"I realized how wrong it is to take animals out of the wild," he replied earnestly. "In fact, that's why I'm here. I'm doing a TV program on the importance of protecting wild animals and their habitats. Would you guys like to come watch us film?"
"We'd love to," Nancy promptly replied. "Do you think I could bring a friend, too? She's a big fan of yours." Ned pulled into the hotel parking lot.
"Of course you can," Randy said. "I'll write a note to the production crew as soon as I get upstairs. Thanks for everything. I would have had to sit out there all night."
"Glad we could help," Ned replied. He gave Randy a hand carrying his luggage into the lobby while Nancy parked the Jeep.
The square dance was still going on as Nancy and Ned found a quiet spot and settled down on a couch on the far side of the big room.
"I keep thinking about that phone call," Ned said. "You think the Turkowers are the buyers?"
"It seems that way."
"What do you think they're arranging for tomorrow night?" he asked.
"My hunch is that Trainey's going to turn over the marmots he's already captured to the Turkowers."
Ned acted surprised. "You think the animals are still in the park?"
"Yes, I do," Nancy said. "If they weren't, why would the Turkowers be hanging around? And I'll bet they're being kept somewhere fairly close to the campsite, too."
"So what's our next move?"
"We have to keep our eyes on the Turkowers and Trainey-and I'm still interested in Piker and Richard. It could be that the professor hired them to do the rough work," she speculated. "But the main thing is, it's obvious that this whole case is centered at your camp. We can't hope to solve it if I'm always somewhere else. I think it's time Bess and I move to the campsite."
"So you and Bess are going to camp." Ned grinned. "I'd love to be there when you break the news to her."
Nancy grimaced. "Do you have any idea what we can do about equipment? We'll need a tent and sleeping bags at least."
"There are outfitters in West Yellowstone and Jackson that sell camping gear. But why not ask Martin Robbins at the ranger station? I bet he could lend you what you need."
"Good idea," she said.
He put his arm around Nancy's shoulders, and she settled back against him. "I'm glad you're moving to the camp," he continued softly. "Having you so near will be the only bright spot in this whole awful situation."
"I can't believe that you actually met Randy Dean!" Bess exclaimed. "That's too awesome! What's he like?"
Nancy yawned. The morning sun was streaming through the window. "Really nice, Bess. He acts like a regular guy. But you'll have a chance to meet him," Nancy said. "He's staying right here in the hotel. And he invited us to come watch him making his TV special. I hope we can."
"What do you mean, you hope we can?" Bess demanded. "Wild horses couldn't stop me!"
Nancy smiled. "I don't know about wild horses, but we are here on an investigation, remember."
Bess stared at her, aghast, then immediately brightened. "Oh, we'll solve it in plenty of time," she proclaimed.
"Listen, Bess," Nancy said as she ran a brush through her hair. "I think the missing marmots are being shipped out tonight." She told her friend about the phone call. "I know you're not going to like this," she continued slowly, "but we need to move to the campsite to watch the situation more closely."
"Oh, no!" Bess wailed. "Leave the hotel just when Randy Dean arrives? And move into a cold tent? I'll die!"
"Oh, come on, where's your sense of adventure?" Nancy asked lightly. "Besides, if I'm right that tonight is the night, it won't be for long."
"Well-okay," Bess said gloomily. "I'll do it, but don't expect me to enjoy it."
"After breakfast I'm going to head over to the ranger station to talk to Martin Robbins. Maybe he can assign some rangers to patrol the campsite tonight. Ned also thought he might have a tent and a couple of sleeping bags we can borrow," Nancy said.
Bess dusted powder on her nose, then frowned at her image in the mirror. "What about me?" she asked.
"I want you to track down the Turkowers," Nancy said. "See if you can find out what they're up to today. I'll pick you up here when I come back from seeing Robbins, and we can go out to the campsite together."
As she walked toward her car, Nancy noticed a piece of paper tucked under the windshield wiper. It might be a circular of some sort, she thought, but she had a hunch it wasn't. Distinctly uneasy, she unfolded the paper.
The message was short and to the point: "Mind your own business, Nancy Drew. Marmots aren't the only things that can disappear!"
Chapter Twelve
Nancy stared at the note. It had been written in large, square letters with a red marker on a piece of computer paper. It resembled the paper they were using at the campsite, but she'd have to compare it to be sure. Still, with the key to the command post missing, that hardly narrowed things down.
She leaned against the side of the car and thought. The poachers were obviously desperate to get her off the case. They'd tried to put her out of commission twice the day before- and now this note. She'd planned to watch her main suspects closely, but it made her un- easy to think that they had their eyes on her, too.
Nancy put the threatening note in her pocket, got into the car, and started for the ranger station. As she drove, she found herself frequently checking the rearview mirror, but she didn't see any sign that she was being followed.
When she entered Martin Robbins's office, he was standing at the big wall map of Yellowstone with a sheaf of papers in his hand. He turned and said, "Hello, Nancy. What brings you here?"
"I wanted to fill you in on what's been happening with the case," she said, joining him at the map.
As she recited everything, beginning with the incident at the falls and ending with the conversation she'd overheard between Trainey and Gerald Turkower, Martin's frown deepened. "You've been busy. And it looks like you're making progress flushing these characters out." He crossed his arms and said slowly, "But from what you say, you've haven't got enough proof for me to move on." He went behind his desk and sat down, then gestured toward a chair.
"I know that," Nancy said, sitting down.
"That's why I'm moving to the Emerson campsite today. From what Trainey said on the phone, I think the missing marmots are going to be shipped out tonight, and I'm pretty sure they're being kept someplace nearby," she replied.
The ranger nodded. He remained silent for a moment, then hit the desk with his fist. "I feel as if my hands are tied on this. Without more proof, I can't justify a full-scale search of the area around the camp, but I will beef up the patrol vehicles along that stretch of the highway tonight."
Nancy smiled slightly. "That will help. And that reminds me-there's something else you can do for me. I was wondering if you have some camping gear I could borrow. All my friend Bess and I really need is a tent and two sleeping bags."
Robbins chuckled. "And a couple of air mattresses, too, believe me. Otherwise, you'll be so sore after one night that you won't be able to walk. Let me think. I know I have a couple of sleeping bags here, but I may have to call around to get you a tent. And anyway, I'm not sure it's such a great idea. These people have already shown how ruthless they are."