“I’ve got to go to him!” Nancy said, hurrying from the store with Ned and Bess at her heels. “It’s all a terrible mistake. My dad would never-”

“Of course he wouldn’t,” Ned agreed. “Hey! Watch it, Nancy!”

But Nancy was halfway across the street, darting between oncoming cars. Bess ran after her and tumbled into the back seat. By the time Ned had closed his door, Nancy was pulling away from the curb. One second later, and he’d have been left behind.

The police station was already jammed with reporters, cameramen, and newspaper photographers. Electronic flashes flared, and the quartz lights set up by the television crews exposed the faded paint on the grimy walls.

Nancy didn’t see her father anywhere. At the moment all the microphones were pointed at the woman who had gotten into the police cruiser with Nancy’s father.

“Who is she?” Bess asked. She was out of breath from the sprint from the parking lot.

“Dad’s client.”

“What will you do now that your lawyer’s in jail, Ms. Granger?” a reporter shouted.

Nancy was too far away to hear Ann Granger’s answer. She was edging around the crowd to get to the desk sergeant to ask if she could see her father.

“Well, I don’t know,” the officer said after Nancy got to him. He eyed her uncertainly. “He’s being processed, and we don’t usually- You’re his daughter, you say?”

“That’s right. Nancy Drew. Please, I-”

The sergeant’s face cleared. “Say, you’re the kid who’s the detective, aren’t you? I’ve heard of you. Let me see what I can do.” He disappeared through a set of double doors.

“You okay?” Ned asked softly, tilting Nancy’s chin up to peer into her face.

Nancy nodded. “I’m fine. I just hope they’ll let me talk to my dad.”