Murder On Ice Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Shall we talk in my office?”
    â€œThat might be a good idea,” Nancy replied. She and Ned followed Liz into her office.
    When they were settled with the door shut, Nancy said, “You two better steel yourselves, because this is a real shocker. The prowler cameback last night and he left a message in the snow. It said—get this—MURDERER.”
    â€œWow,” Ned said softly.
    â€œThat’s crazy!” Liz exploded—a bit too loudly, Nancy thought. “How could there be a murderer at Webb Cove—at my lodge! There haven’t been any murders around here—”
    â€œCalm down, Liz,” Nancy said. “I wouldn’t put much stock in some weird message left in the snow in the middle of the night. But I do intend to find out what’s going on here.”
    â€œHave you got any ideas yet?” Ned asked.
    â€œMaybe,” Nancy replied. “I can’t help feeling that the blond guy who warned me about the rope was your prowler. That little ski trail he was on leads only to Webb Cove Lodge, and we know he’s not staying here.”
    â€œWhy do you think he left the message?” Liz wondered.
    â€œWell,” Nancy began slowly, “he warned me once—about the tow—so maybe he’s trying to warn me, or all of us—about someone he thinks is dangerous.”
    â€œAnd could that someone just possibly be Luke Ericsen?” Ned asked. “You said he deliberately denied knowing our mystery man.”
    Nancy was silent for a moment. “We don’t know much about Luke. I’d certainly hate to accuse him of anything before we have proof. After all, we don’t even know if a murder really has been committed! I would say, though, that we should keep an eye on him.”
    â€œBoth eyes,” Ned agreed.
    â€œMaybe I should fire him,” Liz said slowly. “Just to get him out of here. . . .”
    Nancy frowned. Why would Liz suggest something so drastic? But all she said was, “No, then we’d never solve the mystery. Besides, we don’t know that he’s done anything. And you don’t have any cause to fire him.”
    Ned smiled faintly. “Nancy, you’re becoming obsessed with yet another case. Do you think we’ll ever go on a vacation without having to share it with thieves, kidnappers, or murderers?”
    Nancy sighed. Ned was trying to be good-natured, but she got the message. He was tired of playing second fiddle to every mystery that came along. She couldn’t blame him for feeling like that. But how could she sit still if there might really be a murderer in the lodge?
    â€œSomeday, we’ll have a real vacation, I promise,” Nancy said. “But for now, we have a ski instructor to follow. And on the slopes, that’s not going to be easy.”
    Ned grinned. “Well, let’s hit the mountain.”
    â€œLiz, don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Nancy promised as she and Ned left the office and headed for the bunk rooms.
    When Nancy reached the women’s dorm, she found Bess eyeing several combinations of pants, sweaters, and vests, which she had spread out on her bunk. “Don’t tell me you’re changing again!” Nancy groaned.
    â€œI think I ate too many pancakes for these pants,” Bess said ruefully, looking down at hertight violet corduroys. “And this sweater doesn’t really go with any other pants.”
    â€œForget clothes for a minute. I need to talk to you about something serious.” Nancy sat down on her bed. Swiftly she outlined everything that had happened, from the message in the snow to her conversation with Liz and Ned. “Keep quiet about it,” she finished. “Liz doesn’t want rumors getting out.”
    â€œYou’re going to tell George, aren’t you?” Bess asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Nancy answered, and sighed. “George gets