“Drop it, will you.” His friend was starting to sound annoyed. “It’s over. Your problem is that it’s just beginning to dawn on you what a jerk you made of yourself in front of everyone.”
Ron folded his large forearms across his chest. “Not everyone,” he said.
“You bet,” his friend answered. “Especially Vicki Kirk. Look—forget it, and she’ll forget it. Keep it up, and she’ll really know you’re a jerk. Take it from me.”
“Well . . .” Ron hesitated. “Okay, maybe you’re right.” Nancy was relieved when the two finally fell silent and turned their attention back to Al, who was beginning to notice their chatter again.
Still, Nancy could hardly wait for the lesson to be over so she could talk to George about Al’s tantrum. It seemed out of character to her.
After an hour of practice in the basic rock-climbing techniques, the class started back down the trail. Nancy and George hung back to bring up the rear. With no one to overhear them, Nancy voiced her concern about Al’s strange behavior.
“That really was crazy, the way he acted with those two guys,” Nancy said.
“Maybe he’s just nervous and jumpy because of what’s been happening lately,” George suggested.
“Or maybe there’s some other reason,” Nancy said, frowning.
“Are you adding him to your suspect list?” George asked.
Nancy slowed down to negotiate a steep part of the trail. “I don’t think there’s any connection between him and Lisa Gregson,” she said, holding on to a thin pine tree for support.
“I don’t see one either,” George admitted.
They had reached a plateau where both girls stopped to take in the view. Nancy’s mind turned back to the case.
“But we don’t know for sure yet,” she said.
“What’s the next move?” George asked as they continued down the trail.
“A soda,” Nancy laughed. “After all these lessons, I’m thirsty.”
“Sounds good to me,” George answered. “And I’ll bet we find Bess waiting for us.”
The two girls made their way back to the main complex and out onto the club’s terrace café. Sure enough, Bess was there.
“You never quit, do you?” George asked as she sat down. Just before Nancy and George arrived, Bess had been saying a cheerful goodbye to yet another six feet two of tanned muscle.
“Actually,” Bess said, pouting, “I was working on the case. Jed—that’s his name—was telling me that Gil and Marva have been having problems for a long time now.”
“What kind of problems?” Nancy asked, after she gave the waitress her order. “I know they’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, what with everything that’s been going on at the club.”
“Yeah, Bess,” George added. “I’ll bet that’s what Jed, or whatever his name is, meant.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Bess insisted. “I know because I asked him how long it’d been going on. He’s known Gil for a while. He said Gil and Marva have always had problems. We even laughed and talked about how for some people that’s what a relationship is all about.” Bess smiled, obviously going over the conversation again in her head.
George and Nancy exchanged a look. Nancy didn’t think Bess’s news was all that significant or important to the case. Except, she thought, that it might give Gil a motive.
Nancy got up. “Sorry, guys, but I have to get going.”
“What’s up?” George asked.
“I want to go over the employee files before lunch,” Nancy said. “I have a feeling I’ll find something in there that’ll give us a few more pieces to the puzzle.”
“You sure you don’t want us to come along?” Bess asked halfheartedly.
“No, Bess,” Nancy laughed. “You keep asking Jed those questions. Let me know if you find out anything else.”
George chuckled. “Since you don’t need us, I think I’ll take a swim. It’s getting hot.”
Nancy and George left Bess in the café, and strolled over behind the back of the main complex to where the swimming pools were. They split up, George heading over to the Olympic-size pool, Nancy walking down a short path to the complex’s back entrance.
Opening a screen door, Nancy found she was in a long hall, off of which several doors opened into what must have been offices and storage areas.
She had gone no more than a few steps when she heard the sound of angry voices drifting out of one of the rooms. She was sure it was Gil and Marva, and it sounded as if they were having some sort of lovers’ quarrel.
Nancy thought she should turn around and leave quietly so they wouldn’t think she’d been eavesdropping, but something about the desperate tone of Marva’s voice made her stay in the hall. As their voices grew louder, Nancy inched closer to where they were coming from.
