The Mystery at Mead's Mountain

I’ll—”
    “Did they, give you any clues as to where she might be?” Honey asked quickly.
    “They said there was too much danger of an avalanche where she is. They were afraid after they almost got caught in one after the big snowstorm we had last Saturday.”
    “That’s the snowstorm we arrived in,” Trixie told Carl. “That’s when I saw you in the woods. I guess you were looking for your daughter.”
    Close to the lodge, they saw Bert and Jack’s little rented car in a ditch off the road.
    “Their own car couldn’t make it through all the new snow,” jeered Trixie, “so they stole Pat and Katie’s four-wheel-drive truck.”
    “And fooled us,” added Honey.
    Jim pulled into the parking lot and let Honey out. “Honey, why don’t you get Pat and Katie and Miss Trask and the others back to our suite? Trixie and I can get Bert and Jack in the back way. That way we won’t disturb the party.”
    All the others were at the suite by the time Jim, Trixie, and Carl came in with Bert and Jack.
    “We were so worried!” said Di, throwing her arms around Trixie. “As soon as Mart introduced Bert and Jack and they didn’t appear, we knew what was going on.”
    “We were going to give you ten minutes more,” added Brian.
    Katie left to fetch a doctor, then Jim called the police. “They’re coming right over,” he announced, turning to Bert and Jack. “I guess you’ll be beginning the new year behind bars.”
    “Are you three all right?” Miss Trask asked. “I could tell you’ve been working on some kind of case, but this is more than I expected.”
    “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” begged Pat.
    “What about the party?” Trixie asked. “Mart, shouldn’t you and Di be out there telling everyone what to do?”
    “And miss another thrilling, death-defying installment in the life of Trixie Belden? Are you kidding? We asked Linda and Wanda to take over the show for us.”
    “I’m glad to see you’re getting my name straight,” Trixie joked weakly. Then she sat down on the fireplace hearth and briefly filled Pat and Miss Trask in on the tale. When she was through, Miss Trask sighed and Pat wiped his forehead.
    “All that under my very nose, and I didn’t even see it,” Pat commented incredulously.
    Carl stood up impatiently. “We’ve got to find Ellen. They said she’s near an avalanche area. She may be... h-hurt.”
    Pat looked concerned. “Unfortunately, there’re all kinds of places right now where there’s avalanche danger.”
    “Maybe we can find a map in their room,” Honey suggested.
    Katie returned with the doctor, and while he examined Jim, Carl, and Jack, the girls accompanied Pat to search Bert and Jack’s room. They found it totally stripped of Jack’s and Bert’s belongings.
    “How about that!” exlaimed Pat. “They were going to leave without paying their bill.”
    “See if you can find any clues,” Trixie urged. “Honey and I’ll check their car.”
    The two girls walked out into the snowy parking lot and down the hill toward Bert and Jack’s car. They still had their flashlights with them, and Trixie was able to see luggage in the backseat. “I guess they were going to come back for it after they got the money,” she said.
    She opened the car door and checked the glove compartment. “Gleeps, look at this! A one-way plane ticket from Groverville to Boston for tonight’s flight. So Bert was planning to double-cross Jack all along. There’s only one ticket!”
    Honey shuddered. “I sure would hate to have Bert as a friend.”
    “I’m just so worried about Ellen out in those woods,” said Trixie. “They probably haven’t taken her food for quite a while if she’s someplace where there’s avalanche danger. And it’s been snowing so long. She could die of exposure!”
    “Don’t talk that way,” Honey said. “Besides, I don’t think even Bert and Jack would leave her out in the open. She must be in a tent or some kind of natural protection.”
    Trixie motioned for Honey to be quiet. Off in the bushes, they heard a rustling sound. Someone was coming through the woods toward them. Trixie, her heart thumping, froze in fear. Had Jack and Bert escaped? Was there another member of the gang they didn’t know about?
    As the rustling grew louder, Trixie and Honey crouched behind the car, hoping against hope that they wouldn’t be seen.
    Then Trixie peeked over the edge of the car and saw who it was.
    “Eric!” Trixie called as