Carolyn Keene - Hit and Run Holiday

Nancy forced herself to count slowly to five. She wanted to give him enough time to reach the stairs or the elevator and think he was safe. Then she’d follow him and try to find out who he was and what he was doing in Kim’s room.

At the count of five, she let herself out of the stuffy closet, crossed the room, and opened the door. The hall was empty. The elevator was stopped on the third floor. Nancy raced for the stairs and paused, listening. Two flights below, she heard a door open. Noises from the lobby drifted up to her before it closed again.

That’s him, Nancy thought, rushing down the stairs. He won’t be any farther than the street door by the time I get there. On the ground floor, she shoved open the door, nearly collided with a bellboy, and dashed across the lobby and out to the sidewalk.

The street looked almost the same as it had earlier that day, bright with sunlight and busy with vacationers heading for the ocean. Nancy glanced quickly in both directions, thought she saw the black-suited intruder turn onto the main avenue that ran along the beach, and swiftly made her way through the happy, suntanned crowds.

At the corner, Nancy stopped short, looking wildly in every direction. The main street was packed, the beach was packed. She counted at least fifteen guys in brief black bathing suits and was standing there wondering which one to go after first, when someone called her name.

“Nancy! Nancy, over here!”

Nancy looked across the street and saw Bess and George waving to her from the edge of the beach. Only a few hours had gone by since they’d all been together, changing into their swimsuits, but it seemed like days. She took another look at the crowded beach. Suddenly it seemed as if every boy was wearing a black bathing suit. Shaking her head, Nancy crossed the street and joined her friends.

“I thought you said you’d solve your ‘case’ in ten minutes,” George teased. “What happened, couldn’t you find Kim?”

“I found her,” Nancy said. “Kim’s—”

“Well, it’s about time you got here!” Bess broke in. “We thought you’d decided to spend your entire vacation indoors. Nancy,” she went on with a big smile, “meet Dirk Bowman. He owns a boat, and he’s promised to take us all along on a midnight cruise. Doesn’t that sound fantastic?”

Nancy turned and smiled distractedly at Dirk. She hadn’t noticed him at first, but she should have guessed that Bess would have found someone by then.

“I don’t actually own the boat, I just work for the lady who does,” Dirk explained as he smiled back at Nancy. He was a fabulous-looking guy—sandy blond hair, deep blue eyes, and a perfect tan on a nearly perfect body. “But the invitation for the cruise is good. You have my word.”

“It sounds great,” Nancy told him. “But I don’t think I’ll be able—”

“Oh, come on. Nan,” Bess protested. “We came down here to have fun, right? What could be more fun than a midnight cruise?”

“Really, it sounds great,” Nancy said again, “but—”

“What is it, Nancy?” George asked. “You hardly look like somebody who’s having a terrific time.”

Nancy brushed her hair back and took a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m not having a terrific time,” she said. “But I’m afraid Kim’s having a worse one.” She glanced at the three of them and then went on to tell what had happened to their friend that morning.

“Oh, how awful!” Bess said in a horrified voice. “What kind of creep would run over somebody and keep on going?”

“I don’t know,” Nancy replied. “But I plan to find out. I don’t think it was just some jerk who hit Kim and then panicked. I think it was deliberate. I think Kim got mixed up in something dangerous down here and she nearly paid for it with her life.”

“What could she have gotten mixed up in?” George asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Nancy admitted. “But I plan to soon. Some very strange things have been going on.” She told them about Kim’s hotel room and the mess it was in, about the phony maintenance man, the snapshots of the pretty girl, and the guy who’d broken into the room and taken some clothes.

As she talked, Nancy noticed that Dirk Bowman was becoming extremely interested in what she was saying.

“Sounds like your vacation’s not exactly turning out the way you expected,” he commented when Nancy finished.

“Not exactly,” Nancy agreed.

“Well, from what Bess and George have told me about you,” he went on, “I’d bet you’re not going to give up until you have all the answers.” He smiled at Bess, and Nancy noticed that he had a dimple just to the left of his mouth. Bess looked enchanted. “Don’t worry,” Dirk went on, “they didn’t talk about you that much. They just said that you’re a detective, and you don’t give up without a fight.”

“I guess I don’t,” Nancy said. “And I sure won’t give up on this case, not when one of my friends is lying in a hospital.” She turned to Bess and George. “Kim’s mother is flying down later today. I think we ought to be at the hospital when she gets there, don’t you?”

“Absolutely,” George said, and Bess nodded and sighed. “Poor Kim,” she exclaimed. “I just can’t believe it!”

“Listen,” Dirk said to Nancy, “if there’s anything I can do, I wish you’d let me know.” He put a hand on Nancy’s shoulder and flashed his dimple at her. “I know my way around Fort Lauderdale pretty well. Besides,” he added, “I’m sort of a mystery nut. I’d really like to help you.”

“Well, thanks.” Nancy was aware that Dirk still had his hand on her shoulder, and she tried to shrug it off, but it stayed put.

“Listen,” said Dirk, “that midnight cruise is probably out for you tonight, Nancy. I know you’ve got to be with your friend. But maybe you and I could get together tomorrow sometime and talk about this. I’d really like to help.”

“I . . . I’m not sure,” Nancy said, suddenly uncomfortable. “I don’t know what I’ll be doing tomorrow.”

“I understand,” Dirk replied with another charming, sympathetic smile. “But I’d really like to talk to you about all this.”

“Well, I’ll have to see.” Nancy frowned. Dirk seemed to have forgotten about Bess. It wasn’t exactly cool, she thought, to dump somebody so fast.

Bess obviously didn’t think it was too cool, either. Her eyes were flashing as she looked angrily at Dirk. Fortunately, George caught the look and decided that Bess better leave before she exploded. “Come on,” she said, “let’s get back to the hotel and change so we can go to the hospital.”

“All right,” Bess agreed.

“Hey, I’m free all morning tomorrow,” Dirk said softly to Nancy. “Why don’t I give you a call?”

Nancy felt more and more uncomfortable. She was just about to give Dirk a real brush-off, when he pulled her around to face him.

“I do know my way around Lauderdale,” he said seriously, and Nancy noticed his sexy smile was gone. “If we can get together—privately—I think I might be able to give you a few tips about this mystery. You want to help your friend, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!” Nancy said. “But right now, you’re the one who’s being mysterious. If you know something, why don’t you just tell me?”

Dirk shook his head. “I would, believe me, but it’s just not the right time or place. Besides, first I have to know everything you know.” Glancing past Nancy, Dirk seemed to see someone he recognized. He raised his arm in a greeting, then brought his hand down so that it was resting on the back of Nancy’s neck. It was like a caress, Nancy thought, but there was nothing romantic about the look in his eyes. “Tomorrow, right?” he asked intently.