George thought for a moment. “Well, we had some vandalism. Kate figures it was a Secord prank.”
“What kind of vandalism?” There was an urgent tone to Nancy’s voice.
“Someone got into the equipment bag and messed up our: uniforms a little.”
“What do you mean, ‘messed up’?”
“Spray-painted some of the shirts, punctured a couple of practice balls, and slashed the knee pads Janine was going to wear.”
Nancy thought for a minute. “How did they slash the knee pads?”
“They slit them down the middle and then pulled them apart. Janine’s wearing some old practice pads, but she’s playing a great game.”
Just then there was a roar from the crowd. Two Secord forwards were breaking in on goal. One of them booted the ball toward the left corner of the net. Janine took two quick steps and dived! She made an excellent one-hand save. Then she smothered the ball, got up, and kicked it down the length of the field.
With time running out, Pineview got the ball at midfield. Karen Phelps passed to Paula LeGere, who dribbled down the left side toward the Secord goal.
“Center it! Now!” Kate shouted.
Paula pivoted and booted the ball with her left foot. It drifted toward the net. The Secord goal-tender came out to try to catch it. But Janie Fryer got there a split second before her and headed the ball past the startled goalie. The ball sailed into the net. Pineview had scored to take a 3-2 lead with just a minute left.
The crowd stood and cheered for the entire final minute as Pineview turned back a last-ditch Secord drive. Janine made another nice save and kicked the ball high and deep just before the whistle sounded. Pineview had won! They were in the finals!
All the girls gathered around Janine at the goal. Kate and George joined them in celebrating, but Nancy knew there was little time to waste. She ran onto the field and grabbed George by the shoulders.
“Come on. We’ve got work to do.”
“Nan, give me a few minutes to enjoy this. We’re in the finals!”
“I know. I know,” Nancy said. “But you’ll have to celebrate later.”
“Why?”
“You know those slashed knee pads you were telling me about?”
“What about them?”
“I’ll bet you anything that Mrs. Sedgewick’s brooches were hidden inside those pads!”
16
Cut to the Chase
George didn’t have time to react to what Nancy had told her. Nancy had already grabbed her hand and was pulling her off the field, through the excited crowd. They raced out to the parking lot.
“I hope we’re not too late,” Nancy said.
“For what?” asked George, who was still stunned.
Nancy headed toward a line of cars waiting to leave the parking lot for the highway.
“There they are,” Nancy shouted. “Hey, Anne! Joan!”
The two young women had the car windows rolled up and didn’t hear Nancy. There was just one car ahead of them in line. Then they’d be gone. Nancy kept running while she shouted.
The car in front of the skiers moved out of the parking lot. Anne and Joan were next. It didn’t look as if Nancy would make it. But just as the car started off, Nancy came up from behind and slapped the car’s rear fender with her open hand. The car stopped short. Joan stuck her head out of the passenger’s window.
“Nancy! What is going on?”
“We need a fast ride to the Pirot Hotel. It’s right down the road. Could you please give us a lift?”
“Hop in,” Anne said from behind the wheel.
Nancy and George climbed into the backseat as Anne swung the car out onto the highway.
“Here we go,” Nancy said. “By the way, this is George. George, Anne and Joan.”
“Strange way to meet,” said Joan. “Where are we going, to a fire?”
“No,” Nancy said. “We’re going to catch a jewel thief.”
Nancy could see Anne stare at her in the rearview mirror. “You’re kidding,” she said.
“I hope not. I also hope we’re not too late.”
Anne stepped on the gas. In a matter of minutes she was pulling into the hotel parking lot.
“Could you wait here a minute in case we need help?” Nancy jumped out, shouting, “Thanks!” She raced into the lobby.
