“Oh, don’t look so panicky,” smiled Cara. “I didn’t hear anything important. Those youngsters are always after money and there was nothing strange in Nicky’s wanting some. I suppose he wanted it to help out with the moving.”
“I suppose so,” agreed Babs. Once again Cara vanquished a bugbear. What harm had there been in Nicky’s asking for money, after all?
“What did the girls say?” Babs asked evenly. “Were they looking for me?”
“Oh, you know what they would say. Well, that’s what they said. But Babs, old girl, you just better jump in here again and ride around with me,” Cara proposed. “You don’t look a bit like Old Home Week and you shouldn’t go in there. That’s a girl,” she chanted, for Babs was stepping back into the car. “Now, sit close to your old friend and pour out the whole horrible tale. How did the Santa Maria disappear? Who was around when you left last night?”
Babs felt a little gasp catch at her throat. That was it. Who was around?
“Just Miss Davis and I were there,” she began, but her sigh meant more than her words.
“Babs ducky,” pleaded Cara ever so kindly, “don’t you think you will feel better when you tell me? You can trust me, can’t you?”
That appeal stirred a new emotion in Barbara Hale.
“Of course I can, Cara,” she answered instantly, “and you likely know exactly what is worrying me. I’m afraid Nicky took that model!”
“Oh, Babs! He couldn’t. Not Nicky!”