Free Poison Pen by Carolyn Keene Page B

didn’t want to tell Ned about it until she checked it out.
    The red car had hit the tree hard, but fortunately Brenda hadn’t been going fast enough to do much damage. Ned managed to raise the hood without too much trouble, and they peered inside at the tangle of bolts, fans, and hoses.
    â€œUh-oh,” Nancy said after a moment, frowning. Reaching down, she tapped on a white plastic container that was bolted to the car’s chassis. “Look at that, Ned.”
    â€œWow!” he exclaimed, grimacing. The container looked as if someone had attacked it with a buzz saw. The plastic was ripped to shreds. Thick yellowish fluid oozed sluggishly down the sides. “That’s the steering fluid reserve,” he said.
    â€œYou mean it used to be,” Nancy amended. “No wonder Brenda couldn’t turn the wheel,” she said grimly. “The hydraulic system that controls her power steering is completely wrecked.
    â€œNed, is there any way this damage could have happened when Brenda hit the tree?” Nancy asked.
    â€œNo way,” he told her. Ned gave a tight smile. “I’d say we’re definitely looking at a case of sabotage.”
    Nancy took a deep breath. “That’s what Iwas afraid of. Listen, I don’t want to say anything to Brenda until I know for sure,” she added, biting her lip. “She’s already practically hysterical about what just happened. First I want to check out the lock on her garage door and see if it’s been tampered with. If not, I suppose there’s still a chance that this happened by accident at the garage.”
    â€œIf any garage is hiring mechanics who can shred a steering fluid unit that way by accident,” Ned retorted as they walked back to the Mustang, “then I hope I never take my car there for repairs.”
    â€œWhat were you two doing over there?” Brenda asked as soon as Nancy and Ned walked up. “Why were you looking at my engine?”
    â€œWe just wanted to check something out,” Nancy replied evasively. “Come on, let’s go back up to your house.”
    â€œWhat were you checking out?” Brenda persisted as they all trudged back up the long hill. Her voice had regained its sharp edge. “You’d better tell me. It’s my car, after all.”
    Rick took Brenda’s hand. “I’m sure she’d let you know if there was anything to worry about.”
    Nancy was amazed by the way Brenda seemed to respond to Rick. A big smile spread across Brenda’s face, and for the rest of the way up to the Carlton house, she was silent.
    â€œNow what are you doing?” Brenda calledwhen Nancy and Ned headed for the garage. She hurried after them. “You guys are being awfully mysterious.”
    Nancy was already bending down to examine the lock on the garage door. It was just as she had guessed. The edges of the metal lock plate had several shiny new scratches. Someone had taken the plate off and picked the lock.
    Nancy’s mouth was set in a grim line as she turned to Brenda and Rick. “Okay. It’s time I told you the whole story,” she said.
    â€œWhole story?” Rick repeated, faintly alarmed.
    Nancy nodded, then made direct eye contact with Brenda. “That ‘accident’ you had just now was no accident,” she said quietly.
    â€œYour steering fluid container was slashed,” Ned explained.
    Brenda’s mouth fell open.
    â€œIs this a joke?” Rick asked incredulously, turning from Nancy to Ned.
    â€œSorry, but it’s not,” Nancy answered. She gestured at the lock on the garage door. “Someone picked this lock. I think we’re looking at a case of sabotage.”
    â€œOh, no. No way,” Brenda burst out suddenly. “You’re not going to pin this one on me!”
    Nancy stared at her, mystified. “What are you—” she began.
    But Brenda wasn’t about to be interrupted.