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

Time to stop worrying about her and start solving this case.
    Where did Michael fit in? Why had he been at the rope tow? Nancy felt a chill in spite of the thick comforter on her bed. Could Michael be the midnight prowler?
    Nancy closed her eyes. Nothing made sense. But it will before I’m through, she swore. I’ll track Michael down. And I’ll find out why he and Luke pretended not to know each other. I’ll get the answers—before somebody else gets killed on the slopes!

Chapter

Ten
    W HEN N ANCY WOKE up the next morning, George was already gone. “She had an early ski date with Luke,” Bess said darkly. “I couldn’t talk her out of it.”
    â€œWe’ve got to get her to listen to us, and fast!” Nancy told Bess about her conversation with Michael Price, and Bess looked shocked. “Luke could have killed Michael’s friend on purpose—but maybe he didn’t,” Nancy continued. “What matters is that his carelessness is causing dangerous accidents, so George’s life could be on the line right this minute!”
    â€œGeorge is planning to help Luke give some of the ski lessons today,” Bess told Nancy. “There are a lot of opportunities for accidents on the slopes, aren’t there?” She rubbed her aching legs.“Well, I guess Gunther and I had better sign up for those classes,” she said bravely. “That way I can watch Luke and keep my eye on things for you.”
    Nancy nodded. “This is creepy, though, Bess. Michael might give Luke the benefit of the doubt, but after what happened to Ned and me, I wouldn’t call what’s going on here just coincidences. Three accidents, one of them fatal—and Luke involved in all of them. He’s got to be doing it on purpose!”
    Bess looked at Nancy, frowning. “But what’s Luke’s motive?”
    â€œThat’s what I have to find out. Ned and I are going over to the hotel again today to look for Michael and to see if we hear anybody talking about Luke Ericsen. How long did Liz say he’s been here? A few weeks? That’s long enough for people to have started noticing anything odd.”
    As soon as breakfast was over, Nancy and Ned decided to head for the Overlook. But when Nancy turned the key in the ignition of her car, the engine wouldn’t turn over.
    â€œMaybe it’s just too cold,” Ned suggested.
    â€œI don’t know. It was colder last night than it is now, and the car was running fine then.” Nancy tried the engine several more times but got no response.
    â€œWant me to call a service station?” Ned asked.
    Nancy shook her head. “Let me talk to Liz first.”
    When Nancy found Liz in the office and explained her predicament, Liz promptly took a key ring from a wall hook and tossed it to her. “Take Luke’s old Jeep,” she suggested. “He won’t be using it until late this afternoon because of classes, and he leaves the keys here in case someone needs emergency transportation.”
    Nancy thanked Liz. “We’ll take good care of it,” she said. Then she and Ned were soon on their way.
    At the Overlook, Nancy and Ned found the hotel’s indoor swimming pool empty of swimmers, with no one around except a bored lifeguard. “We’ll check the Jacuzzi out later,” Nancy said with an enticing smile, “but right now, we’ve got work to do.”
    â€œHow about this?” Ned suggested. “You check the hotel for Michael. I’ll go spread my charm around the lobby and try to get the story on Luke. If he has such a bad reputation, then people should have something to say about him. We can meet in the coffee shop at noon.”
    â€œOkay,” Nancy agreed. “Good luck.”
    Nancy started her search by asking for Michael at the front desk. He was registered, but the clerk wouldn’t give Nancy his room number. She tried calling him on the house