095 An Instinct for Trouble (8 page)

“I didn’t,” she replied. “Somebody pushed me.”

“What?” Gerald’s face registered shock, “Are you sure? Couldn’t you just have been jostled?”

Nancy shook her head. “I distinctly felt two hands shoving against my back. It was no accident, take my word for it. Did you see anything, Bess?”

“No. I’m sorry,” Bess replied on the verge of tears. “I was looking-at the falls.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Nancy said. “You had no reason to think somebody was going to push me in.”

As they reached the car, Gerald told Nancy to go back to the hotel and take a hot shower.

“I’ll drive. Nan,” Bess offered. “You relax.”

Nancy gave Bess the keys, then thanked Gerald again for rescuing her.

“I’m glad I was there to help,” he replied, holding the door for her.

Bess turned on the heater, and soon Nancy stopped shivering. “It was a man who pushed me,” she said. “As I went over the railing, I got an impression of his hands. They were too big and hairy to belong to a woman. Oh, Bess,”

Nancy said, interrupting herself. “Your binoc-

ulars! They must have fallen into the river with me. I’m so sorry.”

“Do you think I care about some old binoc-

ulars when I just watched you nearly drown?”

Bess scolded.

As Bess turned into the hotel parking lot, she continued, “Who could have pushed you?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t know. In fact, I don’t know what to think anymore.”

A large, shiny bus was stopped in front of the hotel entrance. People were spilling out of it onto the sidewalk.

“Look, Nancy,” Bess said excitedly, point-

ing out the bus, which said Randy Dean Pro-

ductions. “Do you think Randy’s with them?”

she asked.

Nancy smiled. “I doubt if a big star like Randy Dean would arrive on a bus,” she said.

“He’s probably coming by private helicopter.”

“I guess you’re right,” Bess said, parking the car. “Come on, let’s get you inside and warm.”

Nancy’s legs felt like lead as she climbed the steps to the hotel lobby. “All I want to do is lie down in a warm tub and soak for a month or two,” she announced as Bess unlocked the door to their room.

Bess gave her a concerned look. “Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor?”

“I’m sure,” Nancy replied firmly. “After a hot bath and a little rest, I’ll be as good as new.”

At Bess’s urging, the girls had dinner in their room. As the waiter took away the tray, Bess gave Nancy a close look and said, “You look a lot better. You may not be up for an evening of square dancing, but at least you can sit and watch.”

“You really think I ought to go?” Nancy asked.

Bess was now standing in front of the mir-

ror, smoothing the waist of her knee-length denim skirt. “You want to see Ned, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Nancy replied, then paused. “But I don’t know what to say to him.”

Bess spun around, went to Nancy, and sat beside her on the bed. “First you’ll tell him you’re sorry,” she stated flatly. “Then you’ll say that you love him. Then he’ll take you for a moonlight drive …” Bess giggled. “And I’m not going to say what happens after that.”

Nancy shook her head sadly. “I only wish it could be that easy.”

Bess gave Nancy a hug. “Stop worrying. It’s going to be fine.”

While Nancy pulled on a full-skirted blue corduroy dress, Bess went on. “I talked to Jack while you were napping. He’ll meet us in the lobby at eight.”

“‘Us’?” Nancy repeated.

“Well, sure,” Bess said. “This is a group event, you know, not a date.”

When they reached the head of the stairs, Bess began searching through her purse. “I forgot my compact,” she said. “I’ve got to go back.”

“Okay,” Nancy said. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

Jack, in worn but perfectly fitting jeans and a red plaid shirt, was standing near the foot of the stairs. He saw Nancy coming and gave her a warm smile. “I called Bess after you got back to the hotel, and she told me what happened,”

he said, concerned. “Are you all right?”

“Good as new,” Nancy said. “Bess will be down in a minute.”

She took in the transformed lobby. All the furniture had been cleared away from the central area, and a small stage had been set up near the windows. Paper lanterns dangled from the log rafters, and bales of hay had been placed along the walls.

“They did a great job of decorating this place, didn’t they?” Jack said, and led the way to a table at the edge of the dance floor. “I’m glad you felt well enough to come. I’ve been really looking forward to the dance,” he added with a glance full of meaning.

“So has Bess,” Nancy replied pointedly as she spotted her friend coming down the stairs.

