“Excuse me, Kirsten.” Nancy ran a couple of steps to stop the girl. “I’m Nancy Drew. Marva Phillips has asked me to look into the threats you and the others have been receiving. Would you mind talking to me for a few minutes?”
“If I can shower first,” Kirsten replied easily. “I’m sweaty, and I don’t want my muscles to stiffen.”
Nancy quickly filled Kirsten in on the conversation she’d had with Lisa. The girls were standing in front of a mirror where Kirsten was replaiting her hair. “I don’t enjoy prying into other people’s private affairs, but I want to know what you think of Gil Forrest. Considering what is happening with Sara,” Nancy added knowingly.
“Well, I agree with you about keeping my nose out of other people’s business,” Kirsten said, staring rather pointedly at Nancy in the mirror. “And I don’t see how Gil’s kissing Sara could be tied into the threats we got.”
Kirsten stopped braiding a minute, thinking, her arms still up by her head. “There is something I do know about him, though, that might have some bearing on the threats. Now that I think about it, he might be the one sending them. I haven’t told anyone about this, but I guess I’d better tell you.” Kirsten dropped her arms and led Nancy to a quiet corner bench.
“What is it?” Nancy asked eagerly.
“Well, last week I went to Marva’s office, looking for her, but only Gil was there. He looked really upset. He was holding a letter, and his hand was shaking. I don’t know why I didn’t just turn around and leave—you know, because he might have been embarrassed with me there—but I didn’t. Something about the way he looked made me feel sorry for him. So I asked him if there was anything I could do.”
“And?”
“Well, he obviously wanted to talk to someone.” Kirsten shrugged. “And I happened to be there.”
“Go on.” Nancy felt she was on to the first real clue in the case.
“He showed me the letter he was holding. It was from a businessman, someone named Roger Coleman. This Coleman had made a really good offer to buy Marva out. I saw the figure on the letter, and it was a lot of money. Gil was upset because Marva had turned the offer down—cold.”
“He actually told you all this?” Nancy asked.
“I know it sounds weird.” Kirsten nodded. “I’m practically a stranger, and there he was telling me all that personal stuff. But he was so mad at Marva that he lost control. Maybe he was mad enough to send those threats to the guests. You know, to scare Marva into accepting Coleman’s offer after all.”
“Uh-huh,” Nancy said, thinking. “Tell me, Kirsten, do you know anything about this Roger Coleman?”
“Just from pictures and reputation. He’s a broker who goes around buying up businesses that are about to fail. I’ve heard my father mention him. My father’s a business broker, too. But nothing like Coleman. Coleman has a reputation for being ruthless. He does whatever he has to to get what he wants.” She stood up. “I really should get going.”
“Of course,” Nancy replied.
The two walked outside the complex together. A gray BMW was pulling up to the main building.
“I don’t believe it!” Kirsten whispered to Nancy as the driver stepped out. “This is like ESP. We were just talking about him, and there he is. Roger Coleman himself.”
Nancy watched as the man paused to glance around, spotted the two of them, and stepped over quickly.
Coleman was tall, with dark good looks. Probably in his late thirties, Nancy judged. Dressed in neatly pressed tan slacks, a plaid blue silk shirt open at the collar, with a well-tailored, raw silk sports jacket over it, he looked like the TV image of a go-getter tycoon.
“Afternoon, ladies.” Coleman spoke in a low, pleasant voice with the hint of a western drawl. “I’m looking for Marva Phillips. Can you tell me where I might find her?”
“I’m not sure,” Nancy said, “but she could be in her office.” Coleman thanked her and left.
“What do you think, Nancy?” Kirsten asked with a backward glance at the businessman’s retreating figure. “Do you think Marva’s changed her mind and is going to sell? If she does, she’s going to be a very rich woman.”
And even if Gil Forrest doesn’t love Marva, Nancy thought, if he marries her, wouldn’t he be a very rich man?
