Work Text:
Nancy, There is No Mystery
By: Snarky Granger
“Andy, what’s the matter?”
Miranda overhears Nigel, her senior Art Director ask her assistant. Miranda swivels her head towards Andrea to see that she has a deer in headlight look upon her face. They are at Central Park doing a photoshoot with two All-American models.
“Andrea?” purrs Miranda.
“Yes, Miranda?” Andrea replies automatically while staring at someone or something.
“What are you looking at?”
“A young woman who looks lost,” Andrea points to a young woman in her early twenties with titan shoulder-length hair, “she looks familiar to me.”
Miranda and Nigel both look at the young lady and then smile at each other.
“Andrea, why don’t you bring Nancy to me.”
“You know her?”
“Yes. Now run along.”
Andrea scurries to the young woman and catches her attention by waving at her. Nancy has a puzzled look etched on her face until she sees beyond the brunette and sees Miranda smirking at her. Nancy’s face lights up in delight.
Miranda gives her a quick look over and sees that she hasn’t changed her look. Nigel chuckles when he sees Miranda’s lips purse.
“We can see that she still isn’t dressed fashionably as you like but I think she does that on purpose.” Nigel smiles as he opens his arms to hug Nancy. “Nancy Drew, what a pleasure to see you again.”
“Wait? You’re Nancy Drew, the supersleuth?” Andrea gushes excitedly.
“Andrea, get a hold of yourself.”
“Hi Andrea,” Nancy sticks out her hand to Andrea. “Nice to meet you.” Nancy turns her head towards Miranda. “Miranda, it is great to see you and Nigel again in better circumstances.”
“Yes, it is,” Miranda nods. “I am so glad you were able to solve my little mystery.” Nancy turns to Miranda fully after she shakes Andy’s hand. “Now are you staying with your Aunt?”
“No, we decided to stay at the Hilton to be closer to the theaters and restaurants plus I love running in Central Park in the mornings.”
“So do I!” Andy chimes. “I still can’t believe I finally get to meet you.”
“How do you know me?” Nancy inquires.
“I went to Northwestern for college.”
“Great college, I almost went there but I didn’t want to be in a city for school.”
“I can understand that but anyways, the Chicago Tribune always posted something about you and solving cases.” Andrea’s brown eyes lit up when she makes a connection. “That’s how I know Bess Marvin,” as she snaps her fingers. “From the articles.”
“Oh, you know, Bess, good. Now can you tell me where she is because I need to talk to her?” Nancy looks at her three companions.
“Of course, we do. She is working the photoshoot with Patrick.” Miranda answers. “Is it important?”
“Well, it could wait but it involves her cousin, George Fayne.” Nancy rubs her neck sheepishly.
“Ah…the young lady that you were with the last time I saw you.”
“Yes, Miranda. I need advice only a best friend can give.”
Miranda looks into Nancy’s blue eyes and sees the worry within them. She nods. “Nigel, please tell Patrick to take five and get Bess to that tent over there so they can have some privacy.”
“Yes, Miranda.” Nigel hurries off to relay the messages.
“Nancy, follow me please.” Miranda spins around in her heels and walks towards a medium tent with two chairs for the models to use for changing. She opens the flap and lets Nancy in. “I will make sure that no one interrupts your discussion.”
“Thank you, Miranda.” Nancy breathes a sigh of relief as she enters the tent and takes a seat.
“Patrick, I need you to take five please because one of the models is needed.”
“But Nigel, we are just getting started,” Patrick lets out an exasperated sigh.
“Sorry, but Miranda’s orders and we don’t want to anger the dragon when she is granting the wish for the model’s friend.”
“Right,” Patrick groans. “TAKE FIVE!”
Nigel turns towards the models, “Bess, can you come with me?”
Bess Marvin, a young blond, blue-eyed lady, looks at Nigel in confusion. “What’s the matter?”
“Nancy is here to talk to you.”
“Nancy?” Bess mutters, “As in Nancy Drew?” Nigel nods. “I wasn’t supposed to meet her until dinner time. Something must be troubling her enough to disrupt me at work.” Bess follows Nigel towards the changing tent. “In here?”
“Yes. Miranda wanted you two to have some privacy.” Nigel lifts the flap to let Bess in.
“Oh, okay. Give her a thank you from me.” Nigel dips his head as Bess enters the tent seeing her best friend pacing and her hands fidgeting. “Nancy?”
Nancy whips around, “Bess!” Nancy scampers over to hug her friend. “I can’t find George.”
“What?” Bess pulls away confused. “You lost George in New York City?”
“I was taking a nap after you left this morning because I knew we would be busy later and when I woke up, she wasn’t there in the room.” Nancy throws her hands up in the air. “There was no note in the room or the desk or answering her cell.”
“Huh? That isn’t like George not to answer her phone. Maybe she was in the subway and the call didn’t go through?”
“I thought that and tried again three times. The last one went straight to voice mail.”
“Maybe she went on an errand and thought she would be back before you woke up?”
“Why go somewhere and not leave a message?”
“I don’t know, Nancy.” Bess shakes her head. “You know that she is spontaneous.”
“True,” Nancy nods her head, “It’s one of the things that I love about her.”
“I know.”
Meanwhile, outside of the tent, a dark-haired young lady, wearing a pixie cut and a Donna Karan outfit with Jimmy Choos, walks around the photoshoot looking for her cousin. George spots Miranda Priestly, the iconic silver hair gives her away, and strolls over to Miranda.
Miranda must have felt the woman coming because she glances her way and smiles as she completes her turn. “Hello, Georgia.” Miranda gives her two air kisses. She glances at her and gives her a nod of approval, which makes George grin. “Are you looking for Nancy or Bess?”
