Hot Tracks Read Online Free PDF

Powderly turned to Nancy. “Sorry if we seem doubtful, but all we’ve come up with so far is dead ends. A dozen cars have been stolen in River Heights in the last month, and they’ve all disappeared without a trace.”
    â€œWell, if the chop shop is in one of those warehouses Nancy and I saw, this could be the tip you’ve been waiting for,” Bess said brightly.
    Hawkins glared at Bess. “I’ve got to finish the Jenkins report,” he said gruffly. “Stan, you’ll have to cruise past those warehouses, okay?”
    â€œCruise past?” Bess echoed, looking from Hawkins to Powderly in disbelief. “Aren’t yougoing to charge into the warehouses and arrest the thieves?”
    The younger detective shook his head. “We can’t. You don’t know positively that the car went into a warehouse. Besides, we’d need a search warrant even to look around,” he explained. “I think you’ve been watching too much TV, Ms. Marvin.”
    â€œBut what about my car?” Bess insisted.
    â€œDetective Hawkins is right,” Raul Quinones told Bess and Nancy. “We can’t do anything unless you know for sure that the car the kid was driving was yours, which you don’t, and exactly which warehouse he went into, which you don’t.”
    Nancy put her hand on Bess’s arm. “They’re right,” she said.
    Planting her hands on her hips, Bess glared angrily at the three detectives and Nancy. “Well, since you aren’t going to do anything about it, I will!” With that, she marched out the door.
    Nancy started after Bess, but Detective Hawkins caught her arm. “Don’t you two ladies go getting into trouble,” he warned. Then he stepped around Nancy and went to his desk in the outer cubicle. Stan Powderly followed him.
    â€œB.D.’s right, Ms. Drew,” Raul Quinones added. “A teenage private eye used to purse snatchings and missing old ladies is no match for car thieves.”
    Nancy bristled. Purse snatchings! This guy had some nerve. “I’m not promising I won’t help my friend, Detective, since we discovered more in one night than you did in the past month,” she said hotly.
    For a long moment Nancy and Raul Quinones silently faced each other.
    â€œI realize we don’t have solid proof that the car drove into one of the warehouses,” she said at last. “Let’s hope that Detective Powderly finds something out.” Offering her hand, she added, “Nice meeting you, Detective.”
    â€œLikewise,” he replied. As they shook, he fixed her with a penetrating gaze. “And, Ms. Drew,” he added as she left, “don’t do anything stupid.”
    When Nancy emerged from the police station, Bess was waiting in the Mustang, which was parked next to the curb out front. “We’re going back to search those warehouses,” Bess said determinedly.
    â€œMy idea exactly,” Nancy agreed, climbing into the driver’s seat.
    â€œSo don’t argue with me,” Bess continued, “or try to change my . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she stared at Nancy in surprise. “Really?”
    Nancy nodded. “The police are right. They need probable cause before they can get a search warrant. If we’re careful, maybe we can find the evidence they need.”
    â€œAll right!” Bess exclaimed, grinning. “We can pretend we’re inspectors or looking forwork or—” She broke off with a gasp. “Oh, no! I totally forgot. I’m supposed to meet Dirk for lunch.”
    â€œOhhh. Big decision,” Nancy teased. “Will she choose the guy or the car?”
    Bess furrowed her brow, then quickly snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it. I’ll invite Dirk to come along. Then I can have both. Let me just run back into the station and call him.”
    While Nancy waited, she rolled down the window and