A Race Against Time Read online

  While I was working on a possible scenario with Jasper as the pilot, I slumped down onto the canvas piled on the closet floor. My legs ached, so even sitting on the smelly deck cover was better than standing one more minute. I suddenly realized how tired I was. I’d been going nearly full strength for a long time, and it was finally catching up with me. I pulled an energy bar out of my backpack and chomped it down in four bites. Then I washed it down with a couple of slugs of water. It tasted so good!

  My eyelids felt really heavy, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw the image of the old road moving between the spokes of my front bike wheel. I could feel my legs pumping the wheels again, and hear the hum of the tire buzzing in my ears.

  Soon the boat seemed to settle into the river current as it chugged further away from the pier. It was just an old fishing boat, but it didn’t feel as if it were moving very fast. I figured the pilot was maneuvering at about half-speed to keep the noise level down.

  The boat seemed to rock from side to side as it chugged along, and I scrunched further down into the canvas. At first I had trouble keeping my eyes open. Then I had trouble opening them at all. Finally I no longer heard the motor or smelled the fishy canvas. The only sensation I had was rocking from side to side. . . .

  THUNK!

  A loud noise vibrated through the boat and jolted me out of my sleepy fog. I shot straight up to my feet and shook my head. There was just a sliver of moonlight slicing through the small screened opening at the top of the closet. I checked my watch. Four o’clock!

  My thoughts tumbled. I wasn’t just coming out of a daydream. I’d slept for over an hour!

  My heart started fluttering again, and I took a couple of deep breaths to clear my head. Footsteps thumped around the deck to the cabin door, and then down the three steps into the room.

  I stood perfectly still, my ears straining to hear. There was a shuffling noise, and then a creak. And then it was still.

  There was no sound for almost fifteen minutes. Then snorting and snuffling sounds filled the air. Someone was snoring! I realized that the pilot must have fallen asleep on the mattress across the room.

  I hadn’t even thought of this possibility. I ditched all the plans I’d made and sketched out a new one.

  After considering different courses of action, I decided to risk leaving the boat while the person slept. If it was Officer Rainey, I would still go with my original plan—telling him that we were two colleagues hot on the trail of the bad guy. If it was Jasper, I’d have to make something up on the spot.

  I figured that trying to sneak off the boat gave me at least a chance of leaving without discovery. All other options began with my being discovered.

  I made myself wait another fifteen minutes or so before doing anything. The snoring had continued without any pause, and it was definitely loud enough to cover my exit noises.

  Okay, I told myself at last. Here we go. . . .

  I unlocked the door and opened it slightly. Even I couldn’t hear the latch click above the snoring. I moved behind the door for a moment, fully hidden from the person sleeping on the mattress.

  The snoring continued, so I stepped out into the room. The sleeper was Officer Rainey, still in his uniform. I crept across the small room, fully aware of the dangerous cargo I carried on my back.

  Up the three steps, across the deck, and over to the pier. So far, so good. I stepped carefully off the boat, trying to cause as little motion as possible. I could still hear the snores as I vaulted across the pier and onto land. I noticed there was another boat tied to the pier. It was a high-end speedboat, perfect for a rapid escape downriver.

  The moon was nearly gone. I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. I didn’t really know exactly where I was, but I figured I had at least a couple hours’ hike back to where I had hidden my bike.

  I jogged quietly up the pier, my legs keeping time with my pounding pulse.

  “Aaaaaschwhewww!” The loudest, longest sneeze I’d ever heard punctuated the stillness. When I looked around, the light flicked on in the boat’s cabin. Through the window I could see Rainey stretch and stand up. Then he walked toward the steps leading up on deck.

  For a minute I couldn’t move. It was like one of those dreams in which you want to run, but you can’t. I looked around for a hiding place.

  I saw a shed halfway up the hill and raced for it. The slapping of my full pack against my back spurred me on. I darted into the shabby wooden shed and closed the door.

