“I just happened to see Kelly and thought maybe there were some stories going around the soccer team,” Mr. Garrison protested. “As for her missing the bus, I have to confess I’d forgotten all about the game. That was my fault.”
Nancy could see that the headmaster had his excuses ready. That was the problem with Russell Garrison. He had an excuse for everything.
“Actually,” Nancy said, “I’ve concluded that Mrs. Sedgewick is completely innocent. She had nothing to do with the theft.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m afraid I can’t reveal my sources.”
Garrison stood up and walked to the window. “Ms. Drew,” he said impatiently. “The police are handling this case well enough. I don’t see why Pineview needs an amateur detective poking around as well. I’m going to have to ask you to stop this nonsense.”
“Let me ask you one more question, then,” Nancy said quickly. “Did you know that Mr. Ray would reexamine the brooches at the auction before he wrote down what they were worth? Or did that come as a complete surprise?”
Garrison turned and gave Nancy an angry glare. “Better not play games with me, Ms. Drew. Mr. Ray did an excellent job. I didn’t know he was going to examine the jewelry again, but I certainly didn’t try to stop him. What are you implying?”
“Relax, Mr. Garrison. I’m just trying to point out how a case can be made for naming almost anyone as a suspect. No offense intended.”
Garrison frowned. “It’s not that easy, Ms. Drew. Offense is taken. I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Now. And please keep your hands off this case. If you don’t, I’ll tell the police to make sure that you do.”
Nancy nodded stiffly to the headmaster and left. Clearly she had rattled him, but she still didn’t have any idea whether he was involved in the theft. She certainly wouldn’t give up on him as a suspect, she decided as she left the administration building. And she was not about to get off the case, no matter what he said.
Nancy met George for lunch, and then went with her friend to soccer practice. The latest incident between Kelly and Janine seemed to have nearly split the team. The girls were standing around in small groups, and a feeling of resentment was in the air.
Janine sat by herself at one end of the field, staring into space. Kelly passed a ball around with Leslie Phillips and some of the other girls. Kate Boggs sat on the bench, looking at a clipboard. She didn’t seem interested in starting practice.
“Hi, Coach.” George tried to sound cheerful. “Ready to get started?”
“What for?” said Kate. “This isn’t a team anymore. Look at them. The biggest games of their lives are just around the corner and they’re more concerned with personal problems, like who’s going to play goal. I feel like calling the tournament officials and telling them we’re not coming.”
“Kate!” Nancy said. “Haven’t too many people worked too hard for too long to do something like that?”
“Maybe,” Kate said. “But I don’t know how to beat this.”
“Maybe once they start working out they’ll come alive,” George said.
“Be my guest,” said Kate.
George gave a blast of her whistle. She told the girls to jog four easy laps around the field. They all started running, but there was no spirit, no energy. It was a team without a leader. A team in trouble.
When they finished the four laps, George began a couple of light passing drills, including the goalies. Again the girls went through the motions. While George tried to urge them on, Kate stayed on the bench. Nancy stood quietly beside her. No one noticed another spectator at the far end of the field.
The passing drill continued. Even George stopped watching for a minute to join Nancy and Kate. Suddenly a sharp voice rang out.
“You did that on purpose!”
“No way. If you’d been watching, you would have seen the ball coming.”
“You weren’t supposed to kick it to me, Janine.”
“In this game you’ve got to be ready for anything. You were unprepared, Kelly. Maybe that’s why you’re only the backup goalie.”
Kelly and Janine were at it again. This time they were really shouting at each other. Kate jumped off the bench and sprinted over to the two girls.
“That is enough. I’ve had it with this squabbling between you two. If either of you can’t put the team first, then get out now.”
“I’m getting tired of doing what you say,” Kelly snapped. “You’ve never given me a fair chance to win the starting position. A lot of the girls think I should start, and you know it.”
“Kelly, we’ll talk about this later. Calm down.”
“I think the coach is right, young lady.”
Everyone turned to see Russell Garrison standing behind the bench. He had been watching the practice from the far end of the field.
“There’s a lot of Pineview pride at stake in this tournament,” he continued. “Why don’t you girls listen to your coach? The team doesn’t need any more trouble at this point.”
“This is partly your fault, Mr. Garrison,” Kelly retorted. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have missed the game yesterday. I was supposed to start, and I might have won a spot at the tournament.”
“That was my mistake, and I apologize. But I’d curb my tongue if I were you, young lady.”
“Why is it always me?” Kelly seemed on the verge of tears. “I’m tired of being everybody’s scapegoat. I don’t care about the dumb tournament.”
“Then consider yourself off this team until further notice,” Mr. Garrison said.
“Wait a minute, sir,” said Kate. “I’m sure we can work this out.”
“Maybe you’ll listen to this kind of backtalk. But I won’t. She’s off, and that’s final!”
11
