted in several newsclips as saying that she would do
everything she could to shut down the pageant.

But Katie had her doubts. After all, she reasoned, if Harriet were planning to
harm the contestants, why would she speak so publicly; to do so would only
draw attention to herself, attention a saboteur would not want. Katie knew she
was going to have to do some more investigating ...

CHAPTER TWO

Looking off into the distance, Katie spotted Suzanne and Gail hurrying from
the hotel as they were running late for rehearsals of tonight's competition.
Now might be a good time to do some detective work ... Katie thought as she
rose up from her chair and grabbed her oversized white T-shirt. She placed it
over her yellow one-piece swimsuit, then slipped on her white flip-flop
sandals, and headed back to the hotel.

Katie knew the room number where the Wainrights were staying, but she was not
entirely sure how she was going to get into it, however. Luck was on her side
though, for as she reached the room, she noticed a maid coming out of an
adjoining room. Katie decided to try an old trick she had seen on TV.

"Excuse me ... " she said to the housekeeper with all the confidence she could
muster, "but I'm staying in Room 316 there, and I accidentally forgot my key
card in the room when I went down to the pool. Is there any chance you could
unlock the door for me so I could go get it?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, and Katie thought she would refuse her
request, but then the woman smiled at her.

"Well, I'm not supposed to do this, but okay, just this once. You look honest
enough."

The maid pulled out her master key and unlocked the door.

"Thank you very much," Katie said, and she went inside ...

CHAPTER THREE

The room was actually a large two-bedroom suite similar to the one that Katie
was sharing with her cousin, and she wasn't sure where to begin. She wasn't
even sure what she was looking for exactly, so she began looking through the
drawers and cabinets trying to find some incriminating evidence. She went
through everything she could find in the living room and what appeared to be
Suzanne's bedroom, but found nothing.

Katie started to feel guilty. Maybe she was wrong about the Wainrights. Her
instincts were often right, but there was always a first time to be wrong.
When she went into Gail's room, however, she struck paydirt.

In the corner of the room was a small desk. Several of the drawers were empty,
but the large, double-sized drawer was locked. Thinking quickly, Katie removed
the drawer above it, allowing her to reach her small hand through the opening
and manipulate the drawer's lock from the inside. With a little effort, she
was unable to unlock the drawer.

Inside, she found a large envelope containing photos of all the girls in the
pageant along with detailed notes about each girl, including their schedules
for the week's events. Where did Gail Wainright get all this information from?
Even more disturbing was the fact that all the girls who had been forced to
drop out of the pageant had a large red 'X' drawn on them. Gail is definitely
up to something ...

There was more incriminating evidence in the drawer. A pair of heavy duty wire
cutters, and a large medicine bottle, now almost empty, bearing a warning
label that excessive dosage may cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

There was now no question in Katie's mind that the Wainrights were the ones
sabotaging the pageant. The only question she had was what to do with the
evidence she had found. It wasn't enough for the police to act upon, and even
if it were, she would have to explain how she obtained it. No, she couldn't go
to the police. She could express her concerns to the director of security for
the pageant. That seemed the best course of action.

Suddenly, from the other room, Katie heard the sound of the front door opening
and the sound of Gail's voice speaking with someone else. Katie gasped! If
Gail found her there in the room, she'd be in big trouble. She had to hide and
fast!

CHAPTER FOUR

As quietly as she could, Katie slipped the evidence back into the drawer and
slid it closed. She peered around the corner of the bedroom door for just an
instant, and was surprised to see that the person Gail was talking to was
Roger Paulson, one of the pageant officials. As quickly as possible, she
scampered back into the bedroom, and ducked into the closet as the voices came
closer. She left the door open a crack so she could hear what was being said.
Only a moment after, the two of them entered the bedroom.

"Look, I'm doing all I can ... " said Roger, " ... but I can't be too obvious
about it. Besides, most of the judges are really stuck on Julie Spencer. But
I'm trying my best to get them to change their minds."

