The Sign in the Smoke (Nancy Drew Diaries #12)(41)

I shone my flashlight beam at it and nearly collapsed with relief. “Bess!”

She pushed a thick lock of blond hair behind her ear, still frowning. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are you out here?”

“Because I’m missing a camper,” I replied. “And—”

“You too?” Bess’s eyes widened. “I’m missing Janie, and—”

“I found Janie,” I replied. “She’s using the latrine and doesn’t want to be bothered. But Harper—”

“It’s not just Janie,” Bess said quickly. “Though that’s a relief, that she’s okay. I’m missing Olivia, too.”

Olivia. I pictured the tiny girl with dark braids who liked to follow Bess around like a starstruck duckling.

“She’d never wander out on her own,” Bess went on in a rush. “She’s not the type. So I’m worried—”

“Help me please! Pl—mmmmph!”

My head swung around in the direction of the path. This time it sounded like Harper’s voice had been muffled, like someone had pressed a hand over her mouth.

“I was about to tell you,” I said quickly to Bess. “It’s coming from this path . . .” I shone the light up the path, just barely illuminating any of the darkness.

“Great,” Bess said, shining the flashlight from her smartphone in the same direction. “Let’s go.”

But as much as I wanted Bess’s company, I knew she could be more help here. “No, you stay here and wake Deborah and Miles,” I hissed. “Then the three of you follow up this path as soon as you can. Okay? I don’t have a good feeling about this.” I swallowed hard. “I’m afraid I was wrong about Bella,” I added, and then, when Bess nodded, started up the path.

My flashlight barely illuminated more than two feet in front of me, and the tiny sliver of moon wasn’t much help. The path was steep and rocky, and I mentally scolded myself for stupidly passing on Maya’s brighter flashlight. But it was too late now.

I followed the path up and around a steep bend, from which I could look down at the clearing filled with tents below. I could see light coming from Deborah and Miles’s tent. Bess must be telling them.

I shone the flashlight ahead and kept going.

Now I was almost hoping to hear another cry for help. It would tell me that Harper was still okay and clue me in to her location. But only the soft chorus of bugs and frogs greeted me as I wound along the path, and the occasional deep hoot of an owl.

Are they okay? Does that mean they’re not okay?

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been walking. Ten minutes? Fifteen? I’d rounded the hill, and the path was now taking a slow descent back toward the lake. My chest tightened as I looked at the black, glossy surface of the water, remembering my dream.

If whoever’s behind this is the same person who’s been sabotaging the camp . . . and they’re obsessed with what happened to Lila . . .

I had to stop myself from finishing the thought.

Harper is a good swimmer, I reminded myself instead.

I just hoped the same could be said for poor little Olivia.

There was only silence on the path behind me, and I wondered what had happened to Bess, Miles, and Deborah. Weren’t they coming? Surely they would come help, right?

Suddenly I reached a tiny clearing in the path, a small rocky outcrop that stood high over the lake. A small beach was below and to the left. I shone my flashlight all around, but couldn’t see where the path led from here. Down to the beach? Back into the woods? I’d gotten completely turned around and wasn’t sure where the tents were from here. Worse, I hadn’t heard anything from Harper or anyone else in at least ten minutes. My heart pounded. I hadn’t seen any branches leading off this path, but it was certainly possible I’d missed one or two in the dim light.

“Harper?” I called into the silence.

Then my flashlight died.

“SUCCOTASH!” I screamed.

Stupid, stupid batteries. My spares were in my dresser back at Juniper Cabin.

With my tiny beam of light gone, the darkness seemed to close in on me. Could I even find my way back to camp? The path was winding and rocky. It had been hard to follow even with the light.

I took in a shaky breath. And Harper—where is Harper?

That was when I heard a muffled cry.

It was coming from my left.

“Hello?” I called. Squinting, I could make out a tiny clearing in the woods to the left, with a bench in the middle. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I started searching the dark woods all around.

And nearly felt my heart stop when I made out four pairs of eyes reflecting the weak moonlight.

I heard a crunch and then a shriek of pain. Then Harper’s voice: “Nancy! I knew you would come!”

“Who’s there?” I called, stepping closer. Two other pairs of eyes were at Harper’s height or lower, but the third figure was big, as big as me. And it was standing in an odd position, with the kids clutched to its sides. Its hands seemed to be covering their mouths. . . .

“So you found us,” the larger figure finally spoke, and the sound startled me enough that I couldn’t place it at first. But then, suddenly, it clicked. I moved close enough to make out more detail, and sure enough—

A Yankees cap.