The Silent Suspect Read online

  The night watchman peered more closely at the car. Then his gaze fell on Lisa.

  “I saw her, too! She was here, near the office trailer. Right where the fire broke out. I called to her, and she started running. She took off in this car.

  He raised his arm and pointed at Lisa.

  “I’m sure of it. She’s the one who set the fire!”

  5

  A Wild Ride

  “Wait a minute!” shouted Mr. Franklin, turning to the night watchman. “Are you accusing my daughter of—”

  Ed Kline set his jaw. “I certainly am,” he said flatly. He jerked his head toward Lisa. “She’s the one who set the fire,” he repeated.

  There was a shocked silence. Then everyone started talking at once. Reporters swarmed around Lisa’s car, yelling questions. Electronic flashes began exploding in the dark. Lisa hid her face against the side of the car. Ned and Nancy stepped in front of her.

  Mr. Franklin held up his hand in the manner of a man who was used to being obeyed. “Please, everyone, it’s been a rough night,” he called.

  The reporters paid no attention. They pressed in even closer, scribbling frantically and firing questions.

  “Mr. Franklin, did you have any suspicions that your daughter was going to set this fire?”

  “Does she have a criminal record?”

  “Did you know it was arson, sir?”

  Mr. Franklin threw both hands into the air. “I have no comment! No more questions!” he shouted angrily. “You’re all jumping to conclusions. No one has confirmed arson! Save your questions for the fire chief.”

  He turned back toward his car once again, but a reporter blocked his way.

  “Sir, why would your daughter set fire to your own building?” she asked. “Is there a problem—”

  Mr. Franklin’s expression turned ugly. He elbowed the reporter out of the way so roughly that she stumbled backward. “I told you, I won’t answer any questions,” he growled. “Speak to the chief, why don’t you?”

  “And here comes the chief now,” Nancy said under her breath. “Maybe that will distract them for a while.”

  As the crowd of reporters turned toward the fire chief, Nancy opened Lisa’s car door. “This looks like a good time for us to leave,” she told Lisa. “Ned or I will drive if you’d like.”

  Lisa nodded shakily. She climbed into the back of the car and slumped against the seat.

  Laurel had edged over to Nancy. She still had a shocked look on her face. “Nancy, could Lisa really have done it?” she asked.

  “We’ll need lots more evidence before we can be sure who did it,” Nancy said.

  To her surprise, Laurel seemed angry. “That’s right—protect Lisa!” she burst out. “Everyone always has to take care of Lisa, even when she’s committed a crime!” She turned her back on Nancy and headed toward her father’s car.

  What did that mean? Nancy wondered. Laurel sounded as if she wanted her to think Lisa set the fire. Why would Laurel want anyone to think that? Unless . . .

  Nancy shook her head. This case was only a few hours old, but it was growing more complicated by the minute.

  As she was climbing into the front seat Nancy heard the fire chief tell Mr. Franklin, “I’ll talk with you later, sir.” She paused for a moment to listen.

  “It looks bad,” the chief was saying. “Where can I reach you if there’s any news?”

  “Call me at home or the office anytime,” answered Mr. Franklin.

  He turned to Ned. “I want you to drive Lisa and Nancy,” he ordered. “Don’t stop to talk to anyone.”

  “Yes, Uncle Bob,” Ned answered.

  Mr. Franklin motioned to Laurel and Mr. Toomey to get into the Lincoln.

  Ned got into the driver’s seat of Lisa’s car, and Nancy settled in on the passenger side. As Ned pulled the car into the road, Nancy turned to face Lisa.

  “Those reporters are going to ask even more questions tomorrow, you know. Your father won’t be able to keep them away forever. It might help if we talked things over first.”

  Lisa dropped her head into her hands. “What for? It’s hopeless!”

  “Maybe not,” Nancy said. “Just tell us the truth.”

  Lisa shook her head. “I can’t,” she choked out.

  Ned glanced at his cousin in the rearview mirror and frowned. Then he looked at Nancy. “Lisa’s no criminal. She’s not guilty, Nancy. I won’t believe that.”

  Lisa gave him a grateful look. “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “It’s too early to tell who’s really guilty,” Nancy said. “But the only evidence right now points to you.”

