NANCY DREW - white water terror | Page 3

who can tell whether the patch is going to be permanent? After all, maybe you�ve changed in the way you feel about me.�

Nancy swallowed painfully, remembering how she had felt during the Flash case when she had seen Ned holding Sondra in his arms, when they had learned that Sondra�s brother Mick was in trouble. �I guess that�s a logical conclusion,� she said, �but it�s not the right one. I know I�ve been awfully busy, but that doesn�t mean you�re not important to me, Ned.� She leaned back against the sofa pillows and clasped her hands behind her head. �You�re so important to me that I can sort of relax knowing you�ll be around, without having to worry about it a whole lot.�

Ned leaned toward her and touched her cheek with the tip of his finger. There was a slight smile on his lips. �What you�re saying is that you�ve been taking me for granted. Is that it?�

Nancy nodded regretfully. �I guess so. Maybe that�s why I was so ready to accept George�s offer of the raft trip. I think we need time together so you can help me figure out all over again just why it is I love you so much.�

�We don�t have to wait until we get to Montana for me to start working on that assignment,� Ned said softly. He leaned closer and put his arms around her. �Let me give you a couple of reminders.� He kissed her tenderly,then kissed her again. �Got it figured out yet, Detective Drew?�

Nancy relaxed into his arms. �No, not yet,� she said. �Why don�t you try again? When it comes to love, I�m a very slow learner.�

At that moment, the telephone rang. Nancy sighed. �Somebody�s got awfully poor timing,� she said as she lifted the receiver.

�Nancy Drew?� The voice on the other end of the line was low and muffled.

�Yes?� Nancy said slowly, sensing that something was wrong.

The next words struck her with an icy coldness. Her stomach twisted into a frigid knot. �The trip your friend won is no prize,� the voice said ominously. �If you know what�s good for you, you�ll stay home�and stay alive!�

Chapter Two

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�What�s still notclear to me,� Nancy told George and Bess the next day, leaning across the table at Bennie�s Ice Cream Parlor, �is whether the phone call I got last night was a warning or a threat. I mean, I couldn�t tell from the tone of voice whether the caller meant to threaten me with harm or keep me from getting hurt.� She chewed her lip, puzzled. �I couldn�t even tell whether the voice was female or male.�

George dug into her favorite chocolate-mint ice-cream sundae. �Why in the world would anybody want to keep you from going on the trip?� she demanded. After a moment�s hesitation, she turned to Bess. �That phonecall�. �.�. it wasn�t you , was it?� she asked suspiciously.

Bess looked hurt. �I went to a concert last night and didn�t get back until after midnight. Anyway, you know I wouldn�t do something that ridiculous. If I wanted to keep you or Nancy from going on the trip, I�d try to convince you in person.�

George sighed. �I know. Sorry.�

Nancy took the last bite of her banana split, watching George intently. �Are you sure you�ve told us absolutely everything you know about the contest?�

�All I know is what�s in that letter from Paula Hancock. I�ve tried and tried to remember exactly when I entered the contest, but I can�t.�

Bess smiled mischievously. �Well, then, maybe it would be better if we didn�t go.� She pushed her half-finished diet drink away, looking with longing at George�s sundae. �The beach is awfully nice at this time of year.�

Nancy looked at George. In the back of her mind was the growing conviction that there was something not right about the contest. But the phone call and George�s inability to recall entering it were her only clues.

�I don�t suppose you�d reconsider your decision to go?� Nancy asked half hopefully. �Maybe we could find another white water rafting trip, if you�ve got your heart set on that. There must be others that would be just as exciting.�

�Yes, but this is a free trip,� George reminded.

Nancy and Bess exchanged long looks. �What about it, Bess?� Nancy asked.

�Well,� Bess said reluctantly, �I�m not exactly thrilled by the idea of spending two whole days hanging on to a raft, getting drenched by icywater, and bouncing from one rock to another. But I hate to think of you out there on the river with some kook who makes weird phone calls.� She shrugged. �You can count me in, I guess.�

�That settles it, then,� Nancy said with a