Nancy pursed her lips, she wasn't quite sure though. She had taken a quick look at the photo, but the two looked so similar that it was eerie. Especially seeing the same photo, or at least what looked like the same photo on the same day. What was going on? Her eyes began to brighten with curiosity. Perhaps she might get her third mystery after all, and she might be able to work on Richard's with the help of her grandparents! Provided Mrs. Matthews gave her consent.

Nancy took a quick glance around the store. Her friends were still perusing the shelves and it looked like there was someone moving around in the back, probably Mr. Faber himself. She glanced back at the wallet. The Albany driver's license advertised the name Francis Baum with the picture of a blonde, blue-eyed, twenty-three year-old man. In fact, he looked like he could be the older version of the boy in the picture, but something seemed off to Nancy, something in the back of her mind was nagging at her, and she couldn't quite place her finger on it. And that irritated her. But she gave it no more thought, she had to find the man! She turned and rushed out the door.

"Please don't be gone yet, please don't be gone yet," she whispered. There was another vehicle parked in the parking lot. She dashed towards it. The man was sitting in the front, on his phone. She tapped on the window. He glanced up, and was surprised at seeing her.

He rolled down his window. "Can I help you?"

Nancy held up his wallet. "I believe this is yours."

He blinked before checking his back pocket. "Oh, oh, why, it is!" He shot her a smile, she thought it looked kind of forced as he reached out and took the wallet from her. "Thank you so much for finding it, Miss . . .?"

Nancy smiled. "Nancy Drew."

He held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Nancy. I'm Francis Baum. And really, I do appreciate it. Couldn't exactly go far without my cards, huh?"

Nancy chuckled softly. "No, I guess not."

"Speaking of cards, here's mine," he said, pulling out a card and handing it to her. "I run an art studio and employ several artists, one of whom I'm heading to Chicago to meet at the airport in a bit. My girlfriend in fact. If you're looking for art, call me. We both have portfolios we could show you, or even give you art lessons, if you'd like."

"Why, why thank you! I just might! I'm looking for a present for my father, but I haven't exactly found the right one just yet. That's why I'm here, in fact, to see if I can find him something."

Francis arched an eyebrow. "Cutting it a little close, huh?"

Nancy chuckled nervously. "We've both been so busy it snuck up on me this year."

Francis chuckled. "Fair point. Well, if you don't find anything, or if you still want to take a look at artwork for his birthday or a Christmas present down the road, definitely call me! I won't be able to see you later today because, like I just mentioned, I'm heading into Chicago to pick up my girlfriend, but I can squeeze you in tomorrow if you don't find anything today."

"Oh, thank you so much! I certainly hope I won't have to, but I'll be calling, just the same. I know my father is looking for some art to go into his office."

Francis beamed. "Excellent! Well then, maybe I should come on by tomorrow anyways!"

"If you don't mind! I will have to let my father and our housekeeper know, but I think they wouldn't mind having you over for dinner."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose ..."

Nancy waved her hand. "Oh nonsense, Hannah enjoys fussing over new people. It will be just us, the chief of police, and his mother, a couple more is no big deal."

"The chief of police, eh?" he asked, a hint of nervousness.

"Oh, he's a big ole softie when he's off duty," said Nancy, though she was beginning to wonder if inviting him was such a good idea after all.

"Good to know. Well, unless you call and say otherwise, my girlfriend and I will be there. Where and when?"

"Oh, right!" Nancy pulled out a pad of paper and a pen and wrote down her address and the time dinner would be served. She tore the piece of paper out and handed it to him.

"Thank you. And thank you again for returning my wallet!"

"I feel like I ought to thank you. You're helping me find something for my father!"

Francis chuckled. "Well, as they say, one good deed deserves another. I really should be going. See you tomorrow! Unless otherwise noted."

Nancy chuckled. "I will call you by nine tonight should anything change. See you tomorrow!" Francis rolled up his window and gave her a quick wave before starting up the car and leaving the parking lot. Nancy had returned the wave and watched him go. She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lord." She rushed back into the store and found that her friends were all at the counter, chatting away with a middle-aged man. He had a pair of glasses pushed up on his head.

"Nancy! Where have you been?" asked Helen as she crossed her arms.

"Oh, the gentleman who came out of the store when we came in had dropped his wallet. I managed to catch him before he left."