"Well, that's not good enough!" snapped Gail. "My daughter is going to be the
next Miss Teen USA and there's no two ways about it. And I don't think I need
to remind you that if you want your portion of the $100,000 prize, you better
make sure that you do your part. $25,000 will go a long way toward paying off
those gambling debts of yours."

Katie couldn't believe what she was hearing. The two of them are trying to rig
the pageant! This was far more serious than she originally thought. Now she
was definitely going to have to go to the authorities""if she got out of this
room.

"Listen ... " Gail continued, "I'm going to take care of the front-runner. You
just take care of your end."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nevermind. It's better that you don't know."

"Look, I don't like this. People are getting suspicious. Besides, I don't want
anyone else getting hurt."

"The problem with you Roger, is that you're weak. If you want to be a winner,
you have to be strong. I am strong, and so is my daughter, and she will be the
winner! Now let me get my briefcase that I forgot, and we'll be on our way."

Katie heard footsteps approaching the closet, and she pressed her slender body
against the sidewall as much as she could. The closet was not especially deep,
but Katie hoped the long dresses inside it would hide her presence. The door
opened slightly and Gail leaned in, her hand grasping for her briefcase. She
grabbed the case, but then hesitated for a moment. Katie silently drew in her
breath and tried to will the woman not to look in her direction. Gail paused
for only a second, but it seemed like an eternity to Katie. Then she left and
closed the door. Katie breathed a sigh of relief ... she was safe.

Katie began thinking about what her next move should be for it sounded like
Julie was in potential danger. She could take the evidence she had found and
then she would report ... Suddenly, the closet door was flung wide open and
the dresses were shoved aside violently, and Katie found herself face to face
with a very angry looking Gail Wainright! CHAPTER FIVE

At first, Katie was too surprised to react until Gail grabbed her by the arm
and dragged her from the closet, then she began struggling furiously, trying
to break free of the woman's grasp.

"Well, well, well ... What do we have here?" sneered Gail.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Katie said emphatically. She fought with all of her
youthful strength to escape, but Gail was surprisingly strong, and she wrapped
her arms around Katie, pinning her arms against her sides. Kattie could feel
the warm breath against her ear as Gail held her immobile.

Roger, meanwhile, was dumbstruck by what he was witnessing. "What the ... ?
What's going on here? Who's she?"

"I believe that this is Julie Spencer's cousin. I've noticed her poking her
nose around the pageant."

"What's she doing here?" Roger exclaimed.

"Spying on us no doubt. Isn't that right, dearie?" Gail snickered at her
captive.

"Leave me alone. Let me go," Katie cried out.

"How much did you hear?" Roger asked. "How much does she know?"

"I heard everything," Katie said with as much forcefulness as she could muster
in her voice. "The two of you are in big trouble. I'm going to report your
scheme to the police. You'll both be going to jail for a long time."

"Hah! You'll never get the chance!" said Gail with a cackle that sent a shiver
down Katie's spine.

"What are we going to do?" asked Roger, nervously wringing his hands.

"We'll have to tie her up. Bring me some of those silk scarves from the other
room," Gail ordered to her tense partner.

"What are you talking about? Tie her up?" Roger said flabbergasted.

"Until we decide what to do with her."

"I don't like this ... " he said worryingly.

"We have no choice. It's too late to back out now. You're in too deep, and she
knows too much. Now bring me those scarves!" Gail yelled.

Roger reluctantly went to the other room. Katie knew she was in deep trouble,
so she decided to scream. "Help meeee ... mmmmph!" Gail clamped her hand over
Katie's mouth.

"Oh, you little minx. We'll have to gag her too." She called out to Roger,
"Bring something to keep her quiet!"

Katie tried once again to break Gail's iron hold on her, but she could not.
The intrepid girl detective was gripped by fear!

CHAPTER SIX

Gail finished tying the last of the scarves around Katie's slender ankles as
she sat on the floor of the closet she was just in. "There ... that should
hold our little Nancy Drew," she said and stood up inspecting her work at
restraining the teen sleuth. Katie's arms were pressed behind her back with
her wrists bound securely together, and her mouth was gagged tightly as a wad
of cloth was stuffed in her mouth with a scarf holding it in place.

