Read Online Danger on Parade by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

guessed.
    â€œRight,” Jules answered proudly. “Dad gave the go-ahead for the parade. But now we’re launching our signature perfume and cologne, and we’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising and sample costs. Plus we’ve been laying out money left and right for the parade. Basically, we’ve drained the store’s cash reserves, and my father’s not happy, to say the least.”
    Nancy and Bess exchanged a silent look as Jules paused and shifted on the couch.
    â€œWe’re committed to having the parade thisyear, but next year is a different story,” Jules continued. He looked straight at Nancy, a troubled look in his eyes.
    â€œI think my father is trying to ruin the Thanksgiving parade so that no one will ever want to have it again!”

Chapter

Seven
    W HAT!” B ESS EXCLAIMED . She looked at Jules as if he had lost his mind. “Do you really think he would wreck his own store’s parade?”
    Jules let out a long breath. “Maybe I’m wrong—I hope I am. But I know how strongly my father opposes the parade. And with all the store’s money troubles . . .”
    Nancy was as surprised as Bess. “What about the explosion?” she asked Jules. “People were hurt.”
    â€œIncluding me.” Jules shook his head ruefully. “Dad had no way of knowing I would be there when it went off. In fact, I’m convinced that the timer was set incorrectly. My father probably meant for it to go off at night, when no one was there. He would never hurt anyone intentionally,” he said firmly.
    There was a strange logic to Jules’s explanation, Nancy realized. But there were still so many unanswered questions. Briefly she explained to Jules that she was a private detective, then said, “Jules, I’d like to talk to your father. That might help me get to the bottom of this.”
    After a long pause, Jules said, “Okay. But please, Dad can’t know I told you any of this. I’ll call and tell him you’re a friend of mine who’s interested in the retail industry. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time getting in to see him.”
    Nancy thanked him, and she and Bess stood up to leave.
    It was almost four o’clock by the time the girls got off the subway near Mitchell’s. Bess hesitated outside the revolving doors leading into the store.
    â€œI think I’ll go to Jill’s office and try to help locate the missing costumes,” she said. “I know she thinks I’m the leading suspect, but maybe helping out will prove to her that I wasn’t responsible for any of the sabotage. I want her to know that I have nothing to hide.”
    Nancy gave her friend an encouraging smile. “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll meet you in Jill’s office after I talk to Mr. Langley.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œMs. Drew?”
    Nancy looked up from the newsmagazine she had been flipping through in the ninth floorreception area outside Howard Langley’s office. “Yes?”
    â€œMr. Langley will see you now,” said the receptionist, a tall woman with short salt-and-pepper hair.
    Nancy put down the magazine and followed the woman down a hall, through two wooden doors, and into a huge office with windows along two walls. A gray-haired man in his sixties stood up from behind a long mahogany desk. He had the same blue eyes and athletic frame as Jules, Nancy noticed. Mr. Langley was much more conservatively dressed, however, in a charcoal gray suit and striped tie.
    â€œHello, Nancy,” Mr. Langley greeted her. “I understand you have an interest in the retail industry.”
    â€œYes,” she replied, taking a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. “I’m especially interested in the Thanksgiving parade. I’ve been talking to Jill Johnston, and—”
    â€œI don’t want to talk about that parade,”