Free Cold as Ice by Carolyn Keene

belongs there. No reason to think it has any connection with the arson attempt.”
    Nancy sighed with frustration. “Did they check how much gasoline was in it? Because I’ll bet that a lot of it was poured over the jacket.”
    â€œPure guesswork, Ms. Drew,” the sergeant replied. “That’s one thing people who read detective stories don’t understand. Real police work is mostly spadework, not guesswork.”
    â€œDoes that mean that they didn’t check the level of gas in the can?” she asked.
    â€œI’m sure they didn’t touch it,” he said. “Just a minute, I’ll check the report. . . . Yeah, they spotted it on the shelf and left it there.”
    â€œBut, Sergeant,” Nancy persisted. “When I found it, it was on the ground. Don’t you see? Somebody must have moved it!”
    Sergeant Balsam sighed loudly into the receiver. “Okay, Ms. Drew,” he said. “I’ll send someone around tomorrow morning to take a look.”
    His tone made it clear that he was humoring her. Why wouldn’t he take her seriously? “What about the museum label?” she asked.
    â€œWell, Ms. Drew, when my officer comesaround tomorrow, you give him your piece of paper, too, and we’ll see if it really is what you say. Any old piece of paper can look a lot like a label.”
    Nancy decided there was no point telling him about being shut in the shed—or about the yarn. He would probably think that she was making up the whole episode.
    â€œAll right, Sergeant Balsam,” she said. “Thanks for your help.” To herself, she added, Thanks for nothing!
    When Nancy left the phone booth, she ran into Bess and George, who were already dressed and waiting in the entrance area of the dorm.
    â€œNancy! What took you so long?” Bess exclaimed.
    â€œHere’s the key,” said George, handing it to her. “You’d better hurry, though. The guys will be here any second.”
    â€œTell me about it,” Nancy said, rushing past them. “I’ll explain everything after I’m dressed,” she called over her shoulder.
    When Nancy got upstairs, she found Susan sitting at her desk, writing a letter. Seeing Nancy, she smiled and said, “Hi. Did you see Bess and George? They just left a minute ago.”
    Nancy nodded. “They’re waiting for me. I have to make the fastest change in history!”
    Susan laughed, her chin-length hair bouncingaround her face. “How are you liking Winter Carnival so far?” she asked.
    â€œWell, it certainly hasn’t been dull,” Nancy said.
    â€œNo, I guess not! First the fire at the boat house, then the museum robbery. You can bet Emerson will make the front page of all the major newspapers. Some of us who work at the museum were wondering if it was all part of a publicity stunt.”
    Nancy looked at her in surprise. “You’re not serious, are you?”
    â€œNo, of course not,” Susan said, shaking her head. “The last thing a museum wants is to have people think its security is weak. Who’d lend it things to display? But I’m predicting crowds tomorrow, just the same.”
    Nancy crossed to the closet and took out the dress she was planning to wear to dinner. It was a scoop-necked minidress in rich red silk with a red flowered pattern in it.
    â€œI love that dress,” Susan said as Nancy slipped it on. “The color is great with your hair.”
    â€œThanks.” Nancy found the bracelet that Ned had given her for her birthday and clasped it on her right wrist. “Oh, Susan,” she said, “I almost forgot to warn you. I’m planning to get up very early tomorrow morning. Ned and I have a skating date before breakfast. I’ll do my best notto disturb you, but my travel alarm is pretty loud.”
    â€œNo problem,” Susan said. “I’m an early riser myself. Will you be gone all