The Wrong Track by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Chapter

Nine

WHAT ARE YOU DOING in my room?” Ben demanded, outraged.

Nancy knew that whatever she did, she couldn’t blow her cover. “I saw you take something from Dave’s office,” she said. “I wanted to find out what it was.”

Ben grabbed the folder from Nancy’s hands. “You’re not reviewing Tall Pines for a ski magazine, are you?” The look Ben gave Nancy was extremely skeptical.

Nancy decided that if her cover had to be blown, she might as well invent a better one—that of investigative reporter.

“Well, no, not exactly,” she confessed, playing up her new role. “I’ll tell you the truth—if you promise to keep it just between us.”

Ben was obviously skeptical. “Okay.”

“I heard about the theft a week ago, and I wanted to see if there was something going on at Tall Pines that the readers of Tracks should know about,” she bluffed.

“So you’re doing an exposé,” Ben guessed.

“Exactly,” Nancy told him. “But if anyone here finds out, I won’t be able to learn a thing, and then”—she snapped her fingers—“end of story, right?”

Ben ran his hands through his jet black hair. “I see your point, but I still don’t get why you searched my room. I didn’t steal the money. Rebecca Montgomery did.”

“I’ve interviewed her. She denies it, and I believe her,” Nancy said, her hands on her hips.

Ben unzipped his parka and tossed it on the bed. “Then someone else took it.”

Nancy gestured to the file lying beside Ben’s jacket. “We both know that the Inge Gustafson Ski School is a sham. Maybe you wanted to get back at Karl for treating you so badly.”

Ben’s eyes blazed with anger. “Maybe I do want to get back at him, but I wouldn’t steal from him. I’m not stupid.” He paused. “You can get your story however you want,” he went on angrily. “And when you do, you’ll find out I’m innocent. Now I think you’d better go.” With that Ben walked to the door and opened it. “Don’t worry, though,” he said quietly. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

Nancy smiled at the ski instructor. “Thank you,” she said softly. She didn’t know if Ben was telling her the truth—either about his not being the thief or about how he wouldn’t tell anyone that she was “investigating” the theft at Tall Pines. Could she really believe him?

• • •

“Of course I understood,” Sheila said when Nancy went to call on her at her condo. “Come in. Karl and I felt just awful when we heard what happened last night. Are you all right now?” she asked, her crystal blue eyes showing her concern.

Nancy’s smile was brave, and Sheila wouldn’t have guessed how queasy she still felt. “I’m fine, really,” she fibbed gracefully. “I’d like to interview Karl if I could,” she said after she and Sheila were seated on the couch. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“I’m not sure,” Sheila said. “He had some kind of problem to handle this morning.” She tapped her fingers nervously on the arm of the couch. “My husband’s too trusting.

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