Free False Moves by Carolyn Keene Page B

doing here?” Colby yelled. With one smooth motion, he grabbed Brad with one hand and Nancy with the other.
    Colby was extremely strong and his grip was quite painful. Nancy stared at him, horrified, as he squeezed her arm still tighter. What was he going to do to them? If he was the thief, he’d never let them go after what they’d heard. Somehow he’d have to get rid of them.

Chapter

Eleven
    C OLBY SHOOK N ANCY and Brad furiously. Katya watched from inside his office, her face a mask, devoid of emotion.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Colby repeated. Nancy could feel her arm being bruised under his grasp.
    Nancy took a deep breath. This situation could be dangerous. Very dangerous. She’d have to handle it perfectly if she and Brad were going to get out of it unharmed. “Let go of us. You’re hurting my arm,” Nancy told Colby plainly.
    Katya calmly walked over to the artistic directorand laid a hand on his shoulder. “Relax,” she said. “Don’t get so excited. They’re only a couple of kids playing detective.”
    Colby stared at the ballerina for a moment, then dropped Nancy’s and Brad’s arms. “You’re right, Katya.” He glared at Nancy. “You shouldn’t listen in on other people’s conversations, young woman. Didn’t your parents ever teach you any manners?”
    Nancy didn’t know how to answer Colby because he was now treating her like a kid and not like a detective at all.
    â€œLook,” Nancy began, shifting her gaze from Colby to Katya and back, “I’m just trying to find out who stole that pin.”
    â€œWell, we certainly didn’t take it,” Katya said. “Why don’t you concentrate on your suspects, not us?”
    I’m not so sure you didn’t, Nancy answered silently. But she couldn’t say that out loud—until she had proof. So, angry as she was at Colby, she had to accept it for the moment. She’d bide her time and keep her eye on the pair.
    â€œYou won’t catch me eavesdropping again,” Nancy answered simply. No, they wouldn’t catch her. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to do it anymore. It just meant she was going to be smarter.
    â€œAll right, now get out of here, you two,” Colby said brusquely. “And if I find you here again, I’m going to call your parents.”
    Nancy glanced once more at Katya. As always, she seemed completely in control—not at all as if she’d just been overheard having a suspicious conversation. Did that mean the things she and Colby had been saying to each other really weren’t important? Or did it mean the ballerina was just a very good actress?
    Whatever the truth was, she and Brad had to get out of there. Nancy grabbed his hand and pulled him from the room.
    As soon as they were in the hallway, Brad turned to Nancy. “That was terrifying,” he burst out.
    Nancy smiled, holding back a giggle. “That was nothing! I’ve been in worse trouble than that—a lot worse.” She thought back to a mystery she had solved in Florida recently. She had almost been killed then, but it hadn’t made her give up the investigation. Not at all.
    â€œWell, that’s not anything to be proud of,” Brad said, his voice angry. “I think you should quit this case. It’s much too dangerous.”
    Nancy shook her head. “I’m sorry, Brad, but I’m sticking with it until I figure out who stole the diamond and where it is.”
    Brad smiled and gave in grudgingly. “Okay. But you’d better do it fast, Nancy. I don’t think I can take much more of this.”
    Brad was right. She did have to solve the mystery quickly—but not because of any personaldanger to herself. If she didn’t find the diamond soon, the thieves would. And that would put a speedy—and disastrous—end to the