Read Online Murder On Ice by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A

friend back to life.”
    Suddenly the words Luke had shouted at her after Ned’s accident reverberated through Nancy’s head. “Do you have any idea at all what it’s like to be responsible for someone else’s tragedy?” he’d said.
    Nancy shuddered. “How awful.” George really may be in love with a murderer! she thought. And what can I do?
    Suddenly, inspiration struck Nancy like a lightning bolt. It would be a whole lot easier to get George’s mind off Luke if somebody else fell for her. Someone handsome and charming . . . “Why don’t you come on back to our table and meet the rest of my friends?” Nancy suggested.
    Michael shook his head. “Thanks, but I’d rather dance.”
    â€œI’d like you to meet George Fayne. She’s a fantastic skier. She followed every minute of the last Olympic competitions on TV. I’ll go get her. I really think you two have a lot in common.”
    Nancy started back to the table. This is great, she thought. Michael should be the perfect antidote to Luke.
    Nancy found George and Ned alone at the table, both looking blue. Apparently Bess and Gunther were dancing again. Quickly, Nancy explained that she wanted to introduce George to a friend.
    George studied Nancy for a moment. “I never thought I’d see you stoop so low as to fix me up with a blind date,” she said. “Bess, yes, but not you, Nancy.”
    â€œOh, come on. A blind date isn’t stooping low! Don’t make such a big deal out of it,” Nancy said. “He’s a nice guy.”
    â€œLook,” George replied firmly, “I like Luke, even if you don’t, and some good-looking, empty-headed skier isn’t going to change that.”
    â€œHe’s not empty-headed,” Nancy said. “Besides, this is more for him than for you. I think he’s really lonely.” So she’d lied. If her plan worked, that wouldn’t matter.
    â€œOh, all right,” George said, groaning, “but only because I know you won’t leave me alone until I go with you.”
    But when the girls reached the spot where Nancy had left Michael Price, he was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œOh, well,” Nancy said, “you can meet him some other time. Maybe he’s just shy—like you,” she added artfully.
    Nancy and George went back to the table to find Bess and Gunther sitting with Ned and a few new acquaintances. Everyone was chattering about the various ski slopes, but Ned was unusually quiet.
    Nancy put her hand over his. “Ankle bothering you?”
    â€œIt’s fine,” Ned said briefly.
    Bess glanced from Nancy to Ned and back again. “If you guys are getting tired,” she offered, “we can get a ride back to the lodge with somebody else.”
    There were immediate offers of rides from their new friends. “I don’t want to drag Nancy away this early,” Ned protested.
    â€œI’d like to go. Really! We have things to talk about, anyway,” Nancy said, thinking of Michael Price. “I’ll go get the car and pick you up at the door.”
    â€œI think I can make it to the parking lot even ifI am a temporary cripple,” Ned said with a laugh.
    George shook her finger at Ned. “Look, super-jock, we all know you don’t let sports injuries get you down. Just think of it as saving your ankle for the baseball season.” She yawned. “I’m tired, too. I think I’ll go home with you.”
    So Nancy didn’t get a chance to discuss Michael with Ned as they drove home after all. But she definitely thought about him! How frustrating it was that he had disappeared before she’d gotten a chance to talk to him more.
    He was my big chance to get information and clues, she told herself miserably as she lay in her bunk a little while later. And I let him slip away, trying to set him up with George. She looked over at her sleeping friend.