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

the ribs. “That’s right. Could you giveme Dennis’s address? I’d like to check his place out.”
    The detective pulled a notebook from his shirt pocket, flipped it open, and read off an address. Nancy made a note of it and thanked the lieutenant.
    â€œYou won’t be able to get in—unless he’s there,” he said, closing the notebook and tucking it away again. “And if he is there, he probably won’t let you in. I can tell you that we went over that apartment with a fine-tooth comb and came up blank.”
    Nancy nodded. She still wanted to go out there herself. She’d ask Josh if they could borrow Rachel’s car to drive out to Dennis’s place.
    Josh glanced at his watch. “I’m going to be late for work if I don’t leave right now,” he said, his tone apologetic. “If you guys want to use the car, you can drive me to work and take it,” he said, reading Nancy’s mind.
    â€œGo ahead, Josh,” Mr. Kline urged. “Try to have a good day.”
    Nancy lingered for just a moment after Josh and Ned went out, talking with Lieutenant Heller. “I understand there’ve been a lot of other break-ins in the community lately,” she said.
    Heller answered her as if she were a colleague.“Yes,” he said with a nod. “There have been, and we’ve been getting nowhere with them.”
    â€œJust as you’re getting nowhere finding our daughter,” Mrs. Kline put in, sounding a little peevish.
    The lieutenant’s strong but ordinary face showed compassion as he met Karen’s gaze. “We’re trying, Mrs. Kline,” he said quietly. “But the unfortunate truth is, we’re swamped with reports of missing teenagers. It’s an epidemic.”
    â€œNancy!” Ned’s voice called to her good-naturedly, from a distance.
    â€œI’d like to talk to you again soon,” Nancy said to the lieutenant.
    He nodded and handed her his card. “Take care, Ms. Drew. We may be dealing with some very dangerous people. Please be careful.”
    Just as Nancy reached the bottom of the stairway the telephone rang. Mrs. Morgan answered it and held out the receiver of the hallway extension. “It’s for you, Nancy,” she said.
    Nancy was surprised. “Hello?”
    â€œNancy, this is Beth Hanford.” Beth sounded scared and anxious. “I need to talk to you. In person.”
    â€œI was just going out,” Nancy answered,conscious that Ned and Josh were waiting. She didn’t want Josh to be late for his job because of her. “Could we meet later?”
    â€œTwelve o’clock,” Beth said. “The pizza place in the Golden Hills Mall?”
    â€œI’ll be there,” Nancy promised after Beth gave her directions.
    Nancy hung up and dashed out to catch up with Josh and Ned. The three of them got into the Camaro and headed for the movie studio.
    â€œI hope they get a break in this case soon,” Josh said as he maneuvered the sporty car through the early-morning traffic. “I don’t think my folks—or I—can take much more.”
    Nancy and Ned were silent. There was nothing either of them could say to help.
    When they reached the studio gates Josh’s mood improved. It was obvious to Nancy that he loved his job after only one day. He gave a cheerful hello to the guard who checked his ID, and he asked for one-day passes for Nancy and Ned. Driving through the lot, they passed people dressed in costumes from every period.
    â€œVisitors can come onto the lot on the other side if they buy a ticket,” Josh explained. “They’re not supposed to wander into this part, but it does happen sometimes.”
    Josh passed a lot of expensive cars to park the Camaro among some older, battered models.“Why don’t you come over and look around for a couple of hours? A change from the case might do you some good,” Josh