Jack sprang to his feet as Bess approached.

“Hey, you look terrific!”

Bess blushed becomingly and threw in a little curtsy.

The other tables were filling up. Two men and a woman in matching shirts climbed up on the stage and started tuning a guitar, fiddle, and string bass.

A woman in a fringed leather vest joined the trio on stage and picked up a microphone.

“Okay, folks,” she said. “We’re going to start out real easy this evening. You don’t need a partner for this one. Don’t be shy, just form two long lines, gents on the left and ladies on the right. The name of the tune is ‘Rabbit in the Peapatch.’”

“Come on, you two,” Jack urged, springing up. As the band launched into the rollicking tune. Nancy saw Ned and Jennifer come in the door. Jennifer was pulling Ned toward the two lines of dancers.

As he passed, Ned spotted Nancy and smiled at her tentatively. Then the dance started, and Nancy was too busy following the caller’s instructions to pay attention to Ned.

“This is fun!” Bess exclaimed breathlessly when the first number ended.

Nancy smiled, but her eyes were now search-

ing for Ned. There he was, she thought, near the stage. He was looking around, too. For her? Taking a deep breath, Nancy crossed the room.

“Hi, Ned,” she said.

He didn’t say a word, only took her hand and led her off to the far side of the fireplace.

They turned to face each other. Nancy could hear the music start for the next dance, but the only thing that mattered now was Ned.

He was staring down at the floor. She was about to say something when he spoke up. “I really lost it this afternoon,” he said, his brown eyes shining. “I’m sorry. Nan. You know I didn’t mean those things I said.”

“Of course I do,” Nancy responded. “I said things I didn’t mean, too, and I’m sorry. I really do understand the way you feel about Professor Trainey. It’s just that-“

“It’s just that you’re too good a detective not to follow up on all the evidence you find, no matter where it leads,” he finished. “And I wouldn’t want you any different.”

Nancy put her arms around his neck. “Oh, Ned-I’m so glad you understand.” She pulled his head down to hers, and their lips met in a kiss that lasted a long time.

When they parted, Ned held her close and ran his fingers through her hair. “Why don’t we get our coats and go for a drive?” he said breathlessly. “It’s a beautiful night.”

“I’d love it,” Nancy replied.

They were walking past the alcove that held the house phones when Ned squeezed her elbow. He put his finger to his lips and pulled her back out of sight.

“Gerry? It’s me.” Nancy recognized Profes-

sor Trainey’s voice. She strained to make out the words.

“Yes, I know,” she heard the professor say into the phone. “It can’t be helped. Late tomorrow night? Yes, the camp should be quiet. No junior detectives to get in our way.”

Chapter Eleven

Nancy heard Trainey hang up and then watched him walk away.

Ned was slumped against the wall, his eyes filled with misery. He stared at her. “You were right about the professor all along.”

The bitterness in his voice surprised Nancy.

Her heart ached for him. “I’m sorry, Ned,”

she said, slipping her arms around him. “I kept hoping it wasn’t him, but-“

“‘Junior detectives,’” Ned spat out. “And I kept telling you how much he respected and cared about his students. He thinks we’re a joke!”

“He must be pretty desperate,” Nancy pointed out. “I don’t think he would have gotten involved if it weren’t for his money problems. And let’s face it-if he is involved, our investigation must really be getting in his way.”

Ned’s eyes widened. “If? Of course he’s involved. You heard what he said. He’s plan-

ning something for tomorrow night. And he was talking to Turkower!”

Nancy remained impassive. “I’ve got to admit, that surprises me,” she began slowly.

“After what Gerald did today to save me, I was starting to think he was okay.”

Ned was obviously confused, and Nancy realized that she hadn’t told him about her dip into the river. She took a deep breath and told the whole story. “Gerald pulled me out,” she concluded.

“I just can’t believe that someone I admired so much could be involved in something so awful.” Ned shook his head. “Trainey is such a hypocrite.”

Nancy stepped back. “Look, Ned. I don’t have any real proof against the professor, just what Brad said, so let’s not jump to conclusions. What I really need to do is catch the poachers in the act, and it sounds like I might be able to do that tomorrow night.”

