Read Online 095 An Instinct for Trouble by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

asked as he drove back to the campsite.
    “I’m making some progress, but not a lot,”
    she said. “I’ve got too many suspects. Anyone could have taken the key from under the rock by the command post, which means I have to consider outsiders, like Piker and Richard.”
    Ned nodded. “Well, if the key was stolen, Professor Trainey obviously didn’t do it. He’s got one of his own.”
    Nancy remained silent for a moment, then told Ned the news about the grant extension.
    He looked crushed. “Dan didn’t say a word about it,” he began. “I guess he’s too upset.”
    “It’s awful, I know,” Nancy said carefully.
    “And I’m afraid I’ve still got to watch the professor. He must be pretty desperate for money now.”
    Ned’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel tighter. “That’s ridiculous. Professor Trainey is the last person on earth who’d get involved in poaching marmots-no matter how hard up he is,” he said indignantly.
    Nancy took a deep breath. “Try to see it objectively. He’s got a strong motive. And he has complete access to the equipment. I can’t rule him out on your say-so.”
    Ned was silent for a long time. As he pulled into the parking area, he finally spoke. “I’m beginning to wish I’d never asked you to help.
    Some help! Doesn’t the poor guy have enough problems just trying to get this part of the project completed by Saturday? If you can’t manage to leave Dan Trainey alone, you’d better just turn around and go back to River Heights!”
    Nancy’s anger spoke for her. “I don’t think you want this case solved! You’re more inter-
    ested in protecting your precious professor and not offending dear Jennifer than you are in finding out who’s been poaching marmots.”
    “At least Jennifer pays attention to what I say,” Ned retorted hotly.
    Nancy knew, even as the words rose to her lips, that she was going to regret them. She couldn’t stop herself though. “Is Jennifer will-
    ing to shut her eyes to the truth just because you tell her to?” she demanded. “Then all I can say, Ned Nickerson, is that the two of you deserve each other!”

Chapter Nine
    If that’s the way you feel, I guess I know what to do about it!” Ned jumped out of the Jeep and stomped away.
    Nancy sat still. What had Ned meant? Did he want to break up?
    She started to follow him up to the campsite but then checked her steps. Maybe she should wait a bit to give him a chance to cool off. In the meantime she decided to talk to Bess.
    Nancy found her at feeding station 1, strok-
    ing the injured marmot through the bars of its cage.
    “Oh, Nancy,” Bess said, “look at Spike. Isn’t he adorable?” Her blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
    In spite of the way she felt. Nancy managed a faint smile. “Spike?”
    “I call him that because of the way his fur stands up around his head,” Bess explained.
    “Look, Jack bandaged Spike’s leg while I held him. The little guy didn’t even try to bite me.
    So how did things go with Ned?” Bess asked, glancing at her. Then she quickly added, “Uh-
    oh. Not so well, huh?”
    “No,” Nancy said. She gave Bess a full account of their most recent argument, includ-
    ing their parting words.
    “That doesn’t sound good,” Bess replied, frowning. “But you don’t really think that Ned and Jennifer…”
    “I don’t know what to think,” Nancy said.
    “They’ve been together every day for two and a half weeks now. But I’m sorry I said what I did-even if I meant every word of it!”
    Nancy heard footsteps. Hoping it was Ned, she spun around eagerly. It was Professor Trainey. She couldn’t help letting out a sigh of disappointment.
    Trainey nodded to her and gave Bess a distracted glance, then bent down to peer inside the cage. “This must be the little fellow Jack told me about,” he said.
    “He’s so cute,” Bess announced. “Maybe in my next life I’ll come back as a marmot.”
    Trainey actually smiled at her-it was the first