Free The Case of the Photo Finish by Carolyn Keene

and she stepped over to a free lane right next to Marta’s. She dove in, surfaced, and started down the length of the pool in a strong, fast crawl stroke. She drew even with Marta, then easily passed her. A moment later Marta noticed, and she picked up her stroke to keep pace with Cheryl.
    By the time the two rivals drew close to the farend of the pool, they were both swimming full-out. After a quick racing turn, they were on their way back to the end where Nancy was standing. Cheryl still held a lead, but Marta was narrowing it.
    Everyone had stopped along the side of the pool to watch the match. Some of the athletes were cheering. Helga was shouting, too, but the flood of German sounded angry, not encouraging. Nancy couldn’t tell if the anger was directed more at Cheryl or at Marta.
    The two swimmers reached the point in front of Nancy at exactly the same instant. For one moment, Cheryl and Marta grinned at each other, but then the grins faded.
    Helga, hands on hips, had come over and was talking sternly to Marta in German. Then she turned to Cheryl.
    â€œYou will never be a great athlete without self-control,” Helga said. “You and Marta have an important contest this afternoon. You know this. It is the reason you came here. Yet you risk everything to put on a childish show. You should both be ashamed. Marta, come!”
    Her face bright red, Marta climbed out of the pool and followed her trainer in the direction of the locker room.
    Cheryl watched them silently, a sober, sheepish look on her face. Hoisting herself out of thepool, she walked over to the bench where Nancy sat.
    â€œHelga’s right,” Cheryl confided, picking up her towel and drying off. “If my coach back at school had just seen what had happened, she’d probably suspend me from the track team. I guess I got carried away.”
    Nancy gave her a sympathetic look. “You’ve been under a lot of strain,” she pointed out.
    â€œA big meet is always a lot of pressure,” Cheryl replied, rubbing her hair with the towel. “And it doesn’t help to have to keep looking over my shoulder, wondering who’s out to get me. But what if my dream comes true, and I get the chance to compete in the Olympics? There’d be hundreds of millions of people from every part of the world watching me. I’d have to be able to handle that.”
    She pulled on her sweatshirt and added, “No, Helga’s right. I’ve got a lot of growing up to do.”
    Willy came over. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
    â€œWiped out,” Cheryl told him. “But I’ll get over it.”
    â€œI must go. The fifteen-hundred-meter run is coming up.”
    â€œBut that’s your best event,” Cheryl wailed. “And I haven’t been thinking about anything but me!”
    Willy smiled. “Neither have I,” he said. “But there’s still plenty of time to warm up.”
    â€œCould I ask you a couple of questions before you go?” said Nancy.
    â€œOh, not right before his event,” Cheryl exclaimed. “Can’t it wait?”
    Willy held up his hand. “It’s all right, Cheryl.” Then, turning to Nancy, he said, “You are trying to find the one responsible for all these accidents, yes? I will help however I can.”
    â€œThanks,” Nancy said. “Do you remember where you were standing when the lights went out?”
    He furrowed his brow. “I think I was near the end of the bench, over there.” He pointed. “Yes, that is right, I remember.”
    Nancy looked around and began to feel a slight stirring of hope. Anyone who wanted to get to the light switches from the pool area would have had to go past Willy first.
    â€œWho was standing near you?” she continued.
    â€œAh, that is more difficult.” He fell silent. Finally he said, “No, I am sorry. People were moving around so much. You understand.”
    â€œDo you