"What are we going to do with her?" Roger asked uneasily as he couldn't stop
sweating.

"We'll have to get rid of her somehow ... " Gail answered back simply.

Katie drew back at those words. She realized that Gail was not playing with a
full deck, but now she was talking about murder, and worse, she was referring
to Katie when she did.

"Oh ... " Roger moaned, " ... this is more than I signed up for."

"We don't have a choice. I don't know about you, but I for one do not want to
go to prison."

"Prison? Oh, I feel faint ... " he replied shakily as he looked as though he
was going to.

"Look, come with me." Gail glanced back at Katie, trussed and helpless, and
closed the closet door on her. "We'll have to figure something out ... " She
took Roger by the arm and led him from the bedroom, slamming the door behind
her.

After she heard them leaving the room, Katie struggled to free her hands, but
the scarf held on strongly. She knew something awful was going to happen to
Julie, but was powerless to prevent it at the moment. "Hhhhhmmm ...
HHHHHHMMMMMM!" she cried out as loud as she could through her stuffed mouth,
hoping that someone outside the room would happen to hear her, which she felt
was a long shot at best due to the layers of walls between here and the
hallway absorbing her muffled wails.

She continued to struggle against her tight bonds for she knew that when the
competition tonight was finished, it was certainly going to be that for her as
well. Seeing that she wasn't going to get herself free of the scarves, Katie
managed to stand up by sliding her back against the wall of the closet, then
moved her body so that her bound hands were grasping the doorknob. Turning it
opened, Katie suddenly fell out of the closet landing right into the bedroom
on her back. Fortunately the room was plush carpeted so her fall wasn't so
painful. Sitting herself up, she moved her bound feet over to her hands and
tried to undo the scarf around her ankles, but she couldn't get a good grasp
at the tight knot. She did, however, remove the flip-flops off her feet. Using
the double-sized bed in the room, Katie pulled herself back up and hopped over
to the door.

Carefully opening it, Katie peered through into the spacious living area and
saw no one present""it was very quiet like they had already left. She began
hopping towards the main door when she happened to notice something over in
the corner of her eye. Turning towards it, she let out a muffled gasp as she
saw Roger lying face up on the carpeted floor behind the couch, with his eyes
closed!

Concerned for him, Katie turned and made her way over, kneeling right beside
his insert form. The scarf used to strangle him was still looped around his
neck and he was clearly dead. Even though he was an accomplice to Gail's
wicked plan, he certainly didn't deserve this fate.

Fearful that she'll be next, Katie quickly stood back up with help from the
couch and hopped as fast as she could out of there. Reaching the exit, she
struggled with the heavy door after opening it to get through. Slipping her
smallish body out of the suite, she stood in the dimly lit hallway of the
hotel. Eyeing the elevator up ahead, Katie proceeded over there when she
noticed the light above it suddenly illuminated, indicating that someone was
about to exit!

Smiling through her gag, Katie was elated that rescue was at hand. The doors
open and a person stepped out that caused Katie's happy expression to suddenly
change for her streak of bad luck continued as Gail Wainright stood directly
in front of the teen sleuth with a startled look on her porcelain-smooth face.

"HAAAAAAAA ... EEEEEEEEEE ... !!!" Katie wailed out loudly in the confines of
the hall as Gail rushed over to her. She immediately placed her hand over
Katie's gagged mouth, and began quickly dragging the girl back to the room.
Katie fought and struggled mightily to prevent her abductor from placing her
back into that prison of a hotel suite, but the feisty mother was determined
not to have her plans ruined and risk going to prison like she stated before.

In a flash, both women were back inside, and Gail threw Katie roughly on the
floor in a fit of anger. The teen detective landed hard on the carpet and she
grunted in pain. Turning her head back up, she saw Gail reach over to a table
and grab a small dark bottle on top of it. She opened it, spilling its
contents onto a handkerchief she withdrew from her purse.

Katie's green eyes opened with fright as she suspected at what Gail was doing.
"HAAAAAAAAAA ... !!" she screamed out again as the felonious woman then knelt
down beside her captive and placed the soaked cloth firmly over Katie's
panicked face.

