Choosing Sides by Carolyn Keene Page A

himself as a boy. Then she and Nancy thanked the mayor and left.
    As they passed Mrs. Wellborn’s desk, Nancy paused. “What will you do when Mayor Filanowski retires?” she asked pleasantly.
    â€œI’m retiring to Florida also,” Mrs. Wellborn answered. “Though I’m afraid I could never afford to live in Pelican Bay, where the mayor will be living. You have to be practically a millionaire to live there.”
    â€œWell, good luck,” Bess told the secretary.
    As soon as the girls had left City Hall, Bess said, “Filanowski really lost it when you asked him about Caroline. Do you think it means anything?”
    â€œIt makes me wonder if he has some special reason for not backing Caroline—something he doesn’t want people to know,” Nancy said. Then she shrugged. “But according to my dad, he’s always been honest and straightforward. What could he possibly have to hide?”
    They reached Nancy’s Mustang, and Bess put Hector’s camera bag in the backseat before she and Nancy climbed in front. “There’s something else I don’t get. How could the mayor afford an expensive condo in Florida?” Bess asked. “Didn’t Hector tell us the mayor lost a lot of money a year ago?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Nancy said. “But I still don’t see any connection between him and the frame-up. We’ll just have to keep looking for clues. Come on, let’s go to headquarters. I’m sureCaroline and Hector will want to know how things went.”
    Fifteen minutes later, Nancy parked in front of Caroline’s headquarters. They were just getting out of the car as Hector came to meet them, a concerned expression on his face.
    â€œDon’t worry, your camera’s fine,” Bess assured him, pointing to the bag on the backseat.
    Nancy started to tell Hector about their interview, but he cut her off. “You can tell me all about the mayor later,” he said tersely. “Right now you both have to go get Kyle.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Bess asked, stopping on the sidewalk. “Where is he?”
    â€œHe was picked up by the police for trespassing and assault,” he replied.
    â€œWhat!” Nancy and Bess both exclaimed.
    Hector held up a calming hand. “Apparently, he decided to stake out Patrick Gleason’s house this morning, and something went wrong.”
    â€œNan, let’s get down there!” Bess said urgently.
    â€œThere’s one other thing,” Hector added.
    Bess and Nancy turned to look at him.
    â€œI don’t mean to worry you,” he cautioned, “but I think Kyle’s been hurt.”

Chapter

Eleven
    H URT !” B ESS CRIED . Her eyes widened in fear. “How badly? What happened?”
    â€œAll Kyle told me was that he’d been banged up in a fight,” Hector replied.
    Nancy and Bess didn’t wait to hear anything more. They jumped back into Nancy’s Mustang and drove to the police station. When they walked into the precinct room, Nancy spotted Kyle sitting on a chair near the desk sergeant.
    Bess gasped as Kyle stood up and walked toward them. His shirt was torn, his left eye was swollen, and he had a gauze bandage on his forehead.
    â€œKyle, what happened to you! Are you all right?” Bess cried, running over to him.
    Nancy stayed a few feet back as Kyle tippedBess’s chin up so he could kiss her softly on the lips. “I got into a fight, sort of, with Steve Hill,” Kyle explained, looking sheepishly from Bess to Nancy.
    â€œSteve Hill?” Nancy repeated, confused. “But I thought you were at Patrick Gleason’s house.”
    Kyle let out a long breath. “I’ll explain everything, but let’s just get out of here, okay? No one pressed charges, so I can go, but my car is still parked by Gleason’s. Could you drop me off there?”
    Bess got in the backseat with Kyle and made