Sisters in Crime

by Carolyn Keene

  “Not very,” Nancy answered. “Why do people fall for it?”

  “They probably don’t more than once,” Larry answered. “Now let me ask you a couple questions, okay?”

  Before waiting for Nancy’s agreement, Larry said, “Is it going on at the Delta Phi house?”

  Nancy looked at Larry for a minute before deciding to nod.

  “And you think this is what Rina knew? Why she was killed?”

  Nancy shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “But would blowing the whistle be enough reason to knock her off?”

  “Couldn’t the consequences of being caught be very serious?” Nancy asked.

  “Yes,” Larry agreed. “But murder? Whew!”

  Nancy glanced over at the dance floor and saw Susan and Ira heading back to the table, hand in hand. Great, Nancy thought. It’s time something good happened to Susan!

  As their waiter returned with plates of steaming food, Larry said, “Delta Phi has such a good reputation for high grades. Who would ever have thought it?”

  Susan and Ira took their seats at the table just as Nancy said to Larry, “There’s a calculus test Monday that some of the girls in this cheating ring have to take. They don’t have a contact in the math department, though. Do you know anything about that exam?”

  “Nope.”

  “Do you think you could write a phony calculus test?”

  Larry tipped his glasses up and peered into Nancy’s eyes. “I thought you’d never ask. I’d be delighted!”

  “What’s going on here?” Ira asked as he and Susan sat down.

  “Chilis rellenos, enchiladas verdes, and chicken mole,” Larry answered. “At your own risk.”

  “I mean about writing a phony exam?” Ira asked.

  “After seven years of advanced mathematics, Nancy and I have finally discovered something practical I can do with it,” Larry proclaimed as he began to serve himself an enchilada. “We are about to infiltrate a group of cheaters.”

  “You’re going to give them a phony exam?” Susan asked nervously.

  “Yes,” Nancy answered. “And find out if there’s more to this scheme than good grades.”

  “Like money involved?” Ira asked.

  “Perhaps.” Nancy nodded, serving herself some of the hot chilis rellenos. “It could be that Rina discovered something she wasn’t supposed to discover. I want to know what that was, and I think I’m going to have to burn my candle at both ends to find out.”

  As the music became fast and loud, Susan asked, “How will getting in with them help?”

  “I think,” Nancy said, “that they’re the only ones who can lead me to a murderer.”

  Chapter

  Eleven

  WHEN NANCY TAPPED gently on Kathy’s door the next morning, a tired voice called out, “One minute.”

  “Sorry I woke you,” Nancy said apologetically when Kathy opened the door in her pajamas, her long, frizzy hair sticking up in all directions.

  “Oh, it’s all right. It’s eleven o’clock already. I should have been awake long ago.” Kathy yawned. “I just stayed up late studying. Actually, I didn’t start studying until late.” Rubbing her eyes, Kathy said, “I wasn’t cut out to be a student.”

  “I have something that may help that,” Nancy proclaimed with her most winning smile.

  “Well, come in,” Kathy said with interest, and stood aside so Nancy could enter.

  Inside, Nancy pulled a manila envelope from behind her back and presented it to Kathy.

  “What’s this?” Kathy asked, locking her door.

  “Good news,” Nancy said, “for calculus students.”

  “Oh, Nancy!” Kathy shrieked, taking the papers out of the envelope. “It’s not!”

  “It is!” Nancy said, feigning pride. “Monday’s exam.”

  “How did you ever get it?” Kathy asked, wide-eyed.

  “It was surprisingly easy,” Nancy explained, and went into the story she had decided to tell. “I was looking around this morning when I began talking to this guy in the math department. I guess he’s a teaching assistant. I asked him how difficult introductory calculus was, and he said, “Not very. Want to see a test we’ll be giving soon?”

  “Oh, no!” As Kathy squealed with delight and looked over the exam, Nancy thought about what Larry had said when they met on campus that morning. “The hardest part was making sure I didn’t put anything on there that might actually show up on Monday’s test,” he had said with a grin.

  “That jerk!” Kathy declared. “He just gave it to you?”