  “I just can’t say anything” was Lisa’s reply. “I’m sorry.”

  “Please, Lisa,” Ned urged. “You’ll feel better if you stop hiding whatever it is you’re hiding.”

  Lisa shook her head.

  “We’ll have to tell the police about this eventually, you know,” Nancy said gently. “Finding your bracelet at the site, those threats you made—it doesn’t look good for you, Lisa. And putting that evidence together with the fact that the night watchman saw you around the time the fire was set …” Her voice trailed away.

  Terror mingled with stubbornness on Lisa’s face. “They can’t prove I set the fire,” she said. “They can’t prove I had a reason to set it, either.” She clamped her jaw shut and stared out the window.

  “Your family will think you had a reason,” Ned pointed out.

  Nancy decided to try a different tack. “Lisa,” she said, “if you didn’t set the fire, what were you doing at the site?”

  “I’m sorry,” Lisa answered. “I can’t tell you that, either.”

  They drove the rest of the way home in silence.

  • • •

  Mr. Franklin, Mr. Toomey, and Laurel were waiting for them in the living room when they arrived. For a moment no one said anything. Then Mr. Franklin cleared his throat.

  “I just talked to the fire chief,” he said. “Larson, his name is. They found an incendiary device at the site. It was definitely arson.”

  Lisa collapsed into a chair.

  “Chief Larson has already called the police,” said Mr. Franklin tiredly. “There’ll be a scandal, I’m afraid. Lisa, if you did this, why? How could you betray me this way?”

  Lisa stared down at her hands.

  “Well, Lisa?” asked Laurel bitingly. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

  Lisa looked up. “I’m really sorry,” she quavered. “But you all have to believe me. I had nothing to do with setting the fire. I could never do such a terrible thing.”

  Mr. Franklin’s gaze softened for a moment. Then he drew himself up. “Nancy, can you help clear Lisa’s name?” he asked.

  “I certainly hope so,” said Nancy. She wanted to believe Lisa was innocent, too. But she couldn’t ignore the fact that Lisa was obviously holding something back. Until she could prove otherwise, Lisa was the prime suspect right now.

  “The first thing we need to do is go over alibis,” Nancy said. “We were all here at the time of the fire. The only one who left the house was Lisa.”

  “I told you, I didn’t set the fire!” Lisa insisted.

  “Then maybe you saw someone who did,” Nancy said. “Think, Lisa, did you notice anything strange? A car? Signs of another person?”

  Lisa shook her head helplessly. “No.”

  Mr. Franklin sighed. “But why did you want to hide the fact that you were at Franklin Place?”

  Lisa jumped up. “I’m not trying to hide anything!” she burst out. “I knew you’d all think I was guilty! You never believe anything I say!”

  “Wait a minute,” said Nancy. “All of this has been a shock, I know. But getting mad at one another won’t help.”

  “Nancy’s right,” said Ned. Lisa sat down again.

  Laurel leaned forward in her chair. “There is one other possibility,” she said hesitantly, glancing at her sister. “Richard Bates, Lisa’s boyfriend.”

  “No,
no! Not Richard!” Lisa cried. “Why would he destroy Franklin Place?”

  “He might have done it to—well, to help you,” Laurel answered. “Richard did drive you home today after you called from the office and asked him to pick you up. And you know what kind of a mood you were in then.”

  “What does that have to do with arson?” Lisa snapped.

  Laurel bit her lip. “Well, did you tell Richard you wished Franklin Place would burn to the ground? I’m only trying to help,” she added quickly.

  Lisa looked frightened again. “I may have said something like that,” she admitted. “But Richard’s the last person who would set a fire. You have to believe me. He’d never do anything like that!”

  Mr. Franklin seemed to have run out of patience. “Well, Lisa, according to you, no one set the fire.”

  “I didn’t say that!” cried Lisa hotly.

  “Calm down, everyone,” Nancy said. “Lisa, this may be important. Where was Richard this evening after he dropped you at home?”

  “I don’t know, but he wasn’t with me,” Lisa answered.

  “You’re sure you didn’t ask him to meet you at Franklin Place?”