  Through a crack between the boards I watched Rainey pad around the deck of the boat. He had brought some kind of food with him—I was too far away to tell what it was exactly. He sat on a box and began eating.

  Just watching him eat made me hungry again. For a second I dreamed about Hannah’s banana bread. Then I forced myself to focus on the present.

  I knew I didn’t dare leave, or he’d see me. I stood there watching, waiting, my senses picking up on my immediate environment. The inside of the shed smelled really weird. It was a musty smell, sort of earthy, combined with another scent. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

  I could hear Rainey’s footsteps on the boat deck. He seemed restless, not content to just sit on the box. As I watched, he’d get up and pace around every few minutes.

  Then I heard another sound—something shuffling around behind me. My whole body jumped. I wasn’t alone in the shed.

  No light penetrated the little structure at all. The moon was low in the west, and the sun hadn’t begun to rise yet.

  At first I was afraid to turn on my penlight—afraid Rainey would see the light moving inside the shed. But after a few more shuffling, slithering sounds, I didn’t have any choice. I had to have light.

  I swung my backpack around to get at the front pocket, and this brought on a flurry of noises. It was as if someone was sweeping a large broom across the floor. I unzipped the pocket. More sounds.

  I turned my back to the door to try to shield what I was about to do from Rainey. Then I flashed my light onto the floor at my feet. I moved the arc of the light beam out around the floor.

  I was sharing the shed with dozens of snakes! All sizes and several varieties coiled and crept away from the light. Yuck! I could feel the packets of cash in my backpack as I pressed backward into the door, trying to get as far away from the slithering creatures as possible.

  My mind flashed on what Jasper had told me about wanting to start a snake business, and what Susie had overheard him say about catching snakes.

  The snakes I saw in the light were the garden variety of nonpoisonous snakes. But they were still not something I’d choose to share a shed with at night—or even in the daytime, for that matter. Which was worse, I wondered: being trapped in the shed with snakes, or letting Rainey know I was there?

  I sent Rainey a strong telepathic message to leave. Jump in the speedboat, I pleaded silently. Go! Head for the city. Head for Brazil. Anywhere. Just get out of here!

  I craned my head around, nervous about turning my back on the slithering assembly. Either Rainey had picked up on my plea, or his restlessness had come to a head. He went down into the cabin and came back out, carrying the panniers. He obviously didn’t know his saddlebags were full of newspapers.

  “Come on, come on,” I whispered. I was reaching the height of restlessness myself. I had to get out of that shed!

  I swept the light across the floor again, startling my roommates back into their coils. Then I turned to watch Rainey, my fingers firmly gripping the door handle.

  Rainey turned off the light in the cabin of the fishing boat, threw the panniers into the speedboat, and jumped in after them.

  The sound of the speedboat motor zooming into work mode didn’t mask the new sound I heard behind me. It wasn’t the garden variety snake kind of sound this time. This noise I’d heard only at zoos, and once when I was on a case in the California desert. Dry, hollow rattles echoed from the far corner of the shed.

  As the speedboat zoomed away, I
yanked open the door, dove outside, and slammed the door behind me. Then I raced down to the pier, and tumbled onto the old fishing boat. The key was dangling in the ignition. Yes! I turned on the engine and steered the boat away from the pier. The faint, rosy yellow glow of dawn was just beginning to seep over the trees on my right.

  It seemed to take a lot longer to get back up river to the pier where the fishing boat had first been docked. This was mainly because I wasn’t sure exactly where it was, and because it was so small and secluded that I ran into several dead ends before I finally found it.

  I moored the boat and went back up the hill to my bike, which was still safely hidden under the brambles. I took off my backpack and fell onto the ground. Lying back on the dewy grass felt wonderful! It had been a long time since I’d been able to lie down. I stretched and ate some fruit that I found in my panniers. I had only a few snacks left, and I knew I’d need some later.

  I had a bottle and a half of water left, so I allowed myself one-quarter of a bottle. It was positively the best water I’d ever tasted in my life.

