Free Circle of Evil by Carolyn Keene

get back.”
    After a shower, Nancy dried her hair, put on a flowered cotton skirt and a white tank top, and pushed a rock tape into her tape deck. Bess and George might be home by then, she decided, and she wanted to find out if they had learned anything.
    â€œAbsolutely nothing,” Bess reported when Nancy called. “It was exactly the same as yesterday, except there weren’t as many golfers because it was so hot. The only difference was that one of the caddies was even more friendly to me than he had been yesterday.” Bess giggled. “I was pretty friendly to him, too, which wasn’t hard because he is so gorgeous!”
    â€œDid you find out where any of them were last night?”
    â€œThree of them talked about nothing but last night’s baseball game, and they said they watched it at one of their houses,” Bess said. “Of course, I suppose they could have been lying, but they discussed every hit and strike as though they’d been sitting in the stands.”
    â€œWhat about the other two?” Nancy asked.
    â€œOne said he was sick, and, believe me, he was croaking like a frog,” Bess told her. “And Tom—he’s the gorgeous one—well, he and I were talking on the phone for almost an hour. And that was at the time you were out getting soaked.”
    Nancy felt relieved. If Bess was right, then there were five people she didn’t have to follow. “Okay, thanks,” she said. “I’m going to call George now and see if she’s got any leads.”
    â€œGeorge has a date,” Bess told her. “With her handsome tennis teacher. But she told me to tell you that he didn’t act any differently today, either. She didn’t find out what he was up to last night, but she’s going to try to find out tonight.”
    â€œGood.” For George’s sake, Nancy hoped that the tennis instructor had a perfect alibi.
    After she hung up, Nancy felt hungry and looked for something to eat. She found half a roast chicken and salad makings in the refrigerator, but it wasn’t what she wanted. Remembering the cheeseburger and fries she hadn’t eaten the night before, she called Ned and suggested they go out. Half an hour later, the two of them were sitting in a booth at the Burger Barn.
    Nancy bit into a crisp fry and smiled. “If Ididn’t have this case on my back, I’d be perfectly happy right now.”
    â€œNothing new to report?” Ned asked.
    â€œA little,” Nancy said, telling him about her chase after Cindy. “I’d really like to talk to that girl. She’s the only one I’ve seen who even acts suspiciously. She could have put the note in my locker. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t others in on it, too. Oh, Ned, I don’t know. I really can’t rule anyone out yet.”
    Ned smiled. “So what’s your next step, Detective?”
    â€œI guess I’m going to have to put their names into a hat, pick one, and follow that person after he or she leaves the club.” Nancy laughed. “Maybe I’ll get lucky.”
    â€œI don’t think another stakeout would work, not at the Winslows’ anyway,” Ned said. “I have a feeling Detective Ryan has that covered. And I’m not so sure following these people is such a good idea.”
    â€œBut I don’t know what else to do,” Nancy said, arguing. “I can’t keep hanging out at the club—watching. They don’t even do their dirty work there.”
    â€œThey do part of it there,” Ned reminded her. “They get all their information at the club. Plus, I just thought of something. Theclub would make a great place to hide stuff. It’s got hundreds of lockers. And who knows? One of them might be filled with stolen goods instead of soggy towels.”
    â€œI didn’t think of that.” Nancy swallowed the last bite of her cheeseburger and grinned. “Did