Read Online 041 Something to Hide by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carolyn Keene
Tags: Mobilism
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to work.
Nancy walked quickly to the files, her eyes scanning the labels for the drawer that would hold Justin’s personnel record. There it was— the one with the D ’s.
She was about to slide it open when she heard footsteps.
Leaving the file-room door open just a crack, Nancy raced back to the outer room and up tothe computer with her toolbox next to it. She was staring intently at the computer when the guard stuck her head through the door.
“Any luck?” the guard asked.
Nancy shook her head. “I’ve run diagnostic tests,” she said. “Nothing seems to be wrong.”
The guard tut-tutted sympathetically. “There’s a soda machine at the end of the hall,” she told Nancy. “Want one?”
“No thanks,” Nancy said. She waited, listening tensely, until she heard the guard return to her desk. Then she quickly moved back to the file room. Once again she left the door open just a crack. If anyone looked into the personnel department, they’d think the file room was safely closed and locked.
At least that was what Nancy hoped.
She opened the D file with a mounting sense of anticipation. There was Justin’s section— the one marked “DOB-DOL.” In just a few seconds Nancy would know the truth about him!
“ ‘Dodd, Alicia,’ ” she muttered aloud. “’Dodd, Martin. Doddson’—wait!”
There was no “Dodd, Justin” file.
There had to be! Justin hadn’t denied working for Asco. He’d been open about the fact that he’d been a summer intern there. He had to have a personnel file!
Perhaps it was misfiled. Nancy looked carefully through the entire drawer of D ’s.
The folder wasn’t there.
Nancy hadn’t been sure what she’d find in the file. She hoped that it would confirm exactly what Justin had told her—that he had worked for Asco during the summer but was no longer on the payroll. She had been afraid that the file would show he was still working for them—that perhaps he was on special assignment to sabotage Spotless. The one thing she hadn’t expected was that there wouldn’t be a file.
In her disappointment, Nancy closed the file drawer harder than she’d intended. As she did, she heard an ominous click. She turned quickly to see what had happened.
Oh, no! she thought. It couldn’t be!
The force of the slamming file drawer had blown the file-room door closed.
Nancy raced to the door and turned the handle frantically—but she was too late. The damage was done. The door had locked, and all her tools were on the other side.
Nancy was trapped inside the Asco file room!
Chapter
Ten
N ANCY STARED AT THE DOOR, thinking fast. She had to get out!
She’d already spent too much time at Asco. The guard might be more interested in her TV than in visitors, but eventually she’d start wondering why it was taking Nancy so long to repair the computer. Then she’d come looking for her.
Nancy tried the door again, but she knew it wouldn’t open. It didn’t. Nancy cast her eyes slowly around the room, inspecting every inch. There must be something in there she could use to pick the lock.
There wasn’t. The room contained only asingle table, a chair, and file cabinets. Besides, Nancy knew nothing short of professional lock picks could get her out.
There were no windows, no other doors. The file room was nothing more than a large closet.
Nancy paced the floor. Then a thought suddenly occurred to her. She looked up—and for the first time since the door had closed, a smile crossed her face. It just might work.
The first step was to move the table up next to the door. Nancy breathed silent thanks that the file-room table was made of lightweight metal rather than solid, heavy wood. It was sturdy enough for what she had in mind, but she could easily push it.
Nancy’s heart began to pound as she climbed on top of the table. What if her plan didn’t work?
Don’t think about that! she told herself sternly. Then, standing on the table, she reached up and tried to touch the
Nancy walked quickly to the files, her eyes scanning the labels for the drawer that would hold Justin’s personnel record. There it was— the one with the D ’s.
She was about to slide it open when she heard footsteps.
Leaving the file-room door open just a crack, Nancy raced back to the outer room and up tothe computer with her toolbox next to it. She was staring intently at the computer when the guard stuck her head through the door.
“Any luck?” the guard asked.
Nancy shook her head. “I’ve run diagnostic tests,” she said. “Nothing seems to be wrong.”
The guard tut-tutted sympathetically. “There’s a soda machine at the end of the hall,” she told Nancy. “Want one?”
“No thanks,” Nancy said. She waited, listening tensely, until she heard the guard return to her desk. Then she quickly moved back to the file room. Once again she left the door open just a crack. If anyone looked into the personnel department, they’d think the file room was safely closed and locked.
At least that was what Nancy hoped.
She opened the D file with a mounting sense of anticipation. There was Justin’s section— the one marked “DOB-DOL.” In just a few seconds Nancy would know the truth about him!
“ ‘Dodd, Alicia,’ ” she muttered aloud. “’Dodd, Martin. Doddson’—wait!”
There was no “Dodd, Justin” file.
There had to be! Justin hadn’t denied working for Asco. He’d been open about the fact that he’d been a summer intern there. He had to have a personnel file!
Perhaps it was misfiled. Nancy looked carefully through the entire drawer of D ’s.
The folder wasn’t there.
Nancy hadn’t been sure what she’d find in the file. She hoped that it would confirm exactly what Justin had told her—that he had worked for Asco during the summer but was no longer on the payroll. She had been afraid that the file would show he was still working for them—that perhaps he was on special assignment to sabotage Spotless. The one thing she hadn’t expected was that there wouldn’t be a file.
In her disappointment, Nancy closed the file drawer harder than she’d intended. As she did, she heard an ominous click. She turned quickly to see what had happened.
Oh, no! she thought. It couldn’t be!
The force of the slamming file drawer had blown the file-room door closed.
Nancy raced to the door and turned the handle frantically—but she was too late. The damage was done. The door had locked, and all her tools were on the other side.
Nancy was trapped inside the Asco file room!
Chapter
Ten
N ANCY STARED AT THE DOOR, thinking fast. She had to get out!
She’d already spent too much time at Asco. The guard might be more interested in her TV than in visitors, but eventually she’d start wondering why it was taking Nancy so long to repair the computer. Then she’d come looking for her.
Nancy tried the door again, but she knew it wouldn’t open. It didn’t. Nancy cast her eyes slowly around the room, inspecting every inch. There must be something in there she could use to pick the lock.
There wasn’t. The room contained only asingle table, a chair, and file cabinets. Besides, Nancy knew nothing short of professional lock picks could get her out.
There were no windows, no other doors. The file room was nothing more than a large closet.
Nancy paced the floor. Then a thought suddenly occurred to her. She looked up—and for the first time since the door had closed, a smile crossed her face. It just might work.
The first step was to move the table up next to the door. Nancy breathed silent thanks that the file-room table was made of lightweight metal rather than solid, heavy wood. It was sturdy enough for what she had in mind, but she could easily push it.
Nancy’s heart began to pound as she climbed on top of the table. What if her plan didn’t work?
Don’t think about that! she told herself sternly. Then, standing on the table, she reached up and tried to touch the
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