Murder On Ice by Carolyn Keene Page A

know how to talk to you without hurting you. We’ve been friends for so long, but now you’re a million miles away from me.”
    George sighed. “I’m just not sure I can trust you,” she said. “You’re saying all these horrible things about Luke, and you don’t even know him!”
    â€œAren’t you at least going to let me explain why? I think there are things you’d better know about Luke,” Nancy said seriously.
    George shot her a frightened glance. “Like what?”
    â€œLike he may be connected with Ned’s accident—and mine, too.”
    â€œOh, come on, Nancy!” George exclaimed.
    â€œGeorge,” Nancy pleaded, “you know something about Luke, and you’ve got to share it. Before someone else gets hurt.”
    â€œListen, Nancy,” said George quietly. “I’ve helped you on a lot of cases, but no way am I going to help you investigate me!”
    Nancy paused to think. At last she said earnestly, “Look, if Luke’s such a great guy, then convince me! Tell me what you know about him.”
    George’s eyes dropped.
    â€œYou can’t, can you?” Nancy persisted. “Because you know something about Luke’s past, and it’s not good.”
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re talking about!” George cried.
    â€œIt has something to do with a place called the Broken Leg Café, doesn’t it?”
    Suddenly, uncharacteristically, George began to cry. With a burst of energy, she skied quickly away.
    Nancy closed her eyes despairingly. What am I going to do with her? she thought. She resisted the temptation to run after George. She knew she’d blown it with her; she just hoped she hadn’t blown the whole case, because now she was sure that one of her best friends was intimately involved!
    Nancy walked slowly back to the lodge and found Ned alone in the lounge. “How did you make out?” he asked.
    Nancy’s shoulders sagged. “I couldn’t havedone worse. George thinks I’m against Luke for no reason, and she’s ready to defend him to her dying breath.”
    â€œLet’s hope not literally,” Ned said.
    Nancy winced. “I did find out one thing, though,” she added. “George jumped when I mentioned the Broken Leg Café.”
    â€œSo you are getting somewhere.” Ned limped over to Nancy and gave her a reassuring hug.
    Nancy smiled. “You’re not doing too badly with that ankle.”
    â€œIt doesn’t hurt much.” Ned grinned. “If I stay off it today, I think I’ll be able to ski tomorrow.”
    Nancy returned his hug. “So what are you going to do about skis? Liz says every pair is rented now.”
    â€œThat’s all taken care of,” Ned replied smugly. “I phoned Big Birch and arranged to rent a pair there. We can drive over in the morning and pick them up. Maybe we should stop off at the Overlook Hotel while we’re at it. I hear they’ve got a huge hot tub.”
    Bess and Gunther walked into the lounge just in time to hear Ned’s last comment. “We’re going dancing at the hotel tonight,” Bess chimed in. “Why don’t you come along? You’ll have fun even if you can’t dance.”
    Ned looked at Nancy. “You want to?”
    â€œSure! We deserve to have a little fun on this vacation!” Then Nancy’s face became more serious. “Have you two seen George?”
    Gunther and Bess nodded. “We just passedher,” Gunther said. “She was looking for Luke and she seemed very upset. Is something wrong?”
    Nancy hesitated. “I had a talk with her about Luke. She thinks I’m picking on him.”
    â€œOh.” Gunther nodded. “I begin to understand. Our ski instructor is a bit of a mystery, yes? Perhaps not so good for your friend.”
    Before Nancy could ask Gunther what he meant, George herself walked in.