Ned brightened a little. “Are you still up for that drive?” he asked. “I know I am. I’m sick of thinking about this mess.”

“I’ll run upstairs for my jacket,” Nancy replied.

When she came back down dressed for the outdoors she waved goodbye to Bess, who was dancing in a square with Jack. Her friend gave her a big grin, then Nancy went out to the parking lot. It was quite chilly, and she was glad to see that Ned had put the top up.

“Feel like looking at the moon from the shore of Yellowstone Lake,” he asked her softly as he started the Jeep.

On an impulse Nancy leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

He reached over and squeezed her hand.

“Will you forgive me for being so pigheaded?”

“I already have, Ned.”

They’d just turned onto the parkway that ran beside the lake when Nancy said, “Ned, look. Somebody’s in trouble.”

Parked on the opposite shoulder was a low-

slung Italian sports car. The driver was stand-

ing with a flashlight pointed under the raised hood.

Ned pulled over and then carefully turned around so he could light up the sports car. He leaned out and called, “Need help?”

The driver moving toward them was very familiar. They had both seen that face on countless posters and CDs.

“Is that who I think it is?” Ned said to Nancy.

Nancy studied the man’s liquid brown eyes and curly, honey-colored hair. “It is. It’s Ran-

dy Dean!”

“Hi there!” Randy stopped next to Ned’s door and leaned over to peer into the window.

“Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

“You have car trouble?” Ned asked.

The rock star shrugged. “It looks that way. I went over a big bump a while back and heard a loud thump. Then, about half a mile back, the engine started sputtering. Now it’s stopped.

Do you know anything about cars?”

“We both know a little,” Ned replied. “We can take a look if you’d like.”

“Great.” Randy backed away, and Ned and Nancy got out of the Jeep. He held his hand out to Ned. “I’m Randy Dean.”

Ned grinned. “Yeah, we figured that out. I’m Ned Nickerson and this is Nancy Drew.”

“Hi, Nancy.” She was surprised at how personable and open Randy seemed.

Ned reached for Randy’s flashlight, clicked it on, and peered under the hood. Nancy joined him.

They poked around under the hood for a few minutes, then Ned said, “I don’t know what’s wrong. Let me see if I can start it.”

Ned climbed into the driver’s seat, but when he turned the key in the ignition, the engine only coughed and sputtered.

Nancy leaned inside and looked at the array of gauges on the dashboard. “Did you know you’re out of gas?”

Randy frowned. “That’s impossible. I filled the tank just an hour ago.”

Ned got down on the ground and shone the flashlight under the car. “You’ve got a leak in your fuel line,” he reported. “It must have happened when you hit that bump. All your gas has leaked out,” he said, getting up and slapping his palms against his jeans.

Ned offered to take Randy to the hotel. The rock star transferred his luggage from the tiny trunk of the sports car to the Jeep and climbed into the backseat next to it.

“I read a magazine article about you the other night,” Nancy said casually. “It men-

tioned that you collect whistling marmots.”

“I used to have quite a few of them,” Randy admitted. “They make fun pets. But I don’t collect them anymore.”

“Why not?” Nancy asked.

“I realized how wrong it is to take animals out of the wild,” he replied earnestly. “In fact, that’s why I’m here. I’m doing a TV program on the importance of protecting wild animals and their habitats. Would you guys like to come watch us film?”

“We’d love to,” Nancy promptly replied.

“Do you think I could bring a friend, too?

She’s a big fan of yours.”

Ned pulled into the hotel parking lot.

“Of course you can,” Randy said. “I’ll write a note to the production crew as soon as I get upstairs. Thanks for everything. I would have had to sit out there all night.”

“Glad we could help,” Ned replied. He gave Randy a hand carrying his luggage into the lobby while Nancy parked the Jeep.

The square dance was still going on as Nancy and Ned found a quiet spot and settled down on a couch on the far side of the big room.

“I keep thinking about that phone call,”

Ned said. “You think the Turkowers are the buyers?”

“It seems that way.”

“What do you think they’re arranging for tomorrow night?” he asked.

“My hunch is that Trainey’s going to turn over the marmots he’s already captured to the Turkowers.”

Ned acted surprised. “You think the animals are still in the park?”

“Yes, I do,” Nancy said. “If they weren’t, why would the Turkowers be hanging around?