Choosing Sides by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

arm a squeeze. “At least he didn’t call the police.”
    As the three of them drove back toward the campaign headquarters, Kyle and Nancy told Bess about their confrontation with Steve Hill. “Someone else definitely fed him that story, but he wouldn’t say who,” Nancy explained.
    Bess bit her lip. “So far Patrick Gleason is the only person we know with any motive to ruin Caroline’s reputation. But I still can’t believe he’d do that.”
    â€œI hope you’re right, but we can’t know for sure without concrete proof,” Nancy said. “I’m glad the rally for Caroline is in a few hours. Right now, I could use a distraction from this case!”
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    â€œThe speeches are going great,” Bess whispered later Monday evening. She, Nancy, and Bess were standing at the rear of the RiverHeights High School auditorium. The place was packed.
    Several people had brought up the newspaper article, but Nancy thought Hector and Caroline had done a good job of handling the problem.
    â€œI can assure you,” Caroline was now saying, “that we will find out who is behind this vicious attack and win this race!”
    As Caroline continued speaking, Nancy was glad to see the crowd’s enthusiasm building. When the candidate finished, the entire auditorium erupted in cheers.
    Nancy, Bess, and Kyle made their way to the front of the auditorium to talk to Caroline. When they got there, they found her surrounded by people. “Looks like she’ll be busy for a while,” Kyle said. “Let’s get something to eat.” He nodded toward one wall where a table of punch and snacks had been set up.
    They were just finished eating some chips and dip when Caroline joined them. “What a nice turnout,” she said, filling a glass with punch. “Did you make any progress finding out who planted the story?”
    Nancy told Caroline about her visit to the police station and the confrontation with Steve Hill. “We still don’t know who fed Steve the story, though,” Nancy finished.
    â€œIt figures that he’d be willing to believe that trash about me,” Caroline said. “Oh—I almost forgot to tell you. Someone from the DA’s officecalled me just before the rally. Bobby Rouse is out on bail.”
    â€œWhere did he get the money?” Bess asked.
    Caroline shrugged. “Good question. It was a stiff bail, thirty thousand dollars. I have a theory, though. It’s been my experience as a lawyer that the longer someone sits in jail, the more willing he is to talk.”
    â€œSo you think someone might have sprung Rouse in order to keep him from talking?” Nancy asked.
    â€œMaybe,” Caroline replied. “Jerry! Thanks for coming,” she said, turning to a man who tapped her on the shoulder. With an apologetic smile at Nancy, Caroline said, “We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?” Then she disappeared into the crowd.
    Nancy turned to Bess and Kyle. “I want to find out who bailed out Bobby Rouse. It might be the person who got him to pose for that photo.”
    â€œWe won’t have much time tomorrow,” Kyle told her. “I have to work at your dad’s office, and you and Bess have to attend Caroline’s speech in the park.”
    Nancy raised an eyebrow. “True, but there’s always tonight,” she said, glancing at her watch. “It’s eight-thirty now.”
    Just then a guy wearing a gold lamé tuxedo and sunglasses sauntered past them. Kyle shaded his eyes and joked, “Man, I can’t see! That suit is blinding me!”
    â€œI almost forgot about the entertainment part of this rally,” Bess said, giggling. “Let’s at least listen to the band before we go check out Bobby Rouse, okay?”
    â€œSounds good,” Nancy agreed. When the group of guys started to play, she couldn’t help moving to the beat.