Carson Drew’s Captivity

The Hidden Staircase

Carson’s journey to meet Nancy becomes a kidnapping and extortion scheme, ending only when Nancy and the officers reach his prison room.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Early Return The Early Return from "The Hidden Staircase". A Journey Home An Advance Message Carson Drew finishes his business sooner than expected and sends Nancy a telegram about his earlier arrival.

The Early Return from "The Hidden Staircase". A Journey Home An Advance Message Carson Drew finishes his business sooner than expected and sends Nancy a telegram about his earlier arrival.

A Journey Home An Advance Message Carson Drew finishes his business sooner than expected and sends Nancy a telegram about his earlier arrival. The message gives Nathan Gombet a chance to exploit the planned meeting. A False Sense of Safety Carson receives Nancy’s reply aboard the train and believes she is well. He has no reason to anticipate that his arrival has become part of a trap.

The False Accident The False Accident from "The Hidden Staircase". A Deceptive Reunion Gombet’s Lie Nathan Gombet approaches Carson at the station and claims that Nancy has been badly injured.

The False Accident from "The Hidden Staircase". A Deceptive Reunion Gombet’s Lie Nathan Gombet approaches Carson at the station and claims that Nancy has been badly injured.

A Deceptive Reunion Gombet’s Lie Nathan Gombet approaches Carson at the station and claims that Nancy has been badly injured. Carson’s alarm overwhelms his caution. The Wrong Destination Gombet says Nancy is at his home and drives Carson there. The lie turns Carson’s concern for his daughter into the means of his abduction.

The Prison Room The Prison Room from "The Hidden Staircase". A Captive Lawyer The Trap Closes Carson enters a dark room expecting to find Nancy and realizes that he has been deceived.

The Prison Room from "The Hidden Staircase". A Captive Lawyer The Trap Closes Carson enters a dark room expecting to find Nancy and realizes that he has been deceived.

A Captive Lawyer The Trap Closes Carson enters a dark room expecting to find Nancy and realizes that he has been deceived. Nathan locks him inside a chamber fitted like a prison. Fear for Nancy Carson worries that Nathan may have taken his daughter too. His immediate concern for her remains stronger than his fear for himself.

The Extortion Demand The Extortion Demand from "The Hidden Staircase". Pressure Behind Bars A Price for Freedom Nathan demands twenty thousand dollars and a promise that Carson will not prosecute him.

The Extortion Demand from "The Hidden Staircase". Pressure Behind Bars A Price for Freedom Nathan demands twenty thousand dollars and a promise that Carson will not prosecute him.

Pressure Behind Bars A Price for Freedom Nathan demands twenty thousand dollars and a promise that Carson will not prosecute him. Carson refuses to legitimize the demand or surrender to intimidation. A Threat Against Nancy Nathan says he can abduct Nancy from The Mansion, using her safety to weaken Carson’s resolve. He then orders his accomplice to bind the prisoner and withhold food and water.

The Rescue The Rescue from "The Hidden Staircase". Captivity Broken The Threat Interrupted Nancy hears Nathan threaten Carson and rushes into the prison room with the sheriff’s party.

The Rescue from "The Hidden Staircase". Captivity Broken The Threat Interrupted Nancy hears Nathan threaten Carson and rushes into the prison room with the sheriff’s party.

Captivity Broken The Threat Interrupted Nancy hears Nathan threaten Carson and rushes into the prison room with the sheriff’s party. She finds her father bound and visibly weakened. Release and Recovery An officer cuts the ropes, and Nancy brings Carson water. His captivity ends before Nathan can force him to sign the extortion paper.

After Carson completes his Chicago business

At the Cliffwood station the next morning

Soon after Carson reaches Nathan Gombet's house

The evening after Carson's arrival

Near the end, after Nancy leads officers into the house