Free The Wrong Chemistry by Carolyn Keene Page A

be the basement.”
    Craig looked at her in surprise. “There is no basement,” he said.
    Ignoring Craig for the moment, Nancy pushed against the outside door. It swung open noiselessly. Stepping out, they found themselves in a small, damp gray room. A light next to the elevator door cast dark shadows around them.
    Craig whistled softly. “Well, I’ll be—” he exclaimed.
    â€œI’ll bet this is the thief’s escape route,” Nancy whispered excitedly.
    The space was empty except for a cobweb-covered fuse box on one wall. A black hole in the wall directly opposite the elevator led to a passageway. There was another passageway on their right. At the end of each, Nancy saw a thin glow of light.
    â€œThese are tunnels!” Nancy said, amazed. “It looks like they connect the basements of the buildings.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Craig said excitedly. “I’veheard the old maintenance guys talking about using the tunnels in the old days to get from building to building. I thought they’d all been sealed up.”
    â€œThey’re unsealed now,” Nancy said grimly. She took a step toward one.
    â€œNan, hold on.” Grasping her elbow, Ned pulled her back. “It’s late and it’s dark in there. Whoever stole the CLT left almost twenty-four hours ago. Wouldn’t it be better to come back tomorrow—with a good flashlight?”
    Ned was right, Nancy realized. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “Let’s go back to the dorm and plan our next move.”
    They left Craig at the lab and headed over to Holland. Nancy and Ned had barely entered the lounge when Jan and Mike burst into the room with a girl Nancy had never met. She was wearing a bulky white sweater and green wool pants, and she had curly dark red hair that swung halfway down her back.
    Breathlessly, Jan introduced them. “Nancy, this is Amber Thomas. She’s Angela Morrow’s roommate,” Jan explained. “And she’s got bad news.”
    Nancy and Ned exchanged startled glances.
    â€œWe’d better sit down,” Nancy said.
    â€œNancy, this isn’t like Angela at all,” Amber cried. “She was supposed to come back today.She didn’t, so I called her house.” Amber took a deep breath. “Her mom hadn’t seen her. Angela never went home.”
    â€œThat does it,” Ned declared angrily. “I’m going to find her.”
    Nancy knew better than to try to talk Ned out of it. “At this point,” she said slowly, “I think that’s the best thing for you to do. But, Ned,” she added, “you should wait until morning, too.”
    Ned smiled. “It’s a deal. I’d better get to bed so I can get an early start. Good night, Nan. And don’t you guys worry—I’ll call as soon as I find out anything.”
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    After a night of troubled sleep, Nancy was hurrying to the science building. As she passed the infirmary, a commotion in the doorway caught her attention. A girl with a shower of long blond hair was pleading with the nurse at the front door. It was Karen Lewis. A brown bundle lay at her feet. Looking closer, Nancy saw it was an injured dog. Curious, Nancy walked over to see what was going on.
    Karen was very distraught. She had found the dog by the side of the road and was begging the nurse to take a look at it.
    â€œBut I’m not a veterinarian,” the nurse kept repeating. “I treat people . I don’t know the first thing about dogs.”
    â€œThere must be something you can do,” Karen insisted wildly. “If you don’t, the poor thing’s going to die.”
    Nancy was right behind them now. “Excuse me,” she cut in. Karen whirled around at the sound of her voice. “Maybe there is something you could do,” she suggested. “Could you describe the dog’s condition to a vet? There must be