Free Hidden Meanings by Carolyn Keene Page B

voice came over the loudspeaker system. It was Maureen Peabody’s.
    â€œAttention, guests,” Ms. Peabody said. “Please do not panic. A fire alarm has been pulled on the seventh floor. No smoke detectors have gone off, and no actual fire has been spotted. However, in the interest of safety, all people are to walk down the fire stairs to the lobby. Do not use the elevators. Take the stairs. Repeat: No fire has been spotted.”
    The smoke detectors didn’t go off, Nancy realized—a good sign that this was a false alarm.
    Her fingers brushed against a light switch on the wall. She snapped the switch, and the corridor lit up. Looking around, she saw nothing unusual.
    Then she heard heavy footsteps running outside, heading up the corridor. Deep male voices shouted orders. “Go to the far end and work your way back. Open every door.” “Break ’em down?” “No, we have a key from the manager—here.” It must be a crew of firefighters, Nancy thought. Pounding her fists against the fire door, she tried to catch their attention.
    â€œHey, someone’s in here!” a voice shouted nearby. The firefighter came closer and called to Nancy. “You okay in there?”
    â€œYes,” Nancy called back. “Can you get me out?”
    â€œWe can’t disable the fire doors until we’re sure there’s no fire,” the firefighter explained. “We’re doing a room-to-room search. It’ll take about five more minutes. Then we’ll turn off the system. You’ll be safe. Can you wait till then?”
    â€œSure,” Nancy said uneasily. She knew she had no choice.
    Leaning against the door, she willed herself to stay calm. They’re just playing it safe, she thought. There’s no fire.
    But then, out in the corridor, she heard a firefighter shout. “We’ve found a blaze! Room 707!”
    Nancy’s heart leapt. Gina’s room!
    More footsteps pounded past. Nancy paced restlessly around her enclosed space. Her own fear had given way to worry about Gina. Whether or not she liked her, Nancy had to admit the girl was in danger.
    Finally, Nancy heard the firefighters troop back out. The fire doors suddenly swung open, and Nancy sprinted into the corridor.
    Looking down over the railing, she saw the lobby packed with anxious guests and staff members. A group of firefighters, in black coats and thick rubber boots, were gathering at the front entrance. A fire captain was conferring with Maureen Peabody. Evan Sharpless stood behind her.
    Nancy saw the manager nod as he shook the captain’s hand. Then she spoke to Mr. Sharpless. He turned and jogged to the bridge arching over the lobby pool.
    When Evan Sharpless held up his hand for attention, the crowd fell silent. He called out in his resonant voice, “A small blaze was found and put out. All rooms have been checked and given the all clear. You may go back to your rooms now.”
    A spontaneous cheer arose from the crowd. Somehow, the newscaster’s manner had put them at ease. Nancy guessed that was why Maureen Peabody had let him make the announcement.
    Nancy ran down the hall to Gina’s room. The door stood wide open, and she saw at once the smoke-blackened door frame around the closet and the mass of charred clothing inside. The room smelled of smoke, but nothing else seemed to have burned.
    At that moment Gina, Sally, and Ned came up behind Nancy. Gina gasped. “All our clothes are ruined!” she cried.
    â€œYou must have been downstairs when the fire started,” Nancy said.
    Sally turned to give Nancy an odd look. “No,” she said. “We’d just come back upstairs when the alarm went off. We evacuated our room, but . . . there was no fire here when we left.”
    Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “Then it was a false alarm,” she said. “A way to get you out of your room and make sure no one would stay to guard the room.