“No, Gil, I won’t do it. I won’t, I tell you—never.” The pitch of Marva’s voice rose higher and higher until she sounded hysterical. “Not for you, not for anyone!”
“You’ve got no choice, Marva,” Gil answered in cold fury. “You should do what I’m telling you to. Sell the club. Sell it, or I’ll—”
“Do what?” Marva screamed back.
For a long moment the only sound that reached Nancy’s ears was that of ragged breathing from the other side of the partially open door.
Then Nancy heard Gil and Marva scuffling, followed by a barely stifled sob from Marva.
Nancy was about to burst in on them when she heard Gil’s voice raised in anger.
“I won’t take much more of this, Marva,” Gil cried out.
Marva’s only response was another racking sob.
“Sometimes I could just kill you!” Gil shouted.
Chapter
Eight
NANCY STARTED to rush inside when Gil came storming out, almost knocking Nancy down. After giving her an icy look, Gil marched off.
“Marva?” Nancy turned from Gil to peek into the room. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Marva glanced around, startled. “Oh, Nancy.” She began to cry all over again.
“I’m sorry, Marva,” Nancy said, trying to console her. “I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
Marva wiped the tears from her cheeks, then seemed to pull herself together. “You heard?”
Nancy explained that she was on her way to find her when she overheard their fight. “I almost left but stayed because I got worried.”
“It’s okay.” Marva sighed. “I’m sorry you had to hear the stupid way we were both acting.” She made a disgusted face, then she looked over Nancy’s head, unable to meet her eyes. “We’re both under a lot of strain,” she said hesitantly.
“I know you are,” Nancy answered kindly.
“Gil really has my best interests at heart,” Marva said, trying to smooth over the fight. “He’s so worried about me that he ends up yelling.” She gave Nancy an unhappy little smile. “Gil loves me, and I love him. That’s really the bottom line,” she said as they walked from the room into the hall.
Marva stopped and turned to Nancy. “You were looking for me?” she asked. “For a minute there, I was so wrapped up in my own problems that I wasn’t thinking. Did you need something?”
“Actually I was on my way to your office. I was planning to spend a little time going over your employee records.” She glanced down the hall toward the kitchen, where the staff was busy getting ready to serve the noon meal. “But I didn’t realize how late it was getting. I suppose it can wait until after lunch.”
“I’ll be in my office,” Marva said. “And thanks for looking out for me,” she added. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’re doing.”
“All in a day’s work,” Nancy joked as she and Marva parted.
Before returning to her cabin Nancy made a quick detour to the infirmary. She wanted to check on Lisa, but she learned from the nurse that Lisa had been dismissed a couple of hours earlier. Nancy used the phone there to place a call to the hospital to find out about Larry Quinn’s condition
. It was worse than she had expected—during the night Quinn had slipped into a coma.
Back at her cabin, Nancy worried about how serious the case had gotten. Quinn in a coma, Marva and Gil fighting, and still no clues about who could be responsible for terrorizing Club High Adventure. Without a lead, Nancy couldn’t prevent worse things from happening.
While she was changing into white cotton slacks and a red knit shirt, Nancy heard Bess and George return. She went out into the living room to greet them. Maybe if she talked out the case with them, they’d see something she’d missed.
George ran past Nancy into the bedroom. “I’ll just be a minute,” she said to Nancy. “Can you wait for me to change?” Nancy nodded. Bess, looking fresh and pretty, poked her head into the living room. “You want a soda?” she asked.
“Sounds good,” Nancy answered distractedly, curling up on one of the couches.
“Well, now I know everything there is to know about kayaking,” Bess announced as she handed Nancy her drink. She plopped back on the other couch. “Jed told me all about it, and I positively love it. It’s a super sport.”
George stepped out into the living room, wearing red running shorts and a striped yellow-and-blue rugby shirt. “What’s up, Nan?” she asked. “You look preoccupied.”
