paint on the bumper. “That’s from our car.”
Bess glanced around nervously. “Do you
think the people who did it are still around?”
“I doubt it,” Nancy said. She pulled open
the driver’s side door and peered inside. The
keys were in the ignition. “I’m going to search
the cab. Keep an eye out for me, okay?”
“Just make it quick,” Bess urged.
Hastily Nancy climbed into the cab and
opened the glove compartment. She found
nothing except the registration and insurance
card, both issued to the linen supply company.
Under the seat, she found a creased map of the
park. She was climbing out when she suddenly
heard a thumping sound.
Beth paled. “Nancy, let’s get out of here.”
The sound came again, louder this time.
“There’s someone in the back of the van!”
Nancy exclaimed. She ran around to the rear
doors and yanked the handle down. It was
locked. “Bess, grab the keys. They’re in the
ignition.”
Bess grabbed the large key ring, then dashed
back to Nancy with it. The third key worked,
and she yanked the door open.
The van was piled with neatly folded linen,
and lying on a pile of towels in the center was a
middle-aged man with round, wild eyes. His
hands and feet were tied, and in his mouth was
a gag.
Chapter Eight
Nancy and Bess scrambled into the van
and quickly released the man.
“Mr. Heckleby?” Nancy inquired as the
man rubbed his chafed wrists. He nodded.
“Are you all right?” Bess asked.
“I’ve been better,” he replied, massaging his
ankles. “But I sure am glad you came along.
I’ve been tied up for hours.”
“What happened?” Nancy asked.
Heckleby pushed back his unruly gray hair.
“Beats me,” he said. “I was driving along near
Madison Junction when I saw a car blocking
the road. I stopped and got out to see if I could
help, and someone grabbed me from behind. I
felt something jab my arm. When I woke up I
was hogtied and gagged on the floor of the
van.”
“You must have been drugged!” Nancy ex-
claimed. “Whoever it was hijacked your truck
and tried to run me off the road with it.”
“Who would do a thing like that? And
why?” he demanded.
“I don’t know,” Nancy replied, remember-
ing the missing syringes and tranquilizer vials
at the campsite.
The girls helped Heckleby out of the van.
“I’d better call the office and have them get a
ranger over here.” He reached into the cab for
his radio.
Less than ten minutes later a park service
cruiser pulled up behind Nancy’s car and two
officers got out. They introduced themselves as
Rangers Dillon and Cramer and took state-
ments from both Nancy and Heckleby.
Before leaving, the officers offered to drive
Heckleby to the hospital in Gardiner, but he
said he was too far behind on his rounds
already. After thanking Nancy and Bess for
rescuing him, he got into the van and drove
off.
Nancy was silent as she started the car and
swung onto the road.
“What are you thinking, Nan?” Bess asked.
Nancy told her about the syringes.
“You think someone from Ned’s group
drugged Mr. Heckleby and tried to kill you?”
“I can’t really narrow it down that far,”
Nancy replied slowly. “Anyone could have
taken the spare key to the command post.”
Nancy drove past Madison Junction toward
the Emerson campsite. “We need to find out
where everyone was this morning around ten.
That’s when I was forced off the road.”
“I’ll do my best,” Bess promised.
As Nancy got out of the car, she heard
hammering. Squinting against the afternoon
sun, she spotted Richard and Piker about fifty
yards away. “Come on,” she said to Bess in a
low voice. They approached the workers, who
were lining up long, smooth planks of wood
and nailing them to stout crosspieces.
“Hi!” Bess called gaily. “Building a new
walkway?”
The two men raised their heads. Piker’s face
was expressionless, but Richard gave Bess a
slight grin. “Yeah,” he answered.
“Why here?” Bess asked. “There aren’t any
geysers around, are there?”
“Princess Geyser is about a half mile
north,” Richard explained.