Murder On Ice by Carolyn Keene

have installed it.”
    â€œOr Liz,” Ned suggested softly. “Even if she did say it was okay to come and look.”
    Nancy nodded. “I know. I have only Liz’s word about the prowler and the phone calls.”
    Ned blinked. “Do you really think Liz is behind all this?”
    â€œStranger things have happened. Maybe she’d cash in on a lot of insurance money if this place went out of business. Who knows?” Nancy remembered what Liz had said the day they arrived—that she was just a ski bum. “She seems so nervous sometimes. On the other hand, maybe she’s just the hysterical type.”
    The door latch came off in Nancy’s hand. Inside, the generator still hummed quietly, but the coils of rope were gone.
    Nancy and Ned searched every corner, butfound nothing. At last they gave up. They left the shed, and Nancy screwed the door latch and padlock back in place.
    â€œOkay,” Nancy said as they headed for the lake, “it’s pretty clear that none of these ‘accidents’ has been accidental. But the question is, why? I haven’t come up with a good motive.”
    â€œI have,” Ned said quietly. “Maybe someone is afraid of Nancy Drew, detective. Someone who, as the writing in the snow said, is a murderer. . . .”
    Their eyes met. Nancy was more shaken than she wanted Ned to see. His theory was very possible. After all, the first “accident” had happened to her. Anyone could have heard Bess telling Liz that she was a sleuth.
    Ned leaned toward Nancy. “Don’t worry,” he whispered against her hair. “Bad ankle or not, the next time anyone tries any funny business on you, I’ll be there.”
    Nancy was shocked to discover how matter-of-factly they were both accepting that there would be a next time. But who would the victim be?
    Nancy’s troubled thoughts kept returning to Luke. He was so guarded about his past. And he’d lied about the damaged ski and the rope tow. Luke—was he the criminal or the target?
    Face it, Nancy told herself. All I have so far is circumstantial evidence, but that evidence points to Luke Ericsen. Means, method,opportunity. I don’t know what the motive is yet, but I’m sure all I have to do is dig deeper and I’ll figure it out.
    Then, with horror, Nancy realized something else. George—one of my best friends—may have fallen in love with a murderer.

Chapter

Eight
    I ’VE GOT TO warn George about Luke, whether she wants to hear it or not!” Nancy exclaimed.
    Ned nodded. “Even if Luke isn’t responsible for what’s happened to us, he’s definitely involved in some way. And we know he’s hiding something.”
    â€œSo’s George! I’m sure of it,” Nancy said apprehensively. “I’ve got to find out what it is. Otherwise I may never get to the bottom of what’s going on around here.”
    Nancy’s last words hung in the air ominously.
    Ned looked at his watch. “You may still be able to catch her before she heads over to Big Birch.”
    Nancy caught her breath. “Can you make it back to the lodge alone?”
    â€œYes,” Ned replied.
    â€œGreat!” And with that, Nancy took off running.
    Nancy found George standing in front of the chair lift, snapped into her skis and ready to go. “Hey,” Nancy said casually, “how about a race this morning?”
    â€œSorry, I’m busy now.” George glanced at Luke, who was telling a few of the other guests about the schedule for ski lessons.
    â€œGeorge, I have to talk to you,” said Nancy. “You’ve been avoiding me ever since we got here. I know it’s because of Luke, and it makes me feel just awful.”
    â€œI never thought a guy would come between us,” George admitted.
    Nancy laid one mittened hand on George’s arm. “I’m worried about you. Right now, I don’t even