“I was thinking about the case,” Nancy answered. “There’s so much that doesn’t add up.
“Like that business up on Devil’s Rock, you mean?” George asked.
“How about filling me in?” Bess said. “What about Devil’s Rock, wherever that is?”
Nancy realized she hadn’t told Bess earlier about their morning’s activities. She went over what had happened, ending with the incident with Uncle Al and the two students.
“Wild!” Bess’s eyes went wide. “This Uncle Al sounds crazy to me. What do you think, Nan? Do you think he could be the one behind the threats? I mean anyone sending those notes has got to be a little crazy.”
“I don’t think the man’s insane, Bess,” Nancy said. “I do think he did overreact to those two guys fooling around. That doesn’t make him crazy. Besides, what motive could he have that would make him send threats to the guests?”
“Okay, then we’re back to Lisa.” Bess nodded. “Because of what you said about the glider being sabotaged.”
“She is still tops on my suspect list,” Nancy said. “But there’s more here than just a spoiled rich girl throwing what amounts to a glorified temper tantrum. What about Quinn’s accident? And the attack on me?” Nancy pulled thoughtfully on a strand of hair. “If only I could talk to Quinn.”
“Why not?” George asked. “Why don’t you go to the hospital? It’s not that far to Newport.”
“I can’t for one good reason. He’s unconscious. He lapsed into a coma last night, and the doctor has no idea how long it’ll be before he comes around—if ever.”
“If ever?” Bess stared at her. “But that’s horrible. That means Quinn could end up being the first real murder victim. Oh, I hope he doesn’t die.”
“I hope not either,” Nancy replied. “For Marva’s sake as well as his own.” Then Nancy told Bess and George about the argument she’d overheard between Marva and Gil. “Marva swears Gil only yells at her because he loves her so much and he hates seeing her miserable. He really wants her to sell out and let someone else take over the problems—”
“Gil loves Marva?” Bess blurted out. “Oh, wow, is that a joke! The only person that guy loves is himself. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Haven’t you noticed how he flirts with everyone? Just now as I was passing Lisa’s cabin guess who I saw locked in a very serious kiss with Sara Lakin?”
“Gil?” Nancy and George both said at the same time.
“You got it. Mr. Wonderful, himself,” Bess replied.
Nancy thoughtfully rubbed the side of her glass with her finger. “This case gets more complicated by the minute. Let’s get going.”
• • •
After lunch Nancy decided to pay a visit to Lisa Gregson. She wanted a chance to talk with the young woman—alone.
“I recognize you.” Lisa smiled at Nancy as she opened the door. “You were there when I came to—after the crash.”
“That’s right.” Nancy returned the smile. “I hope you’re okay now.”
“Oh, sure, I feel great.” Lisa fiddled with the doorknob. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yes, I’d like to.” Nancy stepped through the open door before Lisa could have a chance to change her mind. Crossing directly to a chair near the fireplace, Nancy sat down. “Actually I’d like to ask you a couple of questions about the accident. And about something else as well.”
“By something else, do you mean the threat I got?” Lisa asked candidly as she sat down opposite Nancy. “Marva told me you’d want to question me about it. Did you happen to see my note?”
“Yours, and I saw Sara’s picture and heard about Kirsten’s tape.”
“Brrr—” Lisa said. “Really creepy stuff, don’t you think?” She shuddered involuntarily.
She’s really upset about the death threat she received, Nancy thought. Or else she’s a very good actress.
“I mean, who would want to do something like that? Other than Sara and Kirsten I don’t know anyone here.”
“I don’t suppose you recognized the writing on the note?”
“No. It was only those three words. And it was printed.”
“Probably someone trying to disguise his—or her—writing,” Nancy said, watching for Lisa’s reaction.
“Do you really think it could be a woman?” Lisa asked, slightly taken aback. “All this time I kept thinking it had to be a guy. I never thought about it being a woman. But I guess it is possible, huh?”
