Trail of Lies by Carolyn Keene Page B

through in the last two days.
    Maybe I’ll just lie down on the couch in the den and think for a little while, she decided. There’s not much I can do until Dad and Mr. Wilcox get back, anyway. And I’m so tired!
    Going into the den, she closed the door quietly behind her and stretched out on the couch. I’ll just shut my eyes for a minute, she told herself. Just for a minute . . .
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    Nancy woke with a start at the sound of a door slamming. Then she heard the voices of her father and Henry Wilcox. Peering groggilyat her watch, she realized that it was almost six o’clock. She had slept the afternoon away! Shaking her head, she went upstairs to wash her face before dinner.
    At dinner Nancy learned only that the interview with Detective Chandler hadn’t had any results one way or the other. Carson Drew and Henry Wilcox weren’t saying more—they made a determined effort to keep the conversation light.
    Carson regaled Nancy and George with tales of his day. “Now I know how the other half lives,” he said, grinning at Henry. “My friend here told me he had business in Juneau, so we took his company plane, and off we went to the capital for the afternoon. Tomorrow we’re going to Fairbanks.”
    Henry laughed. “It isn’t that unusual to have a private plane in Alaska. We have so few roads here that planes are sometimes the only means of transportation.”
    â€œAlmost as good as dog sleds,” Steve said. Nancy suspected he was trying to needle his father.
    Carson turned to him. “How’d you do in the trials today?” he asked.
    â€œI won,” Steve said flatly.
    Carson reached over and shook his hand. “Congratulations. I’m glad to hear that.”
    â€œSo am I! Are you happy now?” Henry asked Steve.
    The question hadn’t sounded provocative to Nancy, but Steve gave his father an irritated look. “Not until I win the Solstice Derby. You know that.”
    Henry changed the subject. “We have another ship arriving tonight,” he told Nancy. “The Dall Sheep. It’ll be unloading tomorrow.”
    â€œWould you mind if I had a look around it before it unloads?” she asked.
    â€œNot at all. In fact, I’m going to the shipyard tomorrow morning. Why don’t you ride in with me?” Henry offered. “But we have to go early so that I can get back in time to fly to Fairbanks before noon.”
    â€œNo problem.” Nancy looked at George. “Want to come along?”
    George groaned. “No thanks. I’d rather sleep.”
    When dinner was over, Nancy returned to the telephone closet and tried calling Amanda again. There was still no answer. One way or another, she’d have to find the girl the next day. Time was running out for Henry.
    When Nancy hung up and stepped into the hallway, she found John waiting for her. “Can I talk to you?” he asked.
    â€œSure.” Curious, Nancy followed him into the kitchen. He pulled out a chair for her and reached into his pocket.
    â€œHere.” He handed her a piece of twisted red paper.
    Nancy stared at it. “What is it?” she asked. The paper looked ordinary, except for a black mark on one edge.
    â€œI think it’s what frightened Lindsay’s dogs,” John said. “After I left you, I started thinking about what could have made the noise. I went back and looked around. This was lying on the track.” He pointed at the paper. “I was lucky that it wasn’t a white one. I’d never have found it in all the snow.”
    â€œFound what?” Nancy asked, mystified. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œIt’s like a firecracker. There’s a mild explosive inside it, and when you hit it against something hard, it makes a loud bang.” John grinned. “My brother Jim and I used to play with them. I didn’t know kids still used