"I wasn't sure how effective that gag would be at stifling your screams, so I
have something else to rectify that," Gail said as she held her other hand
behind Katie's head while the teen thrashed and writhed in her strong grasp.
Katie immediately recognized the strong scent of chloroform seeping into her
lungs. After struggling to stay awake for a couple of minutes, she had
succumbed to the drug's overpowering effects, and fell into unconsciousness.

"There you go ... now sleep, dearie ... " Gail said in a mock motherly tone, "
... because it just might be your last nap, ever."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Julie Spencer was currently in the expansive dressing room backstage that was
reserved for the contestants, finishing with her make-up for she wanted to
look absolute perfect as tonight's part of the competition was the evening
gown presentation. She wore a gorgeous blue-sequined strapless gown, which
hugged her athletically-built form into a sultry hour-glass shape. She had
been in beauty pageants ever since she was ten, and had won several trophies,
but this competition was, of course, the biggest she had ever faced, and
besides the fame and glory of being Miss Teen Florida, it was the college
scholarship that she had her sights on. With that prize, she could practically
go to any university she desired and pursue her career in the mental health
field.

She glanced over to her left, eyeing her rival, Suzanne Wainright, primping in
front of the large mirror in her fiery red satin gown like she was some
goddess that was entitled to win the pageant. It was people like her that made
Julie want to compete for she represented the 'little guy' that someone from
nowhere could make something of themselves with just good old fashioned hard
work""a creed in her upbringing.

"You better hurry up, Julie, it's almost time to go out stage ... " Suzanne
announced as she made her way to the exit door, leaving the seventeen-year-old
blonde all alone. Julie was a bit bothered by the fact that she hasn't seen
Katie at all backstage for she has joined her every night in the competition
thus far. She guessed that she decided to join her parents instead in the
audience for her younger brother, David, was not in the least bit interested
in attending a pageant, and her even younger sister, Lila, was a bit too young
to stay out late for the show.

Putting the final touch of crimson lipstick on her full lips, Julie heard the
sound of footsteps approaching from behind her. Realizing that it was most
likely Mrs. Carrington, the pageant administrator (and drill sergeant to the
girls) giving her another lecture about being tardy, Julie turned to face her
when suddenly she saw Suzanne standing right in front of her and she swiftly
placed a piece of cloth forcibly over Julie's face, muffling her surprised
cry. Julie tried to fight off the teen girl for her years at playing softball
and soccer had made her strong and agile, but Suzanne was surprisingly brawny
for someone of her size as she kept her tight hold on the startled teen
beauty.

The cloth pressed against her had a strong, medicinal odor coming from it that
was beginning to make her feel weak and drowsy. Her blue eyes fluttered as the
drug was finally taking effect and she then collapsed, but Suzanne had caught
her before she fell to the floor. She then quickly dragged the sleeping beauty
to a corner of the room where another door was situated. The door opened and
Gail appeared, looking pleased with her daughter.

"You better get out there fast before they suspect you with Julie's
disappearance," Gail said sternly as she took Julie off her daughter's hands.
Suzanne quickly placed the small bottle of chloroform and the rag into her
mother's purse.

"Thanks again for taking care of everything," Suzanne said genially.

"You just win that pageant now ... for there's nothing left to stand in your
way of the crown." Gail looked down at the passed out girl she held in her
arms with a wicked smile on her face ...

CHAPTER EIGHT

Katie felt her world spinning as she could see blurred images appear from her
drug-induced haze. The chloroform was beginning to wear off as her vision then
cleared, and so did her senses. She quickly realized that she was still bound
and gagged, but sitting on the big easy chair with her feet propped up.
Strands of rope were wrapped securely around her chest, binding her to the
plush chair. Looking off to her right, her green eyes bulged in shock as she
saw Julie lying down on the sofa, tied hand and foot with rope, and her mouth
was gagged with a white cloth fixed snugly between her rosy lips. She was out
cold as Katie ascertained that her cousin was most likely drugged from the
same chloroform.

Behind her sleeping cousin, Katie could see that Roger was no longer lying on
the floor as before. Gail was no doubt making sure she cleaned her tracks
well, which meant that they were next ...