Chapter
Nine
NANCY WAS WALKING AWAY from the main building, thinking about Gil and the offer to buy Club High Adventure, when Roger Coleman came back out the front door. Seeing Nancy, he waved and started talking.
“Well, Ms. Phillips wasn’t in her office. I asked at the front desk if they knew where I could find her. Nothing! Zip!”
“Sorry,” Nancy replied, adding a polite shrug. “I was only guessing.”
“At least you tried to help. The person at the front desk just wanted me to leave my name. Said she’d let Marva know I’d been asking for her.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Isn’t that incredible?” He suddenly grinned good-naturedly at his own situation. “Where’d they think I dropped in from? Someplace down the street after a quick taxi ride? It took me close to forty minutes to drive here from the airport, most of it on that impossible cliff road.”
“Forty minutes?” Nancy recalled the hour and a half drive she and her friends had made from Portland.
“Oh, not a commercial airport,” he replied, seeing her confusion. “A little private strip up north of here. The closest one that’ll accommodate a jet. I flew the Lear up from L.A.” His explanation didn’t even sound like bragging, Nancy thought. He said it the way anyone else would say he’d taken a bus.
Despite what Kirsten had told her about Coleman, Nancy found herself liking him. He was both easygoing and debonair.
“Was Marva expecting you, Mr.—uh—” Nancy didn’t want to let on she knew his name.
“Now I’m the one being thoughtless. I’m Roger Coleman.” He put out a capable-looking hand for her to shake.
“My name is Nancy Drew.” She wasn’t surprised by his firm grip. “Was Marva expecting you?” she repeated.
“I hope not.” Coleman grinned. “I don’t let people I’m doing business with know I’m coming. I like to pop in. Surprise ’em. I get better results that way.”
“I have to admit I’ve heard of you, Mr. Coleman,” Nancy said. “Now I think I understand how you earned your reputation.”
“Please, call me Roger,” he said in a warm tone. “Now, as for my reputation, I don’t apologize for my ability to make money. Nothing wrong with that. Just as long as it’s fair and profitable for everyone.”
Nancy laughed at his candor. “Good enough,” she agreed.
“And I’ve got to admit I know who you are, too. Just your name,” he added. “Gil told me Marva was asking a Nancy Drew to help her with those threats. I hope you can get this mess cleared up before I become the new owner.”
“From what I understand”—Nancy looked directly into his clear gray eyes—“Marva decided she’s not going to sell.”
“Oh, that was just her first answer. I never pay attention to first answers. At least not if it’s a no.” He looked around, as if appraising the club. “I’ve decided that I want to own this place. And I believe I have an offer she isn’t going to refuse—if I can find her to make my offer.”
Glancing over Coleman’s shoulder, Nancy said, “I think you’re about to have the chance. Here she is now.”
The club’s green van had pulled up behind the BMW. Marva and Gil got out. Nancy noticed that Gil didn’t seem even vaguely surprised to see Coleman. In fact, his expression told her that he was not only happy to see the businessman, but might actually have been expecting him. As for Marva, the grim set of her features was evidence enough that she wasn’t happy to find Roger Coleman on her property.
As the two came toward Nancy and Coleman, they had a quick exchange of words. Gil was saying something to which Marva was emphatically shaking her head no. But a second later he stopped and touched her arm. She nodded yes this time.
&n
bsp; Gil was the first to speak, suggesting cool drinks at a quiet poolside table. He invited Nancy to join them.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” Nancy replied. “If you’re not going to use your office for a while, Marva, I’d like to go over those files we discussed.”
While Gil, Marva, and Coleman went off, Nancy headed for Marva’s office. It took her only a short while to locate the personnel records. After pulling the folders, she sat down at Marva’s desk, stacking the files next to her.
She read through the files of everyone, even part-time clerical help. She couldn’t eliminate anyone. The lengthy application forms included letters of reference, resumes, health insurance forms, and miscellaneous letters and notes. Nothing seemed out of place in any of them. With a sigh, Nancy closed the cover of the folder belonging to Uncle Al and set it on top of the tall pile she’d already finished.
