The Case of the Photo Finish Read Online Free PDF

event is spectating,” Nancy said with a laugh. Turning back to Annelise, she asked, “Did Hannah say where Cheryl went?”
    Annelise shrugged. “She went for a run, it seems. I wish she had called me. I would have gone with her. There is nothing like a run to relax the nerves.”
    Nancy wondered briefly whether Cheryl’s run might have taken her past that pay phone on Winding Way. After all, the threatening caller’s thick accent might have been a way to hide the lack of an accent.
    Up the block, a figure in white came loping around the corner. “There’s Cheryl now,” said Nancy.
    â€œHi,” Cheryl called, coming to a stop in front of them and pulling off her terry-cloth headband. Nancy noticed that she looked uncomfortable when she saw Ramsay.
    â€œWhat brings you guys this way?” Cheryl asked.
    â€œI was taking a walk and I ran into Annelise,” Ramsay explained. “She said she was coming to see you, so I decided to come along. I tried to catch you at the ceremony, but you got away from me.” He paused, then added pointedly, “That’s getting to be a habit, isn’t it?”
    â€œRunners are like that,” Cheryl said. “You let them out of your sight for a minute and they’re gone.”
    â€œYeah, I noticed,” the Canadian replied in a voice tinged with bitterness.
    Nancy looked from Cheryl to Ramsay. The tension crackled between the two athletes. There must be some reason Ramsay is so bitter, Nancy thought. And she intended to find out what it was. “Why don’t you all come into the house?” she suggested. “I bet I could dig up some cookies and a pitcher of lemonade.”
    â€œThank you,” said Annelise. “That would be very welcome. I did not think it would be so warm at this time of year.”
    In the kitchen, Hannah was just taking Cheryl’s super-light nylon shorts out of the dryer. She held them up, looked them over, and said, “There, now, what did I say? They’re as good as new. Oh, and I put your shoe inserts on the back porch to dry. I’m sure they’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
    â€œDoing your laundry?” asked Ramsay. His smile had a mocking edge to it.
    Cheryl explained about the overturned jar of honey in her gym bag. “And I know who did it,” she concluded, “because we all know she never goes anywhere without her special honey.”
    â€œMarta claims that someone stole it from her gym bag,” Nancy told Cheryl. “She blames you for the theft.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous,” Cheryl said. “Why would I steal her honey?”
    â€œWhy would she pour it on your gear?” Ramsay countered.
    Cheryl scowled. “I don’t know, but I bet Nancy will find out. She’s a famous detective, you know.”
    There was a short silence, during which Ramsay and Cheryl merely glared at each other. Then Annelise asked, “You are? Really? I have always wanted to see a detective at work. Is it possible I may help you with your case?”
    Nancy raised an eyebrow. “Won’t the games keep you pretty busy?”
    â€œThis is true. But when I am not practicing, I can assist you.”
    Nancy thought quickly. The person—or people—who was harassing Cheryl and Marta was almost certainly connected to the games. A source of inside information would be very useful, maybe even essential.
    â€œThanks, Annelise,” she said. “I haven’t planned my strategy yet, but as soon as I know what it is, I’ll ask for your help. Now, how about that lemonade I promised you?”
    Nancy took the cold pitcher from the refrigerator, while Hannah put glasses and a plate of freshly baked peanut-butter cookies on a tray. “What do you say to the backyard?” Nancy said to the others. “It’s nice and shady.”
    â€œGood idea,” said Ramsay. He reached for the tray. “Here, let me take