Strangers on a Train (Nancy Drew Diaries #2)(6)

“Sure, if you say so,” George said. “Totally epic.”

Hearing shouts of laughter from the other end of the car, I glanced that way. Hiro was seated there, surrounded by about half a dozen kids from the Arctic Star, though I noticed Tobias wasn’t among them.

“Dibs on the window seat.” George pushed past me and flopped into the seat. I sat down next to her, while Bess and Alan sat down in front of us.

Soon the train was winding its way into the mountains. The scenery was so incredible that it actually woke me up a little. The train chugged along the tracks, which wound their way up steep inclines and across rusty iron bridges, all the while revealing stunning views of foothills blanketed with dense evergreen forests, rivers cutting through mountain passes, and distant peaks still dusted in snow even though it was summer.

Eventually, though, my mind started to wander. I glanced ahead at Wendy, who was snapping photos and oohing and aahing along with everyone else. She’d been one of our original suspects too. That had made sense at the time. We’d thought she might be drumming up readers for her blog by creating weird happenings to write about.

But now? Was she still a viable suspect? What would she have to gain by smuggling a jewelry thief onboard? Money, I supposed. Everyone liked money, right? Then again, by that logic, everyone could be a suspect...

I shook my head, which was feeling fuzzy and sleepy again. "Be right back,” I told George. "I want to go get some fresh air.”

"Uh-huh.” George was peering at the little screen on her camera and didn’t even glance over as I stood up.

I made my way down the aisle, swaying side to side with the motion of the train. At the end of the car, a door led on to the little open-air platform between our car and the next. I stepped out there and took a deep breath of the cool, clean mountain air. I had the platform to myself for the moment, so I stepped over to the railing and looked out. It was kind of a scary view. The train was hugging the side of the mountain on a ledge so narrow I couldn’t see the edge of it when I looked down. I’m not normally afraid of heights, but I gulped when I saw the dizzying drop-off to the valley floor far, far below.

Suddenly the door to the next car burst open, and someone stomped out onto the platform. It was Scott, the shore excursions guy. He had a cell phone pressed to his ear.

“…and you’d better figure out a way to fix things before I get to Anchorage,” he hissed into the phone, his voice practically seething with fury. "Because if you don’t, I’m going to—”

He cut himself off abruptly as he noticed me standing there, staring at him. Clicking the phone off, he glared at me. His face was twisted with anger, making him look like a completely different person than usual.

He took a quick step toward me. I clutched the railing behind me—the only thing between me and a two-hundred-foot drop to my certain death.



"You!” Scott growled. “What are you doing out here?”





CHAPTER THREE




Rebuilding the List



I SUCKED IN A DEEP BREATH, READY TO scream for help. At that moment the door to my train car flew open.

“Nancy!” Bess exclaimed. "There you are.” She rushed out, with Alan and George right behind her.

"I told you she went outside,” George said.

Alan grinned. "Okay, but you weren’t too sure,” he teased. “All we knew was that we turned around and she was gone!”

I looked at Scott. His face had relaxed into its usual calm, jovial expression. He caught me looking and smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry if I startled you, Nancy,” he said. “You startled me, too. I guess that’s what I get for trying to do two things at once, huh?” Dropping his phone into his shirt pocket, he reached for the door. “Enjoy the scenery, folks.”

As he left, Alan tugged at my arm. “Check it out. I want to get a shot of you guys standing here when we pass that waterfall up ahead,” he said. "Hurry, Nancy—get over there between Bess and George.”

I obeyed, though I wasn’t focused on the scenery. I’m not the type of person who gets rattled easily, but Scott had really scared me for a second. The depth of anger in his eyes had been terrifying. Could there be a dark side to him? Maybe a criminal side? I’d asked Becca about his background after the incident in Ketchikan, and she’d assured me he was an industry veteran who’d been recommended by Captain Peterson himself. That had been enough to make me cross him off the suspect list then. Was it time to investigate him a little further now?

I wished I could talk to both my friends about it. As it was, the best I could hope for was talking to one of them. As we wandered back toward our seats, I poked Bess in the shoulder.

"This train ride is really romantic, isn’t it?” I said meaningfully. "It’s nice that you and Alan are getting to enjoy it together.”

Bess got the hint right away. “Come to think of it, it’s a little crowded around here to call it romantic.” She linked her arm through Alan’s and peered up at him with a smile. “Should we go find the caboose and take some pictures there? Just the two of us?”

"Sure, Bess. Your wish is my command.”

Soon they were heading out the door toward the back of the train. I grabbed George and pulled her in the opposite direction, stopping when we reached a block of empty seats a couple of cars up.