Free Dance Till You Die by Carolyn Keene

piece of my mind the next time I see him.”
    â€œThe important question is, could he have been involved in your kidnapping? He’s certainly obsessed with you. After we confronted him about lying about his relationship with you, he led us out to a hazardous area and took off, leaving us alone.”
    â€œYeah, we nearly became mashed potatoes under a boulder,” George said, taking a huge bite of food.
    â€œIs there any connection you know of between Tom Kragen and Etienne?” Nancy pressed.
    â€œLike I said, I’d never even met Etienne, so I can’t imagine a connection at all,” Bess said helplessly. “So Etienne was the one who dropped me off in that alley,” she continued thoughtfully. “I wonder why?”
    â€œHe may have realized his accomplice was extremely dangerous, and so he changed his mind about the abduction,” Nancy said slowly. “And he paid for that change of heart—with his life.”
    â€œPoor guy,” Bess murmured.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘poor guy’?” George replied, scoffing. “He abducted you, Bess.”
    â€œI can’t help feeling sorry for him,” Bess said in a whisper.
    Nancy’s brow was creased with concentration. “Bess, I’m wondering what else you can recall about what happened last night before you were abducted. Any little thing at all might help. How about earlier in the evening, when you first got to the club?”
    â€œI arrived at the club, and one of the waiters let me in. Then I wandered around, looking for the dressing room. I went down the hallway and walked into the wrong room. I stumbled into some kind of utility room. Lonnie was in therefixing a water tank and talking to that huge doorman. Lucas I think his name is. They acted kind of startled, and I was embarrassed to be wandering around, so I backed out fast. When I finally found the dressing room I discovered Charity Freeborn rummaging through some drawers in the dressing table. She kind of freaked out when I came in.”
    â€œYeah, she told us she had to sneak in to collect some of her things,” George commented.
    Bess nodded. “That’s what she told me, too. We talked a little bit about some dances around town, then she gave me that flyer. I changed into my mermaid costume and went out on the floor.”
    â€œAnd you stayed there until the club opened?” Nancy asked.
    Bess nodded. “That’s about all that happened until the kids were let in. Then Tom Kragen kept bugging me for a date. And after that I spoke with you and George.”
    â€œNot much to go on,” Nancy said. “I still can’t see a connection between you and Etienne and Gaetan Orakuma, or how Tom Kragen might fit in with the other two.” She paused, thinking. “Did you see a fight between Etienne and a tall, dark guy last night, Bess?” She showed Bess the picture of Etienne arguing with Gaetan.
    Bess scrutinized the photo uncertainly. “Ithink I saw him somewhere around just before the lights went out, but I can’t be sure,” she said. “I was too busy fending off Tom Kragen.”
    George finished the last of her dinner and pushed her plate back. “I’m beyond stuffed,” she groaned. “That was delicious, Auntie—as usual.”
    Nancy rose from the table. “Thanks, Mrs. Marvin. I hate to eat and run, but George and I have to do some more work tonight.”
    â€œWhere are you going?” Bess asked.
    â€œTo find Gaetan and Charity again, but first I want to make a quick stop at the Kragen quarry,” Nancy replied. “I want to search the office for anything that would tie Tom to the kidnapping, or to any kind of connection with Etienne.”
    By now it was dark. The Kragen quarry grounds were dark and forbidding as Nancy and George parked the car on the street nearby. Nancy checked around for any signs of guards or employees, but there was no one in