Strangers on a Train by Carolyn Keene Page B

overhead.
    Just as I was starting to fear I’d gone the wrong way, that I was racing ever deeper into the forest, I caught a glimmer of light through the trees ahead. Could it be the lodge? I ran faster, glancing back over my shoulder for pursuers. . . .
    CRASH!
    I let out a shrill scream as I smashed into something.
    Make that some one . “Nancy?” a familiar voice said.
    Glancing up, I blinked in surprise. “S-scott,” I stammered.
    Panic grabbed me for a second. Was Scott the person I’d followed? Had that light come from the flashlight he was using to track me? Was he about to finish the job he’d started back in the clearing?
    Then I blinked as I realized we were standing at the edge of the woods. The lodge was right there on the other side of the meadow, and there was a light on in one of the cabins—that was the glimmer I’d seen through the trees. Scott wasn’t holding a flashlight. He wasn’t wearing a dark hoodie, either—just jeans and a T-shirt.
    I slumped with relief, gulping in deep breaths of air to try to catch my breath. “Sorry I crashed into you,” I said as soon as I could talk again.
    â€œIt’s okay.” Scott looked concerned. “What are you doing out here this time of night? I saw you wandering into the woods a little while ago.”
    â€œY-you did?” I glanced at those nearby cabins. Several had windows facing onto this meadow, just like mine. More lights were blinking on in some of them now. Obviously my scream had awakened people. Oops.
    Scott nodded. “I got dressed and came out to see if I could catch up to you,” he said. “I was afraid you might not realize how dangerous the Alaskan wilderness can be, especially at night.”
    â€œYeah, no kidding.” I took a deep breath, looking back at the dark forest. “Um, did you hear gunshots a few minutes ago?”
    â€œGunshots? Come to think of it, I guess I did. Probably some locals hunting or something. Why? Is that what scared you?”
    I hesitated, not sure whether to trust him with what had really happened. By then I could see several people hurrying across the meadow toward us. In the lead was a big, beefy guy in a security guard’s uniform.
    â€œWhat’s going on out here?” he asked in a deep voice.
    I glanced at his name tag, which identified him as Hank. “Sorry,” I said with an apologetic smile. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk.”
    Bess and George arrived moments later. George was rubbing her eyes, looking less than half awake, but Bess pushed her way forward. “Nancy, are you okay?” she exclaimed. “We heard a scream, then realized you were gone. What happened?”
    â€œI went walking in the woods and stumbled across a shed out in a clearing.” I waved a hand in the general direction of the forest. “There was a box inside, and I was about to open it to see what was inside when someone shot at me.”
    Gasps came from all around. “Shot at you?” Hank the security guard said. “Are you sure?”
    â€œAbsolutely. The bullet landed close enough for me to see it.”
    Hank looked grim. “I’d better go out and have a look around,” he said, patting the holster at his waist.
    â€œI’ll come with you,” Scott offered. “I want to know what’s going on out there.”
    A couple of other men also volunteered to go along. Soon the group was tramping off into the woods, following my vague directions to the clearing.
    â€œCome on, Nancy.” Bess put an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get you inside.”
    We went into the main building, where one of the hotel’s night staff rustled up some hot tea. Some of the other people I’d awakened were there too, so I couldn’t tell Bess and George the rest of the story, though they kept giving me curious looks. Half an hour later, the men finally