010 Buried Secrets Read Online Free Page B

files. But the files left her with more questions than answers.
    Charles Ogden, the Harringtons’ chauffeur, had left River Heights shortly after John Harrington’s death, and there was no record of where he had gone. And even though Neil Gray had been a strong suspect, the police hadn’t been able to pin anything on him. There was no address listed for him, either.
    Nancy was disappointed—he had been her prime suspect. Then, just as she was about to shut off the computer, she noticed something. Two of Gray’s campaign workers had been Gerald and Joyce Nickerson—Ned’s parents.
    Good, Nancy thought. I’ll talk to Ned’s parents, and I’ll make sure to do it while Ned’s home—at least we’ll be together. She shut off the computer, and went to a pay phone in the hall. No one was home at the Nickersons’.
    What now? So far, she had hundreds of questions and no answers. Then Nancy remembered Harrington House. Of course, she thought. The best place to start an investigation was at the scene of the crime.
    • • •
    A few minutes later Nancy’s Mustang was smoothly climbing up the narrow winding road to the Harrington mansion. As Nancy drove, she kept catching glimpses of the massive house. Built of stone, it was three stories high and looked as long as a city block. At one end was a tower. Nancy knew it overlooked the cliffs leading down to the river. The circular tower room had two small windows facing the river; one of them was the window from which John Harrington had to have jumped or fallen. Catching another glimpse of the tower and one window, Nancy shook her head. It just wasn’t possible to fall out of a window like that.
    The road curved again, and the house was blocked from view by the many trees on the vast estate. Finally Nancy pulled up at the massive iron gates and got out.
    The gates were locked, and the gatehouse beyond looked deserted. “Hello!” Nancy shouted. “Anybody in there?”
    No answer. Nancy walked a little way back down the road, hoping to find an easier way to get onto the grounds than by climbing that enormous iron gate. But she couldn’t see anything because a high masonry wall ran around three sides of the estate and blocked everything but the highest treetops.
    Nancy moved off the road and into the woods, skirting the wall, until she saw the red-tiled roof of the tower, which loomed high above her. Nancy continued to move straight ahead a few more feet until she could hear the river far below. Cautiously walking to the edge of the cliffs, she stared down at the ragged ledge and sharp rocks where Harrington’s body had been found.
    Was it suicide? she wondered with a shudder. Or was it murder?
    Before she’d finished the thought, Nancy felt a hand close tightly on her shoulder.

Chapter

Four
    N ANCY ’ S REFLEXES TOOK over. Grabbing the hand, she crouched slightly, then straightened, pulling whoever was behind her over her shoulder and flat onto the ground—only a few yards from the cliff edge. Gasping, she looked down and saw the dark brown eyes of Todd Harrington staring up at her.
    “Mr. Harrington!” she cried. “I’m sorry, I—are you all right?”
    Todd Harrington sat up slowly and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m still in one piece,” he said. “I think.” Then he smiled. “This is the second time you’ve knocked me down! You’re not only a detective, you’re a judo expert.”
    “Not really an expert,” Nancy said, holding out her hand to help him up. “I have a friend who is, though, and she taught me that move.”
    “Well, it’s a good thing your friend wasn’t here,” Todd remarked. “I might not have survived her.”
    “I’m really sorry,” Nancy said again. “I was just thinking so hard that I didn’t hear you come up behind me.”
    “Next time I’ll shout a warning,” he said, and they both laughed. “Well,” he went on, “I hope you don’t mind if I ask what you’re doing here. It’s okay, of course, but I’m just