A Secret in Time by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

yellow.
    â€œShe does look like a cat, even if she’s not a cat burglar,” Bess whispered to Nancy.
    Nancy hoped the woman hadn’t overheard the remark, but she laughed and said, “I see my reputation precedes me. Please call me Kimberly.”
    To hide her embarrassment, Nancy quickly introduced herself and Bess. “Mary Lou Jennings spoke to you about us yesterday,” she added. “We’ve heardabout your antique jewelry collection, and we’d love to see it.”
    Kimberly smiled slyly without displaying any teeth. “I’ve been expecting you,” she said. “Follow me.”
    Her dark, slender form retreated silently down a cool, dimly lit passage with walls of gray stone. The house looked even more like a castle inside, Nancy thought. It was decorated with old tapestries and suits of armor. “Wow,” Nancy said as the woman led them past a wall completely covered with lances, swords, and daggers. “Those weapons look dangerous.”
    â€œI like to live dangerously,” Kimberly said. “If you don’t take risks, you don’t get any rewards.”
    â€œLike this beautiful home, I guess,” Nancy said, pretending not to notice Kimberly’s mysterious tone.
    â€œI wasn’t talking about my home,” Kimberly told her. “That was acquired through sheer hard work by my grandfather and father, who left it to me. Hard work is not my style, though. I think of work as a game, so it’s never hard.”
    â€œIs buying and selling jewelry your only business?” Bess asked.
    Kimberly smiled and looked meaningfully at Bess. “I have a variety of interests, as you well know.”
    Bess lowered her eyes, and her face turned bright red. “I’m sorry about what I said before. I know you’re not a cat burglar. That remark just slipped out of my mouth.”
    â€œHow do you know I’m not?” asked Kimberly.
    Bess looked confused. Nancy could tell that herfriend wasn’t sure how to respond to Kimberly’s comment.
    â€œI wasn’t convicted,” Kimberly went on. “That doesn’t necessarily mean I wasn’t guilty.” With a graceful movement, she turned and let the girls into a small, dark sitting room.
    Kimberly gestured for Nancy and Bess to sit on a carved wooden bench. Next to it was a table covered with red velvet cloth. “I’ll be right back,” she said.
    Nancy waited until she was sure Kimberly was out of hearing range before she spoke. She kept her voice low. “Ms. Jennings was right,” she told Bess. “Kimberly Burton is a very unusual character.”
    â€œIt’s almost as if she wants us to think she was guilty,” Bess whispered.
    â€œIf she really was guilty and got away with it, then she has nothing to worry about. She can’t be tried again for the same crime,” Nancy said.
    â€œI wonder what she’s up to,” Bess said.
    Nancy shrugged. “Beats me.”
    Several minutes later Kimberly reappeared carrying a wooden tray. When she set it down on the table, Nancy and Bess could see that it held several necklaces, some bracelets, and a large brooch. Kimberly laid them carefully on the red velvet, then stepped back.
    The two girls leaned forward to get a closer look. One of the necklaces resembled the one Kimberly was wearing. It was made of squares of hammered silver strung together to form a chain. Another necklace wasmade of colorful, brightly polished stones with gold beads between them.
    Nancy paid particular attention to the brooch. While it didn’t look exactly like the rose brooch, it was made in a similar style. It was circular and had been designed to resemble the globe. The continents were mapped in amber and emeralds, and the ocean was made of sapphires. If Kimberly had been drawn to the globe brooch, Nancy thought, she might have been interested in the rose brooch, too—if she’d seen it.
    â€œThis is