Hidden Meanings by Carolyn Keene Page A

George walked up, looking glum. “Bad news,” she said. “Paul was fired.”
    Bess set down her tea cup with a clatter. “Why?” she asked with concern.
    â€œApparently he left work without permission last night,” George said, sighing. “I just saw him down in the employees’ locker area, clearing out his stuff. I’m going to meet him outside in ten minutes. Could you guys come, too? Maybe we can help him get his job back.”
    Nancy and Bess agreed. Clearing away their trays, the three girls went up a back staircase and emerged at the parking lot behind the hotel.
    Paul was loading a duffel bag into the trunk of a small black car. At Nancy’s urging, he told them his story.
    â€œMr. Wasilick was looking for me last night, around ten o’clock,” he said. “I guess he wanted to grill me about the dead rat, since I was the one who delivered it. But I wasn’t around, and he got steamed. And then the fire alarm went off.”
    â€œThat was just after ten,” Nancy commented.
    Paul shrugged. “I came back at eleven-fifteen, after the fire was over. Wasilick had already gone home. When I came in this morning, he was waiting for me—to fire me for dereliction of duty. I got the idea he thought I pulled the alarm and set the fire.”
    Nancy looked at Paul steadily. “Did you?”
    Paul seemed offended. “Of course not!” he declared. “Look, I shouldn’t have left work, but I had a personal matter to attend to. I’ve got an alibi.”
    â€œWhere were you?” Nancy asked, pressing him.
    â€œAn old girlfriend called and asked to meet me for a cup of coffee over on campus,” he began. “She said it was urgent. She told me her little sister is at the yearbook conference, and she’d heard there was trouble there. She wanted me to keep an eye on her sister—she doesn’t trust hotel security.” He rolled his eyes. “When I mentioned that to Wasilick, it really made him mad,” he added ruefully.
    â€œI can believe that,” Nancy said. “But look, maybe we can get Mr. Wasilick to call your girlfriend and have her verify your alibi. What’s her name?”
    â€œBianca Fiorella,” Paul said.

Chapter

Ten
    B IANCA F IORELLA?” NANCY REPEATED , shocked. “You used to date Gina Fiorella’s older sister?”
    Paul glanced back at her. “You know Gina?”
    â€œShe was the girl you delivered the dead rat to last night!” Nancy told him.
    He was stunned. “Wow,” he murmured. “They don’t look much alike, you know—Bianca’s blond, and Gina’s dark. But they both sure are knockouts.”
    â€œYou never met Gina when you were dating Bianca?” Bess asked.
    Paul shook his head. “Gina’s boarding school isn’t nearby, and the rest of the family lives in Rome,” he explained. He winced. “I never met any of the family, in fact. They didn’t approve of me. I guess they think a scholarship student who works as a waiter isn’t good enough for Bianca.”
    â€œWhy did you break up?” Nancy asked, curious.
    Paul snorted. “Bianca’s mom told her to stop seeing me—and she did. I never thought she’d be such a coward,” he added bitterly. “But when Mrs. Fiorella cut off Bianca’s allowance, she gave in. I’m better off without her,” Paul said stiffly.
    â€œBut when she called last night, you ran over right away,” George said. Nancy detected an edge of jealousy in her friend’s voice.
    Paul crossed his arms defensively. “I admit, I hoped she wanted us to get back together,” he said. “But she was just using me to help out her family. As if I owed them anything!”
    â€œWill Bianca support your alibi for last night?” Nancy asked Paul. He nodded.
    â€œWould that convince Mr. Wasilick to give Paul his job back?” George