“If you’re concerned about Ned’s care, don’t
be,” he began.
“It’s not that,” Nancy replied. She showed
him the gold medallion. “I found this just now
under Ned. It’s yours, isn’t it?”
Trainey took the key from her palm and
examined it. “Yes,” he said. “I noticed I’d lost
it a few days ago. Thanks.”
“How do you suppose it came to be lying
under Ned-now?” Nancy asked.
Trainey flushed. “What are you implying?”
“Professor Trainey,” Nancy said, “I’m a de-
tective. Something strange is going on here.
Ned asked me to help find out what it is.”
“Now, look here,” Trainey said impatiently.
“I have a research assistant in the hospital,
another of my students on the way there, fifty
marmots missing, and a crucial deadline com-
ing up in a couple of days. The last thing I need
is an amateur detective in my hair. Do I make
myself clear?”
Nancy remained calm. “Do you realize,”
she asked, “that someone from your group
could be behind all the trouble?”
Trainey’s eyes narrowed. “What do you
mean?
Knowing she finally had his full attention,
Nancy continued. “As I understand it, each
marmot’s transmitter has its own distinctive
code, right?
“Yes, of course,” Trainey replied, his voice
ominously low.
“So someone could use the computer to pin
down an animal’s location at any given mo-
ment?” she pressed.
“That’s what the equipment is designed to
do-if you know the codes,” Trainey replied.
Nancy fixed her eyes on the professor’s face.
“And who knows them?”
Trainey shrugged. “Everyone here, I sup-
pose. The list is in the computer. …” The
professor’s voice trailed off as he realized the
significance of what he had just said.
“It all points to an inside job, professor,”
Nancy said quietly.
Trainey scowled. “Look, Ms. Drew, are you
suspecting me of jeopardizing my project?
That’s insulting and crazy.”
“I’m not saying-” Nancy began.
The professor interrupted her. “I don’t have
time for this. Why don’t you go sightseeing or
something?” he barked, then stalked away.
As Nancy returned to the shed, she thought
that it was unlikely the professor would jeopar-
dize his own project, but until she could prove
otherwise, he had to be a suspect.
When she got back to the command post,
Ned was sitting up near the computer. Nancy
was glad to see that his color was better. “Can
you walk?” she asked him.
He smiled and assured her that he could.
“All right, we can go,” Jack said from the
doorway. As they walked across the camp-
ground to the parking area, he moved to Bess’s
side. “Are you coming to the hospital, too?”
Bess nodded, and Nancy noticed the interest
in her friend’s blue eyes.
“Good,” Jack continued, opening the door
for Ned and then the back door of the car for
Bess. He slipped in next to her.
As they started off in the direction of the
north entrance, Ned asked, “What were you
talking to the professor about?”
“The problems the study is having,” Nancy
replied, being deliberately vague. “He seemed
tense.”
“He has a right to be,” Ned said. “His
reputation is riding on the success of this
project.”
For the rest of the trip. Nancy concentrated
on her driving while Jack pointed out land-
marks. Ned leaned back in his seat with his
eyes closed.
At the hospital the group easily found the
emergency room. After Ned and Nancy spoke
with the nurse there, an orderly led Ned into
an examining room, explaining to Nancy that
only the patient was allowed inside. The rest of
the group found seats in the waiting room.
“I am totally starved,” Bess announced.
“It’s dinnertime.”
“There are some vending machines down-
stairs,” Jack said.
“Is this the hospital Brad is in?” Nancy
asked after Bess borrowed some quarters and
headed for the elevator.
“Yes,” Jack replied.
“I wonder if he’s allowed visitors yet.”
“I don’t know,” Jack said. “We can ask. I
hope he isn’t badly scarred. Burns can be
pretty awful.”
As he spoke, he rubbed a reddish scar on the
back of his left hand. “So, tell me about you
and Ned. You seem to know each other pretty