Carolyn Keene - An Instinct for Trouble

The Nancy Drew Files #95

An Instinct for Trouble

Carolyn Keene

THE CASE: Nancy investigates a pattern of sabotage and poaching on an animal research project.

CONTACT: While Ned trails the yellow-bellied marmot, Nancy tracks a criminal conspiracy.

SUSPECTS: Professor Dan Trainey-His project is running out of money, but with the marmots worth $500 each, he may have discovered a way to keep it going. Jack Billings-The park ranger is Mr. Charm, but while he's flirting with Nancy, she may be flirting with danger. Gerald and Edith Turkower-They claim to be tourists, but Nancy has uncovered evidence that they're concealing their true identities.

COMPLICATIONS: One of Nancy's top suspects is Professor Trainey. But Ned seems to care more about him-and his pretty daughter-than he does about Nancy and the truth.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter One

“Nancy!" Bess Marvin exclaimed. "Listen -that's Randy Dean's new song, 'Lonely Wilderness. ' “She leaned forward and turned up the volume on the car radio, then rolled down her window.

And the trees sway against the blue, blue sky.

But there's danger lurking nearby.

Yes, danger nearby .

"It's like it was meant for us," Bess said when the song ended. "I mean, here we are, with the trees swaying against the blue sky."

Nancy Drew brushed a lock of shoulder length, reddish blond hair off her face. "Let's hope there's no danger lurking nearby."

"These mountains and forest are gorgeous," Bess said. "And Yellowstone is supposed to be even better-one of the most beautiful places on earth."

It was a cool, crisp Wednesday in early May. That morning Nancy and Bess had flown from their hometown of River Heights to Jackson, Wyoming, where they had rented a car for the drive north to Yellowstone National Park.

"George would love this," Nancy commented as they passed a grove of aspen trees. "Too bad she couldn't come." George Fayne, Bess's cousin, had been forced to pass up the trip because of a long-planned visit to friends in Boston.

"Bet you can't wait to see Ned," Bess said. Nancy smiled broadly. Her boyfriend was one of a small group of Emerson College students who had been camping in Yellowstone for three weeks, studying the habits of the yellow-bellied marmot, a small, furry mammal common in the park.

"I do miss him. I just wish it hadn't taken an emergency to get us together."

"Who was it who got hurt again?" Bess asked.

"A graduate student named Brad Keeler," Nancy replied. "He was badly burned when a propane stove exploded the night before last, and Ned doesn't think it was an accident."

"Because all those marmot traps were stolen, right?" Bess said.

"Right. Over the last couple of weeks about four dozen traps have disappeared. It happened gradually, and no one realized they were missing because they were stored in several different places," Nancy explained. "But Brad finally noticed and was starting to look into it before that stove blew up in his face."

"How awful!" Bess exclaimed. "What was the study group doing with the traps, anyway?"

"They used them to catch the marmots last fall so they could attach transmitters to the animals," Nancy said. "That's how the Emerson people keep track of the marmots' movements."

"Neat," Bess said. "But why would anyone want the traps?"

"Ned thinks someone is planning to trap marmots with them and smuggle them out of the park, which is totally illegal," Nancy answered.

"But he doesn't have any proof, so he called you, since you happen to be not only the love of his life but also an incredible detective,"

"Thanks for the compliment, but I'm really worried about this case. This phase of the Emerson study ends on Saturday. Ned says that if any marmots vanish between now and then, the study could be blamed. The third phase of the project scheduled for this summer would be canceled, and all the college's work would go down the drain." Nancy sighed. "Ned's really upset."

"You don't think that someone from the Emerson group could be involved, do you?"

"I'd hate to think it. But we've got to check," Nancy said solemnly as they passed a sign that said South Entrance, Yellowstone National Park.

Tall, slender lodge pole pines lined the road on either side, their tangy scent filling the car. The trees were so thick in some places that it was like driving through a tunnel.

"I can't wait to see the yellow-bellied marmots," Bess said.

Nancy grinned. "Ned said they look like chubby, overgrown chipmunks, only with yellow undersides, which is how they got their name. But most people call them whistling marmots, because they communicate by making high-pitched sounds."

"They sound cute-" Bess began but stopped abruptly.

A herd of brown elk appeared from among the trees on the right.

Nancy stepped on the brake.

Paying no attention to the car, the elk began prancing gracefully across the road.

"Oh, Nancy, look at the babies!" Bess cried. Nancy chuckled as a handful of little elk wobbled awkwardly in front of the herd.

The herd stopped in a meadow on the left side of the highway. Near the center of the sparse grass where the creatures were grazing, Nancy noticed a cone of gray rock about a foot high. From its center, wisps of white steam curled into the air.

"It's a geyser !" Nancy exclaimed.

Bess's jaw dropped.

"The whole park is covered with them," Nancy said as she started driving again. "Which is why Yellowstone is so special."

"I read the guidebook, too ," Bess said teasingly. "The geysers are remnants of volcanoes that erupted around here millions of years ago. But I still can't believe it."

"Just wait until you see Old Faithful . It erupts about every hour and a half. And it will be right outside our window at the hotel," Nancy said.

"That's why I wanted to stay there," Bess replied.

Nancy shook her head and laughed at her friend. "You just didn't want to camp out, even though it would be better if we were closer to the study group."

"Oh, Nan, I can't!" she moaned. "I hate bugs, but even worse I hate sleeping on the cold, bumpy ground."

"Okay, okay," Nancy said. "You convinced me. But you may be passing up the chance to get close to a cute Emerson guy," she warned her friend.

Nancy stepped on the brake at an intersection. A sign pointed right to the Grand Loop Road and left to the inn and visitors center.

Before she could turn, a tour bus passed in front other. She followed it in the direction of the inn.

"It seems a bit early in the season for tour buses," Nancy said.

"It's probably better to get here before the main tourist season starts," Bess replied. "Is Ned meeting us at the hotel?"

"He said he'd try to. But the Emerson group is incredibly busy right now, gearing up for the end of this phase of the study," Nancy explained. "If he's not there when we arrive, we'll head over to the campsite after we check in."

The road grew steeper, and Nancy kept a safe distance between her white rental car and the bus in front. On the far side of the pass, the highway ran beside a gushing river.

"That must be the hotel," Bess said, pointing to the left. "Have you ever seen anything like it in your life?"

Nancy leaned forward and saw a building that was at least seven stories high with a slanted roof and rows of little dormer windows. Its walls were made of huge rough-cut logs stacked one on top of the other.