Dance Till You Die Read Online Free PDF Page B

George made it back to the front entrance of the Edge quickly. Nancy parked at the curb and turned off the lights. She sat silently, leaning on the steering wheel, sorting out her thoughts. “Tomorrow I’ll call information for Tom Kragen’s number and try to getthose pictures of the party. Then I want to track down Charity again and follow her,” she said. “Maybe she’ll lead us somewhere.”
    The engine of a car coughed to life somewhere nearby. Nancy sat up, alert. “That sounds like it’s coming from the alley behind the club,” she said, cocking her head. She reached for the car door and opened it. “I’m going to see what’s going on back there.”
    â€œI’m right behind you,” George replied. She had to sprint to keep up with Nancy, who was racing down the sidewalk toward the corner of the alley.
    The girls could hear car tires screeching down the alley. Nancy reached the opening and peered down it. She found herself caught in the glare of a pair of high beams. The lights belonged to a car that was wildly backing down the alley, away from Nancy and George. There was a scraping sound followed by a crash as the vehicle knocked over a metal trash can before it disappeared around the far corner of the alley.
    Nancy grimaced. “I couldn’t even make out what color that car was,” she said to George. “Could you?”
    George shook her head. “Those headlights were too blinding,” she replied.
    Nancy and George jogged down the alley towardthe club’s rear door. Nancy stopped short suddenly and put out a restraining hand to George. “Wait a second, George. Do you hear that noise?”
    George looked confused. “What noise?” she asked. Then she cocked her head to listen for a moment. “It sounds a little like a kitten mewing,” she said slowly.
    Nancy nodded and started poking around the trash bins, which were surrounded by heaps of industrial-size garbage bags. She stepped back, startled, when there was some movement at her feet, and she caught sight of a tumble of hair and sequins. Then her heart flipped with joy as she saw a groggy but familiar face staring up at her.
    â€œGeorge,” Nancy whispered, kneeling down. “Look— it’s Bess!”

Chapter

Five
    B ESS!” G EORGE’S FACE reflected her relief, then her fear as she took in Bess’s pallor. “Is—is she okay?” she asked Nancy.
    Bess was wearing a denim jacket draped over the shoulders of her mermaid’s costume. Underneath the jacket, Nancy could see that her hands were bound. Nancy loosened the ropes, then held Bess by the shoulders and gently raised her to a sitting position. She could see Bess’s eyes slowly begin to focus.
    â€œCan you speak, Bess?” Nancy felt so anxious for her friend that she could barely utter the words.
    â€œYes. I think so.” Bess’s voice was weak, barelyaudible. “Nancy—George. Thank goodness you’re here,” she said, trying to smile.
    â€œAre you hurt, Bess?” Nancy asked quickly. “Maybe we should call a doctor.”
    â€œNo, really, I’m okay. Help me up.” Bess swayed slightly as Nancy and George helped her to her feet. “I must have been knocked out for a while.” Bess smoothed the tattered remains of her mermaid’s costume and looked around at the smelly garbage alley. “Yuck! I feel like yesterday’s dinner special.”
    George giggled with relief. “You must be okay if you’re making jokes,” she said, giving her cousin a warm hug.
    Nancy took the denim jacket off Bess’s shoulders. “This is a man’s jacket,” she observed. “It probably belongs to your abductor.” She examined the lining. “It’s pretty small, and it has a French label.”
    â€œFrench? Like Etienne?” George gasped.
    â€œI guess anyone could wear a French label, but I did