“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me,”
Nancy said.
The corners of his eyes crinkled as Mr. Castle
smiled. “It's always a pleasure to help a worthy cause,”
he told Nancy. “Joyce says the Science Sleuths are here
at Kings Commons for an educational field trip.
Perhaps you could tell me a little about the work that
you do.”
Nancy gave a brief explanation of the group's
mission and activities. Mr. Castle nodded encour-
agingly as she explained how the park's rides, the
wildlife, and the chocolate factory fit into their lesson
plans for the week.
“I'm impressed,” he said when Nancy paused to take
a breath.
“I'm sorry I can't give you more details,” Nancy
apologized. “The leader of our group, Andrea Cassella,
was supposed to meet with you this morning, but she
was indisposed and I was asked to fill in at the last
minute.”
Mr. Castle fumbled with his pen, his expression
suddenly very serious.
“Pardon me. What did you say?”
“I said our leader was indisposed—”
“What happened to her?” Mr. Castle interrupted,
his voice impatient.
Nancy wiped her palms on Bess's blazer. She wasn't
sure what had happened, but this interview had
definitely taken a turn for the worse.
Nancy cleared her throat. “Andrea has a peanut
allergy. On the factory tour, she accidentally ate a
peanut butter candy and had to be taken to the
emergency room.”
“Accidentally?” Mr. Castle pronounced each syllable
distinctly. “How, exactly, did that happen?”
Nancy explained that the candy wrapper was
mislabeled.
“Ah, yes.” Mr. Castle nodded. “The two hundred
thousand dollar mistake. We were forced to stop
production of our Jelly Rogers candies and pull all
those currently scheduled for shipment. All because of
your friend's accident.”
Was Mr. Castle implying that it wasn't an accident?
Surely he couldn't blame Andrea for what had
happened, Nancy thought. Could he? “It certainly was
unfortunate,” Nancy agreed, “but I'm afraid I don't
understand—”
“Frankly, Ms. Drew,” Mr. Castle interrupted, “Royal
Chocolates is having a disastrous year financially. A
competitor has introduced a rival candy which has
decreased our profits dramatically. With the additional
burden of today's Jelly Rogers recall—the one in which
your friend was involved—I'm sorry to say that I've
decided to suspend our educational grants program.
Effective immediately.”
Nancy relaxed her head against the chair's high
back. She didn't understand what had just happened.
Mr. Castle was acting as though Andrea had gotten sick
on purpose. As though she had actually set out to hurt
Royal's business.
At the beginning of their conversation, Mr. Castle
had seemed interested in the Sleuths' program and
willing to help. Yet now he was saying that the entire
educational grants program was to be discontinued.
Before she could decide how to phrase an appeal,
Mr. Castle stood, clearly ready to end their interview.
“I'm sorry to have wasted your time,” he said. “If
there are any changes in the status of the program, I'll
let your friend—Ms. Cassella?—know.”
Nancy nodded, aware of the tension in the man's
voice as he said Andrea's name.
“I'll let Ms. Cassella know. Now, if you'll excuse
me—” He escorted Nancy to the door.
Nancy handed him the Science Sleuths brochures
that she had tucked into her purse. “I sympathize with
your difficulties, Mr. Castle, but I hope you will keep
us in mind if funds do become available. I'd like to
leave these with you. They describe the Science
Sleuths' program, and we would appreciate it if you'd
review them at your convenience.” She shook his hand.
“Thank you for your time.”
Nancy found Joyce on the phone in her office. Joyce
held up a hand and motioned for Nancy to sit while she
quickly wrapped up her conversation.
“What happened?” Joyce put a hand over Nancy's as
she hung up the receiver. “You look as though you've
been through the wringer.”
“Our meeting didn't exactly go well,” Nancy said.
“Mr. Castle claims the educational grants program has
been canceled.”
Joyce's brown eyes widened. “Really? I'm surprised.
I am sorry, Nancy, but please don't take it personally.
Mr. Castle is famous for his whims. I bet he changed
his mind after we pulled that batch of Jelly Rogers
today. The company lost a lot of money, and he's very
upset.”
Nancy nodded. She was sure there was more to it
than that, but she didn't want to get into it with Joyce.
“While we're on the subject of our company's sad
finances,” Joyce said, “have you managed to come up
with anything on Diana?”
Nancy shook her head. “I'm following a few leads,
but I don't have anything solid yet. Can I call you later
to discuss what I'm working on?”
“Sure. Whenever.” Joyce slumped down in her seat.
“I'll be here.”
Nancy glanced at her watch. “Oh, boy, I've got to get
going. Bess and George will be having their hands full
at the water park.”
Joyce smiled. “I'll say. You go ahead. We'll talk later.
And please send Andrea my best.”
