Fatal Ransom Read Free Page B

Lance. Finally she snarled, “Okay, Lance. What did you do with Hal?”

Chapter

Three
    W HAT ARE YOU doing here, Amy?” Lance asked angrily. “I thought I’d made it clear that I didn’t want you around here anymore.”
    â€œIt’ll take more than you to keep me away from Hal,” the girl answered. Her voice was strong and controlled. “I know you’ve done something with him. And I’m going to find out what—one way or another.”
    Lance’s eyes were locked on the girl. His hands were trembling. He took a slight step forward. For a moment Nancy thought he was actually going to hurt Amy.
    â€œOh, give it a rest, Amy,” he said at last. Itsounded as though he was forcing himself to be casual. “Your precious Hal has gone to his grandmother’s up in Michigan.”
    â€œHe didn’t tell me that,” Amy shot back.
    â€œMaybe that’s because he’s not as crazy about you as you think he is. Could that be possible, do you suppose?”
    â€œYou wish!” Amy looked at Lance suspiciously. “Why would he decide all of a sudden to go visiting?” she asked. “That just doesn’t sound like Hal to me.”
    Nancy could feel the pressure building. Poor Lance! she thought. He was having a hard enough time coping with Hal’s disappearance, and this must seem like the last straw to him. Nancy decided to help him out a little.
    â€œHal went to his grandmother’s because she’s very sick,” she said, deliberately moving closer to Lance to provide a united front against Amy. “We don’t know when he’ll be back. Probably next week some time.”
    â€œWho asked you?” Amy asked coolly, staring straight into Nancy’s eyes. “Who are you anyway?”
    â€œShe’s a friend of Monica’s,” Lance said. “If it’s any of your business. Which it is not.” He grabbed the doorknob and started to close the door. “Go away, Amy. This conversation is over.”
    But Amy jammed her foot in the doorway.“I’ll go,” she said. “But you’d better have Hal call me as soon as he gets back. Understand?”
    â€œSure,” Lance said. “Goodbye.” He gently nudged Amy out of the way and closed the door. Amy kicked the closed door once, and then the room fell silent.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” Nancy asked. “Who was that girl?”
    â€œAmy Tyler,” Lance said through clenched teeth. “Unfortunately, she’s Hal’s girlfriend. It seems they can’t live without each other. She put on quite a performance, didn’t she?”
    â€œPerformance? What do you mean?” Nancy asked.
    Lance began pacing back and forth. “Oh, I don’t know. Somehow I just can’t believe she’s that cut up about Hal being gone. If my hunch is correct, the only thing she’s missing right now is Hal’s money. Not Hal.”
    Nancy’s mind was racing. The last time Lance had seen Hal, Hal had been on his way to the mall, where he usually hung out with his friends. Friends like Amy, who loved money? Was something starting to click?
    â€œDo you think there’s any possibility that Amy Tyler could be involved with this kidnapping?” Nancy asked.
    â€œIt wouldn’t surprise me,” Lance said. “I know she only hangs around Hal for his money—or his future inheritance. She probablywouldn’t mind trading him for the ransom.” All of a sudden he sounded exhausted.
    Nancy rested her hand on his arm for a second. “I’ve got to go,” she said. “But I’ll be back in touch tomorrow. Try to take it easy, okay?”
    Lance nodded.
    Nancy walked to the door again and then paused. “This is going to be all right,” she said reassuringly. “I’m going to the mall first thing in the morning to see if I can come up with any clues.”
    â€œKeep an eye