005 Hit and Run Holiday Read Online Free PDF Page B

that she had much explaining to do. She hadn’t come on to the guy; he’d come on to her. Bess would realize that.
    Actually, when Nancy thought about it, Dirk had started coming on to her as soon as she had mentioned what had happened to Kim. Perhaps he had more than just information for her. Nancy couldn’t pass up a chance to learn something. She’d talk to Bess as soon as she could.
    About the only thing not annoying Nancy was her foot. It was feeling better by the minute, so she knew she could make good on her promise to Ricardo—she’d be back. That was what was really making her edgy—she wanted to get out of the hospital and back on the trail.
    “Oh, how lovely!” Mrs. Baylor exclaimed suddenly. Nancy glanced up and saw that a good-looking guy had just entered Kim’s room carrying a big arrangement of flowers. He was wearing a brown uniform, so he must have been from a flower shop. He set the basket on the table, gave Kim a close look, then quickly left the room.
    “That was so nice of you girls,” Mrs. Baylor said tearfully.
    George looked embarrassed. “Don’t thank us,” she said. “I’m afraid we didn’t send them.”
    “Then who did?” mused Kim’s mother.
    Nancy reached over and carefully pushed aside the daisies and carnations, but she could find no card. Strange, she thought. Why would somebody send flowers without a card? And just who had sent them?
    Kim’s mother started to cry again. “This is like a nightmare,” she sobbed. “Who on earth would want to hurt my daughter?”
    “I don’t know, Mrs. Baylor,” Nancy toldher. “But I promise you, I’m going to find out.”
    • • •
    When Dirk Bowman arrived at the Surfside Inn the next morning to pick her up, Nancy was sure of one thing—Bess was no longer upset with her. She understood what Nancy had to do. However, she was still hurt, and she was furious with Dirk for dumping her so rudely.
    Nancy dressed casually in light cotton pants and a cotton shirt with a wild island print over her bikini. She wished she could wear her new sandals, but she put on her sneakers instead, since she wasn’t sure what Dirk would end up showing her.
    At precisely eleven o’clock, Dirk, lean and tan, showed up. Nancy greeted him, then stepped out with him into the fresh morning air.
    “Ever been windsurfing?” Dirk asked, taking her hand and leading her toward a red sports car parked at the curb.
    “No,” Nancy told him. “I’ve surfed and I’ve sailed, but never at the same time.” She liked his car, and she couldn’t help admitting that she also liked the feel of his hand. Bess has great taste, she thought.
    “Well, then, you’ll probably catch on quickly,” Dirk said with a dimpled smile. He putthe car in gear and drove quickly down the street. “It’s really terrific once you get the hang of it.” For the next ten minutes, he kept up a steady, one-sided conversation about the joys of windsurfing.
    It was all very interesting, Nancy thought, but it wasn’t the information she was after. If Dirk really wanted to turn Nancy on, he’d tell her what he knew about Kim.
    “Listen,” she said, finally interrupting him. “I don’t want to be rude, but you said you might be able to help me out on this case, that you might have some information for me.”
    “That’s right,” Dirk answered with an easy smile. “I might. But I told you, I need to know everything you know first.”
    Nancy was trying to decide what to tell him when Dirk parked the car, got out, and led her to a dock where an outboard boat loaded with two surfboards was tied. They jumped on, Dirk started the engine, and as they sped away, Nancy glanced back at the dock. Ricardo was standing there, watching them. Nancy felt a chill as she watched his figure grow smaller and smaller. What was Ricardo doing there, anyway? Had he followed her and Dirk? Were he and Dirk connected in some way?
    It was impossible to talk over the buzz of the motor and the thumping of