Heart of Ice Read Online Free Page A

equipment?”
    â€œIf there’s a lot missing, Alex will make a trip to Tacoma to buy some things,” Tsu replied.
    â€œI think I’ll go check out the gear,” Ned murmured, giving Nancy a peck on the cheek. “Maybe I’ll learn something,” he whispered.
    Nancy smiled, realizing that Ned was giving her an opportunity to talk to Tsu. She did want to ask some people a few questions, and Tsu was one of them. If she sifted through some of the papers at the same time, she might come up with a clue.
    After Ned disappeared through the storage room doorway, Nancy asked, “How can I help?”
    â€œIf you could put the labeled piles into their files, it would be great,” Tsu said, blowing a loosestrand of hair out of her eyes. “I feel like I’m swimming in paper.”
    â€œI can see why,” Nancy commented as she sat down on the floor. “What is all of this stuff?”
    â€œMostly trip information,” Tsu said. “You know, different routes for climbs, route histories, information on the latest gear, and things like that.”
    Nancy glanced around, then picked up a pile of papers. “What’s Cadaver Gap?” she asked, noticing the name on the top sheet of paper.
    â€œIt’s a notorious gap between the Cowlitz and Ingraham glaciers on Mount Rainier,” Tsu answered, making a face. “It’s a pretty hairy area of the mountain.”
    â€œIf the name means anything, I believe it,” Nancy said as she began to skim an article. It was about all the accidents that had happened at Cadaver Gap—most of them fatal.
    â€œWill you be coming on the trip?” Nancy asked, slipping the articles into their file and getting back to her questioning.
    â€œYeah.” Tsu’s face lit up. “It’s going to be my last trip as an assistant guide. I’ve been working toward my certification for almost six months, and after this Wednesday I’ll be a full guide.”
    â€œThat’s great,” Nancy congratulated her. “Is that how long you’ve worked here, six months?”
    â€œYeah,” Tsu replied. “But it seems like much less. I guess because I like it so much.”
    â€œTsu,” Nancy said. “Did anything suspicious happen the night of the break-in?”
    â€œYou know, I keep going over and over that night in my mind, but I always come back to the same idea—it was just like any other night.”
    Nancy believed her. Tsu didn’t have any more clues about the ransacking than Nancy did.
    Just then Alex came into the room. “I’m going to have to go to Tacoma to buy some new gear,” he announced. “We just can’t take this trip without new ropes and carabiners.”
    Picking up the phone, Alex dialed home and told Kara his plans. “I’ll take your car since I already have it,” he said. “I’ll be home around three.” He apologized to Nancy for not having more time to talk with her.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Nancy responded, trying to hide her disappointment. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk when you get back.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    At twelve-thirty Nancy and Ned walked into The Kitchen, a comfortable cafe in Enumclawthat Logan had recommended. The smell of home-cooked breads and soups floated past Nancy’s nostrils as she scanned the dining room for an empty booth.
    Spotting one, she reached for Ned’s hand and together they weaved past chatting customers and waitresses carrying huge metal trays filled with plates of food.
    â€œWow, what a place,” Nancy commented as she slid into the booth. “I guess it’s Enumclaw’s hot spot for lunch.”
    â€œNo kidding,” Ned agreed with a grin. “If their sandwiches are half as good as they look, I’ll be satisfied.”
    Nancy ordered a BLT and a bowl of minestrone. Ned requested the turkey club, and within a few minutes their