Free Choosing Sides by Carolyn Keene Page A

murder.”
    â€œWell, let’s get this over with.” With a quick look to the door, Ned led the way to Gleason’s office. Nancy glanced at the messy desk, shelves, and filing cabinets, then spun through the Rolodex on the candidate’s desk. She didn’t see any number for Bobby Rouse or for the mysterious “Greenwood” she’d seen on the note in Rouse’s car. There was no card for Anna Dimitros or Steve Hill, either.
    â€œI don’t like lying, you know,” Ned grumbled, yanking open a file drawer.
    Nancy looked up at Ned in surprise. “Ned, what are you talking about?”
    Ned pulled out a stack of files and leafed through them. “After you left here today, SteveHill told Gleason that you were snooping around for Caroline Hill, and about you and Kyle trying to break into his house. Then Gleason came to me and asked me what exactly you were up to, and if I was working for you. I told him that I backed him one hundred percent and that you and I kept your detective work out of our relationship.”
    Ned had kept his eyes focused on the files while he spoke. Then he jammed the files back in the drawer and pulled out another stack.
    â€œI’m sorry about putting you in the middle of this, Ned, but it’s important to get at the truth. Did Gleason seem nervous, like he might be afraid of what I’d find out?”
    â€œYou don’t let up, do you!” Ned burst out, slamming the file drawer shut. “Patrick Gleason trusted me enough to leave me here alone today, and look what I’m doing—ransacking his private office, looking for evidence to use against him!”
    Nancy wished she could get him to understand. “Ned, you’re helping to find out who Rouse’s killer is and who framed Caroline Hill. Gleason is a suspect, and the sooner we can investigate him the sooner he’ll be cleared.” If he’s innocent, she added to herself. She knelt down to look in the bottom drawer.
    â€œAnd in the meantime, it doesn’t matter to you if Gleason finds out I’ve been spying on him and loses all respect for me,” Ned said quietly.
    Sitting back on her heels, Nancy looked up ather boyfriend. “Oh, Ned, I’m so sorry,” she apologized. “I wasn’t thinking about that.”
    â€œLook, I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have blown up at you,” Ned said. “I know you have to investigate. It’s just that I hate feeling like such a sneak.”
    Nancy got to her feet and gave him a quick hug. She was about to tell him that she understood, when her gaze landed on Gleason’s typewriter.
    â€œHey, what’s this?” She bent over a paper that was in the typewriter on a stand by the desk. It was a letter that Patrick Gleason was writing to Today’s Times, criticizing them for printing the story about Caroline Hill.
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜Every American deserves a fair chance,’ ” Ned read out loud over Nancy’s shoulder.” ‘And Caroline Hill hasn’t been getting that, thanks to your story. I firmly believe that I am the best candidate for mayor, but I also believe that I should be given the chance to beat my opponent fair and square.’ ”
    â€œWhat do you think of that?” Ned challenged.
    Nancy nodded. “It’s a good letter. Sounds sincere.” She didn’t add that Patrick Gleason might have written the letter just to throw suspicion off himself. She didn’t want to start another fight with Ned. Then again, maybe Ned was right. They certainly hadn’t found anything suspicious about Gleason so far.
    Deep in thought, Nancy was tugging on astubborn desk drawer when suddenly the whole drawer popped out, and papers and pencils flew everywhere.
    â€œGood work, Drew,” Nancy scolded herself.
    Ned started to laugh, then suddenly froze. “Shh! Someone’s unlocking the outside door!”
    Nancy heard the sound of