Foreword: Here it is, the final chapter of this mystery that I started at the beginning of this year. Ad it took me six months to finish! I hope you enjoyed this story, and here is an epilogue that will reveal the answers to all the remaining mysteries. At the end of this chapter, I'll announce the title and rough storyline of my next mystery. And don't forget to check out my next story that will come out in July! Oh, and don't forget to review, please!

Farewell to Memories

Nancy managed to catch her boyfriend's arm before he fell into the ocean. "Ned, hurry… Grab my arm!" she shouted, noticing her hand slip.

Ned grunted as he showed her what he was holding. Nancy gasped as she saw Henri, unconscious. Ned was grabbing the back of the man's shirt, and two of them were dangling from the window.

"I can't, Nancy," he said weakly. "I can't let Henri go."

"Why!" asked Nancy, desperate. "Please, Ned! Grab my hand!"

As she said so, her hand kept slipping. "Help!" she called to the others. She then turned to Ned. "They'll be here shortly," she said. "Now hurry! Grab my hand!"

But then, the hand slipped. Nancy's eyes got wide with shock as she shouted, "NO!"

In an instant, Ned grabbed Nancy's bracelet, which she had on her right wrist. The bracelet that he had given to Nancy was now the only thing that prevented Ned from falling into the ocean.

However, the bracelet started to crack as both Ned and Henri's weights were on it. Nancy bit her lip as the bracelet cut her skin. And, with a loud crack, it broke in half.

Ned started falling again, but this time, another hand grabbed his wrist. Surprised, Nancy turned to her right. "Callie!"

Callie Shaw, who came just a few seconds after Nancy, was holding on to Ned's hand. "Now we're even," she said to Ned with a grin. Ned grinned.

"Thanks," he said.

As Frank and the others arrived, Ned was finally pulled into the hotel. Henri was unconscious, probably because of hitting his head against the wall when he fell.

"So what should we do now?" asked Edna. "We're still trapped here, and the police hadn't arrived yet!"

"I'll go call the police and ask them how the landslides are coming along," said Frank. He then went to the telephone.

Nancy remembered the time when the files in her home were stolen. She asked Derek, "Did you break into my house to steal the file that contained information on my mother? And were you the one who stole my purse when I got here?"

"Yeah," Derek admitted. "If you want it back, it's in my room. And so are the cell phone and purse that I stole from you." He sighed. "I'm really sorry I had to pull you into this. I really didn't mean to harm you or steal your stuff. I was planning to return it to you once the whole thing was over."

Nancy nodded. "But I have to give you something that you might want back. It's the ring that I found in my house after the robbery. I believe the ring is the one your father gave to your mother when they were married."

Derek laughed. "Thanks, Nancy," he said. "I guess the entire investigation about my family started when I accidentally left that ring in the crime scene, didn't it?"

"Yup," Nancy replied. "I'll call my father and tell him to send it to you. I'm sure we're all done with it now."

She then went into Derek's room and took the files and her bag. When she returned, Henri finally woke up. He grunted as he tried to free himself, but his body was tied. "Curses!" he muttered. "My plan should have worked!"

Nancy looked at Henri. "But why did you do this, Henri?" she asked.

"Why?" Henri repeated. "Why? That's because I needed money, young detective! Lots of it! I used to live in a mansion with my father, but after he died, I've been living like a commoner. I wanted my life of glory back, and I needed the gold to do it!"

Ned sighed. "You won't believe what greed will turn people into."

Nancy nodded in agreement. Just then, Frank returned from the lobby. He said, "The good news is that the landslides have been cleared. And the bad news is, we have to wait here for another two hours for the police to arrive."

Callie smiled. "I guess I can deal with that. As long as I know that I'm safe from the Magician."

Two hours later, the police arrived at the mansion and took everybody back to the town. The guests and the detective were then brought to the police station. There, Joe was waiting for his brother to arrive and was happy to see everybody again. "So how was the mystery?" he asked.

"Complicated," said Frank. "You won't believe it. Four mysteries were intertwined to form one complicated mystery. There was a wealthy magician's grandson who wanted to get his hands on the treasure that his grandfather had hidden decades ago, and there was the man who looked for the treasure in order to buy the house that was owned by his father many years ago. And there were also two killers who wanted to avenge their parents' deaths that were caused by two people whose greed caused them to commit two murders as well. Let's just say that the only people who weren't involved in any case was Edna and Amy."

Nancy still had questions about the Japanese artist. When she saw Amy, she called to her. "Hi!" she said. "Can I ask you a question?"

Amy smiled. "I guess you already figured out that I was involved with your mother."

Nancy was surprised. "How—how did you know?"

The artist smiled. "I noticed that some things in my room were shifted right after dinner, in which you didn't attend. So I knew that you were searching my room. And I also found that you opened my suitcase and saw the picture with me standing by your mother."

