Very Deadly Yours by Carolyn Keene Page B

could—as though running into an acquaintance in the middle of the woods by an express ramp could happen to anyone.
    â€œIs that your car back there?” she asked.
    â€œYou know it is,” Bill answered.
    â€œI—I can’t believe it! You’re so lucky to be alive! When I heard that car crash, I said to myself, ‘Boy, whoever was in that car is in bigtrouble!’ ” Nancy knew she sounded inane, but maybe that would disarm him. “And then, when I saw that the car was empty, I started to wonder if I’d just been imagining things!” She forced a laugh and hoped it didn’t sound as fake to Bill as it did to her.
    But Bill didn’t seem to be listening. “I told you to stay away,” he growled.
    â€œOh, you’re the one who left me that message? Well, that wasn’t a very nice thing to do. Besides, you know how we girls are—tell us not to do a thing, and we just want to do it all the more!” Nancy was glad none of her friends was around to hear her.
    â€œYeah?” Bill said. “Well, that’s too bad for you.”
    It wasn’t working. Nancy decided to drop the ruse and try to gain his confidence. If he trusted her, he might be less likely to hurt her. She still couldn’t tell if he had a gun, but it was wise to anticipate the worst.
    â€œOkay, Bill,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to insult your intelligence. I just—I just got a little nervous.” That was true, anyway. Being alone in the woods on a rainy night with a guy who had already tried to put her out of commission wasn’t exactly soothing. “What’s going on, anyway?” she continued. “Why do you have it in for me?”
    â€œI told you to stay away!” Bill repeated. “Why couldn’t you have left well enough alone? Iwouldn’t have hurt Bess—I just wanted to make sure she’d stay off my back!”
    She had to try to keep him talking. “So you placed that first ad,” she said.
    â€œOf course I did. Your friend should never have butted in.”
    â€œButted in? What are you talking about?”
    Bill just continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “She led me on. Making me think she was the right girl—and then I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about. Well, then, why’d she answer the ad in the first place?”
    â€œSo you weren’t looking for a date,” Nancy said, though she already knew the answer. “You needed to find the girl in white for another reason.”
    â€œOf course!” Bill said impatiently. “Do you think I’m the kind of guy who has to get a date through the Personals?”
    His sudden show of pride was so unexpected that Nancy laughed. But she realized instantly that that had been a bad move. Bill’s face went dark with rage.
    â€œThen you had to butt in, too,” he snarled, thrusting his face closer to hers. “I was watching when you brought her to the paper that first time. I have to give you credit—you still came into the building after I dumped those bricks.”
    â€œHow’d you manage that, anyway?” Nancy asked in a tone of polite interest.
    â€œOh, I just happened to be up on the roof atthe time,” Bill said offhandedly. “I’ve got a master key to the door up there. I recognized Bess and pushed the cart over the edge.” He broke into a fit of coughing and stamped his feet to warm them. It was practically dark now, and the night was getting colder and colder. Nancy was shivering herself—whether from cold or tension she wasn’t sure.
    â€œI have to tell you, I couldn’t believe it when I saw you two walk in,” Bill went on. “And when I overheard your name—well, I know who the famous Nancy Drew is. I should have realized it would take more than a couple of phone calls to stop you.”
    â€œYes,” Nancy said bleakly. “Even