After rubbing her tired eyes, she reached up and stretched. She’d been at it for two hours and absolutely nothing had come of it.
One more to go. With a sigh, Nancy opened the folder and began to read.
Five minutes later she closed the cover, nodding once to herself. She’d actually found something that might just relate to the case.
Getting to her feet, Nancy began to pace—and think. She suddenly realized she hadn’t known much about Gil Forrest before reading his file, only the few things Marva had told her about him.
The two had met on a bicycle tour of Europe when they were in college. Marva had gone to Oregon State, while Gil had attended college in the Midwest. Apparently, Gil had approached Marva a year earlier and asked her for a job, and she had offered him the one as her assistant.
But it was what had happened in Gil’s life between their first meeting and his coming to work for Marva that was so intriguing. It was all there in his files.
Nancy sat down again and picked up Gil’s folder. His résumé showed that after graduating with a degree in business administration, Gil had moved to Seattle, where he’d gotten his real estate broker’s license. He’d gone to work for a large firm, dealing in luxury resort property. With his good looks and persuasive personality, he must have cleaned up, Nancy decided. Why had he made the switch from a fast-paced existence in a large city like Seattle to a life of teaching hang gliding here in the wilderness?
Maybe that was why Gil was so interested in Roger Coleman’s offer. If Marva accepted and they married, he’d have access to all that money. Maybe he wanted to get back on the fast track and become a tycoon like Coleman. Marva’s money would be his bankroll. It was certainly a strong enough motive if, indeed, it turned out that Gil was behind the threats.
Satisfied that she’d learned as much as she could from the files, Nancy left the office, turning out the light and making sure the door was locked. She didn’t hear the footsteps moving quietly behind her. Suddenly her vision was cut off as a hood was pulled over her head.
Nancy tried to scream, but a hand covered her face, shoving the coarse material against her nose and into her mouth. Barely able to breathe, she felt herself being dragged down the hall.
Just as suddenly, the hand was gone from her face. Nancy was pushed against a cold, hard wall. She lost her balance, stumbling to her knees.
With a sense of foreboding, she heard the slam of a metal door behind her. Then a lock clicked home.
Nancy pulled the hood from her head. Her heart sank when she realized what had happened. Someone had thrown her into the kitchen’s huge, deep freezer. And she was locked in!
Chapter
Ten
NANCY STARED at the heavy door, which was white with frost. Her first thought was to unlock the door, then get out and chase down her attacker.
Almost instantly, she remembered what Marva had said about the freezer door needing to be fixed. The inside latch was broken. Anyone unlucky enough to be inside when the door was closed would be trapped. At least until someone came along and opened it from the outside. And no one would hear her screams since the thick-walled room was soundproof. No doubt her attacker was well aware of these facts.
How long could she be trapped before someone discovered her in there? Any amount of time could be too long, Nancy realized as she felt the cold settle around her.
With sudden dread Nancy remembered the dinner dance that night wasn’t taking place until nine o’clock! That meant that a lot of the crew wouldn’t even be on duty yet. Nancy could freeze to death long before anyone came and found her.
A shiver ran up her spine—not from fright, but from cold. Her light cotton slacks and knit shirt were no protection from the damp, frigid air. She rubbed at her arms to try to warm them as she looked for something—anything—that would help her escape.
Nancy was thankful for one thing—the freezer light didn’t automatically go out when the door was shut. It would have been even worse if she’d been locked in the dark.
Maybe she could find something she could use to jimmy the lock open. Nancy quickly inspected the contents of the freezer. But there was nothing she could use to escape with. Only rows of shelves with neatly stacked boxes of vegetables and wrapped foil packages—probably cuts of meat.
Two sides of beef hung at the back of the small room. She studied the hooks they were suspended from. Was there any way she could use them? Not a chance, she decided, turning her attention back to the shelves.