  With a new wave of energy I went back to work. I took the money out of my backpack and stuffed it into my panniers, followed by my folded empty backpack.

  While I worked, I noticed the DEAD END sign I’d seen so many hours earlier when I’d first arrived at this hill. I startled myself with a loud giggle. Being trapped in a dark shed full of snakes is bad enough. But when the silence is broken by rattling noises, the words dead end take on a whole new meaning.

  I stood, stretched again, and checked my watch. It was a little after eight. I figured I was about three hours from town, so it would take at least that long to return. Realistically I knew it might take longer because the energy I felt was mostly mental and emotional. Physically I was exhausted. I was determined, though, to get the money back to River Heights.

  I knew it wouldn’t do any good to call my team from where I was; I was still in the wilderness area, too far from town for cell reception. So I strapped on my helmet, hopped on my bike, and started for home. My goal was clear: to get the money back in the bank. Preferably before the race was over.

  The sun was warm on my bike. I kept myself going by keeping my mind busy. I visualized my team, and could feel their support and encouragement even though they didn’t know where I was. I thought about Mrs. Mahoney, Mr. Holman, and all the other supporters and people who’d pledged money for the race. I thought about my dad and Hannah, and how proud they’d be that I’d solved the case. And most of all, I thought about the people who would benefit from the Open Your Heart Fund.

  Periodically I dipped into my snacks, and I stopped at a couple of streams to rehydrate and splash water on my face.

  At last I reached the road that was the final leg of the racecourse. I knew there was no stopping now. As I approached the edge of town I rewarded myself with the last of my water and my final energy bar.

  I felt a rush of adrenaline when I pulled onto Main Street. Ahead I could see the bleachers full of fans. My dad and Hannah were in the front row, right on the finish line. Just seeing that Dad had made it back in time gave me a new burst of energy, and the whole weekend flashed through my mind in quick images. I barreled on, pumped by one final, thunderous cheer.

  I grinned and raised my arms for the crowd.

  “Nancy! Nancy!” Familiar voices chanted my name as I coasted along. Mrs. Mahoney and Mr. Holman—apparently released from jail—rushed up the street to greet me.

  How did they know I had the money? I wondered. Why was everyone so thrilled? I haven’t even told them about it yet. But then I noticed the ribbon trailing back from my shoulders—finish-line tape!

  14

  And the Winner Is?

  Drew! No way!” I heard Deirdre’s voice shouting behind me. She whammed her bike right into mine, and we both spilled to the pavement.

  She jumped to her feet and headed toward me. Her usually pale face was beet red with rage.

  “Nancy Drew!” Mr. Holman walked up, beating Deirdre to the punch—literally. He helped me to my feet.

  “There’s no way you won this race, Drew,” Deirdre shouted, as she pushed her way through the cheering throng beginning to crowd around me. “I’ve been so far ahead of you I haven’t even seen you! You couldn’t have caught up with and passed me without my knowing it. You had to have taken a shortcut. You totally cheated.”

  “Not exactly,” I said, righting my bike and removing the panniers. “I veered off course all right, but it was hardly a shortcut.”

  “I think you’d better explain yourself, Nancy,” Mr. Holman said. “I’m afraid Miss Shannon is right. The GPS recorders for your team stopped a couple of hours ago.”

  “Nancy Drew would never cheat,” Mrs. Mahoney said, joining us. “I’m sure she has a perfect explanation for everything. Don’t you, Nancy?”

  “Actually I do,” I said. “Mrs. Mahoney, Mr. Holman, could I please talk with you in private? And would you ask Chief McGinnis to join us?”

  “Certainly, Nancy,” Mrs. Mahoney answered. “Let’s go in the bank, shall we?”

  “Nancy!” Bess yelled. “Where have you been?” Bess asked, rushing up. George and Ned followed close behind her.

  “I’m okay, but what about you three?” I asked. “Mr. Holman says we were wiped off the GPS screen.”

  “Why don’t you ask Deirdre?” George said. “I’m sure she can clear it up—right, DeeDee?”

