Read The Wrong Chemistry for Free Online

season,” Nancy said, surprised.
    â€œWe’re playing one exhibition game this fall for charity. It’s for a good cause, and I’ll come back to see you before lunch.”
    â€œWhoa,” Nancy objected. “I’m not hanging around the infirmary all day. There’s someone out there who’s pretty anxious to get rid of me. Besides, I’ve got work to do.”
    Ned frowned. “You can’t go running around with that headache.”
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong with me that a few more aspirin won’t cure. What do you want me to do? Sit here?”
    Ned sighed and shook his head. “Why do I even try to argue? Look, let’s compromise. Come with me to practice. That way I’ll be able to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re okay.”
    â€œJust sit there?” Nancy said doubtfully.
    Ned grinned. “Well, you might chat with someone who knows a lot about Josef Maszak.”
    â€œNed!” Nancy pretended to throw her pillow at him. “You’re teasing. Who knows Professor Maszak?”
    â€œWell, it’s just a thought,” Ned cautioned, “but I have seen Maszak with Coach Burnett. It’s worth a try.”
    After collecting her things, Nancy followed Ned to the Emerson gym. There, Ned leftNancy in the office with Coach Burnett, a tall, silver-haired man in his late fifties. Nancy was seated across from him in a red armchair, the only comfortable chair in the room. The coach leaned back and swung his feet onto his desk.
    â€œI should have known you were here to investigate a mystery. Why don’t you ever come up just to see us?” He broke into a smile that reached up to his gray eyes. “Or is Nickerson not as much of a hunk as all the cheerleaders think he is?”
    Nancy blushed hotly. “Coach!”
    The man laughed. “I’m sorry, Nancy, I shouldn’t tease you. After all, I owe you a lot.”
    â€œDo you think we could get back to Professor Maszak?” Nancy asked.
    â€œSure. But I’m not sure how much I can tell you about him.”
    Nancy tried to hide her disappointment. “Ned said he’d seen you together.”
    â€œWell, we’ve had dinner a few times,” Coach Burnett admitted. “But we don’t talk about school or chemistry. I know very little personal background.”
    â€œAt this point, anything would help,” Nancy assured him.
    Coach Burnett nodded thoughtfully. “Well, he’s from Hungary, if you hadn’t already guessed. His wife, Linda, is American, though, alinguist, I think. They met when she was teaching in Hungary. Stop me if this isn’t the kind of thing you want.”
    â€œNo, this is great,” Nancy assured him.
    The coach nodded. “Well, Linda’s very sick. I’m not sure what’s wrong, but I guess they decided she could get better medical treatment here. That’s why they came to the States.”
    â€œThat explains a lot,” Nancy said. “I thought it was strange that a scientist from a communist country could come over here and do research for our government.”
    â€œWell, apparently it was a problem. Right now Maszak has only a working visa. He’s waiting for permanent residency.”
    â€œDoes he like it here?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Coach Burnett said. “His first love is teaching. He loves his classes and his students love him.”
    â€œBut he doesn’t seem like a happy person,” Nancy commented.
    â€œWell, he’s got a lot on his mind, with Linda and all. And I guess his work takes a lot out of him.” The coach made a face. “All that fooling with biological mutations.”
    Nancy laughed. “Different people have different interests, I guess.” She got up. “Thanks for everything, Coach.”
    â€œMy pleasure, Nancy.”
    Nancy told Coach Burnett to tell Ned that he could find her in the science library. She headed straight