Free The Wrong Track by Carolyn Keene

was he’d taken from the office. She opened the top drawer. Nothing there but pens and pencils and a blank pad of paper. She leafed through the papers in the file drawer, but there were only copies of skiing articles from magazines.
    She went over to search the storage bolsters above the bed, finding only blankets and pillows.
    There was one hiding place left. Nancy walked across the room to the dresser. The first three drawers were filled with Ben’s clothes. The last drawer held four hand-knit ski sweaters. Nancy slid her hand between each of the sweaters and then under the bottom one. Her fingers skidded on something smooth and flat.
    A rush of excitement coursed through her asshe pulled the object out. She’d found a file folder—taken from Dave Kendall’s office, no doubt.
    Nancy checked the tab. “Inge Gustafson” was printed on it in neat black letters. Ben had stolen Inge’s personnel file.
    Sitting on the daybed, Nancy spread the folder open. As she started to read the letters and Inge’s contract her eyes widened. No wonder Ben was so angry!
    The Inge Gustafson Ski School was a sham. Karl had paid Inge a lump sum to use her name, but according to their agreement she had no further obligations—she didn’t even have to give a single lesson!
    Meanwhile Ben was doing all her work. He must have found out she was never going to show and taken this file as proof of his suspicions, Nancy figured. What was he going to do with the evidence, though?
    As Nancy’s thoughts spun through the possibilities she heard the rasp of a key in the lock. She searched frantically for a hiding spot, but before she could move, the door swung open. It was too late.
    Nancy was caught!

Chapter

Nine
    W HAT ARE YOU DOING in my room?” Ben demanded, outraged.
    Nancy knew that whatever she did, she couldn’t blow her cover. “I saw you take something from Dave’s office,” she said. “I wanted to find out what it was.”
    Ben grabbed the folder from Nancy’s hands. “You’re not reviewing Tall Pines for a ski magazine, are you?” The look Ben gave Nancy was extremely skeptical.
    Nancy decided that if her cover had to be blown, she might as well invent a better one—that of investigative reporter.
    â€œWell, no, not exactly,” she confessed, playing up her new role. “I’ll tell you the truth—if you promise to keep it just between us.”
    Ben was obviously skeptical. “Okay.”
    â€œI heard about the theft a week ago, and I wanted to see if there was something going on at Tall Pines that the readers of Tracks should know about,” she bluffed.
    â€œSo you’re doing an exposé,” Ben guessed.
    â€œExactly,” Nancy told him. “But if anyone here finds out, I won’t be able to learn a thing, and then”—she snapped her fingers—“end of story, right?”
    Ben ran his hands through his jet black hair. “I see your point, but I still don’t get why you searched my room. I didn’t steal the money. Rebecca Montgomery did.”
    â€œI’ve interviewed her. She denies it, and I believe her,” Nancy said, her hands on her hips.
    Ben unzipped his parka and tossed it on the bed. “Then someone else took it.”
    Nancy gestured to the file lying beside Ben’s jacket. “We both know that the Inge Gustafson Ski School is a sham. Maybe you wanted to get back at Karl for treating you so badly.”
    Ben’s eyes blazed with anger. “Maybe I do want to get back at him, but I wouldn’t steal from him. I’m not stupid.” He paused. “You can get your story however you want,” he went on angrily. “And when you do, you’ll find out I’m innocent. Now I think you’d better go.” With that Ben walked to the door and opened it. “Don’t worry, though,” he said quietly. “Your secret’s safe with