Flirting with Danger by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page A

Kline nodded distractedly. “I’ll ask Allen to speak to the police,” she said, and she hurried out.
    â€œLet’s go talk,” Josh said after a long sigh. Nancy nodded, and she and Ned followed him out of Rachel’s room.
    After Mr. and Mrs. Kline went off to bed, Josh, Ned, and Nancy sat down in the den with glasses of lemonade and a bowl of chips.
    â€œIt’s been a long day,” Josh said, rubbing his eyes. “And a confusing one. I just don’t understand what’s happening.”
    â€œWhoever broke in tonight was looking for something very specific,” Nancy offered. Ned nodded his silent agreement. “But what?”
    â€œThe only thing we know for certain is that it must be connected to Rachel,” Ned said. “And maybe also that it was something that could explain where she is now.”
    â€œMaybe.” Nancy thought for a moment. “But we wouldn’t know what the connection was.”
    â€œHere’s another question: Who pushed you over the deck tonight, and why?” Josh asked.
    Nancy shrugged. “Someone in Rachel’s crowd who doesn’t want us to find her, that’s my guess.”
    â€œCould it have been Dennis?” Ned wondered.
    â€œI doubt it,” Nancy said firmly. “Judging from the way he ran out of the Snake Pit tonight, I don’t think he’d risk being seen at a party.”
    Josh stood up. “I can’t think anymore tonight, that’s for sure. If you have time tomorrow, come by the studio and we can talk. My mom and dad are making me go to work everyday. They think it’s best if we try to stick to our normal routine.”
    Nancy smiled. “I agree with them.”
    After Josh went up to bed, Ned reached out to give Nancy a kiss. “Alone at last,” he murmured into her hair.
    â€œDon’t worry, Nickerson,” Nancy told him with a laugh. “You’ll have me all to yourself tomorrow.”
    â€œWhy? What happens tomorrow?” Ned asked curiously.
    â€œTomorrow we’re going to track down Dennis Harper. No matter what.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    As soon as Nancy got up the next morning she tried Dennis’s phone number for what seemed like the fiftieth time. Still no answer. After quickly dressing in white slacks and a roomy blue cotton shirt, she hurried downstairs.
    Josh, Ned, and the Klines were already in the dining room. The doorbell rang almost as soon as Nancy sat down at the table.
    â€œThat must be Lieutenant Heller,” Mr. Kline said, getting up to answer the door himself. “The police promised to bring a fingerprint expert.”
    Everyone left the table to follow the two people upstairs to Rachel’s room. The fingerprintwoman sighed when she saw the mess the intruder had left. Fingerprints would be almost impossible to lift.
    â€œI checked with your neighbors last night,” the lieutenant said. “None of them saw or heard anything out of the ordinary while you were out.”
    â€œAnd nothing is missing,” Mrs. Kline added. “We double-checked everything.”
    â€œAre there any leads on my daughter, Lieutenant?” Mr. Kline asked. “Have you been able to locate her boyfriend, Dennis?”
    Lieutenant Heller raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “No leads, I’m afraid, Mr. Kline. But I do have an address for the Harper boy, and we’re checking up on him.”
    Nancy’s heart started to race. So the police knew where Dennis Harper lived. “Could you give me his address, Lieutenant?” she asked.
    At the lieutenant’s quizzical expression, Karen Kline explained that Nancy was an amateur detective and that she was helping them find their daughter.
    â€œHey, I’ve heard of you,” Heller said with a smile. “I read about you in the paper somewhere. What do you know—Drew’s your name, right?”
    Nancy blushed, and Ned gave her a little poke in