The Red Slippers by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

me to choose between him and sleuthing, and I had never considered him a distraction. If anything, he was an asset to helping me achieve my dreams.
    â€œIt takes so much discipline to be a professional dancer,” George observed. “No ice cream, no boyfriends, and I bet you don’t have a lot of time to play video games.”
    â€œNope, none,” Maggie confirmed with a smile.
    â€œYep, there’s no way I could ever do that,” George said, pulling her portable game system from her pocket and kissing it.
    â€œIt’s definitely hard,” Maggie agreed. “You sacrifice a lot, but when I’m on that stage, it’s an amazing feeling. Last year in a recital I danced a pas de deux—that means dance of two—from Swan Lake . Colin danced the part of prince and I was Odile, the evil swan, distracting him from Odette, the swan princess. And as I danced, nothing else existed; nothing else mattered. When the music stopped and the audience clapped, I literally jumped. I had forgotten they were there! For the five minutes of my solo, I was completely transported to a snowy kingdom. It’s a feeling I’ve never had doing anything else, and when I have it I know I’ve danced to the peak of my abilities.”
    â€œI can get like that when I’m writing a computer program,” George said. “I just get so lost in the code that I lose complete track of time.”
    â€œYeah,” I agreed. “I feel that when I’m on a case and all the pieces start fitting together.”
    â€œIt happens to me when I play piano,” Sebastian concurred. “I think it’s something you feel when you’re doing something you’re meant to do.”
    â€œI don’t think I’ve ever felt that,” Bess said sadly.
    â€œYou will,” I said.
    The server brought over our bill. “Whenever you’re ready,” he said, placing it on the table.
    Maggie reached for it first. As she lifted the check off the tray, her face turned white.
    â€œNancy . . . ,” she said.
    I leaned over. On the tray under the bill was a note.
    FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DON’T
    DANCE TOMORROW!

CHAPTER SIX

Dashing Through the Snow
    I SCANNED THE RESTAURANT AND spotted our waiter, Chuck, in the back corner at the register.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” I said, quickly pushing out of my chair and hurrying toward him.
    â€œExcuse me,” I said. “We found—”
    Chuck didn’t let me finish. “If there’s something wrong with your food, you have to complain before you get your bill. We can’t give discounts after we deliver the check,” he said without looking up.
    I shook my head. “Our food was fine,” I corrected him. “We found a rude note under our bill.”
    â€œIt wasn’t from me,” he said.
    â€œI didn’t think it was from you,” I said with a frustrated sigh. “But did you see anyone handle our bill before you delivered it to us?”
    â€œNope,” Chuck said, still not looking up from the register. I wasn’t even sure he knew what I was asking. He was just trying to get me to leave him alone as soon as possible.
    I put my hand on his shoulder, shaking it gently. He looked up at me, clearly annoyed. “Can you please just think about it for two seconds?” I asked firmly.
    â€œLook, I’m sorry someone left you a mean note and hurt your feelings,” he said, irritated, “but I need to put in this order for that big group over there.” He pointed to a large party in the middle of the room. “They order a lot more food and give me a much bigger tip than you dancers with your kale salads and waters.”
    â€œNo one at our table ordered a kale salad,” I said.
    â€œSorry, I must have mixed up the tables of ballet dancers,” Chuck said sarcastically.
    â€œThere was another table with a dancer?” I asked.
    â€œWell, she was