“I will. Thanks.” As Nancy stepped out of the office
she practically mowed down John Tumey.
“Pardon me,” he said, moving quickly out of her
way.
Nancy noticed his downcast eyes and his jumpy
demeanor. He had obviously been eavesdropping,
Nancy realized. Why would he care what she had to say
to Joyce? There was only one thing she knew for
certain, she decided. Royal Chocolates was one strange
place.
So was Water Wonderland, where Nancy found the
Sleuths beside a pool cluttered with flip-flops and
towels and people. Kings Commons seemed a world
away. Rather than chocolate, the air smelled of
chlorine. Speakers blared perky carousel music.
“If I hear Row, Row, Row Your Boat' one more
time. . .” Bess murmured through clenched teeth. “Oh,
Nan, what happened?”
Before Nancy could answer Kenny tugged on Bess's
arm. “I forgot my towel,” he said.
“That's no problem. We can rent one for the
outrageous fee of two dollars.” Bess inserted quarters
into a machine in rapid succession. “Voilà,” she said.
“One towel. What I want to know is, how can Royal
have financial troubles with prices like these?”
“I don't know, but you wouldn't believe the troubles
they do have,” Nancy told her. “Mr. Castle decided to
cancel the educational grants program today.”
“You're kidding,” Bess said, handing Emma her flip-
flops. “Why did he agree to meet with you in the first
place?”
Nancy shrugged. “If you ask me, the whole thing is
very fishy.”
Kenny whipped his towel through the air. “Will we
be seeing any little fishies in the Royal Wave pool?”
Nancy laughed. “Is that a hint, Kenny?”
“Yes. I'm ready to go swimming.”
“So are we. Come on. Let's go.” George hustled the
Sleuths toward the wave pool.
Glistening water stretched in every direction. Blue
waves lapped against a sandy snore dotted with colorful
beach towels. In the middle of the Royal Wave pool
stood a tall ship with water slides and gangplanks for
diving.
“We're going on Her Majesty's Ship,” Emma
announced.
“Wait.” Bess stopped her before she took off
running. “These are the rules. Stay with your buddy at
all times. Listen to the lifeguards. No running. No
cannonballs.”
“Besides those,” Laura said, pointing at the large
cannons on the side of the ship.
“And Tyler and Katie, don't go in deeper than three
feet,” Bess said. “This is not the place to try to learn to
swim.”
Tyler saluted. “Aye, Captain.”
The Sleuths giggled.
“No running!” Bess called after them as they took off
for the water.
A few minutes later Nancy, Bess, and George were
treading water in the deep area beside Her Majesty's
Ship, trying to keep their eyes on all ten Sleuths.
“So what happened in Mr. Castle's office?” George
asked.
Nancy gave Bess and George a brief summary. “The
strangest part was that Mr. Castle's attitude changed as
soon as he heard Andrea's name. It was almost as
though he knew her.”
“But of course he doesn't,” Bess said, her breath
coming in gasps as she struggled to keep her head
above the water. “Know her, I mean. Andrea would
have told us.”
“I hope so,” Nancy said. “But Mr. Castle was so
suspicious, Bess. In fact, he practically accused her of
having an allergic reaction on purpose.”
“As if she would almost die on purpose,” Bess
scoffed.
George pushed dark, wet ringlets of hair from her
eyes. “I hate to say it, but Mr. Castles idea might not be
so out there. I mean, Andrea is the one who ate the
peanut butter—even if it was an accident. She's the
one who drove our van off the road—even if it was an
accident. And she's the one who gave Bess that instant-
win bar. . . .” George trailed off.
“Even if that was an accident?” Nancy asked. “Is that
what you were going to say?”
“I don't know,” George replied. “Andrea let us think
she bought Bess's candy here at the park when she
didn't. She told us she bought all the candy at once,
when apparently she didn't. Also, how did Bess's
wrapper get rubber cement on it? Unless Andrea put it
there.”
“But why would she do that?” Bess asked. “What
would Andrea get out of any of this?”
“This is just a theory,” Nancy said, “but Royal
Chocolates and Mr. Castle have been hurt by every
single thing that's happened to us. If—and it's a big
if—if Andrea does actually have some sort of
connection to Robert Castle, maybe she also had a way
of getting the instant-win code from Royal. It's a long
shot, I know.” Nancy spoke slowly, choosing her words
with care. “But it's not inconceivable that Andrea's the
one who counterfeited the winning wrapper.”
“Then stuck it together with the rubber cement,”
George said.
Bess's jaw dropped and water ran into her mouth.
“That doesn't make any sense,” she sputtered. “If she
made herself an instant-win wrapper, why did she turn
around and give it to me?”
“It must have been a mistake,” George said
dismissively. “She got the chocolate bars mixed up.”
