Circle of Evil by Carolyn Keene Page B

Let’s get this over with and get out of here.”
    Desperately, Nancy tried to stall for time. “I know you two could call each other on your phones to say when to get a key. But I hate to admit it, there’s one thing I haven’t figured out yet.”
    â€œI don’t believe it,” Rita said sarcastically. “The great girl detective doesn’t have all the answers?”
    â€œNot quite,” Nancy said. “I don’t know where you put the things you stole. So as long as you’re going to seal my lips permanently, why don’t you tell me? I’m dying of curiosity—excuse the pun.”
    Rita started to answer, but Zach broke in. “Okay, that’s enough,” he said to Rita. “Max left me in charge of this part of the operation, and I say we wrap it up and hit the road.”
    â€œOh?” Nancy asked. “You’re leaving town?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Rita said. “The River Heights Country Club has been very good to us, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing. Max says it’s time to move on.”
    â€œYeah, but there’s just one thing we have to do before we leave,” Zach said.
    Rita nodded. “That’s right,” she said sadly, as if she really cared. “We’re going to have to do something about you, Nancy.”
    â€œI don’t suppose you’d believe me if I said I’d keep my mouth shut.” Nancy could tellthat Zach was getting edgier by the second, and she wanted to keep the conversation going. Anything to keep him from “wrapping it up.”
    â€œNo, I wouldn’t believe you for a minute,” Rita told her. She was moving around the room now, closing cabinet doors and checking to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind. “I’m surprised you’d even say anything as phony as that.”
    Nancy tried to laugh again. “Well, you can’t blame me for trying. But since it didn’t work, I think I ought to tell you that I do have friends here helping me. And if I don’t meet them soon, they’ll come looking for me. If they don’t find me, they’ll know something’s wrong, and then you’ll have the police breathing down your necks.”
    But Rita didn’t seem threatened at all. “The police?” she said, raising her eyebrows skeptically. “The police were here once and went away empty-handed. Besides, we’ll be long gone when they find you. And at that point, I’m afraid you won’t be able to tell them a thing.”
    â€œRita, will you just shut up!” Zach cried hoarsely. “If you keep running your mouth, somebody’s going to turn up here.”
    Zach had obviously had enough, and Nancy knew that if she wanted to make a break for it,this was the time. She slowly took a step forward as if to follow Zach, then suddenly whirled around and started to swing the side of her hand down on Zach’s arm.
    But Zach was ready for her. Before Nancy could finish her move, he had dropped the gun and pinned her arms to her sides. Lifting her up, he tossed her onto the massage table and held her down, one hand over her mouth.
    â€œMy, my, Nancy, you’re very tense,” Rita said, clucking her tongue sympathetically. “You’re lucky, though. I know all about relaxing tight muscles.”
    Nancy looked on helplessly as Rita moved to the table. Next she felt Rita’s fingers tightening around her neck.
    Nancy squirmed, twisting her body and shaking her head as hard as she could. She felt Zach’s hand slip and immediately bit him on the thumb. He gasped and took his hand away. Nancy opened her mouth to scream.
    â€œDon’t do it!” Zach ordered, his dark eyes inches from hers. “One sound out of you and, believe me, I’ll use this!”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Nancy saw the gun—it was pointed straight at her temple. She closed her