Hotline to Danger Read Online Free

right,” she said.
    B.D. nodded. “Radio for the lab technicians and the medical examiner, then interview these kids. I want separate statements.”
    While the teens waited, the police officer went back to her patrol car, and B.D. went back to the unmarked car. He returned a few moments later with a camera with built-in flash.
    â€œMay I come with you?” Nancy asked.
    B.D. hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure. Carla can take statements from your friends, and we can get your statement later. As I recall, you’ve got a good eye for evidence, and I could use your help.”
    Nancy showed the detective where she and Bess had been when they discovered the body. Then they walked down the tracks, careful to stay out of the way of the second officer, who was cordoning off the area with yellow tape.
    When they reached the body, B.D. raised his camera and shot a dozen pictures from different angles. Then he crouched down.
    â€œDoesn’t look like theft,” he said, pointing to the dead guy’s back pocket. Nancy could see the rectangular bulge of a wallet.
    B.D. slipped on rubber gloves, then gingerly pulled the wallet from the pocket and opened it. “Paul Remer. And he has twenty bucks still on him. Recognize the name?”
    â€œNo. But if he’s from the area, Tony might.”
    â€œLet’s get him over here.” Standing up, he called out to Tony, then glanced at Nancy. “I’mgoing to turn the body over. Think you can handle it?”
    Nancy nodded. Grabbing one arm, B.D. carefully rolled the body onto its back. Nancy suppressed a gasp. Paul Remer’s jacket was unzipped, and his T-shirt was stained with blood.
    â€œKnife wound,” B.D. commented. “And look at this.” He pointed to the shirtfront where someone had slashed a crude letter N in the fabric. “ N is the sign of the Nighthawks. I’d say this was gang related.”
    â€œThe Nighthawks!” Tony exclaimed behind Nancy.
    B.D. nodded. “Yeah. You know the guy?”
    â€œHis name’s Paul Remer. He works at the teen center,” Tony said, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. “Look, Detective Hawkins, I grew up in this area and know members of the Nighthawks. They may be into some stupid stuff, but they’ve never been violent.”
    â€œUntil now,” B.D. said tersely.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    More than an hour later, Nancy, Bess, Tony, and George climbed wearily back into the Mustang.
    Nancy was turning off Fourteenth Street when Tony sat up in his seat and snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute! I think I might know who our mysterious caller is.”
    â€œWhat?” Nancy took her eyes off the road for a moment to look at Tony. “Who is she?”
    â€œI’ve seen Paul at the center with a girl,” Tony said. “I don’t know her name, but she rooms with one of the hotline volunteers, Billie Peters. I think Billie’s letting her stay at her apartment until she finds her own place.”
    â€œI think we should check it out.” Nancy looked in the rearview mirror at Bess and George. “It’s late, guys. What do you think?”
    â€œLet’s do it,” George said, and Bess nodded. “What about the police?” Tony asked.
    Nancy stopped for a red light. “Let’s see if we find anything at the apartment. Then I’ll call B.D.” She faced the windshield again. “Where to?”
    Twenty minutes later, Nancy, Bess, and George were following Tony down the third-floor hall of an apartment house not far from the teen center. One dim bulb glowed overhead, spotlighting the graffiti scribbled across the stained wallpaper.
    â€œNice place,” George commented.
    â€œIt’s cheap,” Tony said over his shoulder. He stopped in front of apartment 3A. “This is where Billie lives. You guys met her the other day when you watched the hotline in action.”
    â€œI remember,”