Stop the Clock (Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective Book 12) by Carolyn Keene

Antonio police force,” Chief McGinnis said. “He’s going to arrange for one of his men to follow Mr. Franklin to wherever it is he’s going.”
    “You sure do have a lot of police friends around the country,” I said. “I’m impressed.”
    “I was one of the officers in the national police chiefs’ organization a couple of years ago,” Chief McGinnis said proudly. “I met a lot of people, and I made a lot of friends.”
    I knew this part of the conversation had to do with Chief McGinnis’s wanting me to know that he isn’t dumb, even though a lot of people in River Heights think he is. Just for the record, I’ve never thought he was dumb. I just think he’s . . . well, he misses some of the more important details in investigations.
    “I’ve always said that we’re fortunate to have someone like you running the River Heights Police Department, Chief McGinnis,” I said, continuing tobutter him up. “Will you let me know if you hear anything from the bus driver?”
    “Of course I will, Nancy,” Chief McGinnis said. “All of the citizens of River Heights have to work together to keep our streets safe from criminals.”
    “That’s true,” I agreed. “And you know that you can always count on me. I have to run now. Thanks again for calling me with this update. Bye!” I quickly hung up the receiver.
    I looked at my watch. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late for lunch with Lizzie and Janice Romer. I checked the address of Janice Romer’s apartment, then headed out the front door.
    I was glad that the traffic on River Street wasn’t very heavy. Sometimes getting around during lunch hour can be difficult. In a short time I reached Janice’s place, turned into the parking lot, found a space that I assumed was for visitors, and pulled into it. I quickly found Janice’s apartment in one of the buildings at the rear and rang the bell.
    Janice answered the door. “Oh, Nancy! Thank you so much for coming,” she said.
    She looked to me as though she might have been crying, because her eyes were a bit red. But then I realized it might have been allergies. On the way over to the apartment, I’d passed a sign at one of the town’sallergy clinics that said the tree pollen was high today.
    Just then Lizzie came up behind her and added, “We knew we could count on you, Nancy Drew.”
    “Of course,” I said. “I’m glad you called! It was a nice surprise.”
    “Lunch is ready,” Janice said. “The bathroom is just down the hall, if you want to freshen up.”
    “Thanks,” I said.
    When I got back, Lizzie and Janice were already seated at the small dining table.
    “We’re just having salads, but I made several kinds,” Janice said, “so there should be something here that you’ll like.”
    “Oh, this all looks wonderful,” I said, sitting down at the only remaining chair. “You two are such great cooks. I’m envious!”
    Within minutes I could tell that they were both very upset about something, but I tried to be as upbeat as possible while I helped myself to small portions of several of the salads. I took a couple of bites, then decided to cut to the chase. “Hannah said you sounded very upset, Lizzie. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
    “Well, we’re not exactly sure where to start,” Janice said. She produced a letter, which she must have had on her lap. “I guess this is the best way. We wantedyou to read this, and tell us what you make of it.”
    I wiped my hands on my napkin, then took the letter from her. It was from a lawyer in a town about twenty miles down the Muskoka River, but I wasn’t familiar with his name. As I read the letter, I felt chills go up and down my spine. It informed the Romer sisters that a forensic linguist had determined that the handwritten third will, in which the late Albert Washington gave them a lot of money, was a fake, and that they were going to have to repay all the money they had received.
    I looked up. Both Lizzie and Janice were staring at