Nancy blushed, surprised to see how her actions were so obvious. "Sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to invade your privacy."

"It's okay." Amy looked at Derek and Norma, who were handcuffed by the police. "I think I should explain that picture. You see, Nancy, your mother was the reason I became an artist."

"Mom was?" asked Nancy, perplexed.

Amy nodded. "The picture which you saw was I standing by Mrs. Drew after I won my first art competition. She was always saying that I was fit to be an artist, and she looked out for me, even though my parents didn't like my idea of being an artist to make a living. So, I decided to study art, even after Mrs. Drew was killed." Amy looked at Nancy, and her smile broadened. "And look at you! You don't look any different than when you were a three-year-old! I still remember you when you were three. You were like a little doll, carrying your favorite stuffed animal wherever you went!"

Nancy smiled. "I guess my looks never change."

Suddenly, Nancy remembered that George and Bess were still waiting for her reply. Taking out her cell phone, she called Bess's number.

"Hello?" Bess answered.

"Hi. This is Nancy," said Nancy. "And you won't believe what happened."

Bess thought for a moment. "Well, at least you got your cell phone back. I was honestly surprised to see your cell phone number in my caller ID. I thought you said that it was stolen!"

Nancy laughed. "It was. But we revealed everything—from the hidden treasure to the motives of the two killers—and are in the police station right now."

"I knew it," George said. "I knew you didn't need us in solving this case, Nancy."

"George! Since when have you been eavesdropping?" Nancy said, surprised.

George chuckled. "There is the thing called 'speakerphone', Nancy. Right now, we're packing our stuffs so we can head to River Heights this afternoon."

"Did you do anything interesting?" asked Bess. "Besides solving a murder, that is."

"Yeah. I found that both of the cute guys were culprits—one was a killer and the other, who is from the land of Ooh, la-la, was a greedy treasure hunter."

Bess sighed. "I knew they were too perfect to be true!"

George giggled. "That's the thing with cute guys; they either turn out to be criminals or spies. That's why I don't trust men. Especially the 'cute' ones Bess keeps talking about."

Nancy grinned. "But this case turned out to be more complex than I thought."

"More complex than the last one?" asked Bess.

"Yup. You know, people sometimes go to doing murder because of their greed. And the people whose loved ones are killed sometimes turn to murder in order to avenge the ones who they loved. It's such a complicated world."

"Don't I know it," said George. "Anyway, when will you be returning to River Heights? We're taking the three-thirty flight home."

"I'm going to head home at four. We'll roughly be able to get to River Heights at the same time."

"Great!" said George. "I guess you can tell us the entire thing once we get to River Heights!"

"Sure," answered Nancy. "And you can tell me the adventure you had in Shadow Ranch, too. Bye, you two!"

As Nancy hung up, she saw Callie approaching her.

"I just talked to Henri," she said. "And he admitted that he was the one who went to the window of my room wearing a mask. He said that it might quicken our investigating speed. How pathetic! And to thin that I was scared out of my wits, too!" Callie then smiled at Ned, who stood by Nancy. "And thanks again, Ned. But at least now, we don't owe each other anything."

Ned grinned shyly. "Well, thanks." After Callie went away to talk to Frank and Joe, Ned turned to Nancy. "I'm sorry to act all jerky when I saw you with Henri," he apologized, blushing slightly.

Nancy smiled. "Oh, that. I'm not bothered at all. But what really amazed me was how you found out where the hidden treasure was! How did you know that?"

Ned grinned. "When we first found the hidden compartment, I felt the walls and found one that didn't feel like the others. I immediately knew that it was a hidden door that was painted gray so people would just think it's a wall."

The girl detective nodded. "Wow, I'm really impressed, Ned. I didn't know you were a detective! A very cute one at that."

Ned laughed. "Thanks. Maybe we can open our detective agency after all."

"I guess so," said Nancy. "And when the time comes, I'll let you decide which name should come first: Nickerson-Drew or Drew-Nickerson."

"I think that won't be necessary," answered her boyfriend, giving her a hug.

Nancy, George, and Bess go all the way to France to help their long-time friend Helen Corning, who is now Mrs. Helen Archer. Helen says that she keeps getting mysterious messages threatening her life! But Nancy has two other cases on her mind as she starts her investigation: the theft that occurred at the house of her father's client and the hit-and-run murder of the client's wife. Meanwhile, Frank and Joe are in France as bodyguards for Renee Frasier, a famous movie actress. The five detectives then meet as they continue their investigation, but they fail to notice that a diabolical plan is in play. They race against time as a suspect is killed to catch the ellusive murderer. More mysteries than ever! Total of five mysteries will keep the detectives busy as they try to uncover clues from all over France in: Knowing Too Much.

Don't miss the first chapter that starts July 22. See you then!

James Stapleton