Nancy kicked onto her back and floated. “That's
possible, I guess. But nothing adds up. We can't leap to
conclusions, and we definitely have to talk to Andrea.”
“Watch me!” Laura called. She bounced on the end
of the gangplank, then did a quick somersault. Toes
pointed, she landed a few feet from Nancy's head.
Nancy choked as waves washed over her face. She
lifted her head and looked toward the shallow end. Her
heart went to her throat. Katie and Tyler were gone.
9. Deepening and Darkening
“Katie!” Bess called. “Katie! Tyler!”
“They were just there a second ago.” Georges
powerful crawl stroke had already propelled her
halfway to the shallow end.
Nancy turned to the lifeguard, who shouted at
Nancy, “Do they know how to swim?”
Nancy shook her head grimly as she got out of the
pool. Just then she saw Katie's head pop out from
behind the lifeguard tower. Her wet feet slapped
against the pavement as she and Tyler both hurried
toward Nancy.
The guard blew her whistle at them. “No running!”
“These are the children,” Nancy said to the guard.
“They're here!” she called, waving her arms at Bess and
George.
“No running!” the lifeguard yelled as Bess raced
toward them. George followed a few steps behind.
“Don't you know you can't disappear like that?” Bess
scolded, keeping one eye on the other Sleuths and the
tall ship.
“Sorry,” Katie said, her eyes downcast.
“What do you think you were doing?” Bess de-
manded.
“Someone was spying on us,” Tyler said.
“We saw her. Over there.” Katie pointed behind the
lifeguard tower. “But her face was all covered up with a
floppy flowered hat and sunglasses.”
“We tried to catch her, but she got away. Look—we
found a clue. Besides being a spy, she's also a litterbug.
She dropped this.” Tyler held up a Crown Jewels
wrapper. “It must have been that Diana lady who hates
us. She's always eating these chocolates, and she's
always following us wherever we go.”
“Tyler, I don't mean to criticize your detective
work,” Bess said, “but we're at Royal Chocolates
headquarters. Everyone's eating these Crown Jewels
bars.”
“Wait a minute,” Nancy said to Tyler and Katie. “I
know you guys are good observers. Did you notice the
woman's legs?”
“Yes,” Katie said. “She had a bruise on her knee. It
was really big and purple.”
Nancy turned to Bess and George. “I remember
Diana complaining that she had bruised her leg
yesterday. I know lots of people have bruises on their
legs, but Tyler and Katie are right. Diana does seem to
be following us wherever we go. Why is that?”
“Hey!” George shouted at Kenny and Noah. “Stop
splashing.”
“But we're doing an experiment,” Kenny said.
“Splash equals mass times acceleration,” Noah called
out. “One, two, three. Go!”
“Great. A contest to see who can splash the hardest,”
Bess said. “Okay!” she yelled. “Out of the water.
Everybody out.”
“But we're not finished,” Noah said.
“I didn't get to go on the water slide on my back,”
Emma complained. “Only my stomach. I won't be able
to compare the velocities for my assignment.”
Bess held up her hands. “We're all turning into
wrinkled prunes, and Laura's lips are blue. It's time to
get out of the water. I'm sorry.”
“Don't mess with Bess,” Katie said to Ashley. Nancy
smiled as Ashley nodded solemnly.
“I heard that,” Bess said. Then she grinned, and the
girls burst into giggles.
After changing back into their street clothes, the
Sleuths waited in line at the gate to return to the main
park.
“Hey!” Kenny shouted.
Bess jumped. “Kenny, you scared me half to death—
—” she began.
“Hey!” Kenny shouted louder. “There's that Diana
lady.”
Nancy spotted Diana coming through the gate that
led into the water park. She looked up when she heard
her name.
“How come you were spying on us when we were
swimming?” Kenny asked her. “Don't you know that's
rude?”
Diana turned to her husband, ignoring Kenny. “I
wish those kids would leave us alone,” Nancy heard her
say. “I don't know what he's talking about. I haven't
been to the water park today.”
She shoved through the crowd, and she and Phil
disappeared inside the park.
Kenny made his way over to Nancy. “Diana's lying,”
Kenny said proudly. “I saw her hand. It had a whale
stamp on it. That means she was already inside the
water park. She was inside and then left.”
“Great detective work, Kenny,” Nancy praised him.
“How's this for detective work?” Kenny asked. “I see
Royal Pain is running again.” He pointed off into the
distance. “Therefore, I deduce that it must be fixed.
Can we go on it now?”
“Please? Pretty please?” the rest of the Sleuths
chorused.
“Sure,” George said.
Bess shot her cousin a look. “I'm not going on that
thing,” she whispered fiercely.
The Chocolate-Covered Contest Page 6