Read Online The Wrong Track by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

Diner.”
    â€œTwo jobs, wow! You must have been tired all the time.”
    Jody shrugged. “I’m saving money for college,” she explained as the waiter placed a crock of steaming soup in front of Nancy and shrimp on a bed of ice in front of Jody.
    Nancy took a spoonful of the soup. “This is delicious,” she said, and cut through the melted cheese to taste the savory onion and beef broth below.
    â€œGood evening, ladies,” Nancy heard Karl Reismueller say in his faintly accented voice. She looked up to see him, Sheila, and Dave standing next to the table.
    â€œI hope you’re enjoying your dinner,” Karl continued. He reached out to shake Nancy’s hand as she and Jody rose to greet the three older people.
    â€œIt’s delicious,” Nancy assured him. She smiled at Sheila, and her eyes moved over the front of the dress, searching for her trademark pin. How odd, she thought. Sheila wasn’t wearing the diamond horseshoe.
    As Karl discussed business with Jody, Dave turned to Nancy. “Sorry I didn’t make it back for our interview this afternoon. Why don’t you stop by tomorrow at about eleven?”
    Nancy agreed. She glanced over his shouldertoward the back of the room and saw that George, Bess, and Ben were leaving their table.
    â€œBen!” Karl called as the threesome approached. “I hope you gave Nancy a good lesson this morning.”
    Ben’s expression was wary, and Nancy guessed he was remembering their last conversation. “I tried my best,” he said.
    George and Bess started talking to Jody while Karl said something to Ben in a low voice.
    â€œWe never did plan our skiing for tomorrow,” Sheila said to Nancy. She gestured toward the window where a group of skiers had emerged from the forested trails. “Perhaps you’d like to go this evening. Night skiing is great fun.”
    Though Nancy had planned to spend the rest of the evening reviewing the case with George and Bess, she quickly agreed. She could meet the girls later.
    George moved to Nancy’s side. “We’ll go to the movies,” she whispered so that no one else could hear. “Then we’ll meet you at your condo when we get back—around ten, okay?”
    Nancy nodded her head slightly.
    â€œBe careful!” Dave said as Nancy felt the table jolt in front of her.
    â€œSorry.” Ben’s face flushed red—he was obviously embarrassed. “Someone bumped into me. I didn’t mean to crash into the table.”
    Sheila turned quickly. “Is everything all right?” she asked.
    Nancy noticed a small wet stain on the otherwise spotless tablecloth. “Somethingspilled,” she said. Then she saw that the flower vase was lying on its side. “The flowers tipped over.”
    â€œI’ll have the waiter bring more water,” Sheila said. Dave straightened the vase, and Sheila rearranged the lilies of the valley. Sheila then put her hand on Karl’s arm. “We’d better leave Nancy and Jody to enjoy their food while it’s still hot,” she said.
    Bess winked as she, George, and Ben took off. The Reismuellers and Dave excused themselves, leaving Nancy and Jody to eat their dinners. Nancy took another spoonful of soup. The thick crust of cheese was disturbed only in one spot, so the soup had been kept warm. It was now a perfect temperature.
    â€œGosh, it was almost like we had a Tall Pines staff meeting,” Jody said with a grin, and she speared a shrimp.
    â€œIt was crowded all of a sudden,” Nancy agreed.
    After she took another spoonful of soup Nancy heard Jody’s voice as if from a distance. “Are you all right, Nancy?” the girl was saying.
    Nancy felt her face grow hot. A wave of dizziness passed over her. “I’m fine,” she managed to say. “It’s awfully hot in here, though, don’t you think?”
    Jody was staring at her as if she was