The Wrong Track (2 page)

Her car was driven to the visitor parking lot by an employee as she made her way inside. “Wow again,” she whispered, taking in the wide expanses of glass that flooded the area with light and gave awesome views of the surrounding pines. At the back of the room a dozen guests were sitting in twos and threes at tables around a roaring fireplace. To her left the registration desk bustled with activity. Along the same wall as the fireplace Nancy noticed a large display window filled with colorful ski clothing. A hand-lettered sign told her it was part of the Tall Pines Gift Shop.

Within a few minutes Nancy had checked in, leaving her luggage with a bellhop. The clerk at the registration desk directed her to the Tall Pines offices and said Dave Kendall was waiting for her there.

“If you go out the front, the administration building is directly across from us,” the clerk explained. “You can't miss it.”

Nancy thanked him. She had no trouble finding the small A-frame building across from the main lodge. She closed the door behind her and looked around. After the bustle and noise of the crowded main lodge, the offices were eerily silent. She was in the reception area, and there were two doors off a main hallway to her right. One, she knew from Rebecca's description, was Dave's office, where Rebecca had also had her desk. The other was Reismueller's.

Before Nancy could knock on either door, the one on the right flew open.

“I know what's going on here,” a dark-haired young man with a muscular build shouted as he stormed out of the office. Nancy caught his angry expression and saw that his fists were clenched at his sides.

She heard the deep rumble of a voice responding to the young man but couldn't make out the words.

“If you think I won't tell anyone,” the dark-haired young man yelled, shaking his fist, “you're wrong, Dave Kendall. Dead wrong!”

T
HE ANGRY YOUNG MAN
strode past Nancy without seeing her. He was about to storm out the front door when an older man with brown hair came running after him.

“Come back here, Ben!” the older man yelled. “You can't go around making accusations like that.”

Nancy stood still. Ben? She wondered if the dark-haired young man with the muscular build was Ben Wrobley.

“That's where you're wrong, Kendall!” the young man shouted. Without waiting for an answer he flung open the front door and strode outside, letting the door slam behind him.

For a moment there was silence. Then Nancy cleared her throat. “I'm Nancy Drew,” she told the older man. “The desk clerk told me you were
expecting me. I can come back later if this is a bad time.”

The man smiled and extended his hand to shake Nancy's. “Come right on in, Ms. Drew. I'm Dave Kendall, general manager here at Tall Pines.”

So this was Rebecca's former boss, Nancy thought. Taking a closer look, she judged Kendall to be in his midthirties, his brown hair graying at the temples. Though his voice was cordial, she could sense the anger just beneath his perfect smile.

“Let me apologize for what you just overheard,” Kendall said, leading the way down the hall to his office. “That young man can get a bit overexcited.”

Nancy nodded noncommittally but kept her thoughts to herself as Dave led the way into his office. The room was large and bright, with three skylights cut into the roof. The furniture consisted of two ultramodern desks, several chairs, and a row of matching filing cabinets. On top of the center filing cabinet was a huge vase of orchids. Kendall caught Nancy looking at them.

“My passion,” he confessed. “I love fresh flowers.” He motioned Nancy to a chair in front of his desk. “We're so glad you're here at Tall Pines. A write-up in
Tracks
is just what a new business needs.” Dave leaned back in his chair. Though he appeared relaxed, Nancy felt the tension in him left over from his encounter with Ben. Nancy wondered just what kind of accusation
Ben had been making, and if it involved the theft.

“It looks to me as though Tall Pines is doing pretty well,” Nancy commented, remembering her cover.

“That's true. We are,” Dave admitted, smiling. “But I want to make sure people come back. Resorts depend on repeat customers as well as new ones.” The resort manager paused, and his tension seemed to ease as he continued talking. “I'm proud of this resort,” he said with conviction. “Tall Pines isn't an average cross-country ski place.”

“No, it's not,” Nancy agreed. “How many guests can Tall Pines accommodate?” she asked, taking out a notebook and scanning the list of questions she'd prepared.

Kendall's smile was wide and proud. “We're an intimate place. There are one hundred condos, as well as one hundred rooms in the lodge. Skiers who come here know the trails won't be crowded. They appreciate that and pay well for the special treatment we offer. I've put together a packet of brochures for you. They should answer any of your general questions.”

Nancy was about to comment when she heard the door to the lobby open and the sound of boots stomping off snow.

Dave stood up and walked to his door. “Good morning, Karl,” he called to the newcomer. “Nancy Drew is here.”

“Good day,” said a deep voice. Nancy turned in her chair and watched a tall man stride into
the room. He bowed from the waist in greeting. “I'm Karl Reismueller.” As Nancy rose to shake hands with the owner of Tall Pines he took her hand in his and shook it gently.

“Welcome to Tall Pines, Ms. Drew,” Karl added in a voice that bore a slight German accent. “I hope you will enjoy your stay here.” He ran a hand through his blond hair, which had distinguished wings of silver at the temples.

Nancy smiled. “I'm very glad to be here, Mr. Reismueller,” she said honestly.

Karl sat on the edge of the desk and faced Nancy, staring at her intently with his crystal-blue eyes. “Call me Karl, please.”

“Karl,” Nancy said, blushing. Reismueller really knew how to turn on the charm.

“I would have liked to have given you a tour of Tall Pines myself,” Karl went on, “but I have some pressing business matters.” He gestured with his right hand. “I've asked an employee, Jody Ashton, to take you around. She manages the gift shop and the ski shop and knows Tall Pines very well.”

Jody was Rebecca's friend, Nancy remembered. She'd also been in the office the day of the theft. Nancy smiled to herself that she was able to spend a couple of hours with her.

