couldnât resist it.â
As Ned drove away, Nancy leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. âI wanted to tell him everything that happened tonight, but I got the feeling he wouldnât have listened to a word I said.â
âWhat did happen, anyway?â Ned asked.
âI did go for a swim,â Nancy said. âBut as I told Detective Ryan, I just couldnât resist.â
While Ned drove through the quiet streets, Nancy told him what had happened after she left him.
âJoanna let the whole world know who I was, so that made me a very easy target,â she said, finishing her story as Ned pulled up in front of the Drewsâ home. âBut at least Iâm sure Iâm on the right trail. Whoeverâs behind those robberies has to have something to do with the country club. Thatâs certain now.â
âRight.â Ned agreed and slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. âThe question is who? And what are we going to do now?â
Nancy leaned back against him, relaxing forthe first time that night. âKeep looking,â she said.
âBut as you said, theyâre probably on to you. And that dunking tonight wasnât just for fun,â Ned commented. âTheyâre dangerous, and youâve been warned to back off.â
âI know,â Nancy said. âIâll just have to keep my eyes open wide from now on. And so will Bess and George and you,â she said, turning to kiss his cheek. âAt least they havenât seen any of us together at the club. But weâll have to be careful to keep it that way.â
After kissing him again, Nancy got out of the car and walked up to her house, her squishy sneakers leaving wet prints on the front walk. She remembered the prints she had seen earlier, and she knew she had to find out who had made them before he followed her again.
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
The next day, Nancy arrived at the club alone. Because George and Bess werenât members, Nancy had given them passes and told them to come individually, too. Ned was to stay away that day.
First, Nancy walked down to the tennis courts, hoping that maybe Cindy had decided to hang out there. She saw George and Jim playing a game, and she saw Max Fletcher. Butthere was no one around with flaming red hair, so she headed for the pool.
It was hot. The pool was packed, and Mike, as head lifeguard, was on duty as usual. He was too busy keeping an eye on the crowds to listen to conversations about peopleâs valuables, or even to take a break. Nancy watched him for a few minutes, wondering if he was as good at drowning people as he was at saving them. He was big enough to have held her under water the night before.
Soon she went into the lounge, which was more crowded than the pool. Zach was working, as were two other bartender-waiters. They were scurrying around, filling glasses with soda, iced tea, and lemonade. Even Zach, who was usually so chatty, didnât stop at a single table for more than five seconds. He did find time to throw Nancy a quick wink; except for that, though, he was on the run.
Nancy had hoped to speak to everyone working in the lounge. If she was careful about the questions she asked, she might have learned something. But unless the crowds suddenly thinned out, she wouldnât get the chance.
Thereâs still Rita, she thought. Even though it had been a man in the pool with her, that didnât mean Rita wasnât in on the robberies insome way. After all, she got an earful while she gave her massages.
When Nancy got downstairs, Rita was busy. Nancy wanted to wait and eavesdrop but decided that might be a little too obvious. Instead, she just asked if Rita had an opening, then walked down the hall to the womenâs locker room, where she locked up her bag. Might as well get some exercise while Iâm waiting, she thought, and she went into the weight room.
Half an hour later, Rita stuck
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