No Laughing Matter by Carolyn Keene

the clipboard probably wasn’t going to let just anybody in. She had to figure out a way to get past him.
    Nancy perched next to the rest-room door, opening it just a crack to peer out. Before long, a well-dressed couple came up the stairs. It sounded as if the woman was complaining about the music.
    â€œAs if we don’t hear enough of that rubbish coming from Andrew’s room,” she snorted.
    Nancy smiled to herself. That was pretty much how her father felt about her music. The couple gave their names to the tuxedoed man, and he opened the door for them.
    Another couple quickly followed the first.
    â€œName, please?” the doorman asked.
    â€œPierson,” the man said.
    â€œOh, look, James,” the woman said, peeking over the doorman’s shoulder at his clipboard. “Michelle Foley is coming tonight.”
    â€œI’m sorry, ma’am, but you’re not supposed to see the list,” the tuxedoed man told her.
    â€œOf course,” the woman said graciously. “You’re just doing your job.”
    After the couple disappeared into the room, Nancy took a deep breath. If she was ever going to see what was behind that door, it would have to be now.
    She closed the rest-room door and quickly applied fresh blusher and lip gloss. She wasn’t as dressed up as the women she’d just seen, but with her jacket closed, she looked like she had on a fancier outfit than just waitressing clothes. Holding her chin high, she stepped out of the rest room and walked confidently up to the doorman.
    â€œMichelle Foley,” Nancy announced in a clipped voice. “Are the Piersons here yet?”
    The doorman didn’t even bat an eye. “Just came in. Have a nice evening, Ms. Foley.”
    He opened the door and Nancy stepped inside. After moving down a hallway, she emerged into a large, open room—and stopped short.
    Nancy couldn’t believe her eyes. Slot machines stretched along the wall on her left. Crowds milled around poker tables and blackjack tables, and the roulette wheel was spinning.
    It was a full-blown casino!

Chapter

Thirteen
    N ANCY TRIED NOT to show her amazement as she scanned the plush room. There had to be at least fifty people in there, she realized. Some were feeding coins into the slot machines, while others placed bets at the gambling tables. All the dealers wore tuxedos, as did the waiters who circulated with trays of food and drink. Through an open doorway in one corner, Nancy saw a small office where people were buying chips.
    â€œI don’t believe this!” she whispered under her breath. The room was filled with chatter and laughter, which was probably drowned out by the pounding dance music from the club downstairs. Whoever ran the casino had done well to locate it here.
    Nancy was glad the place was crowded. That meant she could move around without attractingmuch attention. She had only taken a few steps into the room when she spotted a familiar dark-haired man at the roulette table.
    Her heart leapt into her throat. It was Keith O’Brien!
    She turned away. Her suspicions about Keith must have been right! She briefly wondered if he could be there investigating as she was, but somehow she doubted it. The pile of chips in front of him was awfully big for someone who didn’t really want to gamble.
    Nancy recalled what Keith had told her about Johnny at Over the Rainbow. “I’ve known him for a few years now,” he’d said. Keith admitted that he’d known Johnny for some time. When she’d had lunch with Keith, he hinted that he’d never met Johnny until Matt had hired him six months earlier.
    Nancy felt sure that Matt wouldn’t knowingly hire someone who was associated with Johnny. After all, Johnny owned the club Matt suspected was laundering money. So Keith must have kept his association with Johnny a secret from Matt. Maybe Keith had been in on the gambling and money-laundering schemes from the