Nancy thanked Karl. “From what I've seen, Tall Pines is extremely beautiful,” she said.

“Once you get out on the trails you'll see the real Tall Pines,” Dave told Nancy. “We'll get you fitted with some of our best skis, and you can check out the trails.”

“That'll be great,” Nancy said.

“Wonderful!” Karl said with a smile, glancing at his watch. “And now I'm afraid I must excuse myself. I'm expecting an important phone call,” he explained. He stood up and took Nancy's hand in his once more. “I hope you'll join my wife and me for dinner this evening at the Edelweiss, which is our largest restaurant. Would eight o'clock be convenient?”

Nancy nodded, and Karl left them. Dave studied his own watch. “Let's find Jody,” he said, putting on a forest-green down jacket. As he turned to pick up his gloves Nancy saw the Tall Pines logo—two pine trees—emblazoned on the back of the jacket.

Dave led the way back to the main lodge and into the gift shop that Nancy had noticed when she registered. As they entered chimes announced their arrival.

A girl with short, curly auburn hair stepped out from behind the counter. “Hi, Dave,” she said, smiling at them. “And you must be Nancy Drew. Karl told me you'd be coming.”

“This is Jody Ashton,” Dave told Nancy. Jody had a slim, athletic build, the greenest eyes Nancy had seen, long black lashes, and high, aristocratic cheekbones. She was dressed in an oversize wool sweater with the Tall Pines emblem and a pair of matching forest green warmup pants.

“I'd better get back to the office,” Dave said. He gave Nancy a smile that didn't quite reach his
eyes. “I'm sure you'll have more questions. When you do, you know where to find me.”

Nancy thanked him, and Dave left. She turned to Jody, who appeared to be nervous as she blinked several times.

“I don't know what to say,” Jody finally managed to get out, giving Nancy a forced smile. “I've never met a reporter before.”

Nancy grinned. “I promise not to write anything incriminating about you,” she joked.

Jody seemed afraid for a second and then laughed nervously. “Let me get my jacket, and I'll show you around,” she said.

Nancy waited while Jody found her cap and gloves and told the girl she was working with that she'd be leaving for a while.

“This way,” Jody said, pointing to a door that opened directly to the outside. She led the way back to the front of the lodge. “That's the Edelweiss,” she said, gesturing to a second-story deck that jutted out above the lodge. “If you have a chance to eat there, take it. The food is out of this world.”

They walked toward a large building with one solid wall of glass. Inside Nancy could spy an Olympic-size pool. “Wow!” she said.

Pushing open the front door of the building, Jody led the way into the exercise complex. “Neat, huh?” she said. “The pool's still not filled with water,” she explained. “It was supposed to be open yesterday, but now they're promising it'll be ready this afternoon.”

Nancy followed Jody. From inside the pool room she found herself looking out onto a forest of stately pines that stretched to the sky.

Jody was already walking around the pool to a pair of doors along one side of the wall. “The locker rooms are here,” she said, leading the way. “Women's locker room,” Jody pointed out, “private showers, fully stocked with all-natural bath and beauty products.”

The lavender and forest green locker room, equipped with thick towels and expensive bath products, was much fancier than any locker room Nancy had ever seen. Jody smiled at her. “Our guests want luxury, and they get it. There's also a sauna and an exercise room,” Jody told Nancy. “Both coed. Now if you'll follow me, I'll show you one of Tall Pines's most popular attractions.”

Outside the girls made their way up a narrow path that had been shoveled in the fresh snow. A short distance from the building Nancy saw steam rising from among a grove of pine trees.

“What's that?” she asked Jody.

“Check it out,” Jody said with a raised eyebrow.

Nancy laughed out loud when she discovered the source of the steam. It was an outdoor hot tub with a couple of people in it. “I'm definitely going to make time for this,” she declared.

Jody laughed. “I thought you'd like it.” She led Nancy down a tree-lined driveway, pointing out a one-story, modern wooden building on their right. “Some of the staff live here,” she said. “A
lot of employees commute, but some live too far away.”

“Do you live here?” Nancy asked.

“No. I live in an apartment in Monroe with my mother. It's a little town about ten minutes away.” Jody smiled, showing her pearly, even teeth, and pointed to her left. “That path leads to a frozen pond. It should be great skating, and it will even be lit at night. It's not quite done yet but will be soon.”

Nancy followed Jody along a road that curved around the lodge. At the back of the curve Nancy caught sight of a cluster of A-frame buildings in a small clearing. Like the main lodge, each one had a second-story deck and wide expanses of glass.

“Awesome!” Nancy exclaimed. “These must be the condos.” Jody nodded. “They're gorgeous. I can see why Mr. Reismueller is so proud of them.”

“Then you've met Karl,” Jody said, her striking green eyes flashing.

“He was very charming.”

“Let me guess.” Jody chuckled. “He played his German prince role: the accent, dinner with him and Sheila, the whole bit.”

Nancy laughed and took a key from her purse. “You guessed right,” she said, checking the number on the key. “I think this one's mine.”

They had stopped at the third building. “Karl Reismueller is a walking gold mine,” Jody went on. “He has more businesses than I can count, and they're all successful.”

As they entered her condo Nancy whistled
softly. “This is fabulous!” The main living area was thickly carpeted and had a huge fireplace that dominated the back wall. A bedroom, kitchenette, and bath completed the first floor, and a sleeping loft filled the second story. There were flowers everywhere, Nancy saw, remembering Dave Kendall's weakness for them.

“No wonder Mr. Reismueller is so successful,” Nancy said. “He certainly knows how to treat his guests.”

“He could take some lessons on how to treat his employees,” Jody said half aloud.

Nancy turned, struck by the bitterness in Jody's voice. “Oh, really?”