Free Murder On Ice by Carolyn Keene Page A

felt confused as well. She had been certain that Michael and Luke already knew each other, but they were acting like virtual strangers.
    â€œWe used to have a mutual friend,” Michael continued. “Dieter Mueller. Remember him?”
    Luke just stood there, unmoving; but slowly, in a delayed reaction, his eyes began to bulge and his face went white. Nancy decided he looked completely terrified, as if he were watching his own funeral.
    Then, all at once, Luke was running as fast as he could away from the skating rink, away from Michael—or from his own past?
    As Nancy watched Luke racing across the snow, she turned to Michael—and found that his face had paled, too.
    â€œYou came over here in his Jeep? The old, beat-up one with the ripped top I saw parked out back in the lot?” he asked.
    Nancy nodded. “We didn’t realize he’d mind.”
    â€œI’m glad you won’t be going back in it,” Michael said. “And I’d advise you to stay away from anything else belonging to that guy. You saw what happened when your boyfriend used his skis!”
    â€œMichael,” Nancy asked bluntly, “who was Dieter Mueller?” She had to be sure.
    For a minute, silence hung between them. “Can’t you guess?” Michael said finally. “He was my friend, the one who borrowed Luke’s skis.”
    â€œMichael, I’m sorry,” Nancy said comfortingly.
    â€œYeah. Me, too,” Michael replied. “Hey, are those people over there friends of yours?”
    Nancy turned to see Bess and Gunther waving to her from across the rink. She and Michael skated over. “Where’s George?” Nancy asked.
    Bess shrugged. “She told me to get lost, in so many words. She’s probably waiting for Luke back at the lodge. Or working off some emotion on the ski jumps!” She shook her head. “They had a date to go for a ride. Luke absolutely hit the roof when he found the Jeep was gone!”
    Michael frowned. “That sounds very dangerous.”
    â€œOh, George knows what she’s doing where sports are concerned!” Bess said, laughing. “I think she could be an Olympic contender if she wanted to. Sometimes, I actually think she’s going to go for it—she keeps such a close eye on all the tryouts.
    â€œBesides,” she went on with a grin, “if there is any danger, she has the perfect bodyguard—Nancy Drew, the fabulous detective!”
    Everybody laughed. But underneath the laughter Nancy felt a tenseness. The sensation lasted for only an instant. Almost immediately, Michael and Gunther were laughing at Bess’s teasing. When Nancy looked at Michael, his eyes were warm with admiration. “I thought you were more than just a tourist! You’re here on a case, aren’t you?”
    â€œNo way!” Nancy exclaimed and laughed gaily. She managed to send Bess a warning glance as she went on smoothly. “I’ve ruined too many vacations that way.”
    Nancy glanced at her watch. It was just past noon. “Speaking of which, I’d better go find Ned. Now that I know where you’re staying and you know where I am, let’s keep in touch. Skating was fun. I’d really like to see you again.”
    Nancy’s last comment was no lie. Michael was the only one around who seemed to know anything about her prime suspect. She had to see him again.
    â€œYou can bet you’ll be seeing more of me,” Michael said as Nancy stepped from the rink.
    â€œHe skates well,” Gunther said, watching Michael glide across the ice as Nancy unlaced her skates and returned them. Then she, Bess, and Gunther headed for the coffee shop.
    â€œWhat was going on out there?” Bess asked.
    Nancy sighed. “I wish I knew. It was weird, though, that’s for sure!” She turned to Bess andsmiled wearily. “Listen, I’ll have to explain all this another time. Right now, I think Ned and I