A Secret in Time by Carolyn Keene

never find out who was behind the wheel of that van.”
    â€œI’ll ask Chief McGinnis to call him,” Nancy said, unlocking the front door and letting her friends in.
    â€œIt was nice of you to invite us for lunch,” said Bess. “I feel very deserving today, since I didn’t have any ice cream.”
    Nancy almost laughed out loud when they reached the kitchen. Sergeant Rudinsky, wearing a flowered blouse and jeans, sat across from Officer Brody, who was also in blue jeans. Hannah stood over them with a huge bowl of chicken salad.
    â€œWe really shouldn’t be eating like this on the job,” the sergeant said. “You’re distracting us, Ms. Gruen.”
    â€œBut you’d offend me by refusing,” the housekeeper said.
    â€œWell, maybe just a smidge,” Sergeant Rudinsky agreed. Hannah spooned chicken salad onto her already overloaded plate.
    â€œDelicious,” Officer Brody said through a mouthful of food. “This is a lot better than sitting in that car all day.”
    â€œHi, Hannah. That looks yummy,” Nancy said, stepping into the kitchen.
    Hannah smiled when she saw the girls. “There’s plenty more.”
    After greeting the officers, Nancy, Bess, and George grabbed some plates and silverware and joined them at the table. They hadn’t eaten more than a few mouthfuls when the doorbell rang.
    â€œI’ll get it,” Nancy said, hopping out of her chair.
    She sprinted down the hall and opened the front door, but there was no one there. Nancy steppedoutside and looked around. She didn’t see anyone in the yard or on the street, either.
    That’s funny, she thought, turning around to go back inside. Stopping suddenly, Nancy saw a knife sticking into the front of the house, its short, sharp blade pinning a piece of paper next to the door.
    Nancy’s heartbeat quickened as she ripped the note away from the knife and read it:
    You can’t catch me. No one can.
    Tick, tock, I’ll get that clock
    With or without you, Nancy Drew!

11
Playing Cat and Mouse
    Nancy raced across the lawn to the street. She looked in both directions for an orange van, tire tracks, or any sign of the person who’d left the note. She was sure he couldn’t have gone far. Running back to the house, Nancy checked the bushes on either side of the entrance. There was no sign of the thief. He or she seemed to have vanished into thin air.
    Nancy read the note again. It was hard to tell whether it meant the thief was going to break in that evening or do something even more desperate to get the clock. Either way, Nancy had a feeling she’d soon come face-to-face with the criminal.
    Nancy returned to the front door, yanked the knife out of the wooden shingle, and examined it closely. It was exquisitely crafted, with a mother-of-pearl handle.The blade was no longer shiny, even rusty in places, but it still looked very sharp. Nancy had never seen anything quite like it before.
    She turned the knife over in her hand, thinking of Kimberly Burton’s collection of swords and daggers. Could this be one of them? And the note said Nancy would never catch the thief. Could this be Kimberly’s way of teasing her, since the woman might have gotten away with her crimes before?
    Nancy reentered the house and found her purse on the front hall table. Knowing how upset Hannah would be when she saw the note, Nancy hid the knife inside her purse. No need to worry her further, Nancy thought.
    â€œNancy?” Hannah called.
    Nancy jumped, hoping the housekeeper hadn’t seen what she’d just done. “Yes?” she asked, turning.
    Hannah stood in the doorway to the kitchen, an anxious look on her face. “Who was at the door?” she asked.
    â€œWe got another note,” she said, walking toward the kitchen. “I’d better show it to the officers.”
    Officer Rudinsky was on her feet before Nancy even entered the kitchen. She strode