Free False Moves by Carolyn Keene Page A

heading for James’s office. She ran down the back stairs to the lobby and pushed through the door with a bang. Brad was waiting. “Come on,” she called. “I’m on to something important. We have to get moving,” she said, running over to Brad and then turning to run up the stairs to the second floor.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he asked, trailing behind her a couple of steps.
    â€œI caught Ana and Andre destroying the costume storage room, looking for the diamond. It looks like they’re the thieves. So now we’ve got to convince James to help us stop them—even without proof,” she said over her shoulder.
    â€œUh, Nancy,” Brad asked, stopping for a minute, “is this going to be dangerous?”
    Nancy rolled her eyes and looked at him. “We’re just going to talk to James. But we’ve got to do it now. Time is essential. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.”
    They trotted down the second floor hallway to James’s office. But when they got there, the managing director’s secretary told them they’d just missed him. “I’m not sure where he went,” the woman told them. “I think he might have gone to see Colby. Why don’t you try his office?”
    â€œThanks!” Nancy called over her shoulder as she and Brad hurried to Colby’s office next door.
    No one was in the outer reception area, so when Nancy heard two hushed voices coming fromColby’s office, she went to the door to listen. Neither voice was James’s. Nancy started to move away from the door, but then she heard something that made her stop.
    â€œThis company deserves every bit of bad publicity it gets.” Colby had raised his voice and it drifted out clearly through the door.
    â€œCome on, Nancy. You just said we needed to find James,” Brad said.
    â€œSsh,” Nancy told him sharply. “Listen.” She motioned toward the office. “This conversation just might convince me that we’ve got another pair of suspects.”
    Nancy walked soundlessly back toward the office door so that she could hear every word. As Brad followed her, a floorboard creaked. “Be quiet,” Nancy whispered. “We can’t let them hear us.”
    â€œIt’s outrageous,” Colby was saying. “James shouldn’t be able to push you into retirement. But then he doesn’t care about dance,” he added bitterly. “All he’s interested in is money. Money and publicity stunts!”
    â€œUnfortunately, he has the power to do anything he wants with this company,” the woman in Colby’s office was saying. That Russian accent! Nancy recognized it immediately. It was Katya Alexandrovna! “If James Ellsworth wants to fire me, there’s no one who can stop him. Because ofJames, neither of us is going to have a job next year.”
    â€œUnless he gets blamed for the missing Raja diamond. The board of directors wouldn’t keep him around after that.”
    Nancy caught her breath. Could Colby and Katya have stolen the pin to get revenge against James? If so, it was a brilliant plan. But just like Ana and Andre, they hadn’t come right out and said they’d taken it. Either couple could still be guilty.
    Oh, no, Nancy thought. Now I have two pairs of suspects—but no concrete proof against either of them. And even worse, no idea as to where the diamond could have been hidden.
    Nancy could hear Katya’s voice again. “The police are already—” But at that moment Brad coughed—very loudly. Katya’s voice broke off in midsentence. “What was that?” she asked sharply.
    â€œCome on, Brad,” Nancy whispered urgently. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now!”
    But before they could move a step, the door to Colby’s office flew open. The artistic director and the ballerina stood glaring at them.
    â€œJust what do you think you’re