letter?â Bess urged. âYou could call the policeââ
âAnd they could catch Pete in the act of handing over the money!â George finished for her cousin.
âNot so fast, guys,â said Nancy, running a hand through her hair. âThereâs nothing illegal about giving somebody money. Also, we donât know why Peteâs being blackmailed, or what that guy Doc has to do with this whole thing. Thereâs a lot more we have to find out.â
âYouâre right,â murmured George, leaning on an elbow with her cheek on her palm. âThis case is weird.â
âLetâs concentrate on what we do know,â Nancy suggested. âSometimes that helps.â
âWe know Edgar is blackmailing Pete,â Bess offered.
âIt sure seems like thatâs the case,â said Nancy with a nod. âBut, remember, Pete doesnât necessarily know who his blackmailer is. This letter is anonymous.â
âTrue,â George agreed.
âI think itâs rotten of Pete to accuse Cynthia ofstealing when heâs the one taking money from his own restaurant to pay a blackmailer!â Bess said in a sudden outburst.
âHold on, Bess,â Nancy replied reasonably. âWe donât have any proof that Pete is stealing from Touchdown, though it certainly does look that way.â
âAre you going to tell Cynthia whatâs going on?â George asked.
âMaybe Iâd better,â Nancy said thoughtfully. âSheâs been so anxious.â
âThe news should help her enjoy the party more. Iâm really excited about itâassuming Bedford beats Montvale tomorrow.â
âAre you coming with us, or do you have to work, Nancy?â George asked.
âI wouldnât miss the game for anything,â Nancy said with a smile. âAfter all, Peteâs going to be there. And wherever Pete goes, I go.â
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âItâs all so incredible,â said Cynthia, shaking her head in disbelief the next day before the opening kickoff. âI canât believe Peteâs stealing the money from Touchdown.â
The stadium was packed for the big game, and anticipation was running high. Nancy, Bess, and George had gotten front-row bleacher seats just behind the cheerleadersâ bench. Cynthia was looking up at them, her eyebrows drawn together and her mouth open slightly.
âWell, I canât say for sure yet,â Nancy went on. Looking down on the field, Nancy saw Rob practicing tosses. âOh, and Cynthia,â she went on, âthereâs something elseâitâs about Robââ
The refereeâs whistle blew, signaling the teams to enter. A roar went up from the excited crowd.
âIt can wait till later,â Nancy said. âYouâd better start cheering. The team needs you.â
âRight. See you later, Nancy. And thanks for all the good work.â Cynthia went off to join the other cheerleaders on the fifty-yard line as the players were introduced one by one. When Bill Ellmanâs name was called, Nancy noticed a puffy white bandage around his finger. âHey, Bess, what happened to Bill?â
âOh, didnât I tell you?â Bess said. âHe broke his ring finger at practice yesterday.â
âHe broke a finger?â Nancy said, amazed.
âYeah, but he wonât let it stop him from playing,â Bess added.
âThatâs incredible,â Nancy murmured, wondering if her friend was finally starting to tire of going out with a guy so obsessed with football. âHow can he play with a broken finger?â
âBeats me,â Bess confessed. âYou know, Iâm beginning to wonder about Bill. Heâs so completely wrapped up in himself and the team. All I did was ask him if his finger hurt, and he told me it was none of my business.â
âBess,â George said with a shake of her head, âmaybe