Circle of Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

women’s locker room, Nancy decided to hang around the pool because she wanted to check out Mike. The day before, when she was there with Joanna, he had watched her carefully. Nancy had figured he was interested in her, but now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe he was interested because he knew she was a detective and he was part of the crime. Of course, she was suspicious of just about everyone at this point, and Mike could turn out to be innocent, but she had to start somewhere. And on a warm day, the pool was the perfect place.
    Sitting on a lounge chair, Nancy slipped off her sandals. She got up and walked to the edge of the pool. She was wearing a new yellow suit that showed off her long slender legs, and as she stretched her arms above her head, getting ready to dive, she could feel people’s eyes onher. She just hoped one pair of those eyes belonged to Mike.
    Nancy dived cleanly into the water, surfaced, then began to swim the length of the pool. She was tempted to stay in a long time since it was so cool and refreshing, but after three laps she decided to get out and start her investigation.
    Most of the poolside loungers who had watched Nancy dive in didn’t pay much attention to her as she climbed out and smoothed her streaming hair back from her face. But glancing casually around, she saw that Mike was watching her.
    Good, she thought, pulling a comb through her hair. Let’s see what he’s really interested in. She sat on one of the chairs and started applying sunscreen. She had just started on her legs when she saw the lifeguard climb down from his chair and head her way.
    â€œHey,” he said when he reached her chair. “Nancy, isn’t it? You were here with Joanna Tate yesterday?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œI thought so. Where’s Joanna?” he asked. “She’s here almost every day.”
    â€œOh, she said she was too upset to go anywhere,” Nancy told him. Actually, Nancy had asked Joanna to stay away from the club for a few days, so she could work withoutJoanna asking her every ten seconds if she had found the necklace.
    Hands on his hips, Mike gave her a big smile. “So? Solved Jo’s crime yet?”
    â€œI haven’t even started,” Nancy told him with a laugh. “If I’d solved it, you can be sure Joanna would have told the whole world by now.”
    â€œYeah, that’s true,” he said. “Well, do you have any suspects?”
    Nancy laughed again, hoping he wouldn’t guess that he was one of them. “At this point, your guess is as good as mine. I really haven’t spent much time on it.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure I don’t know as much about solving crimes as you do.” Mike grinned and started to go back to his chair. “But I’ll bet you won’t find your thief here in the swimming pool.”
    â€œYou’re probably right,” Nancy said. “But I couldn’t resist. Besides, exercise helps me think.”
    â€œOkay, I’ll let you get to it,” Mike told her. “Like I said, I wish you luck.”
    When he had finally gone, Nancy lay back on the lounge chair, trying to figure out if Mike was just being friendly or whether his friendliness was a cover for trying to learn how much she knew. Sighing, she realized it was much too early to tell about anyone yet.
    Nancy stayed by the pool for half an hour more, listening to the conversations around her. Word of the stolen rare book had obviously reached the club, and everyone was talking about it. People were worried about their own houses, but Nancy noticed that the latest robbery didn’t keep them from discussing where they hid their own valuable objects. She wanted to tell them all to keep their mouths shut. If Mike or anyone else at poolside was in on the robberies, then the rest of them were sitting ducks.
    â€œHi there,” a voice said nearby. “It’s Detective Drew, isn’t