Cutting Edge by Carolyn Keene

opened her locker in front of us, and then didn’t even try to hide the fact that the skates were there. She was as surprised to see them as we were.”
    â€œI agree,” George said.
    Ms. Soren looked from Trish to Elaine and let out a big sigh. “Oh, dear,” she said helplessly. “This is just what we didn’t need.”
    â€œI don’t see why you’re hesitating,” Mrs. Devery said hotly. “Trish O’Connell should be thrown out of the competition!”
    Ms. Soren put a hand on her hip and shook her head. “Since we can’t prove that you took the skates,” she said to Trish, “I’m going to allowyou—for the moment—to continue in this competition.”
    â€œOh, thank you,” Trish said. “I swear I didn’t take them. I would never do anything so rotten,” she added.
    Elaine and her mother ignored Trish. “Okay, Elaine,” Mrs. Devery said quietly. “We’ll just have to abide by that decision.” From the strained expression on her face, Nancy thought she was working hard to keep her cool.
    â€œElaine, I only hope that the real thief is found,” Trish said. “Honestly, I didn’t take your skates. I didn’t even have a way to get into your locker!”
    Without looking at Trish, Elaine turned to her mother. “I want to go back to the hotel,” she said. “I’m tired.”
    Elaine’s mother put a comforting arm around her daughter’s shoulder and shot Trish a poisonous look. “Let’s go, honey,” she murmured.
    Just then Nancy spotted Brett O’Connell walking into the arena from the lobby. “There’s your dad,” she told Trish.
    â€œDad!” Trish cried, waving to him. “He’s already so unhappy, and now I have to tell him about Elaine’s skates.”
    â€œReady to go, Trish?” Mr. O’Connell asked, his car keys in hand.
    â€œOh, Dad,” Trish said. “I have bad news.” She quickly filled him in on what had just happened.
    Mr. O’Connell seemed distracted as he listened to his daughter.
    â€œWhat a mess,” he said finally, giving Trish a hug.
    â€œThis is one of the worst days of my whole life,” Trish said, unable to hold back her tears.
    â€œMine, too,” her father said.
    â€œI know.” Trish sniffed. “Nancy told me about the Optoboard chips.”
    â€œGeorge and I were on the press level when it was taken, Mr. O’Connell,” said Nancy as she and George stepped closer to him.
    â€œSome clever ploy that thief used,” Mr. O’Connell muttered bitterly. “Setting up my guards like that. They’re good men, too.”
    â€œMr. O’Connell,” Nancy said. “I have reason to suspect a person I saw here in the arena.”
    Trish’s father raised his eyebrows and stared right at Nancy “Oh? You do?” he asked. “That’s right, you’re a detective, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes,” Nancy replied. “I’m not certain about this, but I saw a man come out of the power room door yesterday,” Nancy said. “He was wearing a press pass, and as far as I could tell, he had no reason to be anywhere near that door. I suspect he tampered with the lock so he could cause the blackout to give him cover to steal the chip.”
    Mr. O’Connell said, “Can you tell me anything else about him, Nancy?”
    Nancy gave him a brief description of the man. “He had a slight foreign accent, but he definitely knew enough English to read the sign on the door.”
    â€œForeign accent? What kind?” Mr. O’Connell asked.
    â€œGerman, I think. Why?”
    Trish’s father scowled. “Interesting. Lots of firms have a big interest in the circuit board design and the chips, but there’s one particular German firm that wants it badly. I’ll call my office now and give them your description