Mystery of the Glowing Eye - Carolyn Keene [31]
“He seems fine,” Marty replied. “Is there some message I can give him?”
“No, but I thought I’d bring both of you up to date on the glowing eye mystery.”
Marty King leaned forward in her desk chair.
Nancy asked, “Marty, when did you last hear from your contact?”
The young lawyer did not answer at once. She seemed to be searching for an answer. Finally she said, “Why—uh—not recently.”
Nancy decided to catch this secretive young woman off guard if possible. Looking directly at her, she asked, “When did you last hear from Zapp Crosson?”
Marty was so amazed that she gave a convulsive start and did not reply. She jumped from her chair and came from behind the desk. Her eyes were flashing.
“I don’t know how you learned about him,” she said, “but I’ll tell you this. I found out he’s a red-haired nut!”
Excitedly Nancy thought, “Those were Ned’s exact words in his note to Burt!”
“So I’ve heard,” Nancy said aloud. “What I want to know, Marty, is when did you last see him? Recently?”
“I haven’t seen him in a while and don’t want to—ever again,” Marty said angrily.
Nancy felt that she had the advantage and pressed on with her queries. “When did you last hear from Zapp Crosson?”
At this, Marty tossed her head into the air and a smug expression came over her face. “Next thing I know you’ll be asking me what he told me about the glowing eye.”
“I did have that in mind,” Nancy admitted with a little smile. “Well, how about my other question? When did you last hear from your contact Zapp Crosson?”
“I won’t tell you,” the young lawyer said defiantly.
“As you like,” Nancy replied. “But I want to tell you that Crosson might be involved in a kidnapping case.”
“Oh, you mean your boy friend?” Marty King shot back. “Well, I’m sure Zapp had nothing whatever to do with it.”
Marty King looked a little frightened at the information. “I’ll tell you this. Zapp pesters me with letters but I don’t answer them.”
Nancy asked her where the letters had been mailed.
Marty replied, “Most of them were postmarked Emerson.”
Nancy stared into space. This meant that Crosson was still in the general area from where Ned had been taken. She must concentrate all her efforts in that vicinity to find him!
For a few seconds Nancy was tempted to confide in Marty. But a feeling of distrust about the girl swept over her and she changed her mind.
“I must go now,” Nancy said. “Thank you, Marty, for your helpful information. And I think I should warn you again: Zapp Crosson is in bad trouble—very bad trouble.”
“What do you mean?” Marty asked. “Are you implying that he is a suspect in the kidnapping?”
“Yes,” Nancy said.
For the next few minutes there was a verbal exchange between the two girls which revealed nothing of importance to either one. Marty prodded Nancy to tell her more about Crosson but the young sleuth was evasive. Finally she said she must leave because of her next appointment.
Marty King walked with her to the door and Nancy politely introduced Glenn Munson. The young lawyer’s eyebrows lifted and Nancy could imagine her saying, “Where did you meet this handsome young man?”
Nancy was amused but merely said, “Tell Dad I’m sorry I missed him. Good-by. And good-by to you, Miss Hanson.”
Nancy and Glenn hurried off and in a little while they were airborne and heading for Hager. The pilot set his whirlybird down in an airfield not far from the Anderson Museum and locked the ignition.
As they jumped out, he said, “I hope I’m not intruding, but I have a feeling you could use a little extra protection. Mind if I go along?”
“I wish you would,” she said.
Professor Titus was waiting in front of the building. “You’re right on schedule,” he said. “Well, let’s go inside and see what we can learn.”
Nancy introduced Glenn and the three entered the building. Miss Wilkin gave the visitors her usual icy reception and informed them that the museum would be closing for the night at four-thirty.
Nancy spoke up. “Your booklet says you stay open until