Read Online The Wrong Chemistry by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A

was all right. Together, the two of themmight be able to overpower the thief—if it was the thief out there.
    Whoever it was, he was taking his time in the lab. Nancy heard footsteps pacing. Then there was a grunt and something fell to the floor near the closet door. Nancy froze. Pressing her ear against the door, she could hear faint scratching sounds. The seconds passed like minutes. Finally she heard the lab door open and close. Fine, she told herself. I’ll just let another minute pass to make sure it’s safe to come out.
    But before the minute went by, a faint smell of smoke wafted through the bottom of the closet. Nancy put her hand against the closet door. It was warm to the touch. The closet door was on fire!
    Nancy yelled for Ned as she snatched some lab coats off the hangers around her. Wrapping one of them around her head to protect her face from the smoke, she grabbed another pile of coats to smother the flames. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the door. It resisted her efforts. The smoke was getting thicker now. Choking, she leaned against the door, even harder. It gave way and she stumbled into the source of the smoke.
    Outside the door, the student notebooks had been piled high and set on fire. The flames licked at Nancy’s ankles. She was dimly aware of a smoke alarm sending its piercing warningthrough the halls as she threw the lab coats down in front of her, trying to smother the burning barricade. She leapt over the notebooks, landing on the floor with a thud. Groaning, she rolled away from the fire.
    Half crawling, she made her way to the freezer unit against the far wall. With her last ounce of strength, she pried the door open. The CLT was gone.
    â€œNan, Nan, where are you?”
    Ned and Craig burst into the room. Craig grabbed the fire extinguisher on the wall and began spraying the fire as Ned rushed to help Nancy.
    â€œI-I’m fine.” Coughing and choking from the smoke, Nancy clung gratefully to Ned. He swept her into his arms and stumbled into the hallway.
    â€œWe’ll get you to the infirmary, Nan. Just hang on.” Ned’s voice was choked, from the smoke or his own emotion, she couldn’t tell. “You’re going to be okay.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Nancy sat up in bed late the next afternoon. “The infirmary nurse says I’m just fine now,” she assured Ned. “Look, I didn’t even get burned, and I’ve slept all day.”
    She held up her hands, and Ned grabbed them in his and kissed them.
    â€œThe invincible Nancy Drew.” He grinned.“Goes through fire without blinking an eye. I’m beginning to wonder why I ever worry about you.” Ned sank into the chair next to her bed and closed his eyes wearily.
    Nancy’s eyes clouded with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Ned,” she said softly, “I didn’t mean to drag you into this case.”
    Ned leaned close, grinning ruefully. “I guess it proves I’d go through raging fires for you.”
    How did she get such a wonderful guy? Nancy thought as she burrowed her head into Ned’s shoulder. “I don’t know what I would have done,” she admitted. Her throat closed as she realized how close she’d come to real danger. “If you hadn’t been there . . .”
    â€œShhh,” Ned whispered. “What I don’t understand is how the thief got past both me and Craig in the hall. It doesn’t seem possible.”
    â€œIt can happen. Don’t blame yourself—please. The thief was determined,” Nancy said.
    Drawing Nancy close, Ned rocked her gently, landing a soft kiss on her hair. “You smell like smoke,” he said, laughing.
    â€œNed, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you what this was about,” Nancy began.
    â€œI understand,” he told her.
    Nancy decided then it was time to take Ned into her confidence. Clearly, she hadn’t learned the thief’s