  “The only thing to get clear is that I won this race, Georgia,” Deirdre snarled. She had been joined by one of the Jensens—they looked so much alike, I couldn’t tell which one.

  Ned pulled me away from Deirdre. “We had all sorts of problems,” he told me. “Bess wrecked your bike on a treacherous part of the course that was mysteriously covered with slippery gravel. My bike lost half its cogset, and George’s had some weird steering problem that even Bess couldn’t repair. We’re sure Deirdre’s team was behind all of it—but of course, we have no proof. I mean, other than the fact that they were the only other team camped near us. We just drove in to file a report with the judges.”

  “I’m going to try something,” I told him. I reached into one of the panniers without opening it all the way. Then I pulled out the brass Gemini medallion and wandered casually back to where Bess, George, Deirdre, and Whoever Jensen stood.

  “Now what?” Deirdre said. “If you think you’re going to talk the race judges into taking away our rightful win, you’re way wrong,” she told me.

  “Actually, I had a question for your teammate here.” I showed the brass medallion to the twin. “Is this yours by any chance? You mentioned you were a Gemini, and—”

  His hand shot toward my palm as he interrupted me. “Where did you find that?” he asked. “I’ve been looking all over for it.” Okay, obviously he recognized the medallion.

  “Curiously enough, I found it under Ned’s car seat,” I said, smiling at him.

  “Then there’s no way it could be yours, Thad,” Deirdre cut in, glaring at her teammate. “Isn’t that right?”

  Thad looked a little surprised, but he pulled his hand back quickly and mumbled a low “Yes, I guess you’re right.”

  “I don’t know what you’re up to,” Deirdre said to me, her green eyes narrowed to squinty slits. “But it’s not going to work. Come on, Thad.”

  She turned and the two of them marched off in a lockstep of black and blue.

  “What about the money?” Bess asked. “Did you find it?”

  “It’s cool,” I said with a grin, patting the panniers.

  “You got it?” Ned shouted. “Unbelievable!”

  “Shhhh,” I warned my friends. “Most people don’t even know that it was gone—let alone that it’s back.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off Deirdre and Thad. She had pulled him over to the bench near the birdbath in the park across from the bank. It was the same bench where I had talked to Luther the day before. Deirdre looked like she was in her take-no-prisoners mode and g
iving Thad a real earful. In the background I could hear an announcer saying that if everyone would just be patient, the winning team would be introduced momentarily.

  I handed Ned the panniers. “You three go on into the bank,” I told my team. “Tell Mrs. Mahoney and the others that I’ll be right there.”

  Ned, Bess, and George followed Chief McGinnis, Mr. Holman, and Mrs. Mahoney into the bank. I walked around the crowd and ducked behind a large shrub in the small park. I was just a few yards from where Deirdre sat with her back to me. I could barely see her through the shrubbery, but I could hear every word.

  “I can’t believe you’d do something so stupid,” she said. “Nancy was trying to set you up, and you almost fell for it!”

  “Hey,” Thad answered her. “That medallion is important to me. It was a gift from a special friend.”

  “I don’t care,” Deirdre snarled. “The plan from the very beginning was a few competitive pranks with the bikes during the race. Punctured tubes, oiled gravel, destabilized steering—all approved, all effective. I even said rattle them a little with Ned’s bike the night before.”

  “And we did,” Thad said with pride. “Right there on campus in open daylight. One of us stands guard, the other snips the chain.”

  “Keep your voice down,” Deirdre hissed. “But I told you then and I’m telling you now—rolling that car into the creek was a mistake. That was going too far.”

  “We couldn’t resist,” Thad said, his voice lower. “When we drove back to town, there was his car just sitting there. It was too easy. And we didn’t roll the car into the creek. I just released the emergency brake. It rolled in on its own.”

  “Not funny,” Deirdre said. “I’m warning you. Forget the stupid medallion and keep your mouth shut. And tell your brother and Malcolm to do the same.”