Without a Trace by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [keene, carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Mysteries & Detective Stories, General, Girls & Women, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781442459427
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2003-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

The Shadowy Figure

Simone gasped. “Pierre!” she cried. “How dare you speak of our guests that way? Nancy and her friends are our only friends here in town. How can you accuse them of such a thing?”

“I’m sorry,” Pierre said immediately, looking crestfallen. He clasped his hands in front of him. “Please, Nancy—all of you—please accept my apology. I spoke without thinking, and was only trying to defend my friends.”

Everyone else in the room looked decidedly uncomfortable. “What a way to bring down a party, mon ami,” René said to Pierre, his tone only half joking.

Pierre shook his head. “Really, I spoke without thinking,” he said, taking my hand and looking at me earnestly. “I do that sometimes. Nancy, please say that you will forgive me?”

“Of course,” I told him. “I don’t blame you for defending your friends. I would do the same. And I really didn’t mean to accuse them of anything.”

I felt like kicking myself. So much for my undercover investigation; I had just blown any chance of being subtle as I questioned the French guys. I would have to be more careful from now on. If the thief was indeed in the room with me at that very moment, I was sure that he would be much more wary of me now.

As Pierre turned away to apologize to Bess and George, I noticed that Jacques had reappeared from wherever he’d been hiding earlier. He was watching the proceedings with a curious expression on his face—sort of a cross between confusion and indigestion.

“Are we all friends again now?” Pierre asked the room at large, interrupting my thoughts. “Please say that we are, or I will never forgive myself.”

“Don’t be silly.” Bess stepped forward and put a hand on his arm, giving him her most flirtatious smile. “Now stop apologizing and dance with me, all right? Because if you don’t, René will insist, and my feet just can’t take that anymore.”

René roared with laughter, Pierre joined in, and within seconds the party was back in full swing. I let out a sigh of relief.

Ned stepped over to join me. “That was interesting,” he whispered in my ear. “Do you think it was a guilty conscience speaking?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It could be. Or it could have been a quick-tempered but loyal friend speaking. I did practically accuse his friends of stealing the egg—or at least he could have easily interpreted it that way.”

“I suppose so.” Ned looked thoughtful. “Still, it was a pretty extreme reaction.”

I had to agree with that. “It’s definitely something to think about,” I said. “Although the more I get to know Pierre, the more I think he’s just one of those impulsive, emotional people. After all, he was the one who decided to throw us a party after knowing us for about thirty seconds.”

Ned laughed, and gestured toward the kitchen. “I’m thirsty after all that dancing,” he added. “I think I’ll go grab another soda. Can I get you anything?”

My gaze wandered toward Jacques, who was just disappearing into the front hall.

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