Too Few Clues
There was a stunned silence on the field as Russell Garrison walked back toward the school. He turned and motioned for Kelly to follow.
“Let’s go, young lady. I meant what I said.”
Kelly edged closer to Coach Boggs.
“Go on,” Kate whispered. “I’ll talk to him later.”
Kelly left the field slowly. No one spoke until she and the headmaster were out of sight.
“All right, girls. Run a few more laps and we’ll call it a day,” Kate said. “We have our first game of the tournament the day after tomorrow. Let’s go.”
The girls began jogging in silence. Kate walked over to George and Nancy.
“This is a coach’s nightmare,” she said. “You wait all your life to have a team this good. Now half the girls act as if they hate each other, and the headmaster yanks my backup goalie.”
“He was overreacting,” Nancy said. “The question is why?”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t know. My problem isn’t Russell Garrison. It’s how to get this team ready for the day after tomorrow.”
Kate went off to jog with the girls. It was as if she had to work off her frustration somehow. Jogging was the quickest way.
“What is it with Russell Garrison?” Nancy asked George. “It looked as though he was going out of his way to hurt the soccer team.”
George shrugged, bewildered. “As far as I can see, winning the Canadian Cup would be great for the school.”
Nancy shook her head. “Why do I have the funny feeling that there’s more to this Canadian trip than just a soccer tournament?”
George sighed. “Beats me, Nancy.” She stared across the field at the jogging girls. “Well, I’m the assistant coach of this team. I can’t be the only one standing around.”
George went off to join the others. Nancy decided to check out the gym.
When she reached the locker room, Kelly Lewis was just getting dressed. The once-confident girl looked very forlorn.
“Hi, Kelly,” Nancy said quietly.
Kelly didn’t answer. She pulled her blouse on and began brushing her hair.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe this,” Nancy said, “but I’m sorry about what just happened.”
“Why should you care? You’re Janine’s friend,” Kelly retorted.
“I’m only trying to solve a jewel robbery,” Nancy pointed out.
“Why not talk to Janine and her mother, then?”
“I have, and I don’t think they were involved in the theft. If I’m wrong, I’ll be the first to say so.”
“That girl has been a thorn in my side for three years,” Kelly said.
“That doesn’t make her or her mother a jewel thief.”
Kelly said nothing. She just took a deep breath and stared into the mirror.
“I really wanted to go to this tournament,” she said. “You may not believe that, but I really wanted to play.”
“I understand that,” said Nancy. “Every player on a team is important.”
“Yeah,” Kelly said with an edge to her voice. “It’s real important to keep the bench warm.”
“Look at it this way. You’re out there for practice every day. You’ve become a better player, and you’ve helped the other girls be better players. You’re not the only fine athlete who’s sometimes had to sit out a game because there was someone a little better ahead of her.”
Kelly looked at Nancy. “That’s the hardest part. I love soccer. I always have. Not playing kills me”—she stopped in midsentence and looked away—“but I guess I’ve always known Janine is the better goaltender. And I’m jealous.”
“That’s normal,” Nancy said. “The important thing is how you handle your jealousy.”
“I guess I really haven’t been helping the team,” Kelly admitted. “And now I can’t.”
“Do you have any idea why Mr. Garrison would want you off the team?”
Kelly shrugged. “Because I lost my temper?”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“I told him yesterday in his office that I was going to miss the bus to Forsythe,” Kelly said.
“You did? He told me he’d forgotten about the game.”
