A Secret in Time (14 page)

Authors: Carolyn Keene

BOOK: A Secret in Time

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“Wake up,” he said, shaking her. “Come on!”

When she didn't respond, Brody gathered her up in his arms and raced her out to the hall.

“Gotta get some warm air into her lungs,” he said, laying George on her back on the floor of the hallway. He pinched her nose with his fingers and leaned over her, breathing into her mouth. Then he sat up and pressed against her abdomen to make her exhale.
After he'd done this several times, George's eyelashes fluttered.

“She's alive!” Bess cried. With Officer Daniel's help, she knelt by her cousin. “George!” she cried. “Can you hear me?”

George's eyes opened at the sound of Bess's voice. Nancy breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Good work,” Chief McGinnis said to Officer Brody, who beamed with pride.

Nancy turned toward McGinnis, anxious to know how the police had found her and her friends. Her teeth were still chattering so hard she could barely get the words out.

Chief McGinnis understood. “Thompson made a big mistake,” he told the girls. “He tried to drive the Frosty Freeze truck past security. When he didn't have proper identification, the guard tried to stop him, but he crashed through the gate. The guard immediately called the police. We already had four cars in the area, so we chased him and finally ran him off the road. He didn't want to tell us where you were, but we convinced him it was in his best interest to do so if he didn't want an even heavier sentence.”

“Yeah,” said Nancy. “I guess grand larceny, kidnapping, and attempted murder are enough to keep him in prison for a while.”

“He's already warming a bench inside a cell at the station,” McGinnis said. “Right next to Russell Brown.” A look of concern came into the chief's eyes. “Speaking of warm, I think we should get you girls to
the hospital right away to check you for frostbite. We found your friend George's car. If you give us the keys, we'll drive it over to the hospital so you can get home.”

“Thanks,” said Nancy gratefully. “I'll be okay, I think, but I'll feel better if a doctor takes a look at George.”

“Oh, by the way,” the police chief said, pulling a slim black pouch out of his jacket pocket. “Does this belong to one of you?”

“That's George's phone!” Nancy exclaimed. “She'll be so happy to get it back.”

McGinnis handed the phone to Nancy. “You did a great job, as usual,” he said. “What would we do without you?”

Nancy gave the chief a shaky smile. “Thank goodness you didn't have to find out.”

â¢Â â¢Â â¢

Several hours later, Nancy, Bess, and George walked out of the hospital and into the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

“I can't believe how lucky we were,” George said as they followed the walkway to her car. “A few more minutes in there, and we could have lost some fingers or toes.”

“Or worse,” Bess reminded her. Turning to Nancy, she said, “I guess I was wrong. Your luck hasn't run out yet. And I hope it never does!”

“I really thought it had this time,” Nancy admitted, shaking her head. “And I was wrong, too. About
Lydia, I mean. She may not have been up front about her new business venture, but at least she's not a crook.”

“Don't apologize,” Bess said. “Even I was beginning to have my doubts about her.”

“No one was above suspicion until the case was solved,” George said. “Especially Kimberly Burton. I don't think she even realized she was a suspect, yet she seemed to be doing everything in her power to look suspicious. Makes you wonder about all the other crimes she was accused of, doesn't it?”

Nancy nodded. “That's what I was thinking,” she agreed. “I wouldn't be surprised if she'd never committed a crime in her life. She probably just enjoys having a dangerous reputation.”

“Maybe she's bored,” Bess said. “I mean, living all alone inside that big house, with nothing to do all day but collect jewelry. No one would pay much attention to her if that was all she did. Being a suspected criminal must seem a lot more glamorous and exciting.

“I think you're right,” Nancy said.

They reached the car, and George unlocked the door. “Maybe we should go lie in the sun for a while,” she suggested as she got behind the wheel and reached over to unlock the passenger door.

“Okay,” Bess said, climbing into the back seat. “But I think we should go out somewhere first. You know, to celebrate cracking the case.”

“Hungry again, huh?” George asked her cousin.

“Always,” said Bess, grinning.

“Sure, let's celebrate,” Nancy agreed. “What do you feel like eating, Bess?”

“Ice cream!” said Bess without thinking.

For a moment, Nancy and George just stared at her. Then all three girls dissolved in laughter.

“That was just a reflex,” Bess said. “Actually, it might take a while before I get my appetite back for Popsicles and Fudgsicles.”

“I've got it!” Nancy exclaimed. “I know the perfect thing.”

“What?” asked Bess and George together.

“Well, the temperature's eighty degrees,” Nancy said, grinning impishly. “What do you say we all go out for some hot chocolate?”

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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