With a hand that was beginning to shake from the cold, she picked up one of the rectangular foil packages. It was rock hard, shaped almost like a brick. What if she pounded on the door with it? Surely someone would hear her if she beat on it long enough.
But that was the problem. How long could she hold out? How long would it be before anyone heard her? The freezer was in a hall behind the kitchen, all by itself. No one would come back there unless they specifically wanted to get into the freezer.
Discouraged, she was about to put the package back on the shelf, when her gaze fell on a small round dial near the door. The thermostat. It gave a temperature reading of zero degrees. Nancy remembered something she’d learned about freezers—the door will automatically unlock if the thermostat stops working.
All I need to do is make sure it’s not working, she thought, with sudden hope. And I have the perfect weapon right here in my hand to make sure it’s not.
Moving quickly to the thermostat, she lifted the frozen package and hit the glass cover of the dial hard. It didn’t crack. Apparently the glass was thicker than she’d judged. Throwing her weight into it, she hit the dial again. Still nothing. Frustrated, Nancy began hammering at it. By now her numbed fingers were barely working and her hand was beginning to stick to the frozen package.
It took several more hits before the glass on the thermostat suddenly shattered in several places at once. Listening carefully, Nancy heard a muffled click as the outside lock was released. She was free!
• • •
George and Bess were both ready to leave the cabin by the time Nancy returned. But after one look at her, the other girls demanded to know what had happened.
“I definitely don’t like it,” George said, after Nancy had told them about her time in the freezer. “This makes twice someone has tried to kill you. And we have no idea who could be responsible. It’s no secret what you’re doing here. The entire staff knows, and most of the guests. Don’t you think it’s time to call the police?”
“I agree,” Bess said, putting her hand on Nancy’s. “This thing isn’t worth risking your life for.”
“I admit it’s dangerous,” Nancy said, “but that must be because I’m getting close to the answer. Besides, I promised Marva I wouldn’t call in the police yet.”
“Didn’t the doctor have to report Larry Quinn’s accident?” Bess wanted to know.
“No. Because it was just that—an accident. There was no foul play as far as anyone knew.” She assured her friends that she’d be more careful and would stay on the alert from then on.
“You promise?” Bess said.
Nancy
gave a decisive nod of her head. It was only then that it dawned on her that her two friends were already dressed for the dance that night. “Is it that late already?” she asked. “I thought dinner wasn’t going to be until late.”
“Oh, it’s not,” Bess replied. “But there’s some early entertainment planned out by the pool. George and I thought we’d go over.”
“But we won’t now,” George added quickly. “We’ll stay here with you.”
“Don’t be silly,” Nancy said. “You don’t have to baby-sit me. You guys go ahead. I’ll be fine. In fact I think I’ll take a nice long, hot bath and thaw out. I feel a little like some of those slabs of beef in the freezer.” She gave a little laugh.
“Well . . .” George hesitated.
“Go. Please.” Nancy smiled. “Actually, you can do a little sleuthing for me.”
“Like what?” Bess asked.
“I’d like you two to keep your eyes open. Notice if anyone acts strange. You know, if someone’s where he shouldn’t be—that sort of thing.”
“You got it,” George promised.
“And don’t be too long,” Bess added as they were leaving. “Or we’ll start worrying and come back for you.”
• • •
Remembering that locked doors were no barrier to a determined criminal, Nancy propped a chair under the knob before she relaxed into her scented bath bubbles. She focused her thoughts and went over what she knew of the case so far.
Lisa Gregson was no longer a suspect as far as Nancy was concerned. Nancy was convinced that Lisa’s problems had nothing to do with the club crime.
Sara Lakin had a serious crush on Gil, or so Lisa said. That was backed up by what Bess had seen. Though that might make Sara want to see Marva have problems with Club High Adventure, Nancy could not picture the high-strung brunette carrying out any of the recent attacks.
As for Kirsten, she was athletic and probably strong enough to have pushed Nancy over the railing of Quinn’s cabin and dragged her into the freezer, but she had no motive.