  “No,” Lisa insisted. “He dropped me off here, and he left. I don’t know where he went after that.”

  Mr. Franklin squared his shoulders decisively. There was a look of relief on his face. “Well, Nancy,” he said briskly, “I think it’s pretty clear that your first job is to investigate Richard Bates. I suggest you do it right away.”

  “No!” Lisa shouted.

  Nancy and Ned exchanged looks. “Your father is right,” Nancy told Lisa. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to use your car to drive to San Rafael tomorrow morning.”

  Lisa thought for a moment. “Okay,” she answered finally. “But only if I go along.”

  “No way,” Nancy said quickly. “It’s best if you stay home tomorrow. The police and fire chief may want to ask you questions. If you’re not here, it could look suspicious.”

  “Oh, all right,” Lisa grumbled. Abruptly, she stood up. “I’m exhausted,” she said with a huge yawn. “I’m going to bed right now.”

  Nancy was surprised when both Mr. Franklin and Laurel smiled. “Family joke,” Laurel explained. “Lisa falls asleep at the drop of a hat—and once she’s asleep, there’s no way to wake her up. If she doesn’t go up now, we’ll have to drag her upstairs.”

  “I think we should all go to bed,” Mr. Franklin announced. “Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day, I’m afraid. Christopher, can you show yourself out?”

  Mr. Toomey had been so quiet until now that Nancy had almost forgotten he was there. Now he stood up quickly. “Of course,” he said. “Unless there’s anything more I can do for you tonight, sir.”

  “No, no,” said Mr. Franklin with a smile. “You’ve been helpful enough already. You go home and get some rest.”

  “All right,” Mr. Toomey said. “Good night, everyone.”

  Although she’d said she was sleepy, Lisa wasn’t in the bedroom when Nancy went upstairs. Nancy stepped back into the hall and saw that the telephone cord was stretched away from the table again.

  She stepped quietly toward the alcove. Lisa was curled up inside, speaking in a hushed, urgent voice. Nancy couldn’t catch anything she was saying.

  Just then a window slammed down somewhere in the house. Startled, Lisa looked up and saw Nancy watching her. She slammed down the receiver and scrambled to her feet.

  “I—uh—was just calling a friend about some homework,” she said.

  Nancy said nothing. Had Lisa called Richard to warn him?

  As if she had read Nancy’s mind, Lisa rushed up and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Nancy, Richard is the sweetest, nicest boy in the world,” she declared. “He couldn’t do anything wrong. Not Richard!”

  “That’s probably what we’ll find out, then,” said Nancy reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Lisa. And don’t do anything foolish. Promise?”

  “Sure,” Lisa muttered.

  It had been a long day. Nancy fell asleep quickly, but she didn’t sleep very soundly. Strange dreams kept flickering around the edges of her mind.

  She was lying in a dark, square room. Doors kept opening and shutting, but for some reason Nancy couldn’t open her eyes. A shadowy figure stared down at her, then flitted silently away. What did it want?

  Nancy sat bolt upright. Lisa was sleeping peacefully in the bed across the room. The only sound outside was the chirping of birds.

  Just a dream, Nancy told herself with relief, and fell back to sleep.

  When she woke up again, sun was streaming into the room. Lisa was still asleep. Nancy washed and dressed as quietly as she could, then slipped out of the room and went downstairs.

  Ned was waiting for her in the breakfast room. “Looks as though we’re about the last ones up,” he said. “Mr. Toomey came and picked up Laurel and Uncle Bob about a half hour ago. They’re on their way to talk to the fire chief. They left us a road map showing how to get to San Rafael.”

  “Then let’s go,” said Nancy. Quickly, she drained a glass of juice and picked up a blueberry muffin from the basket on the table. “It’s a gorgeous day,” she said. “At least we’ll have a nice drive.”

  The road to San Rafael curved through deep green woods filled with giant redwood trees. Then it climbed high into the mountains, giving breathtaking views of the valleys below.

  Nancy was enjoying herself at the wheel. Lisa’s red Camaro handled easily, and a fresh, crisp breeze was blowing through the open windows. “Wow!” she said. “Look at that!” On one side of the road the land dropped sharply in a steep, jagged cliff. “We sure don’t have hills like this in River Heights!”

