Free Hotline to Danger by Carolyn Keene Page B

right,” Joey confirmed. “I was there.”
    â€œWhat did Paul do when you threatened him?” Nancy asked.
    â€œHe told me he had more important things to do than argue with a punk like me.”
    Nancy frowned. “Do you have any idea what he meant?”
    Joey, Billie, and Kip shook their heads.
    â€œAny idea who killed him?”
    Kip’s face brightened. He beckoned to someonehunkered down in the back of the caboose. “Skins, get up here and tell the P.I. what you saw.”
    A little guy about fourteen pushed his way past the other gang members. His leather jacket hung loose on his skinny frame, his head was shaved bald, and his eyes darted nervously from Kip to Nancy.
    â€œWell, I—I—” he stuttered. Skins flashed Nancy a shy grin, swallowed, then tried again.
    â€œMonday night I—I slept here in the caboose,” he said, staring at his feet. “Whenever my dad and I have a big fight, I come here. I sleep on the seat there, and it ain’t so bad.”
    Nancy looked where he was pointing. Under a window that faced the warehouse, there was a long wooden bench. Stepping closer, Nancy peered out the glass. In the moonlight she could see the loading docks, the overgrown field, and a short stretch of the tracks.
    â€œSo you were here when Paul was murdered?” she asked, excitement creeping into her voice.
    He nodded. “But I didn’t see what happened. I woke up when car lights flashed in the window. It took me a second to remember where I was. When I finally sat up and looked out the window, I saw a car in the field behind the warehouse.”
    Skins glanced hesitantly up at Kip. The leader gave him the thumbs-up sign. After taking a deep breath, the boy finished his story.
    â€œThe car lights shone right on the body. I heard the door slam, then the car squealed out of here like it was going to a fire.”
    Nancy let out her breath. “Did you see the driver?”
    â€œNaw.” Skins looked apologetic, but then he gave her a huge grin. “But I know what kind of car it was! A silver Mercedes.”
    â€œThanks, Skins,” she said sincerely. Then she reached into her back pocket and pulled out Rachel’s picture. “Now, I’d like you all to look at this picture of Paul’s girlfriend, Rachel. Maybe someone has seen her in the neighborhood. She witnessed the murder, so if we find her, we can clear up this mystery.”
    Kip flicked his lighter on so that the gang members could get a good look at the photograph. Nancy watched closely as they passed the picture around and looked at it.
    â€œNope. We haven’t seen her around.” Kip was the last person to hand the picture back to Nancy. He flicked off the lighter.
    â€œIf you do see her, please call the River Heights Police Department and ask for B. D. Hawkins,” Nancy said to the silent, staring faces. “You don’t have to give your name.”
    Several heads nodded.
    â€œAnd thank you,” she added.
    â€œThank you.” Kip made a half bow. “For believing us.”
    But when Nancy finally reached the safety ofthe Mustang, she wasn’t sure who or what to believe. She just knew she desperately wanted to go home. After calling George to say she was safe, she planned on going straight to bed.
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    â€œSo let me see if I’ve got this right,” Bess said to Nancy the next morning. She was riding in the front seat of the Mustang, and George was in the back. The three girls were on their way to see B.D. at the police station.
    â€œMrs. Thackett could be the murderer, only she has an alibi,” Bess repeated what Nancy had told them earlier. “Or Kip could be the murderer, although he told you he wasn’t. Only he has no alibi.”
    Nancy laughed. “Right. Simple, huh.”
    Bess sighed. “Yeah. About as simple as my relationship with Kyle.”
    Nancy looked at her friend. Bess’s