041 Something to Hide (10 page)

“Is that a private joke, or can you share it with us?” asked Bess. She and Nancy both knew the song. Anyone who had ever heard of Last Night knew about their first platinum hit.

“I used to sing it freshman year in college because the term seemed endless,” Brad explained. Then he chuckled. “My brother Larry could never relate to it because he works for my dad in our greenhouse. When you’re growing plants, endless days are something you want. It’s not like college.”

Ned laughed. “Nothing’s like college.”

“That’s what I tell my folks,” Brad said. “They can’t really relate, either. I’m the Chanin trailblazer, the first person in the family to go to college.”

“Your parents must be awfully proud,” Bess said softly.

“They will be if I do as well as they’re hoping,” Brad answered.

The lights began to dim. Nancy gave one last look around the hall. “Ned!” she said, grabbing his arm. “Isn’t that Justin and Heather over there?”

But before he could find them, the lights were out. A huge roar of cheers went up from the audience—and the concert began.

• • •

“The parking lot is going to be a total mess,” Ned said when the band had taken its final bow. “Do you guys want to walk around for a few minutes until the crowd thins out?”

“Sounds good to me,” Brad agreed, linking his arm with Bess’s. “I’m in no hurry to go home.”

The park surrounding the stadium was partially wooded. “Let’s walk in there,” Brad suggested as they came up to it.

“Okay,” Ned said, wrapping his arm around Nancy’s shoulder. “It’s the perfect night for a romantic stroll.”

Nancy smiled up at Ned and pecked him on the cheek. “That concert was fantastic. Thanks!”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Ned murmured in her ear. “And I’m glad I’m here with you.”

Nancy was about to whisper back, when Brad turned around and glanced uneasily over
his shoulder. “I don’t think anyone’s listening,” he said. “Remember when I said there was something I needed to tell you guys?”

Nancy nodded. A sudden gust of wind rustled the dry leaves barely clinging to the stately oaks as the moon slid behind a swiftly moving cloud. Bess shivered and inched closer to Brad. “What is it?” she asked in a frightened voice.

Brad lowered his voice to a whisper and motioned the three friends to come together. When they were only a foot apart, he spoke.

“Justin is the poisoner!”

B
ESS GASPED SHARPLY.
“Justin
tried to poison me?” she said.

Nancy realized at that moment that she hadn’t told Bess any of her suspicions. It had to be a shock to hear that a friend of Ned’s— and Brad’s—could be the poisoner.

“I—I just know it’s not true. I know it,” Bess said rapidly. The harvest moon, free of the trailing clouds, illuminated Bess’s face. “He’s too nice and funny for that!”

Brad put his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “You never know everything about people,” he said earnestly.
“But don’t worry—you’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.”

“Why do you think Justin is the poisoner?” Nancy asked. She kept her voice as neutral as possible. Brad had voiced her own suspicion, but she didn’t want to lead him in any way. He doesn’t know what I know about Justin, she reminded herself. But what
does
he know?

Once again Brad glanced nervously over his shoulder. The crackle of brittle leaves sounded as if someone was advancing toward the little group.

“It just makes sense,” he said in a low voice. “He worked for Asco, and they’re ruthless. They have the best reason for wanting Spotless to fail. Plus Justin’s very loyal—too loyal. I’m sure it’s got to be him.”

A loud thud interrupted Brad before he could go on. Everyone jumped, and Bess gave a smothered shriek. “What was that?” she whispered.

Ned looked around for a second—then chuckled. He bent down and picked up a big pine cone. “Here’s the villain,” he said, tossing it aside.

Brad blew out a breath and went on. “The way I figure it, Asco must have paid Justin to tamper with the samples. It would have been so easy for him. Remember, he used to be a chemistry major.”

“That’s right!” Bess exclaimed. “I’d forgotten
that!” She looked at Brad with dots of moonlight dancing in her eyes. “You’ve got to be right. Everything points to Justin, doesn’t it?”

She turned excitedly to Nancy. “You’re going to talk to Chief McGinnis about him, aren’t you? With Marcia still so sick, he’s got to know!”

Nancy nodded slowly. Brad’s reasoning was exactly like her own. She’d been looking for someone with both opportunity and motive. Justin had the opportunity—and Asco had the motive. It did all fit.

Except that there was no evidence.

If I’d been able to find Justin’s personnel file, Nancy thought, I would have known for sure if he’s being paid by Asco. But until I can confirm his employment, I have no concrete proof.

Besides, there was a flaw in the theory—a flaw Brad didn’t know about. Even if Justin had poisoned the Spotless samples, he might not be the person who had poisoned Marcia. It was entirely possible the two poisonings were unconnected.

Nancy didn’t say any of this aloud. “I’ll call the chief tomorrow,” Nancy told Bess.

Bess looked relieved. “Then can I ask everyone a favor?” she asked. “Could we drop the subject of these poisonings for the rest of the evening?”

“I heartily second the motion,” said Ned, and Nancy and Brad both nodded their agreement.

“Okay. Subject is officially changed,” said Bess. “I’m changing it to Brad. Did you know his father has a greenhouse?”

Nancy grinned. This was a total change of subject. “I heard him mention that, yes,” she said.

“Well,” Bess went on, “don’t you think we should get some Halloween pumpkins there?”

“Bess, we haven’t carved pumpkins in about ten—”

“I was just telling Brad how much we always look forward to making our jack-o’-lanterns,” Bess went on meaningfully. “And he said we’re all welcome to come out to the greenhouse and pick some out.”

