Carolyn Keene - This Side of Evil

“There’s Dr. Dandridge,” George said excitedly as soon as they crossed the street.

Carrying a red plastic bag, the collar of his tan raincoat pulled up, the doctor was walking quickly across the plaza. He ducked around a knot of people standing in front of the column.

“Look!” Ned exclaimed. “He’s making the drop!” Glancing quickly around the square, the doctor dropped the bag into the open trash can and hurried away.

“Okay,” Nancy said. “Everybody watch closely! Our blackmailer’s bound to be here soon. He wouldn’t risk leaving that money in the trash can for very long.”

While they were watching, a large green bus pulled up just across the street, blocking their view.

“Come on!” Nancy exclaimed. “We’re going to have to get back across the street so we can see.”

Together, they started to cross the crowded street, slick now from the rain. They wove through the traffic single file.

At the end of the line, George looked over her shoulder. “Nancy! Ned!” she screamed. “Look out!”

Nancy, who was at the bus, turned and looked. Behind her, Ned gave a shout. A bright yellow Mercedes had just rounded the corner, its headlights glaring in the gathering dusk. It was headed straight for them!

Chapter Nine

Sucking in her breath, Nancy grabbed Ned and pulled him flat against the bus with herself. She felt a swoosh as the Mercedes brushed past them frighteningly close. A moment later it was gone, its taillights flickering around the corner.

George, who had moved in the opposite direction, asked, “Are you guys all right?”

“I’ll live,” Ned croaked. “Nancy, you okay?”

“Aside from being slightly squashed,” Nancy said, brushing a damp curl away from her face, “I’m fine. But that was too close!”

“Yeah!” George cried angrily. “What did that idiot woman think she was doing, anyway? Driving like that in rush-hour traffic! She could have killed us!”

“That,” Ned growled as they stepped onto the curb, “is exactly what she was trying to do.”

Nancy nodded. “I can see you’re thinking the same thing I am.”

George brightened. “The yellow Mercedes! Lake Sinclair! She’s no victim—she’s our blackmailer. She came to get the money and decided to get us as well.”

“Could be,” Nancy agreed. “From the glimpse I got of the driver, it looked as if she had long auburn hair.” Suddenly her head snapped up. “The money!” Nancy exclaimed and darted toward the trash can.

But it was too late. While Nancy, Ned, and George had been escaping from the yellow Mercedes, the money had vanished. The red plastic bag was nowhere in sight!

“Oh, no!” Nancy exclaimed, dejected. She dropped down on a bench beside the trash can, disappointment rushing through her. “This was our big chance to catch the blackmailer, and we blew it.”

“I don’t know about that,” Ned remarked, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It looks to me as if the whole thing was pretty carefully planned, and it went off just like clockwork. I have to admit,” he added with admiration, “that Lake Sinclair is a lot smarter than I thought she was.”

“Yeah,” Nancy said, nodding. “That brush with the car was timed exactly, to keep us busy while the money was picked up. But we’re forgetting one important thing.”

George frowned. “What’s that?”

“If the blackmailer was driving the car that nearly ran us down, who picked up the money?”

“You mean,” George said, pushing a wet brown curl out of her face, “that Lake Sinclair isn’t our blackmailer?”

“I didn’t say that,” Nancy said cautiously. “Maybe we’re up against a team.” She stood up. “Come on, you guys, we’ve got work to do.”

“Where to?” Ned asked, falling in step beside her as George hurried to catch up to them.

“To Lake Sinclair’s place,” Nancy said determinedly. She quickened her pace. “She may not be our blackmailer, but that yellow Mercedes is the hottest lead we’ve got.”

Through the wrought-iron gate, Nancy could see the yellow Mercedes parked in the shadowy brick courtyard beside Lake Sinclair’s.

“How do we get in?” George asked. She craned her neck to see through the gate. The courtyard was surrounded by a six-foot brick wall.

“Easy,” Nancy said, taking her lock-pick kit from her shoulder bag. “This is a pretty simple lock.” She looked in both directions. The now-dark street was empty, the reflections of the streetlights shimmering silver in the puddles from the earlier rain. A moment later she pushed the gate open. “Come on.”

In seconds, the three of them were inside the courtyard. Ned felt the hood of the car, then got down on his hands and knees and reached up inside the front.

“There’s no way this car could have been driven in the last few hours,” he reported, shaking his head. “The radiator’s cold.”

“I don’t understand it,” George said with a frown. She went around to the driver’s side and peered in, cupping her hands around her face. “This has to be the car!” She reached down for the door handle.

“Don’t touch that handle!” Nancy exclaimed—but not in time. The alarm on the car had begun to emit short, sharp blasts. George gasped and leaped back.

“The door handle was wired with an alarm,” Nancy whispered urgently. “Come on! Let’s get out of here before somebody finds us!”

But at that moment a door opened in the house and light spilled out. A shadowy figure stood outlined against the light.

“Don’t move,” Lake Sinclair cried viciously, “or I’ll blow your heads off!” A gun glinted in her hand. “Line up against the car and put your hands on the top.”

Cautiously, Nancy turned. “It’s me, Lake,” she said. “Nancy Drew.”

“I don’t care if you’re the queen herself,” Lake said, gesturing with the gun. “Line up! This is the second time today that somebody’s tried to steal my car—and this time I’ve got you!”

“What do you mean, you’ve got us ?” George exclaimed indignantly, putting both hands against the car. “ We’ve got you is more like it. You nearly killed us a little while ago!”

“That’s ridiculous,” Lake snapped, coming a little closer. “I haven’t been out of this house all day.”

“She’s not lying,” Ned reminded George. “The car’s cold, remember. It couldn’t have been this Mercedes that nearly ran us down.”

“Ran you down?” Lake asked, lowering her gun.

Nancy told her what had happened in front of the plaza after they turned around to face Lake. “We came over here,” she added, “to check out your car. After all, the driver did have auburn hair—just like yours.”

“The blackmailer tried to kill you?” Lake repeated.

Nancy shrugged. “Somebody did. And not for the first time, either.” She looked at Lake. “Did you say this was the second time today that somebody tried to steal your car?”

“That’s right.” Lake slipped the gun into her pocket. “I heard the alarm go off around three this afternoon. By the time I got out here, the thief was gone.” She nodded toward the gate. “First thing in the morning, I’m having a better lock put on that gate.”

“It certainly was a surprise,” George said with relief, “when your car alarm went off.”

Lake looked at George. “You’re the one who wants to run in Olympic Stadium?” she asked.

George nodded vigorously. “I sure do.”

“Listen,” Lake said, with an embarrassed shake of her head, “I’m sorry about what happened just now. I’ll see if I can arrange a pass.”

“That’d be terrific!” George replied with a wide grin.