Murder On Ice by Carolyn Keene Page B

didn’t come to Webb Cove to find Luke, if that’s what you’re suggesting. I came to ski.”
    Michael looked sternly at Nancy for a moment. Then he broke into a charming grin. “What I really should suggest is that you two get out of this wind before the snow gets any worse. Come on. Hop in the car and I’ll drive you to the lodge.”
    â€œFantastic,” Nancy said gratefully, pushing Luke’s “accidents” and Michael’s changing story about them to the back of her mind.
    â€œThanks,” Ned added as they piled into the car.
    By the time they reached Webb Cove, the blizzard had begun in earnest—with the promise of much, much more snow to come.
    Lights glowed from every window of the lodge as they approached it, and two cars loaded with luggage, skis, and people were pulling out.
    Ned stepped out of the car slowly, wincing ashe put his weight on his bad ankle. “This is already beginning to swell up again,” he said. “I’d better get off it.” He leaned over and gave Nancy a kiss before hobbling inside.
    Nancy eased herself out of the car. She had a lot of questions to ask Michael, but she didn’t know how to put them into words. He was so nice and straightforward, yet she couldn’t help but realize that there was something strange—and maybe a little ominous—about his relationship to Luke.
    Michael got out of the car. “It’s really beginning to come down, isn’t it?” he said, flashing Nancy one of his heartwarming smiles and motioning to the whirling snow around them.
    â€œShould mean good skiing,” Nancy replied, grinning.
    â€œSure, when it stops in a few days and the sun comes out.”
    Nancy’s grin vanished. “But until then, we’ll probably be stuck here—snowed in. No one will be able to get in to us, and we won’t be able to get out.”
    Nancy took a deep breath. “And the way you’ve been talking, it sounds like you think Luke is . . . insane. So before we get stuck in the lodge with him, I want you to stop hinting around about him and tell me straight!”
    â€œI have no proof, Nancy, but I’m worried,” Michael said soberly. “Maybe you and your friends should get out of here before the storm closes down the roads. You saw those people leaving just now. They’ve got sense.
    â€œPeople from out of state usually think being in Vermont during a blizzard will be great. But if the power lines go down and you have no electricity—which also means no ski lifts—it’s just awful.”
    â€œIt seems crazy to leave a ski area in the middle of a huge snowstorm,” Nancy commented.
    â€œWell, why don’t you talk to the others about it?” Michael said.
    â€œI will,” Nancy told him. “And why don’t you come in and wait for a break in the snow before you drive back to the Overlook?” Michael smiled and followed Nancy inside.
    The lodge was warm and cheerful. A huge fire roared up the chimney in the lounge, and as they entered, George and Luke came through the back door carrying armloads of logs.
    â€œAbout time you brought my Jeep back,” Luke said curtly. He noticed Michael. Nancy saw him swallow hard, then make the difficult decision to ignore him totally.
    Michael raised an eyebrow. “They didn’t—”
    Nancy brought her heel down on Michael’s toe. “We didn’t mean to be so late,” she finished smoothly. “Did we, Ned?”
    Luke wasn’t paying attention. He dropped his load of logs on the hearth and strode back out again without a word.
    â€œGeorge,” Nancy said hastily, “this is the guy who rescued me when I fell, the one I wanted you to meet last night. Michael, meet George.”
    Michael came forward at once with his handout, smiling. “I hear we have a lot in common! Bess says you’re practically an Olympic skier. I’d be