  “I’ll watch the view. You watch the road,” said Ned.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’m paying attention,” said Nancy. They were heading across a patch of rough gravel into a tight curve now. Nancy swung the wheel to take the curve.

  To her surprise, the car didn’t respond. It seemed to drag slightly, as though she’d stepped on the brakes. Then it swerved to the left.

  “What’s going on?” Nancy said. She slowed down as they rounded the curve, then stepped lightly on the gas.

  All of a sudden everything went wrong.

  The car lurched horribly, then swerved onto the shoulder. Nancy slammed her foot down on the brakes. The rear end of the Camaro skidded into the guardrail on the opposite side. “We’re out of control!” she cried, trying frantically to steer the car back into the lane.

  Then the car swung wildly around. The last thing Nancy saw was the sheer drop off the edge of the road.

  6

  All in Black

  There was a terrible thud, and Nancy was hurled against the steering wheel. The car slammed against the guardrail and jumped forward again. It spun, nearly flipping over. For a terrifying moment Nancy was afraid they were going to pitch over the cliff. Then the Camaro hit the guardrail at an angle and shuddered to a stop.

  Nancy had closed her eyes while the car was spinning. Now she opened them and looked out the window.

  All she could see was the sheer drop down a ravine filled with jagged rocks and rubble.

  A wave of faintness washed over Nancy. She leaned against the steering wheel and forced herselfto breathe deeply.

  “Are you all right?” asked Ned. He was very pale, but otherwise he looked unhurt.

  “I’m fine.” Nancy reached over and squeezed his hand. “How are you?” she asked.

  “No broken bones,” Ned said with a smile. “I never doubted your driving for a minute.” Still, Nancy could see that he was shaken by their close call.

  “We’d better check the damage,” Nancy said. “I guess I’ll have to get out on your side.” The left side of the car was wedged tightly against the guardrail.

  A quick look revealed that the left side of the car was badly dented. They had also bent the guardrail. Nancy was grateful the low fence had done its job.

  “We sure were
lucky,” Ned said, echoing her thoughts. Together they peered down the side of the steep ravine.

  Nancy shuddered. If it hadn’t been for the guardrail, they could easily have been killed.

  Ned walked around to the back of the car. “The left tire is flat,” he called. “That must be what put us into the skid.”

  Nancy hurried to Ned’s side. They would have to change the tire, but first they’d have to get the car away from the rail. She got behind the wheel to steer while Ned pushed the car toward the road. They moved it very slowly, inching it away from the rail. When it was safely on the shoulder, Nancy set the brake.

  After she and Ned had changed the flat tire, they lowered the Camaro back down. Ned inspected the damaged tire and gave a long, low whistle. “Take a look at that!” he said.

  Nancy knelt beside him. Ned tilted the tire, pointing to a spot where a neat hole had burst through.

  “That explains it,” Ned said, shaking his head. “We really had a close call. A blowout like that is super dangerous.”

  “Only I don’t think it was a blowout,” Nancy said slowly. “In fact, I don’t think it was an accident at all.”

  Nancy pointed to the puncture. It was a clean, round hole. “This hole was made with some kind of sharp instrument,” she said. “And there was no loud explosion the way there would be with a blowout.”

  Nancy stood up and brushed the dirt off the knees of her jeans. “This was no accident, Ned. Someone punctured that tire on purpose.”

  Ned looked stunned. “You’re right. There was no explosion, now that I think of it. But who would do something like this? And why?”

  Nancy scanned the road in both directions. “My guess is that the tire was punctured before we left the house. We were supposed to have a flat tire and lose air slowly while we drove along. By the time the tire was completely flat, we’d be stranded.”

  “What are you saying?” Ned asked.

  “That someone wanted to keep us from reaching San Rafael University right away.”

  Ned raised his brows. “Lisa?”

  Nancy nodded. Quickly, she told Ned about seeing Lisa talking on the phone the night before. “She said she was calling a friend about homework, but I didn’t believe her,” Nancy said. Then she described the strange dream she’d had. “Now I think I wasn’t dreaming,” Nancy said. “I think I must have woken up enough to sense Lisa coming and going from the bedroom.”