As if right on cue, Gail entered from the bedroom with a look of victory on
her smug face. "I see you've met your 'roommate', dearie ... " she laughed,
noticing that Katie was now awake. Katie, in turn, grumbled in anger in
response through her gag at Gail's wickedness of seeing that her daughter wins
that pageant at all costs.

"I bet you're probably wondering what I plan on doing with the both of you ...
" Katie slowly nodded 'yes' not sure if she really wanted to know. "I hear
that alligators can tear a person's body apart in just over a minute. I read
about that on the Internet ... I'm wondering how long it would take to finish
the both of you ... " she said ominously at the terrified teen girl who looked
back at her demented captor with petrified eyes!

CHAPTER NINE

The rope binding Katie's chest to the chair was freed, and Gail scooped up the
nimble 19-year-old in her arms over to a large laundry bin located in the
corner of the room and was placed inside. Katie tried to climb herself up in
it, but the wheels on the bottom of the cart kept rolling, causing her to
continually stumble. A moment later, she heard faint moaning sounds
approaching and looked up to see Gail carrying Julie""who was now beginning to
stir""over to her, and placed the teen beauty right next to her in the bin.

Julie was soon fully awake and was shocked at seeing Katie all tied up, and
discovering her as well! She looked up in complete astonishment at seeing Gail
quickly tossing an assortment of towels and sheets on top of them. The two
distessed cousins struggled frantically in the cramped space of the bin as the
pile of linens concealed them effectively as well as further reducing their
already muffled cries.

The sensation of motion was then felt as Gail began wheeling the cart out of
the suite. Not able to break free her bound hands behind her back, Julie
kicked off the silver high-heeled pumps she wore and rubbed her nyloned-feet
against the ropes around her ankles in an effort at trying to free them
instead. Katie was moving her head amongst the multitude of linens, and she
was able to see her cousin's terrified face.

Using what little teeth that were exposed from the scarf lodged in her mouth,
Katie tried repeatedly at grasping Julie's gag in an effort on removing it,
but she could not get a good enough hold on it. In contrast, Julie's was a bit
too thick that her teeth were lodged in the soft fabric so she couldn't use
them in turn to free her cousin's colorful muzzle.

Some more noises were then heard, and then sensation of descending was soon
felt as both girls realized that they were now in an elevator going down""most
likely the service one, Katie surmised. A few more minutes later of moving
around, the linens were suddenly removed. Gail reached in and grabbed Julie by
the torso, standing up her tall winsome frame, and then lifting her out of the
bin.

Katie, meanwhile, was busy trying to slip her feet into Julie's pumps, but
only managed to get one on when Gail returned for her. Lying on her back,
Katie raised her legs up and tried ramming the tall stiletto heel at the vile
woman as she tried to reach for her. Gail easily avoided Katie's assault and
grabbed her feet, swatting the pump off. However, Katie wasn't about to give
in so easily and surprised Gail by shifting her short, but strong legs, and
kicking her abductor hard in the face. Gail let go of her and cried out as she
held her nose in pain.

With her legs still raised up, Katie launched herself forward, causing the bin
to turn on its side and was now sitting in an upright position! In a flash,
the teen detective was shuffling herself out using her trussed legs, but Gail
quickly recovered from her blow and grabbed Katie by her hair roughly. She
winced at the intense pain Gail was administering and she was dragged up to
her feet. The angry woman punched her swimsuit-clad captive hard in the
stomach, causing her to cough faintly through her gag.

"Looks like it's the end of the line for you, Miss detective ... " Gail said
with a harsh tone.

Katie was then quickly placed alongside Julie in the confined space of the
trunk of a car. Gail also tossed Julie's shoes in and slammed the large door
over them. The two frightened cousins were positioned as their heads were next
to the other's bound feet. The sound of the car engine roared to life and the
vehicle began to move. Julie started to sob faintly as she figured it was all
over for them now. Katie, however, was not as easily defeated as she tried to
think of something ... anything, that could save them both before they became
alligator lunch!

