The Eskimo's Secret Read Online Free PDF

where she’d found it, then turned her attention to the notebook. It was a very ordinary small looseleaf notebook, but the single word inked on the
    cover told her why it had been hidden away. It was titled “Tundra” in Alana’s distinctive handwriting.
    Nancy was just ready to open the book when there was a light knock on the door. “Miss Drew?” The maid peered in.
    “What is it2” Nancy asked, covering the notebook with some of Alana’s papers.
    “You have a phone call, Miss Drew,” the girl answered.
    “My father?” Nancy wondered hopefully.
    “The gentleman didn’t give his name,” the maid replied. “If you’d like to come down to the library?”
    “I’ll be right with you,” Nancy said. “I just want to put things back the way they were.” She stood up, moving her body between the desk and the maid and carefully putting the notebook in her pocket. It made a slight bulge, but it was better than leaving it behind, she decided.
    “Did you find out where Miss Alana is?” the girl asked as Nancy followed her out into the upstairs hall.
    Nancy sighed. “I’m afraid not,” she admitted. “Do you happen to know of anyone I could call? A girlfriend she was close to?”
    The girl shook her head, then hurried down the stairs to open the door of the handsome library. “You can take the call here,” she said.
    Nancy smiled and thanked her, then waited until the girl had closed the door behind her before picking up the receiver. “Hello,” she said.
    “Nancy, are you really there?” Alana’s voice was breathless, high.
    “Alana? Where are you?” Nancy’s heart leaped with relief.
    “That doesn’t matter,” Alana answered. “What are you doing in Victoria?”
    “I came to help you,” Nancy replied, surprised by her friend’s tone. “You asked me to, remember.”
    “You shouldn’t have come.”
    “Your uncle is frantic with worry and so is Tod,” Nancy told her. “They both asked me to try to find you. You have to come home, Alana. The authorities think you stole the Tundra.”
    “I don’t have it.” The words were almost a sob.
    “I know that and so does your uncle, but until you talk to the officers in charge of the inves-tigation, you’ll be a suspect, Alana. Why did you run away? Where are you?”
    “I can’t tell you.” Alana’s voice was sad, but firm.
    “How can I help you if you won’t talk to me?” Nancy demanded, her frustration growing with her fear that Alana might hang up the phone. “Don’t you trust me, Alana?”
    “No one can help me now. It’s too late.”
    “It can’t be too late,” Nancy snapped. “You called me, Alana. Now give me a chance. Just tell me where you are.
    “No, no you can’t find me. It’s too late. You have to leave Victoria, Nancy. Go back to Seattle before you get hurt. I found the secret of the Tundra at the Firebird and now I . . . Please, Nancy, just go before you learn too much!”

6. A Ransacked Room

    The phone clicked dead in her ear and Nancy nearly screamed in frustration. Why did people keep hanging up on her? All she wanted to do was help. She closed her eyes and tried to remember everything that Alana had said, hoping it would somehow start to make sense, but it didn’t.
    Not sure what to do next, Nancy dialed Tod Harper’s number again, not really expecting an answer. She was anxious to talk to someone, anyone, about Alana’s mysterious call. To her surprise, Tod answered on the first ring.
    “Well, what can I do for you?” he asked cheerfully when Nancy identified herself.
    “I’d like to talk to you about Alana,” Nancy said.
    “Have you heard from her again?” Tod inquired, his tone changing.
    “Yes, I—”
    “Not on the phone,” Tod said, cutting her off.
    “Do you want to come here?” Nancy asked, not sure what his caution meant.
    “No. I think we should meet somewhere else.” Tod sounded troubled.
    “Where?”
    “How about the Inner Harbour near the Empress Hotel? You know where that