The Red Slippers by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

I could see the silhouette of what looked like a girl in the passenger seat, but because of the tinted window, I couldn’t make out her face. I checked the street. The traffic was heavy at the moment, but a few hundred feet away the light was about to change to red, which would allow the driver to turn. I didn’t have much time.
    I pushed myself to move faster. In my head I could hear Ms. Brown, our PE teacher, yelling, “High knees, high knees” as I made my way through the snow. My toes were numb, and muscles I didn’t even know existed burned in my legs.
    Just a few more feet and I’d be close enough to see inside. My lungs screamed in pain. Tears ran down my face from the wind. I got there right as the car turned, and managed to make out the driver’s face. It was Mike Carter! I still couldn’t see who the passenger was, though.
    When I walked back into the restaurant, I must have looked like a mess. I was shivering, my cheeks were bright red and tear-streaked, and I was drenched from the knees down.
    â€œNancy!” Bess shrieked, running over to me. “Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine,” I said. “I actually got a lead, but I’m not sure it makes sense.”
    â€œWhat is it?” George asked.
    â€œNo,” Bess said. “Before we do any more investigating, we need to get you into dry clothes. You could get hypothermia!”
    â€œWe’re close to the hotel. Sebastian and I need to get back for curfew, and I could lend you some dry clothes,” Maggie said.
    â€œThe hotel is a lot closer than your house,” George confirmed.
    â€œSounds good,” I agreed.
    Bess held out her hand.
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    â€œYou’re not driving,” she said. I wavered for a second, about to protest, but the look on Bess’s face told me arguing would be pointless. I handed her the key.
    Once we were in the car, Bess turned up the heat full blast. I could see sweat beading on everyone else’s foreheads, but I was grateful for the warmth. In a few minutes, I had stopped shivering and feeling had returned to my toes.
    â€œThe waiter said he saw another dancer and her father in the restaurant,” I told them. “I followed the car and it was Mike Carter with a girl, but I couldn’t see her face.”
    â€œI knew that guy was up to no good,” George said.
    â€œYeah, but who was he with?” I asked. “Does Colin have a sister?”
    â€œNo,” Maggie answered. “Colin’s an only child. And why would Mike care if I dance tomorrow? He just doesn’t want Colin to dance.”
    â€œMaybe he thinks that Jamison will cancel the show if you’re not dancing, rather than let Oscar see an inferior performance.”
    Maggie shook her head. “There’s no way. Jamison would never, ever cancel a performance.”
    â€œShe’s right,” Sebastian added. “The phrase ‘the show must go on’ is just as important in ballet as it is in theater. Jamison would never work again if he canceled a performance for anything short of a major catastrophe, like an earthquake.”
    Sebastian leaned forward so he was speaking directly to me. “Look, Nancy,” he said, “don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not sure you have the knowledge to solve this case.”
    â€œNancy’s solved cases that are loads harder than this,” George said angrily.
    â€œThat’s not what I meant,” Sebastian said. “I’m sure you’re a great detective, but ballet is a unique and insular world. I don’t think anyone who isn’t a part of it can solve a mystery about it.”
    â€œI disagree,” I said, trying not to sound defensive. “My job as a detective is to ask questions and follow leads. As an outsider, sometimes you can spot inconsistencies that those immersed in a certain world could miss.”
    Sebastian shrugged. “All