CHAPTER TEN

Katie's eyes began to adjust to the darkness surrounding her, as she was able
to see the extents of the cramped, stuffy prison of the trunk. Looking around,
she saw something faint in the far corner of the trunk near her feet that
caught her interest""the rear taillight of the car!

Using the heels of her bare feet, she struck at the housing that enclosed the
light very hard repeatedly until it finally was dislodged from its frame. The
trunk brightened up a bit as a sliver of sunlight was shone through the small
gap of where the taillight was fixed on. With the light busted out, Katie
prayed that a cop would see that and pull them over.

As she lied there, Katie was beginning to wonder if being a junior sleuth and
solving mysteries was really worth getting killed over. You would think that
after my last three cases I would've learned by now ... Why do I have to be so
damn curious!

But this time was different because now her cousin's life was also in
jeopardy. Katie still couldn't believe the length that some people will go in
order to get what they want. Even if the worst-case scenario occurred and both
she and Julie were dead, Katie at least hoped that Gail will get what she
deserved""prison time for the rest of her pathetic life.

It was at that moment of deep despair that Katie heard the sweetest sound in
the whole world""a police siren. She expected the car to stop any moment, but
it just kept on driving. Katie was confused. Maybe they didn't notice the
broken light and they're after someone else ... Of course that theory was
thrown out completely when she felt the car accelerating and driving a bit
erratically. Gail is trying to outrun the cops, but will they be able to stop
her?

Katie and Julie slammed into each other and against the sides of the trunk as
the car took a sharp right turn and ended up on some bumpy road. Julie's head
pounded against the lid of the trunk as the car kept going at top speed. More
sirens were now heard as the high-speed chase continued.

Then without warning, the car came to a sudden stop, causing the trussed girls
to slam into each other again. The sound of a car door opening was then heard
and soon after the sirens rapidly approached and ceased. Realizing that cops
must be close by, the Spencer cousins both kicked furiously at the trunk lid
and yelled out as loud as their gags permitted. Voices and the sound of metal
scratching along the side of trunk were soon heard.

Finally the trunk lid was opened and both girls' eyes squinted at the sudden
brightness of the setting sun in the distance as they saw two police officers
looking down at them with stunned expressions on their faces. One of them
reached down and lifted Katie up gently out of the trunk, and the other
officer assisted Julie out as well. In a flash, their gags and bindings were
removed. Over in the distance Katie spotted Gail being taken into custody by
two more police officers.

"Are you ladies both okay?" one of the officers asked with deep concern.

"Yeah, we're fine. Thank you for rescuing us," Katie said with a big sigh of
relief.

"You're just lucky that car you were in had a busted taillight," the other
officer stated.

Julie gave her cousin a knowingly smile at her quick thinking for it saved
both their lives. The two girls then embraced one another, thankful they were
now safe and out of harm's way.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Two days later, Katie and Julie were in their hotel room packing their bags,
while Julie's parents were waiting for them down in the main lobby.

"I still can't believe they cancelled the pageant," Katie said dismayed.

"They didn't cancel it," Julie responded. "They just postponed it for a few
months. It's only fair really. At least they let us stay the rest of the week,
and you got a nice reward too."

"Yes, but you were a shoo-in to win it all."

"Awww, you're sweet. The really important thing is that we're alright, and
that despicable Gail Wainright is going to jail for a long time. I can't
believe she wanted Suzanne to win so badly that she was willing to actually
commit murder to make that happen ... " Shortly after her detainment, Gail
confessed to where she hid Roger Paulson tied up in a janitor's closet, and
the police had also arrested him on charges for conspiracy. Suzanne was also
detained when it was learned that she too was involved in her mother's plot to
fix the pageant.

"Well, if you had gone through the cases I experienced, you'd believe it,"
Katie answered her.

"Just tell me one thing, how is it that you manage to get yourself into some
sort of trouble wherever you go?"

"I can't help it if I'm curious by nature. But don't worry, this is the last
mystery I will ever try to solve."

"Katie, you know you can't lie to your cousin."

"Well ... maybe it will be my next to last mystery."

The two girls laughed and resumed their packing.