"That's excellent! Thank you very much, young lady!"

"You're welcome, Mr. Faber, I presume?"

The gentleman beamed and nodded as he shook her hand. "Indeed I am!"

"Wonderful! I'm Nancy Drew, pleasure to meet you. I was told to give this to you," said Nancy, pulling out the card and handing it to Mr. Faber.

"Ah! So you help return a lost wallet and an old friend of mine? You are a very kind lady."

Nancy blushed slightly at the praise. "Oh, just doing the right thing."

"What is it you are looking for?"

"A present for my father for Father's day," she replied with a wince. "I know it's such short notice, but I haven't been able to look around that much and Mrs. Alexandra thought you might be able to help."

"And I just might. What does your father like?"

Nancy thought for a moment before rattling off a list of things that her father enjoyed and many of his favorites. Mr. Faber nodded after each item, his brows deepening with thought. When Nancy finished giving him the list, he simply stood in place, deep in thought, for several minutes.

He raised a finger. "Give me a minute." He stepped out from behind the counter and perused the shelves. He came back to the counter, muttering, "It may be the only thing."

"What is?" asked Nancy as they watched him go back around the counter. He held up his finger as he reached under the counter. He straightened up, a handsome leather and silver case in his hands. The front piece was of a lovely piece of artwork, showing hunters chasing a fox. Nancy's friends oohed and aahed over the piece while Nancy could only look at it in shock. This was it! This was definitely the piece she was looking for for her father!

She held out her hands. "May I?"

"Of course!" Mr. Faber put it into her hands without hesitation. "From the look on your face, I think I have hit the nail on the head, no?"

Nancy laughed. "I think you may have! It's simply marvellous! And in Dad's style!" But she looked it over, and nearly gasped with shock at the price. Though, it should have come at no surprise that such a piece was priced at a thousand dollars. It was exquisite. "Though, um, I don't think I can get this right now," she told him, her spirits sinking.

Mr. Faber chuckled. "Ah, but I'm not finished! Since you helped both Mrs. Alexandra and that young man, I will sell it to you at half price!"

Nancy gasped. "Oh, I couldn't!"

Mr. Faber held up his hand. "I think it is only fair. Besides, I've had this since my father made it."

"Oh, then I really shouldn't ..."

Mr. Faber burst out laughing. "Oh no no, you misunderstand! My father made this to sell! It has been here a very long time. It is time it went to a good home. And with a daughter like you, I'm sure Mr. Drew will be the best person to appreciate my father's work and to use it well. Also, if you need time to pay it off, give me what you can now and pay the rest when you can."

"Oh, you are such a dear! Sold!" Nancy chuckled nervously. "Though, being able to pay it in chunks might be better."

"How much would you like to do now?"

"Hmm, give me a second. If you don't mind."

"Of course!"

Nancy pulled out her phone and checked her bank account. She bit her lip. She wasn't going to be getting her allowance until her birthday, and she had to make sure she would have enough for gas, as well as other presents, food and treats for Togo, and for herself if she wanted, and her father always suggested having a bit left over in case of emergencies. She glanced up at Mr. Faber, wincing slightly. "Would a hundred work for now? I'll be able to pay more, if not all of it off, with my next allowance."

Mr. Faber held out his hand. "Deal."

Nancy shook his hand. "Deal. Thank you so so much!"

"Thank you! I know my father's work is going to a good home." Mr. Faber rang up her order, wrapped up the case, and bagged it. He wrote on the receipt the total she still had to pay before putting it in the bag.

"Thank you again, Mr. Faber, this has been a Heaven-send!" exclaimed Nancy as she took the bag.

"Glad to have been of service! Is there anything else you need?"

Emily held up a finger. "Mr. Faber?"

"Yes?"

"There is a piece I am interested in, but there's no price on it."

Mr. Faber blinked. "Really? I usually get everything priced!"

"It's possible it fell off," said Izzy. "Another item was missing its price sticker, but I found it stuck to the shelf."

"I had thought of that, but I couldn't find it," said Emily.

Mr. Faber nodded. "It is very possible it was kicked around or taken out of the store on another item." He stepped out from behind the counter. "I shall take a look. And to let you know, the half-off applies to all of you."

"Really?" chorused the girls.

