Danger on Parade by Carolyn Keene

get over there.”
    â€œBess, wait! This could be dangerous,” Nancy cautioned, but she could see her friend wasn’t going to change her mind. “Well, I’m going to gowith you, then. There’s no way you’re going to that warehouse all by yourself.”
    â€œBe careful, girls,” Eloise said. “Nancy, your father would have my head if he knew I was letting you go. If you two aren’t back here in an hour and a half, I’m calling the police.”
    Nancy kissed her aunt. “Don’t worry, we’ll be home before then.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œBess, I think I should go inside with you,” Nancy said, staring out the cab window at the entrance to the Mitchell’s warehouse. The street was deserted, and she didn’t see the guard or Greg anywhere.
    â€œNo, Nancy. Greg said he wanted to see me alone,” Bess said firmly. “I’ll be fine.”
    Nancy frowned. “I’ll give you five minutes,” she agreed reluctantly. “But then I’m coming in to check on you.”
    Bess agreed, then got out of the cab and hurried to the entrance. Nancy was surprised to see that she had no difficulty opening the door. Could Greg have left it propped open for her? But then, how had he gotten in? Had Neil lent him his Mitchell’s ID? Had he talked the guard into letting him in?
    The more Nancy thought about it, the more concerned she became. The guard didn’t appear. After a few minutes, she couldn’t stand waiting any longer. After instructing the taxi driver towait for her, Nancy got out and hurried toward the warehouse entrance. She paused outside the door, cocking her head to one side.
    In the distance she could make out the faint sounds of sirens. The high-pitched whine grew louder, and moments later two police cars were barreling down the street toward the warehouse, their lights flashing. A black sedan was right behind them.
    Nancy froze with fear as all three cars screeched to a stop at the curb in front of her. Jill jumped out of the black car, spoke briefly to the four officers, then led them into the warehouse.
    â€œJill! What are you doing here?” Nancy asked.
    â€œI could ask you the same thing, but I don’t have time, Nancy,” Jill said. She quickly led the officers through the door and down the long hallway to the parade studio.
    Nancy followed, a feeling of dread welling up inside of her. “Jill, I think you should know—”
    Before Nancy could say anything more, Jill opened the door to the studio, and she and the officers rushed in. Nancy gasped as she stepped in after them.
    The parade studio was bathed in light. Bess was standing in the center of the warehouse, her eyes wide with terror.
    Half a dozen balloons were laid out on the floor around her—slashed to pieces!

Chapter

Nine
    I KN-KNOW THIS l-looks bad,” Bess stuttered. “When I got here, the b-balloons were already slashed. Honest!”
    Nancy hurried over to Bess and put an arm around her friend. “We just arrived a few minutes ago,” Nancy explained to Jill and the police, one of whom was the detective who had questioned Jill about the fire. “Bess got a message to meet Greg Willow here.”
    Detective Green crossed his arms over his chest and glanced around. “Well, I don’t see him, do you? All I know is that once again we’ve got a problem with the parade, and once again Bess Marvin is in the middle of it.” He took a notebook from his back pocket and flipped it open. “All right, why don’t you tell me the whole story?”
    While Bess told Detective Green what had happened, Nancy went over to Jill, who was examining the slashed balloons. Jill’s face was a mask of anger. “Where’s the guard?” she snapped, looking around the cavernous room. “Why didn’t he stop this?”
    â€œI was wondering the same thing,” Nancy said. “He