Sisters in Crime by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

crack as she felt the white wooden railing start to give!

Chapter

Eight
    A S THE RAILING gave, Nancy flung herself forward and fell into Fran. Immediately Nancy stood up and assumed the solid karate stance of a professional. Although she still knew nothing of Fran’s motive, Nancy was ready to fight, if a fight was called for.
    But Fran steadied herself, and took the violence no further. For an instant she looked shocked and frightened as she glanced over the edge of the roof to the hard concrete below. Without a backward glance, Fran turned and walked down the stairs.
    As Nancy watched her go, she shook her head. Was Fran Kelly just a jealous, spoiled girl whowent too far in trying to get what she wanted? Or, Nancy wondered, could this girl with the bright blue ribbon be a dangerous killer?
    Nancy went downstairs then to Susan’s room and called Ned. He answered the phone.
    â€œHey, Nance!” he greeted her.
    â€œOh, Ned, I’m so happy you’re there. It’s good to hear your voice!” Nancy said.
    â€œIt’s always good to hear yours, but you don’t sound so great right now. What’s wrong?” Ned asked perceptively.
    â€œI’m afraid this case is getting me down,” Nancy explained.
    â€œYou need the old Nickerson pep talk?” Ned asked.
    â€œBadly, and maybe some advice,” Nancy said.
    Conversations with Ned always helped Nancy sort out her thoughts. Often he, and Bess and George, would assist her on her cases. And right then Nancy was missing them. Susan, though a good friend, was no detective.
    â€œI feel very far away and isolated,” Nancy said softly, looking out the window of Susan’s room as late-afternoon fog was rolling in off the ocean.
    â€œWell, complaints about California I won’t bother with,” Ned said. “It’s snowing here today, and you’re probably lolling around in the sun.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Nancy smiled into the phone, her spirits lifted just to be in contact with Ned. “The only problem with sunning is that I justnearly got pushed off a sun deck that’s four flights off the ground.”
    Ned became serious. “Any other danger, Nancy? I hate it when you’re working on a case that far away from me.”
    â€œPlenty. One threatening note, and an attack on a beach. But I’m fine.” Nancy was quick to reassure him. “It’s just that despite all this danger, I don’t really have any concrete clues.”
    â€œStart from the beginning,” Ned said to encourage her. Nancy briefly summarized the case.
    â€œIt must have been pretty important to someone to shut Rina Charles up,” Ned said.
    â€œExactly,” Nancy agreed.
    â€œAnd nobody in that Sigma Kappa house has a ring like that?” Ned asked.
    â€œNope. Well, not according to Mark. Nothing’s panned out. I don’t feel there’s anything to help me figure out who it was, or what Rina knew, or—wait,” Nancy said abruptly. “The file box. There’s a lead I haven’t followed. Why didn’t I think of that before?”
    â€œWhat file box?” Ned asked.
    â€œWhen Rina was made treasurer, she kept her paperwork in a file box. But Susan couldn’t show it to me because Lori Westerly had already taken it from their room.”
    â€œSounds like a good direction. But you’ll need to figure out how to see it. You can’t ask Lori.”
    â€œNo. There’s no way I can do that withoutblowing my cover. I’ll just have to figure out a way to get to that file box on my own.”
    â€œAnd I’m sure you will,” Ned said with a worried sigh. “Nancy, please be careful. Remember this is a murder case. It sounds like one of those ‘nice’ college kids is dangerous and is going to try to make sure you don’t find out what Rina knew. Also,” Ned added gently, “one more word of caution, if you don’t