that up.â Brenda sniffed. âYouâre jealous because for once I beat you touncovering a big crime. Besides, I have the original photograph right here to prove youâre wrong.â
Brenda shuffled through the papers on her desk and handed Nancy a manila envelope. Nancy slid out an eight-by-ten black and white photograph.
âBrenda, this doesnât prove anything,â she argued. âDid you meet the person who gave you this photo and told you about the fencing ring?â
âWhat do you think? Of course I met him!â Brenda replied indignantly. She glanced warily at Nancy and Bess. âDonât even bother trying to find out who it is. You should both know that as a journalist Iâm protected by the First Amendment. Iâll never reveal my sources.â
Nancy tried not to let her frustration show. âBut, Brenda, the story is a lie. The person who gave you this information was breaking the law.â
âWhich means youâre protecting a criminal, not the truth,â Bess added forcefully.
Brenda still didnât look convinced. âHow do you two know that Caroline Hill wore that bracelet constantly?â she shot back. âFor all you know, sheâs lying!â
Nancy could see that Brenda wasnât going to be helpful. She was just about to slide the photograph back into its envelope when she noticed something on the reverse side. It looked as if something had been written down, then erased.
Squinting at the slight indentations, Nancytried to make out the words. The first word was âContact.â And beneath it two telephone numbers were listed. Nancy quickly memorized the numbers, then replaced the photograph in the envelope and handed it back to Brenda.
âWell, I guess I misjudged you,â Nancy said, getting up. She wanted to leave before she forgot those numbers! âCome on, Bess, letâs go.â
Bess looked startled, but she stood and followed Nancy from the newsroom. âWhy did you let her get away with that?â she whispered as soon as they were out of Brendaâs earshot.
Nancy was muttering the numbers to herself. Just outside the newsroom, she stopped abruptly to write them down in the small notebook she carried in her shoulder bag. âI didnât, Bess, not exactly. I still think we should tell Mr. Carlton about the doctored photo. Even if you and I canât get Brenda to print a retraction, her own father can.â
She pointed to the numbers sheâd just written down. âBut first, I have to call these phone numbers. Brenda wrote them on the back of the photo, and Iâm pretty sure theyâre the numbers for the person who gave her the photo and the story.â
In the lobby they found a pay phone. After digging in her bag for change, Nancy dialed the first number. There was no answer.
âTry the other number,â Bess encouraged. She bit her lip expectantly as Nancy fished her quarterfrom the change slot, fed it in again, and dialed.
The phone rang several times. Nancy was about to hang up, when someone answered.
âHello,â a cheerful manâs voice answered. âPatrick Gleasonâs campaign headquarters. How may I help you?â
Chapter
Four
N ANCY OPENED HER MOUTH, but no words came out. She slammed the phone down, stunned.
âNancy, what is it?â Bess asked.
âThat second number is for Patrick Gleasonâs headquarters!â Nancy said.
Bessâs eyes widened. âDo you think Gleason is the one whoâs trying to frame Caroline?â she asked. âPatrick Gleason may not be the best choice for mayor, but I never heard my dad say anything about him being sleazy enough to do something like this.â
âFrom what Ned says, heâs a really honest guy,â Nancy agreed. âBut if heâs desperate enough to win the election . . .â Her voice trailed off. Then she said, âOr maybe someone whoâs working on