Club Dread by Carolyn Keene Page A

motions seemed slow and uncoordinated. His eyes kept fluttering closed. It was almost like he had been drugged. He was pretty big; Matthias might have needed to give him something to keep him from getting loose. Still, it meant we needed to get him to a hospital soon. Sedatives and other drugs could really hurt someone if they weren’t administered properly.
    It was still hard for me to believe that Petrovitch had lied to us, but the evidence against him was pretty clear.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell us you were after him?” I didn’t want to sound like a whiny kid, but we’d been wasting our time all week when we could have been working together.
    â€œI knew he had a partner, and I was hoping the two of you would figure out who it was,” Matthias answered. He seemed excited and amused, like there was some big inside joke. “And it seems like you have, eh?”
    â€œYeah,” I said. “I overheard Nikitin talking on thephone about ‘laying low’ and we figured out that he was in on something.” I tried to explain everything we had learned without mentioning Nancy, but it was hard. Matthias didn’t seem to care how we’d figured everything out though. He talked right over me as though I weren’t even there.
    â€œNow we just need to catch his brother. Are you guys ready for some action?”
    â€œYeah!” At least we’d be in on part of this case. Frank nodded his head cautiously.
    â€œOkay, get ready.” Matthias pointed to either side of the door, and Frank and I took up positions. Then he pulled out his cell phone.
    â€œAndrew? Yes, it’s Matthias. I was walking by your room, and I noticed the door was open. I think you should get up here immediately.”
    He hung up the phone and checked the knots on Petrovitch once again. Then he turned to us.
    â€œWe’ll tackle him as soon as he comes in the door. Are you ready?”
    We nodded. The room grew quiet as we all strained to hear the first signs of Nikitin entering the room. He was a big guy, but I had no doubt that, between the three of us, we could take him.
    Da dun da dun dun dun!
    My cell phone rang and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
    â€œShut that off!” Matthias hissed.
    I looked at it guiltily. Nancy. Probably calling to tell us that Nikitin was on his way. I wanted to answer and explain what was happening, but Matthias looked like he was about to take it out of my hands and throw it against the wall, so I shut it off. I figured we’d have Nikitin in custody in ten minutes and the case wrapped up in an hour. I could call her later.
    I had no idea how wrong I was.

CHAPTER 14
    NANCY
BESS GUESS
    I was in luck. When I reached the concierge desk, Nikitin was standing there alone in front of a large computer, typing away. He looked distracted. I tried to steady my pounding heart and approached him.
    â€œHi!” I said, with a big plastic smile on my face. “How are you doing?”
    â€œI am quite well, Ms. Drew,” he said. “And yourself? I hope everything is living up to your expectations. Nothing wrong with your new accommodations, is there?”
    I had to give it to him—Nikitin showed no sign that I was anything other than an ordinary guest. He was smooth.
    â€œOh no, the suite is lovely. Thank you so much.”
    â€œI am terribly sorry about what happened in yourold room. I assure you, it won’t happen again.”
    I tried to think of something to say. The last thing I wanted to do was to get him talking about the break-ins. If he got suspicious, Frank and Joe could be in serious trouble. I wished Bess were here. She could talk to any guy, anywhere, about anything.
    â€œI had dinner with Mr. Thorton earlier.” It was the first thought to pop into my mind, so I went with it. “He told me you were from Russia.”
    â€œYes. I moved to this country twelve years ago.” He sighed and looked back at his computer screen.