The Sign in the Smoke (Nancy Drew Diaries #12)(5)

“Okay,” said Taylor. “So?”

“On the last night,” Bella went on, “they took their tents and sleeping bags and headed out to Hemlock Hill for the campout by the lake—a Camp Larksong tradition.”

“I remember,” said Maddie, who was the third alum. “It was always the most fun night of camp . . . though I barely got any sleep!”

Bella widened her eyes even farther. “Well, this night, something really crazy happened! The rumor is one of the counselors went nuts. . . .” She paused for dramatic effect.

“And did what?” George demanded finally. I could tell Bella’s milking of the story was driving her nuts.

“And she drowned one of her own campers in the lake!” Bella finished. “You guys, this place is legit haunted. Everyone in Potterville knows that. We’re always seeing weird lights in the woods, a wailing sound coming from the lake. . . .”

Taylor looked horrified. “She drowned one of her campers?” she asked. “Yeah, that would make me pretty mad! I would totally haunt this place if someone drowned me.”

Maddie nodded slowly, looking down into her lap. “I heard about this too, from a friend from camp I used to write to,” she said. “I didn’t want to believe it was true. But—”

“We don’t know it’s true,” George cut in. Her voice was as sharp and no-nonsense as ever. I found it kind of comforting. “And to be honest, I kind of doubt it.”

Bella glared at her. “Why do you doubt it?” she asked. “Are you calling me a liar?”

George shook her head. “No, no. I believe you believe it. But . . . guys, drowning someone is murder. I’ve Googled this place a few times. I’m sure some of you have too. Don’t you think, if a murder actually happened here, it would have ended up in the news somewhere?”

“Maybe the camp covered it up,” said Bella.

“Yeah,” Maddie whispered. “I’m sure they wouldn’t have wanted anyone to know.”

Whooooooooooooo! We all jumped as a sudden wailing traveled over the water from the other side of the lake.

“That was an owl,” George said.

But Bess looked unconvinced. She bit her lip. “The camp did close down kind of suddenly,” she said. “I always wondered why. If something like this happened . . .”

George gave her a doubtful look. “Bess, come on.”

“Come on what?” Bella said. “She’s not allowed to believe me either? What is she, your dog?”

Bess scowled at Bella, clearly annoyed. “She’s my cousin,” she said. “She doesn’t tell me what to do. But I am interested in her opinion.” Bess got to her feet. “Look, nobody can prove anything tonight. So that was an interesting story, Bella, but that’s all it is right now—a story.” She yawned and covered her mouth. “I’m really tired, and I think we have to get up at some ungodly hour to make breakfast tomorrow. Anyone else ready to turn in?”

“Me,” George said without hesitation, getting up.

“Me too,” said Sam, slowly getting to her feet.

Soon most of the others followed. Bella was the last to stand, and did so reluctantly. I could tell by the look in her eye that she wasn’t pleased by how this conversation had turned out. But why? I wondered. Was she hoping to bond with the others over this ghost tale? I was with George on this one—it was super creepy to think about the camp closing because someone had died here, but Bella’s story sounded far-fetched.

“Let’s go to bed,” I agreed. “I’m sure we have a busy day ahead of us.”

Pine Cabin was basically a rustic pine box. Six metal bunk beds lined the walls, and there was a separate bathroom with a few stall showers and toilets. We laid our sleeping bags out. George and Bess shared one bunk, so I asked Taylor if she wanted to share, and she said yes. We were all sleepy, so we didn’t take long to change into our pj’s, use the bathroom, brush our teeth, and climb into bed.

I had the top bunk. “Good night, guys,” I called as I sleepily burrowed into the pillow I’d brought from home. It smelled of Hannah’s favorite lavender-scented detergent.

“Good night, Nancy,” came seven voices back to me.



I dreamed I had to go to the bathroom, but I was up in a tree, and the bathroom was down on the ground. I had to climb down the thick pine branches to get back to earth, but they were too tangled, and it was too confusing. Meanwhile the pressure was building, and I was getting really worried I wasn’t going to make it! The dream seemed to go on forever until suddenly my eyes popped open and there I was, staring at the ceiling of Pine Cabin, desperately having to pee.

I scrambled down as quickly as I could without stepping on Taylor and ran to use the bathroom.

Hugely relieved, I finished up and was walking back to my bed when I heard it.

WHOOOOOOOO-WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!

I felt like ice water had been poured into my veins. It was coming from just outside the cabin. It was kind of like the sound that had come across the lake—the “owl” sound, according to George. But this was much louder, and closer.

WOOOOOO-HOOOO-WOOOOOOOO!

“What the heck?” Sam’s confused voice came from one of the bunks to my right, and I turned toward it.

“You hear it too?”