Hotline to Danger Read Online Free Page B

makeup. She had strong features and snapping eyes, and was almost as tall as Tony.
    â€œI want to know what you’re doing here,” she demanded. “And I want to know now.”
    Tony exhaled. “Oh, boy.” He looked at Nancy. “Maybe you’d better explain.”
    â€œHow about if I see whether or not the floor lamp works first?” George suggested.
    â€œAnd I’d better call the police,” Nancy added,heading over to the coffee table, where she’d spotted a phone. “B.D. is going to want to investigate this.”
    Reaching out one hand, Billie grabbed Nancy’s wrist with a grip like steel. “Oh, no, you don’t. Not until you explain what’s going on.”
    Nancy locked eyes with Billie but then sighed. “That’s fair,” she finally said, and slowly, Billie let go of her wrist.
    While Tony gave Bess a hand up, George found an outlet and plugged the lamp in. She turned the switch, and light flooded the room. After putting the cushions back on the sofa and picking up the two wooden chairs, everyone sat down except for Billie. Tony took one of the chairs. Bess and George sat down on the couch, and Nancy perched on the arm of the sofa.
    Frowning, Billie remained standing in the middle of the room, her arms crossed over her chest as she surveyed the foursome. “Okay, now explain.”
    Nancy began with the call to the hotline. When she mentioned the murder, Billie’s mouth dropped open, and her shoulders stiffened.
    â€œPaul Remer is dead?” she repeated.
    â€œYes. Did you know him?” Nancy asked.
    Billie nodded. “From the teen center. And he and Rachel were sort of dating.”
    â€œRachel’s your roommate?” Nancy asked. When Billie nodded, she added, “Do you thinkshe was with him tonight? Could she be the hotline caller?”
    Billie put up her hands in protest. “Whoa, there. You sound like a cop.”
    Tony leaned forward. “Nancy’s just trying to find out what happened, Billie.”
    â€œWell, don’t ask me,” Billie retorted. “I barely know Rachel, except to tell you that her last name is Thackett. I met her a week or so ago. She came into the teen center with Paul. He was asking around about a place for her to crash.
    â€œShe was willing to pitch in for the rent just for sleeping on the sofa, so I figured she could stay here awhile. Besides, I work until one in the morning,” she said, pulling a waitress apron from her jacket pocket and holding it up, “and she was gone during the day. So we never even saw each other.”
    â€œWhat did she do all day?” Nancy asked.
    Billie shrugged. “How should I know? She met Paul at the community college, but I don’t think she was taking courses there.”
    â€œThough Paul was taking courses,” Tony said.
    Bess slumped back on the sofa and yawned. “Now can Nancy call the police? It’s getting late.”
    â€œI’ll say.” George glanced down at her watch. “It’s almost two o’clock.”
    â€œPolice!” Billie snorted. “What for? It’s not like whoever broke in could’ve found anything valuable enough to steal.”
    â€œI think the break-in might be related to the murder,” Nancy explained. “Someone could have been searching for something.”
    Tony looked puzzled. “Like what?”
    Nancy stood up and began pacing. “I’m not sure. But what if the murderer knew there was a witness? And what if he or she thought it was Rachel?”
    â€œYou mean the murderer was looking for Rachel?” Bess’s eyes widened.
    â€œOr since they couldn’t find her, they were looking for something to lead them to Rachel.” Nancy stopped in front of the phone. “Whatever happened, we need to call the police. May I?”
    Reluctantly, Billie nodded her head.
    After she’d talked to B.D., Nancy hung up the phone, spun