Danger on Parade Read Online Free Page B

today?”
    Bess took a deep breath, then began retracing her steps from the time she and Nancy had left Eloise Drew’s apartment that morning. When she finished, the detective stepped away to confer with the two other police officers. They had finished checking the police barriers and were waiting nearby.
    Nancy tried to give Bess an encouraging smile, but Bess merely stared down at her feet.
    â€œMs. Marvin,” Detective Green said, returning to the group, “so far the only evidence wehave—and I’ll admit it’s not much—points to you as the one who set up the explosion. So I’m going to have to ask you not to go back to River Heights just yet.”
    Bess’s face was bright red. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she nodded wordlessly. A moment later, Detective Green gestured to the other officers. After saying goodbye to Jill and Neil, they got into their cars and left.
    â€œJill, I’m so s-sorry, but I really didn’t do anything wrong,” Bess stammered, giving Jill a beseeching look.
    Jill hesitated for a moment. “I—I know,” she finally said, rubbing her temples as if she had a headache. “Look, it’s over. I’m sure the police will find out what really happened. Let’s try not to think about it.” Despite her words, Jill didn’t look entirely convinced of Bess’s innocence.
    â€œThis job’s not all fun and games, huh, Jill?” Neil said, patting Jill on the back. “At least there’s still enough time to repair the damaged floats and balloons before Thanksgiving.”
    Nancy turned to gaze at the studio warehouse. “Was there a lot of damage?” she asked.
    â€œCome on. You can see for yourself,” Jill said with a sigh. “We were pretty lucky. The fire was put out right away, and the floats were far enough away from the tanks that they only received minor damage. And most of the balloons were at the other warehouse,” she explained. She stepped past the police barricades and used her ID cardto unlock the outside door, then led the way down the long hallway to the studio.
    The group paused inside the studio door to look around. The floor and wall close to the tanks were completely burned. Small yellow caution triangles had been laid out on the floor. Some of the windows had been blown out, leaving shattered glass everywhere, and there was considerable water damage. But farther away from the tanks there was less damage.
    Jill pointed to the cat balloon Nancy had seen earlier. Its face was charred, and one paw was nothing more than a large burnt hole.
    â€œIs there any word on how Jules is doing?” Bess asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
    â€œWe called the hospital and found out that he’s okay, except for a sprained wrist and a slight concussion,” Neil answered. “They’re keeping him overnight in the hospital for observation.”
    Glancing at her watch, Nancy realized that it was already a quarter to five. She and Bess were due to meet Greg at Young You in just fifteen minutes. Still, she didn’t want to leave if Jill needed them. “Jill, is there anything we can do?” Nancy asked.
    Jill forced a smile. “No, no. Neil and I can handle it,” she said wearily. “I’m sorry I had to call you back, but the police insisted.”
    Nancy was lost in thought while Jill called them a taxi. She knew that Bess hadn’t had anything to do with the explosion, but someonehad. Two questions kept nagging at Nancy: Who was responsible? And why had they done it?
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    â€œI know I’m going to jail,” Bess said glumly twenty minutes later. A cab had just let off Nancy and her in front of a brownstone building at Thirty-sixth Street and Seventh Avenue.
    â€œBess, the police didn’t say anything about jail,” Nancy said, hesitating outside the building. A brass plate next to the door read Young You. Even