Behind her, Bess was mildly ticked off over the ribbing she was getting. “You know, I’m not the only one with an ulterior motive for going on this trip,” she grumbled.

“Are you referring to me?” George asked, playfully batting her lashes.

“You know it. I mean, what have you been talking about ever since we left River Heights? Nancy’s case? No way! All you’re concerned about is seeing a couple of big-deal basketball games.”

“Well, can you blame me?” George said, suddenly growing defensive. “Emerson’s the hottest team in the nation right now. If they win their last three games they’ll grab their division title and go to the NCAA playoffs!”

Nancy smiled. Normally, George had a great sense of humor, but when it came to sports Bess’s slender, dark-haired cousin was deadly serious.

“Besides,” George added, grinning wickedly at Bess, “that’s different. Basketball is what this case is all about.”

“Maybe,” Nancy stressed. “Coach Burnett wasn’t too specific about what he wants me to investigate, remember?”

The night before Nancy had received a frantic call from Pat Burnett, the head coach of Emerson’s top-ranked basketball team. Because he had been in a hurry, he hadn’t been able to explain much. All he had said was that a highly unusual and extremely serious threat was facing his team. He needed her help badly, he had said.

Unable to resist his plea—or the promise of a new mystery to solve—Nancy had promised to round up her friends and drive down the very next day. It didn’t matter to her that the details of the case were unclear. She’d learn them once she got to the college, she knew.

The three friends rode in silence for a few minutes. Outside the car, houses with snow-dusted lawns gradually gave way to Emersonville’s business district, which was bustling in spite of the below-freezing temperature.

As she drove, Nancy’s thoughts turned to her own ulterior motive for taking this case—Ned Nickerson. Her boyfriend was an Emerson student and co-captain of the basketball team. It was going to be great to spend time with him, especially after the separations they had recently endured due to his schoolwork and her sleuthing.