“Okay, go ahead,” Bess said, handing the
car keys back to her friend. “I’ll check us in
and start unpacking.”
Nancy walked to the parking lot briskly. The
sun shone brightly, but the air was chilly. She
spotted the car, dashed over, and got in. After
glancing at the map Ned had faxed her, she
started the engine and headed north for about
fifteen miles.
At Madison Junction, where there was a
ranger station, general store, and campground,
she turned right. She watched carefully until
she spotted a dirt road leading off to the left,
then bumped along it for about a quarter of a
mile to the campsite.
The Emerson College research group was
camping at the foot of a hill in a clearing partly
ringed by lodgepole pines. Nancy parked next
to a Jeep and walked quickly up the path
toward the little cluster of woodland green
tents. When she reached the fire pit at its
center, she found the campsite deserted.
Several logs had been pulled around the fire
pit to serve as benches. Not far away was the
kitchen tent, with sides made of mosquito
netting and tables lined with pots, pans, and
food.
A narrow trail snaked along the edge of the
camp and then continued up the hill. Near the
foot of the hill, and about a hundred yards
from the campsite, was a very small, wooden
cabin. Nancy went over to inspect it.
There was a heavy padlock on the door and
only one tiny window, through which she
could see a generator and computer. Next to
the door, on the outside of the cabin, was
a makeshift bulletin board. Nancy studied
the work assignment chart posted there. It
was divided into categories such as Computer
Data Collection, Transmitter Checking, and
Observation-Feeding Stations 1 through 4.
Nancy saw that Ned was assigned to watch
feeding station 3 from two-thirty to five that
afternoon. Where was he now, though? she
wondered. It was just about two.
She strolled back toward the tents. The
canvas flap that served as a door on the nearest
one was tied back. She glanced inside and saw
a camera bag that reminded her of Ned’s, then
started to raise the mosquito netting and go
inside.
“Stop right there!” she heard someone shout
behind her.
Nancy spun around and saw two men in
dark green coveralls running toward her. The
taller one, who had piercing black eyes and
black stubble for a beard, reached her first.
He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her
away from the tent.
“Hey,” Nancy protested, struggling to free
herself from his grip. “I wasn’t doing anything
wrong.”
Just then the second man reached her. He
was built like a short redwood and had the
ruddy complexion of someone who spent a lot
of time outdoors.
“Yeah, sure,” the tall man said, twisting
Nancy’s arm behind her.
Nancy had to bite her lip to keep from
crying out.
“Looks like we caught ourselves a thief,”
the short, burly guy said, taking a step toward
her. An ugly grin contorted his face. “And we
know just what to do with her. Right, Rich-
ard?”
“Right,” his buddy replied.
Chapter Two
Come on, you,” Richard growled. He
wheeled Nancy around and started pulling her
toward the fire pit.
“Get your hands off me!” Nancy said, furi-
ous.
“Not a chance,” he replied, tightening his
grip. “Should we take her to the truck. Piker?”
“Yeah,” the other man replied, giving Nancy
a shove.
Nancy swung her leg out and brought it up,
slamming her knee into Richard’s stomach.
He bent over, giving her the chance to pull
away. She was just taking off when she heard a
familiar voice call her name.
She whirled around to see Ned hurrying
down the path toward her. “Am I ever glad to
see you!” she said with relief.
Ned glanced at the two grim-faced men and
put his arm around Nancy. “What’s going on
here?”
“These guys accused me of being a thief,”
Nancy told him.
“What?” Ned was incredulous. “This is my
girlfriend.”
Richard shrugged. “If you say so, but she
was nosing around camp. Right, Piker?”
“Right,” Piker said. “We were just looking