The Case of the Photo Finish Read Free

disappointed.
    â€œI managed to grab a few shots, though,” Eric continued.
    â€œWould your photos show who was standing near her when she fell?” Nancy asked.
    â€œMaybe. It depends on the field of view. I zoomed in pretty quickly. Why?”
    â€œCheryl said that somebody pushed her,” Nancy told him. “I’d like to know if she’s right. Because if she is, whoever did it might try again.”
    Eric raised his eyebrows, and a look of excitement came into his eyes. “Wow, what a story! ‘Danger Stalks Teen Track Star.’ Or better yet, ‘Prize Photos Hold Crucial Clue.’ ”
    â€œListen, this isn’t a game,” Nancy cautioned him. “Cheryl might have been hurt just now. Her fall could have been an accident, of course. But if it wasn’t, and if your pictures can help head off another attack—”
    Eric looked apologetic, and his cheeks flushed. “I know, I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t help talking like that sometimes. I really do want to help. The only thing is, the camera’s loaded with color slide film. It might be hard to find a lab that’ll develop it in a rush.”
    â€œSee what you can do, okay?” Nancy said. “And if I can help—”
    A burst of applause signaled the end of the mayor’s speech. Nancy looked up to see him come down the steps and start shaking hands with the athletes and the other guests as they filed out of the bleachers.
    â€œExcuse me,” Eric said. “I need a shot of Cheryl with the mayor.” He hurried away, already raising one of his cameras to his eye. Nancy looked after him and shook her head. Obviously, Eric was totally wrapped up in his project. She just hoped he remembered to take a break from taking pictures long enough to get his film developed.
    â€œGround Control to Nancy Drew,” a voice said. “Come in, please.”
    Nancy glanced around and saw Bess Marvin, George’s cousin. “Oh, hi, Bess,” Nancy said. “I noticed you in the crowd just before the mayor’s speech, but there wasn’t time to say hello.”
    Bess’s blond hair shone in the sunlight. Focusing her sparkling blue eyes on Nancy, she said,“You look very thoughtful. The mayor’s speech must have made quite an impression on you.”
    â€œI didn’t hear a word of it,” Nancy replied. She quickly filled Bess in on Cheryl’s fall.
    â€œHey, I saw that! She’s your guest?” Bess paused and studied Nancy’s face for a moment. Then, rolling her eyes, she said, “Uh-oh. I know the signs. You smell a mystery. You think her fall wasn’t an accident, and you’re planning to find out who pushed her. Right?”
    â€œRight,” said Nancy. “I’m not sure of what really happened. I suppose it’s possible that it was an accident, but Cheryl accused another runner named Marta, who’s staying at George’s house. Marta denied it, of course.”
    â€œMarta—she has short blond hair, right?” Bess asked. “I met her. What’s the problem?”
    Nancy frowned. “I don’t know either of them, so I don’t have any reason to believe one more than the other. I’ll just have to keep my eyes open.”
    Bess shook her head. “I guess I’m lucky. The girl who’s staying at our house is a fifteen-year-old named Marie-Laure, from the South of France. She’s really shy and doesn’t know a word of English, but she’s got the longest legs I’ve ever seen. She does the high jump.”
    Nancy noticed Cheryl walking in their direction with a girl with a brown ponytail and a tallblond guy whose deeply tanned face ended in a pointy chin. Their warm-up suits showed that they, too, were participants in the track meet.
    As the trio came up to Nancy and Bess, Nancy said, “Cheryl, are you okay? That looked like a nasty fall, even though you