The Case of the Photo Finish by Carolyn Keene Page B

the athletes were already out on the field.
    â€œWhat is it?” Cheryl asked. “Can’t it wait?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” the man said. “Questions have been raised that may affect your eligibility to participate in the games. Until they’re settled . . .”
    Cheryl’s jaw dropped. “Eligibility? What do you mean?Are you trying to say you’re disqualifying me?” She sounded completely bewildered.
    Nancy glanced around. Not far away, Barbara was pulling her microcassette recorder from her jacket pocket. Behind her, Nancy heard the familiar click-whirr of a camera—Eric’s. Helga remained just a few steps away, watching and listening closely.
    The last of the entrants were marching onto the field, and Nancy saw that Marta was among them. The German girl looked over at Cheryl and the official with an expression that seemed to be somewhere between frightened and sly.
    â€œI am not disqualifying you,” the official said. He glanced around uncomfortably at Barbara, Nancy, and Eric. “It’s simply that—look, hadn’t we better talk this over in private?”
    â€œAway from my friends, you mean?” Cheryl said. “Sorry, but no way. Whatever you’ve got to say to me, you can tell me right here and now.”
    â€œVery well, young lady,” the official said. “According to Ms. Roth, your conduct yesterday and today has been totally unsportsmanlike. She says that you have deliberately harassed your rival Marta Schmidt to the extent of making threatening phone calls to her. I’m sorry, but we simply cannot overlook that sort of behavior.”
    â€œAnd you took her word for it, without any proof?” Cheryl asked.
    â€œMs. Roth is an Olympic medalist,” the man replied stiffly.
    â€œAnd I’m just some kid you’ve never heard of, is that it?”
    â€œHello, Robert,” came a deep voice. “What’s the problem here?”
    Nancy glanced over and recognized Lionel Hornby, the chairman of the games committee.
    â€œMr. Hornby,” the official in the windbreaker said. He stepped over to Hornby, and the two men spoke for a moment in low, guarded tones.
    After a few minutes, Hornby looked around. “Ah—Ms. Roth?” Helga stepped forward, and they spoke for a minute or two longer. Helga seemed to become agitated.
    Finally Hornby nodded. “I see,” he said calmly. “And I understand your concern. You may be sure that I shall do all I can to deal with the matter.”
    Helga did not look satisfied, but she seemed to realize that she had reached a dead end. When she stepped away from the two men, she turned to glare at Cheryl and Nancy.
    Hornby walked over to Cheryl. “Ms. Pierce?” he said. “I’m sorry you’re missing the opening parade. Ms. Roth has made some serious charges, you understand. We have to look into them carefully. We may need to ask you some questions later on. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your participation in the games.”
    â€œYou mean I can go?” asked Cheryl, looking relieved.
    Hornby nodded and said pleasantly, “That’s right. And I hope you’ll forgive this misunderstanding.”
    Cheryl turned and looked daggers at Helga. “Some people I’m going to find hard to forgive,” she said in an icy voice.
    As Cheryl walked toward the field, Hornby caught Nancy’s eye and motioned with his head for her to join him.
    â€œWhat’s the story here, Nancy?” he demanded. She quickly filled him in on what had been happening, and as she spoke his face grew more and more grave.
    â€œThis is terrible!” he exclaimed when she had finished. “Why didn’t you say something to me before this?”
    â€œI realize now that I should have,” Nancy admitted.
    Hornby shook his head slowly. “We have to stop this before it destroys the games. Nancy, will you try to get to the bottom