Free The Mystery of the Masked Rider by Carolyn Keene Page A

too.”
    â€œWow. It’s good Gloria was there, or Nightingale could have bolted for the parking lot.”
    Nancy paused in thought. “It was an amazing coincidence that Gloria was the only person near the open gate, and that she just happened to save Nightingale at the right time.”
    â€œI know you’re figuring something out, but you’ve lost me,” Bess said with a shrug.
    â€œWhat if Gloria let Nightingale out, just to play the hero and save her?” Nancy mused. “Colleen might feel indebted to Gloria and definitely decide to hire her as her trainer. Gloria is obviously eager to work with Colleen and Nightingale.”
    â€œNone of what you’re saying makes sense,” Bess grumbled. “Why would Gloria want to hurt Nightingale?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s confusing to me, too. Must be because it’s only five A.M. ” Nancy stifled a yawn. “I guess we both should try and get another hour of sleep. This place will be busy pretty soon.” Stepping past Bess, she went into the extra stall. “Give me a hand, will you?” She grabbed one end of her cot.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Bess asked.
    â€œMy job. I’m going to sleep in front of Nightingale’s door.”
    Bess helped Nancy carry the cot into the aisle. Nancy shoved the bed up against the stall door and flopped down on it.
    â€œNow let somebody try and get her,” she announced. Ten minutes later the two girls were once again asleep.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œNancy,” a voice called softly.
    â€œHmmm?” Nancy opened her eyes. Colleen was sitting on the edge of the cot, an amused tilt to her mouth.
    â€œBoy, you sure take your job seriously!” Colleenlaughed. “I didn’t mean you had to sleep with Nightingale.”
    â€œOh.” Nancy sat up and rubbed her eyes. Checking her watch, she saw that it was seven A.M. Up and down the aisle people and horses were moving in all directions.
    Colleen held out a steaming carry-out cup of hot chocolate. “Drink up. You two must have had an exciting night to sleep through all this noise. I couldn’t rouse Bess.”
    Nancy snapped the top off the cup and took several sips. “Mmm. Delicious. Thanks. And you’re right. We did have an exciting night.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Colleen jumped up from the cot and peered into the stall. “Is Nightingale okay?”
    â€œYes. Somebody let her out, though.” Nancy told her friend everything that had happened.
    â€œThank goodness for Gloria,” Colleen said. Then she smacked her fist into her hand. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone to that party.”
    â€œHey, it turned out all right,” Nancy reassured her. “Did you find out anything?”
    Colleen shook her head. “I gave Marisa the mask and told her I’d found it in the aisle. She seemed genuinely puzzled, but who knows? That was some sophisticated outfit she had on,” she added, her eyes twinkling. “Then I asked her why she was riding in the Worthington Cup. She just said it was about time she started grand prixlevel. Then she said, ‘Especially if I’m going to be riding Nightingale.’ ” Colleen chuckled. “That kid’s determined to own my horse.”
    â€œWas anyone wearing a Zorro costume?” Nancy continued. “I saw someone running down the aisle in a black hat and cape right before I noticed that Nightingale had disappeared.”
    Colleen thought for a minute. “I don’t think so. But there were a lot of people there.”
    â€œWhat time did the party break up?”
    â€œI don’t know. It was still going strong when Phil and I left about midnight. He dropped me off at my room, then went to his.”
    â€œYou saw him go in his room?”
    â€œNo, but I’m sure he did,” Colleen said emphatically. With a sharp look at Nancy she spun on her heels and