“There’s no reason it couldn’t be a woman.” Nancy went on. “Now, about your accident. I have to be honest and tell you that because the damage to the glider is minor, I think you could have done it yourself. Especially because Sara made a comment that made me think you’d be capable of doing it.”
“What?” Lisa’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Nancy. “What are you talking about?”
Nancy explained that she knew that Lisa was having problems with her father. How she found out she kept to herself. “So, you can see how it looks to me, Lisa. Setting yourself up to have an accident is a good way to hurt your father.”
“Oh, really! And what is Sara supposed to have said?” Lisa snapped.
“I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your friend,” Nancy apologized. “But when I asked Sara about your accident, she was evasive—she didn’t want to talk at first. Then she said that if I knew you the way she does, I’d know the crash was no accident. So, you see, putting all that information together led me to believe—”
“Oh, you’re so wrong it’s not even funny!” Lisa yelled. She jumped up and began to pace the room. Then abruptly she stopped and balled her hands into fists before turning to face Nancy. “You’re way off base, Nancy Drew. Yes, I hate my father. And I’d love to see him as unhappy as I am now. But there’s no way I’m going to hurt myself in order to do that. You can trust me on that score, Ms. Detective.”
“All right, Lisa.” Nancy decided to back off a little. “I believe you.” For some reason, she did. The girl’s reactions seemed honest.
Lisa appeared to calm down and sat down opposite her again. “Look, I’m really scared about all this,” she said. “And I want whoever is doing these horrible things caught. I promise I’ll do anything I can to help. Whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you.”
“Good,” Nancy said. That gave her an opening to ask Lisa about Sara and Gil.
“And about Sara’s comment,” Lisa went on before Nancy had a chance to ask. “Well, she was about as far off as you. And I don’t understand that. She knows me, and should know I wouldn’t do something stupid like crash my glider.” Lisa shifted nervously on her chair. Nancy guessed she was deciding whether or not to say something more.
Nancy waited.
“Lisa,” Nancy prodded. “There’s more, isn’t there? You can trust me.”
A long pause followed before Lisa finally spoke. “The thing is, Sara’s really not been herself since we got here and she met Gil Forrest. She has a huge crush on him. Everybody knows he’s engaged to Marva, but it doesn’t seem to matter to her. She’s so jealous I bet she blames me for letting him take me to the infirmary.”
“Hmmm . . .” What was with Gil, anyway? Nancy wondered. If he really loved Marva, what was he doing fooling around with Sara? If he didn’t, why was he pretending he did? “Thanks for talking with me, Lisa.” With a smile, Nancy rose. “You’ve been a big help.”
• • •
“Poor Sara,” Bess said sympathetically after Nancy told her what she’d learned. “I can understand how she must feel. I’ve fallen for a rat or two myself.”
“I thought about it as I walked back here,” Nancy said. “I think that Gil might have been playing around with Sara because he was so mad at Marva. He’d just had an argument with her. If Sara’s got a crush on him, the way Lisa claims, and she happened to throw herself at him at the right—or should I say wrong—time . . . ?”
“I think you’re being too nice,” George countered. “If a guy I was engaged to pulled a stunt like that I’d never forgive him.”
“I wonder how Marva would react if she knew what was going on?” Bess speculated.
“I was wondering that, too,” Nancy said.
But before I can solve Marva’s problems, I need to figure out what Gil is up to, Nancy thought. And there’s no better place to start than with Sara’s other roommate.
• • •
Loud rock music blared from loudspeakers in the aerobics class where Nancy found Kirsten. A passing instructor had pointed her out to Nancy. “She’s the tall one in yellow.”
“Thanks.” Nancy turned her attention to watching the naturally athletic girl. Kirsten’s light brown hair was plaited into a single French braid that bounced against her back as she moved energetically to the final bars of the song.
Nancy watched as Kirsten walked toward the locker room, a towel draped around her neck.