Opto circuit board and chips are stolen.â
âAnd now the judge goes riding off with someone from the press,â George added, âwhich everyone knows is a no-no.â
âSo what does it all add up to?â Nancy asked, making her way to her Mustang. âIf someone is sabotaging the skaters, does it have anything to do with the stolen Opto chips?â
George shrugged. âBeats me,â she said.
Nancy opened her car door, got in, and snapped her seat belt, still puzzling over all that had happened. âI didnât think this would happen, George, but somehow, weâre in the middle of a case!â
Nancy turned the ignition, and soon the girls were off, riding toward the town of Montgomery. Harperâs was conveniently located on the main street, just at the edge of the downtown area.
âThis looks nice,â George said after they entered the restaurant. A sign propped up on a small table in the entryway read: âPlease wait to be seated.â Next to the sign were two velvet love seats and a row of large palm plants.
âI wonder where the hostess is?â Nancy said, gazing at the crowded tables.
âPlease,â a female voice pleaded from behind the plants, catching Nancyâs attention. âPlease, letâs not fight.â
The voice sounded familiar. Nancy peered through the leaves of the plants to see Yoko Hamara sitting with her coach and a young man.
âMy sister knows her routine upside down and backward, Adderly,â the young man was insisting. âSheâs giving a hundred percent for this competition!â
âA champion has to give more than a hundred percent, Ito,â the coach said firmly.
âThe way you want to work her, sheâll burn out!â Ito Hamara shot back.
âIâve gotten her this far.â Brian sniffed once.
âOh?â Ito countered. âWell, I disagree with that. In fact, Yoko might be better off with a coach whoâll give her a little respect. Maybe she should think about changing coaches!â
At that Brian Adderly stood up and threw down his napkin. âOh? Are you threatening to fire me? Just when Iâve brought your sister to the top levels of competition?â he fumed. âThen all I can say is, do it! Go ahead and ruin her career!â
He turned to Yoko and bent down so that his face was just inches from hers. âGetting rid of me now would be extremely self-destructive, Yoko. Self-destructive and dangerous. If you do it, youâll be sorry. I can promise you that.â
Chapter
Seven
N ICE GUY, â George whispered sarcastically as she and Nancy listened to Brian Adderlyâs hard-edged speech.
Nancy put a finger to her lips. She wanted to hear the rest of what was being said.
âOh?â Ito huffed. âSo changing coaches would be dangerous? Is that supposed to be a threat?â
âIâve had enough of this conversation!â Brian raged. âAnd Iâve had enough of your interference, too! Good night!â The coach stalked away from the table just as the hostess walked up to Nancy and George.
âSorry I kept you waiting,â the hostess said with a smile. âTwo for dinner?â
âYes,â George answered, her attention on the angry coach who was now walking by them on his way out of the restaurant.
The hostess smiled pleasantly. âI have a booth in the No Smoking section,â she said, leading Nancy and George into the dining area. To get to their table, the girls had to pass Yoko and her brother, who sat silently finishing their beverages.
Nancyâs heart went out to the petite skater. It had to be hard to have a coach and brother fighting over her.
âHi, Yoko,â Nancy said, pausing momentarily as the hostess continued to lead George to a booth. âWill you be at the menâs competition tonight?â
The almond-eyed skater smiled weakly and shook her head. âIâm planning to
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