Read 095 An Instinct for Trouble for Free Online Page A

them.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Bess said. “Ned knows better than that. Nancy. He’s just tired and stressed out. He’ll feel different tomorrow.”
    Nancy shook her head. “I hope so,” she said.
    “Hey, I know,” Bess continued. “There’s going to be a square dance tomorrow night here at the hotel. Jack asked me to go with him.
    Why don’t you and Ned come, too? We’ll have a great time!”
    “Good idea,” Nancy said, feeling uncom-
    fortable. That was the same dance that Jack had offered to take her to just a few hours before. Sure, he had been fooling around, but still… Was Jack one of those guys who had to charm every girl he met? If so, Bess was letting herself in for grief. Judging by the gleam in her eye, this was not the time to give her any warnings.
    As Nancy and Bess were finishing their breakfast the next morning, Edith Turkower came over to their table. “We’re doing a ranger-guided tour of Upper Geyser Basin,”
    she announced. “Gerald and I thought you might like to come along.”
    Nancy gave Bess a gentle kick on the ankle and said, “I can’t, but I know Bess would love to.”
    As Edith walked away, Nancy said softly, “Keep a close eye on them, Bess. It’s impor-
    tant.”
    “No problem,” Bess replied.
    Once Bess left the table. Nancy decided to go to the Gardiner hospital to see Brad again.
    She headed for her car.
    Lost in thought, she was already climbing a steep grade on the mountain road that led to Gardiner when she noticed a van close behind her-too close. It seemed to be tailgating her.
    She pressed harder on the gas pedal, but the van kept pace with her.
    The road wound between a sheer wall of rock on the left and a deep ravine on the right.
    As they came around a long curve, the van pulled out to pass. Nancy edged over toward the ravine to give it more room, but instead of going ahead, the van stayed next to her.
    Alarmed, Nancy hit the brakes to let the other vehicle move ahead. Instead, the van slowed.
    Then without warning it swerved toward her, its front bumper banging into Nancy’s door. She struggled to control the wheel, but the van slammed into her again, forcing her car toward the edge of the ravine.
    She glanced to her right, and her stomach twisted. The drop was endless, and she was just about to go over!

Chapter Six
    All that separated Nancy from a drop into the ravine was a couple of feet of shoulder, and the van was continuing to nudge her over.
    Nancy accelerated, attempting to pull ahead of her pursuer. She knew she couldn’t keep driving at this speed-the road was too treach-
    erous.
    In seconds the van was behind her again, moving up to slam into her from the rear. She rounded a curve and spotted a sign for a scenic overlook. As she approached it, she took a deep breath and jerked the wheel sharply to the right. The wheels skidded on the gravel.
    The van followed and was just about to ram into her again when Nancy saw a tall lodgepole pine at the far end of the overlook parking area. She steered her car straight at it. She was just about to hit it when she swerved left and shot back onto the highway.
    In the rearview mirror, she saw the van graze the tree she had just missed. Then, to her astonishment, the driver of the van backed up, turned, and roared off in the other direction.
    Puzzled, Nancy stopped her car. When she looked ahead of her, she saw a park service vehicle pulling into the parking area and un-
    derstood why the driver of the van had headed off in such a hurry. He’d seen the ranger, too.
    The ranger stopped his car next to hers and jumped out. He was about forty and had a crewcut and neat mustache. “Are you all right?” he asked.
    Nancy nodded, even though she felt shaken.
    “A van tried to run me off the road.”
    “Did you see who was driving?” The ranger leaned his elbows on the edge of her window.
    Nancy noted the name on the plate pinned to his breast pocket: Martin Robbins.
    She shook her head.
    “Will you come