False Moves Read Online Free PDF Page B

the one who got you in on this case. I can’t expect you to do all the dirty work yourself. Got any ideas about how to get past that padlock?”
    Nancy patted her purse. “I came prepared—I’ve got my lock-picking kit with me.”
    Ned grinned. “Come on, Sherlock Holmes, we’ve got a whole lot of costumes to search.”
    For a moment their eyes met and all the old magic was back. Ned took hold of Nancy’s elbow, and his touch made her knees go weak for a moment.
    But as he steered her down a long,cream-colored corridor, Nancy did her best to squash the feeling. I have to get over him, she told herself. He’s going out with Belinda now.
    The CBT building was small, but it was dissected with many hallways branching off in all directions. And all these hallways on the second floor were painted the same cream color. It was incredibly difficult to tell one from another. Every office or studio Nancy and Ned passed looked just like the one before it. I’ll have to learn my way around here, Nancy thought as she and Ned turned another corner. A person could get lost for days in these hallways.
    â€œThe costume storage room is right down here,” Ned said, pointing ahead to still one more corridor, off which two other hallways ran.
    â€œNed, look!” Nancy cried as they turned the corner. “Someone is smashing the padlock on the costume room door.”
    The figure, dressed in black pants, a black sweatshirt, and a full black mask, looked up when Nancy shouted.
    It took no more than two seconds for the unknown person to turn and slip quickly down a connecting hallway.
    â€œNed! Come on!” Nancy cried. She grabbed his arm and pulled him along as she ran after the black-clad figure.
    The two detectives sped down the hall, turning the corner just in time to catch a glimpse of themystery person slipping down yet another passageway. When Nancy and Ned turned down that passage they saw the figure hurry through a door that led to a stairwell.
    Nancy and Ned lost sight of the intruder for just that instant. But it was one instant too long because when they opened the door and entered the stairwell themselves, the person was gone.

Chapter

Five
    T HERE WASN’T A sign of the figure in black moving in either direction on the staircase.
    â€œNed,” Nancy cried, “we can’t let that intruder get away. You head upstairs and I’ll go down. If you don’t find anything in fifteen minutes, meet me back at the costume storage room,” she said as she took the steps leading down to the first floor two at a time.
    â€œBe careful, Nancy,” Ned said, calling back over his shoulder.
    Once on the first floor, Nancy neither saw nor heard anything. She dashed quickly through the lobby and pushed the swinging doors open intoCBT’s old theater. Nancy knew it well from the many times that she had seen the ballet company perform.
    It was a beautiful but small theater with an oversize crystal chandelier and heavy purple curtains covering the stage. Row upon row of cushioned chairs stood before Nancy. And the intruder could be hiding behind any one of them—if the person was there at all.
    There was nothing to do but start looking. Cautiously, Nancy made her way down the first aisle, checking each row for the figure in black. But the search took a long time. After five minutes, she had finished only half the theater, and she was beginning to worry that the person she was looking for had slipped away without her noticing.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” a voice rang out across the empty theater. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
    Startled, Nancy turned to find a tall, blond woman walking toward her.
    â€œI’m Mr. Ellsworth’s assistant,” the woman said sternly. “Who are you and why are you here?”
    Great, Nancy thought. If the intruder’s still here, this is the perfect chance to get out of here in a hurry. But