Read Online Make No Mistake by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

she had to ask.
    On an impulse, Nancy picked up the phone extension in the kitchen and called George. “Are you up for another trip to Chicago this morning?”
    â€œNot another visit to the Clarion?” George’s voice sounded skeptical.
    â€œNope. I want to talk to Jake Loomis this time.”
    â€œGood idea,” George said. “Ready when you are, which, knowing you, is probably about ten minutes ago!”
    Next, Nancy called Bess, but there wasn’t any answer, so she headed out to her Mustang. It was as cold as ever outside, and the sky had a heavy, gray look to it.
    â€œI hope it doesn’t snow today,” George said as she climbed into the car ten minutes later. “It looks as though the sky’s going to open up and dump a huge pile of it on us.”
    Nancy shrugged. “That’s fine with me—aslong as it holds off until we get back from Chicago.”
    â€œWhat’s our story going to be?” George wanted to know as Nancy turned the Mustang toward the highway. “Are we still reporters?”
    â€œI guess so. We’ll say we’re doing research for a Who’s Who in Chicago Business.”
    â€œGet him off his guard by buttering him up and making him feel important, eh?” George grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
    The traffic was heavy, but by midmorning they were in Chicago, and Nancy was winding her way through the crowded city streets to St. Paul Street, where the Loomis Landscaping office was. Luckily, she was able to park right outside.
    â€œThis is pretty familiar,” Nancy said, getting her bearings before she and George went into the building. “If I’m not mistaken, the Clarion building is only a block east of here.”
    â€œWhatever you say.” George grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the entrance. “It’s a little cold for a geography lesson, Nan. Let’s get inside.”
    In the marble-floored lobby, George let out an impressed whistle. “Not too shabby,” she said in a low voice.
    Nancy nodded her agreement. “It looks as if Jake Loomis has done pretty well for himself.”
    The office of Loomis Landscaping was a huge space that looked as if it had been converted from a warehouse. It was partitioned with lowwalls and tastefully decorated with plants and framed photos of colorful gardens. A blond woman sitting behind a wide reception desk asked the girls if she could help them.
    â€œWe’d like to see Mr. Loomis,” Nancy said.
    â€œDo you have an appointment?”
    â€œNo,” said Nancy, “but we won’t take much of his time.” She gave her Who’s Who spiel.
    When she was done, the receptionist gave them a wide smile and said, “I’m sure Mr. Loomis won’t mind giving you a few minutes.” She picked up her phone and spoke into it briefly.
    A moment later a man dressed in an expensive-looking suit emerged from a room at the far end of the office and headed toward them. He had salt-and-pepper hair with a beard to match and a burly, muscular build.
    Jake Loomis received them with a big smile. Nancy and George followed him back to his office, which was large and furnished with a mahogany desk and leather-upholstered chairs.
    â€œYou girls look pretty young to be doing such important work,” he said, gesturing for them to sit down in the leather chairs.
    â€œWe’re older than we look,” Nancy assured him, smiling. “Younger reporters do all the footwork, and the older ones get all the credit.”
    â€œWell, you can’t have everything right away,” he said. “Look at me. I didn’t start to be successful until I was twice your age—at least.” He spoke with a self-satisfied air, and Nancy suspectedthat he had probably made the same comment many times before.
    George leaned forward and said, “We wanted to check up on something in the article about you in the Clarion —the one that