"Don't tempt my sister," said Izzy with a wink.

Ida huffed and flipped her curly hair over her shoulder. "Too late." The others laughed. They followed Emily to the piece she was talking about. The laughs switched to cries of wonder and delight. The piece Emily wanted was an elegantly carved miniature lilac tree with bunnies frolicking in its shade and songbirds perched on its branches.

"Ah, you have good taste! Another of my father's work ... to sell," he added with a grin at Nancy.

Nancy laughed. "I know, I know, heirlooms wouldn't be in the store."

"Exactly," said Mr. Faber with a wink. He turned to the tree and picked it up. "But this one has a particular story attached to it. Have you ever heard of a country called Centrovia?"

"Why yes! My pen pal lives there!" exclaimed Helen. "She and her family are arriving in town on Monday!"

Mr. Faber glanced at her, an eyebrow arched. "Really?"

Helen bobbed her head. "Yes, Katherine Kovna!"

Mr. Faber broke into a grin. "Ah, I know the name! A good family. You must bring her by!"

"Will do!"

"Wonderful! So you at least know of it. But what many don't know is that the royal family had a summer estate that was surrounded by lilacs. And I mean surrounded. There were lilacs galore! As such, it became one of the country's symbols. My father made this honor of the royal family. The songbirds for previous Kings and queens, the bunnies for the family that was growing at the time my father made this." Nancy noticed with curiosity how a sad look flickered over the man's face.

"Oh wow, then having the Kovnas stay at Lilac Inn is almost like a taste of home for them!" exclaimed Helen.

Mr. Faber glanced between the girls. "They are staying at Lilac Inn?"

Emily smiled. "Yes, and that's why I want to get this. It's my Inn."

Mr. Faber's eyes widened. "Why, then yes, this really must belong there!" He pursed his lips. "Hmm, but what would be a good price for this? Like the case for Mr. Drew, it has been here for quite some time." He tapped his chin before glancing at Emily. "Will fifty dollars work?"

Emily's eyes widened. "Well, I mean, it could, but that seems so cheap for something so wonderfully made!"

"Ah, but did I not tell you everything in the store is half-off for all of you? So technically it would be a hundred dollars. Not that cheap."

"That still seems too cheap," said Emily with a shake of her head.

"I will not go higher than seventy dollars. Take it or leave it."

Emily sighed. "Fine, seventy dollars it is."

"Sold!" said Mr. Faber triumphantly as he walked back to the counter and rang up her order.

Izzy laughed. "Listen to us! Most people are trying to get a bargain, we're trying to give the guy the most money we can!"

"My mother taught me that something made by hand is worth far more than anything so manufactured as it took time, effort, and they bought supplies out of their own pocket," said Emily as she took the bagged item. "Especially more so when it's made out of genuine care."

Mr. Faber smiled. "Your mother sounds like a wise woman."

Emily smiled back, a hint of longing and sorrow poking out from the corners. "She was."

Helen quickly changed the subject. "So, Nancy's finally found something for her dad, Emily's gotten something for the Inn, and we've gotten things for the Kovnas. Are we missing anything?"

"I think that's it," said Ida with a shake of her head.

"Then I think we should be off, we still have so much to do before the Kovnas get here!" said Helen, bouncing up and down with a squeal.

"Then we'll be seeing you around, Mr. Faber," said Ida with a wave. "We'll be sure to drag Nancy back so she'll pay and we can browse!"

Mr. Faber laughed as he waved. "Sounds great! You have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for stopping by!"

"Bye!" the girls chorused with a wave of their hands before leaving the store.

"He's such a dear," said Helen as they walked back to the car. "I'm so glad Nancy helped Mrs. Alexandra so we can find this place!"

"And that because of it we all get half off?" said Izzy with a smirk.

Ida scoffed at her twin as she wrapped an arm around Helen's shoulders. "Oh goodness, we didn't even get anything there!" But her eyes twinkled merrily. "Though half off might help." The others laughed as talk turned again to the preparations for the Kovnas. But Nancy couldn't help but recall the sorrow in Mr. Faber's eyes when he spoke of the royal family. Did something bad happen to them? Maybe Katherine could clear that up. Nancy slid behind the wheel and pulled out of the driveway once everyone was buckled. But one question remained, would they even tell?