“Yes, I was looking for either one of them. I left to do an errand while Nancy took a nap this morning. I didn’t think to leave a note or turn my phone on. Oops.” George looking sheepishly.
“Oh Georgia, silly girl.” Miranda shakes her head. “Well, have no fear, they are both in that tent over there.” Miranda points to the changing tent that she let the girls use. “I do need to get Bess back on the set so Patrick can stop muttering to himself.”
“Ah. Gotcha. Sorry about us disrupting your photoshoot. Nancy probably panicked because she couldn’t find me and went to the one person that could calm her, who is my cousin.”
Miranda waved it off. “Go get your girl and allow me to take mine back temporarily for the time being.”
“Alright, thank you for helping Nancy out.”
“It’s the least that I can do for her since she helped me out a couple of times.”
George starts to walk over to the tent when she is nearly intercepted by a young woman with long brown hair.
“Andrea, let her pass and get me a cup of coffee.”
“Yes, Miranda,” Andrea jolts out her position as guardian of the tent to follow Miranda’s command.
George winks at Miranda before she disappears into the tent. Miranda silently laughs to herself before her work face slides back in place. “Nigel, tell Patrick we will be ready to go in a minute. The issue is being resolved as we speak.” Nigel rushes off to find the photographer.
The two girls turn to look who is interrupting them and smile when they see George. “Hey ladies.” She gives Bess a gentle hug so she wouldn’t crush her outfit, and turns to Nancy with an apologetic face. “I am so sorry to worry you, Nancy. I forgot to leave a message and I didn’t realize that my phone was turned off until I got back to the hotel.”
“You had me worried, George.” Nancy pleads with her. “I had to talk to Bess even though I knew she was at work.”
“Speaking of work, Miranda would love for you to go back to the set so Patrick can get his shots,” George informs Bess.
“Right,” Bess affirms, “and I assume that you have everything under control?” Bess looks into her cousin’s eyes. George gives Bess a subtle nod, which makes Bess smile. “Nancy, you will be fine now with George here and I will see you both later for dinner.” Bess starts to walk to exit the tent and she looks back before leaving, “Oh, by the way, Nancy, I hope you change before we see each other again later.”
George laughs out loud as she exits the tent.
“What’s wrong with what I am wearing?” Nancy looks down at her comfy jeans and t-shirt and pouts.
“Absolutely nothing, love,” George wraps her arms around Nancy, “it’s just not something that Miranda would approve of.” Nancy rolls her eyes. “I know that you don’t care about looks unless it is for something fancy like a dance or dinner out.” George gives Nancy a peck on the lips. “I am so sorry for making you worried.” George hugs Nancy tightly. I didn’t think I would be gone that long.”
“It’s alright, hun,” Nancy murmurs into her ear. “I should have waited for you.” Nancy looks at George’s outfit. “Girl, you look so good. Shall we get out of here before we get on Miranda’s bad side?” Nancy wiggles her eyebrow.
“Sure, let’s get a light lunch since it will be a while before Bess joins us for dinner.” George holds out her hand for her to take.
Nancy smiles as she joins George and gives her another kiss on the cheek. “I love you, George.”
“I love you, too, Nance.” George holds open the flap as they walk out of the tent. They see Bess getting positioned for her next shots. They walk over to Miranda and Nigel. George sees that Andrea is back with Miranda’s coffee and thought to herself, she is efficient at her position. “Miranda, Nigel, and Andrea thank you for your patience today. It means the world to the both of us.”
Nancy nods in agreement. “Yes, I was uncharacteristically out of sorts. Seeing George walk into the tent calmed me down faster than Bess’s usually calm demeanor.”
“I am glad that it all worked itself out. At least, it wasn’t a mystery.” Miranda droned, which made everyone laugh.
“Yes, thank the lord, it wasn’t a mystery.” Nancy beams. “George, let’s go. The smell of Miranda’s coffee is making me hungry.”
“Alright, love, let’s go.” George winks at the other three before she leads Nancy away from the photoshoot.
“Well, that was interesting, Miranda.”
“Yes, it was, Nigel,” Miranda smirks as she watches them around the corner in hand and hand. “I dare say that Georgia is going to pop the question soon.”
“What makes you say that, Miranda?” Andrea queries.
“Why else would you “forget” to leave a note for your paramour?” Miranda lifts one of her eyebrows.
“Ah…I hope she went to Tiffany’s.” Nigel replies dreamily.
“She did. I think.” Bess joins the group.
“Are you done?” Miranda quips.
“No, he needed to change the batteries.” Bess sighed. “George did go out to get Nancy a ring but didn’t think to turn her phone on.
I am assuming they made up.” The others nod. “Great, at least, I know they will be in a good mood for dinner later.”
“Bess, I am ready,” Patrick barks out.
“Coming, Patrick.” Bess sighs as she goes back to the set-up.
“Bess?”
“Yes, Miranda?” Bess looks over her shoulder.
“Where are you going for dinner?”
“Le Bernardin.”
“Excellent choice.” Miranda nods approval as Bess leaves them. Miranda turns to look at Andrea, who is already pulling out her phone.
“On it boss,” Andrea walks away to make the call to pay for the meal for the three.
“She is good at her job, I’ll give you that much,” Miranda mutters to Nigel.
“Yes, she is, Miranda.” Nigel waves towards the table where there are some proofs already. “Shall we look at how they are doing?”
“Lead the way.”
Nigel and Miranda get their minds back into the setup and push aside what transpired earlier. Miranda smirks at the thought of the young lady, who helped her in the past with personal and business issues. She is grateful that Nancy Drew came into her life.
“Miranda, look at this.” Nigel shows her a picture of Bess with a beautiful smile.
“Excellent work, Patrick. This is what I am looking for in this spread.”
Patrick radiates with pride as he switches cameras as they continue to work.