“I think that would be great,” Nancy said hastily. She’d suddenly gotten the message. It wasn’t the pumpkins Bess cared about—it was seeing Brad again. “If your father has a good supply, tell him to save us a bunch,” she told Brad.

“Oh, he’s got tons,” said Brad. “I’ll give you directions to the greenhouse before we go home tonight—you can all come over sometime tomorrow.” The smile he flashed at Bess told Nancy he was looking forward to the next day as much as Bess was.

The four of them had started walking along
the narrow path again. Nancy held Ned’s hand tightly. The woods were deliciously spooky— just right for Halloween.

“Do you think Justin’s still going to have his party?” Brad asked over his shoulder. He and Bess were walking ahead of Nancy and Ned.

“Why wouldn’t he?” asked Ned.

“Well—um—” It was clear that Brad was uncomfortable. Then Nancy understood why.

“We don’t know for certain that he was the one who poisoned the samples,” she reminded him. She definitely wanted to go to the party— it would be a great chance to watch Justin more closely.

Bess turned to Brad. “Are you going?”

Brad smiled down into her eyes. “I wouldn’t miss a party with you, Bess.” Brad linked his arm through Bess’s, and they quickened their pace to put some distance between them and Nancy and Ned.

“I guess he wants a little privacy,” said Nancy with a laugh.

“I’m not complaining,” Ned answered. “I wanted some time alone with my girl, too.” Ned put his arm around Nancy’s shoulder and drew her close.

They slowed their steps and finally stopped in the hazy pool of light cast down by a lamp post at the edge of the woods. Ned put his hands on Nancy’s shoulders, slowly drew her close, and gently pressed his lips to hers. “Do
you know how long I’ve been wanting to do that?” he murmured into her ear. “But I guess we can’t stay here,” he continued reluctantly. “We’d better find the others.”

“Before we do, I need your advice,” said Nancy.

“Sure! Professor Nickerson to the rescue.”

Briefly Nancy outlined what she had learned from Dr. Perlman and Mr. Bailey. “Doesn’t it sound to you as though we have two poisoners on our hands?” she finished.

Ned looked very grim. “It sure does. I just wish we could talk to Marcia and ask her what she ate or drank,” he said, his voice full of frustration.

“I know. This case is so confusing. Just when I think I’ve solved it, something happens and my theory falls apart!”

“You’ll figure it out. I have absolute faith in you,” said Ned softly. He pulled Nancy to him and kissed her again.

They broke away when they heard someone talking very nearby. It didn’t sound like Bess or Brad.

“Is that Heather?” Nancy asked in surprise.

She and Ned looked around, but there was no sign of anyone else. “This way!” Nancy whispered, and they walked quickly up the path to the spot where they’d heard the voices. But there was no one there.

“I wonder if it could be Heather and Justin,”
Nancy said. “I really did think I saw them just after the show.”

“It’s strange to think they’d be anywhere together, though,” Ned pointed out. “I mean, after the way they were fighting yesterday—”

There was a rustling in the bushes ahead of them. “Bess?” Nancy called softly.

No answer.

“I didn’t hear anything,” said Ned.

The two of them started walking again— and the sound resumed. This time Ned squeezed Nancy’s hand to show her that he’d heard it, too.

The two of them slowed their pace. Whatever was moving through the dry leaves slowed down, too.

They walked more quickly. As if it were an echo, the rustling noise sped up.

They stopped. And an instant later, the sound stopped.

When Nancy looked at Ned, he nodded.

There was no doubt about it. Someone was following them!

W
HO’S THERE
?” Nancy called sharply.

Dead silence—and then whoever had been following them began to run. This time, there was no attempt to be quiet. Crashing, stumbling, trampling through the underbrush, the invisible follower raced to get away.

“You take the path. I’ll take the woods!” Nancy said, and she dashed off into the trees in pursuit.

Branches whipped across her face, and the undergrowth tangled around her ankles. The ground was treacherously uneven and littered with fallen branches. Nancy tripped over one and fell full-length to the ground. Gasping for
breath, she yanked herself to her feet and ran on, but the delay had cost her precious seconds. Ahead of her, the noises faded and disappeared.

Whoever had been following them was gone.

Slowly Nancy retraced her steps to the path. Ned was just returning to the spot where they’d separated. “I lost him,” he said heavily.

“Me, too. Did you see anything?”

“Not a glimpse. He must have known these woods, because he just disappeared.”

“I didn’t see anything, either,” said Nancy with a sigh. “And the only noise I heard was him getting farther and farther away.”

She rubbed her face, which was stinging from the branches that had scratched it. “Well, we got some exercise, anyway,” she said ruefully.

“I think I’ll try the gym next time,” Ned quipped. “It’s less stressful.” He glanced at his watch. “We’re late,” he said. “Brad and Bess will be waiting for us.”

“I don’t imagine they’ll complain about a little more time alone, do you?” asked Nancy with a grin.

“Probably not. Still, let’s find them and ask if they saw who was chasing us.”

Neither Brad nor Bess had noticed anything. In any case, they were having such a good time together that it was impossible to get a serious word out of either one.

“Nancy, this girl is being deliberately cruel,” Brad said when the four of them were back in the car.

“What’s the problem?” Nancy asked.

“She’s refusing to tell me what costume she’s wearing to the party,” Brad said in a hurt voice. “Don’t you think she should trust me more than that?”

They had stopped at a traffic light, and Ned turned toward the back seat. “Would you believe that Bess is going to be Jane and I’m going to be Tarzan?” he asked.