Nancy stopped dead in her tracks. Was the fleeing girl really Kelly Lewis?
14
Carried Away
Nancy paused to catch her breath. What would Kelly be doing there? Nancy didn’t think Mr. Garrison could forbid her to come to Canada on her own, but he could probably make things pretty rough for her if he chose.
Nancy had to find out. She went up to the door and knocked.
There was no answer. She knocked again. Still there was no sound from inside the room. Nancy decided to take a chance.
“Open up, Kelly,” she shouted. “It’s Nancy Drew. Come on, Kelly. I saw you.”
She listened. Someone was walking slowly toward the door. She heard the lock snap, and then the door opened. Kelly Lewis stood there. She was almost trembling.
“Why did you run?” Nancy asked as she went inside.
“I didn’t want anyone to know I was here,” the girl said. “I told everyone at school that I was going home for a few days. I never told my parents I was kicked off the team, though. I was too ashamed. And I had to see the team play for the Canadian Cup.”
“That’s the only reason you’re here?”
“What other reason is there? I’ve been part of this team for three years. I can’t just forget about them when they’re playing for the championship.”
“Mr. Garrison can’t stop you from coming here on your own time,” Nancy said.
“No, but I’m cutting classes, and I lied to my parents. He can make it tough for me. Maybe even get me expelled.”
“And is this worth the risk?”
“To see the team win and be a part of it in a small way? Yes, it’s worth it.”
Nancy smiled sadly at the girl who had made things so rough for Janine Sedgewick.
“Well, if it’s any comfort, your secret is safe with me,” Nancy said. “Why don’t you call your parents and tell them what happened? They’ll back you up if Mr. Garrison tries to cause you more trouble.”
Kelly sat on the edge of the bed. “Let me think about it,” she said. “I know I’m going to watch the games. No one is going to stop me from doing that.”
“Then I’ll see you there,” Nancy said. “Tell you what. If I have some time tonight, I’ll come over for a while and keep you company.”
“Thanks, Nancy. I’d appreciate that.”
Nancy went back to her own room and called her father.
“I found out what you wanted to know,” he said.
“Does this mean anything?” he asked after he’d given Nancy the information.
“I’m not sure,” she replied. “It may help, if some of my other theories turn out to be right. But there are still some missing pieces. Mainly, the whereabouts of the jewels.”
She said goodbye to her father and lay down on her bed to read more about jewelry making until George joined her.
“The girls are finally pulling together,” George announced as she entered the room at seven o’clock. “You should have seen them at supper. Kate’s enthusiasm seems to be rubbing off. I don’t know if she realizes it or not, but when she was down, the whole team was down.”
“I think she knew,” Nancy said. “It was just that she couldn’t do anything about it for a while.”
George looked her friend in the eye. “Nan, do you know something I don’t know?”
“Maybe. But nothing I can tell you now.”
“Oh, boy! Another mystery,” said George.
“This one won’t last long,” Nancy promised, “but I really can’t talk about it.”
George knew better than to try to persuade Nancy to tell her a secret. “Okay, okay,” she said. “So let’s order some food up here and just watch television for a while. I don’t want to have to think about anything for the rest of the night.”
At nine-thirty, after a big meal and a nice chat, George stretched and said, “Time to go home. It wouldn’t look good for the assistant coach to break curfew.”
Nancy smiled. “Good luck tomorrow,” she said. “I’ll be rooting for you.”
After George left, Nancy decided to order a cup of hot chocolate for dessert and then get a good night’s sleep.
After she placed her order she remembered Kelly. Oh, well, she decided, when the hot chocolate comes I’ll take it to Kelly’s room.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door. Nancy opened the door. It was the hot chocolate, all right. But holding the tray was none other than Russell Garrison.
“Ms. Drew, I’m here with a peace offering.” He flashed her a surprisingly warm smile. “It’s time to end this hostility between us.”
For once, Nancy was speechless.