  “Not exactly,” Nancy said, trying to be a bit vague. “Let’s just say I borrowed it, with the help of a nearby copier when he got called out of the office.”

  Kathy looked impressed. “That’s great. So he won’t even know he’s been ‘cooperative.’ That’s the best! Thank you, Nancy,” Kathy said, hugging the phony exam close to her. “Thank you so much.”

  Leaving Kathy’s room, Nancy became aware of the time pressure she had just put herself under. Kathy, and anyone she shared the exam with, would know by Monday morning at nine o’clock that this one was a fake.

  It’s now Thursday, Nancy thought. By Monday morning I’d better have solved the mystery of Rina Charles’s death!

  • • •

  Posted on the wall of the chapter room, next to the framed scholarship awards, was a listing of everyone’s grade point average in the sorority. Let’s see, thought Nancy as she searched through the names—Lori, Jan, Ellen, Pam, Johanna. Yes, almost all the inner circle have a four-point average. All except Kathy, and she’s pretty close to it with a three-point-eight. Pretty good for someone who hates studying.

  Alice Clark was the only other student with straight A’s and there was no doubt in Nancy’s mind that she deserved them.

  Nancy was still looking at the list when Debbie wandered in. “Hello there,” she said in her usual friendly manner. “Are you going to join us for the Valentine’s party tomorrow?”

  “Sure,” Nancy answered.

  “It should be fun. You examining our intellect?” Debbie asked.

  “It’s pretty impressive,” Nancy answered, “So many high averages.”

  “Mine’s not up as high as I wish,” Debbie said. “And I want to get into graduate school in two years.”

  Looking at Debbie’s name, Nancy saw that she had a three-point-two-five average. Surely respectable, but lower than many. What, Nancy wondered, did the people who didn’t cheat know about what was going on?

  “Well, I think I’ll head upstairs. I’ve got a paper calling to me.” Debbie sighed.

  “I’ll walk up with you,” Nancy said.

  When they reached Debbie’s room, Nancy saw Patty in there working on something at her typewriter. Nancy had observed that the two of them worked very hard on their studies.

  “Mind if I come in for a minute and ask you something?”

  “Come on,” Patty called out from her desk. “I need a break.”

  “Last night I was talking to this guy who’s a grad student,” Nancy said. “He told me he knew of an exam-stealing scheme that’s going on in some of the sororities.” Nancy spoke slowly and watched the girls’ reactions. “He said that the authorities are getting wise to it and want to start prosecuting the students who are involved.”

  Patty pushed her glasses up and asked curiously, “How would anyone steal an exam?”

  “Apparently,” Nancy explained, noticing that Debbie had turned away and was looking at the books on her desk, “they don’t have to be stolen, exactly. There are some helpful assistants that give them away.”

  “Well, if you see a political science one floating around,” Patty said lightly, “pass it on—please.”

  “Do you think that ever goes on here?” Nancy asked.

  Patty shrugged, put her glasses back on, and returned to her work. Debbie said, “I’d be shocked if it did.”

  But the blush in Debbie’s fair skin led Nancy to believe that this was in no wa
y shocking to her. While Nancy was convinced that Debbie wasn’t part of the ring—her grades weren’t as high as the others, nor as high as she wished they were—it appeared as though she knew of it.

  “You’ve never heard anything about it?” Nancy asked.

  “Listen,” Debbie said abruptly, “that would be awful, a really awful thing to do to any TA.” She shook her head angrily as she said, “After all those years of study and work, it could blow your career. It’s horrible.”

  “I agree,” Nancy said gently. As she left the room, she understood that Debbie knew about this scheme from the other end, from a TA who had been asked, or used.

  • • •

  “I’m a detective in training,” Susan said as she burst into their room with a smile. After her date with Ira the night before, Susan was happier than Nancy had seen her since she arrived in California.

  “What did you dig up?” Nancy asked, looking at the papers Susan was carrying.

  “Only this,” Susan said, handing her a list that was titled, “SDU, Clubs and Organizations.” “I went to the Office of Student Affairs and got this list of athletic and social clubs.” One was circled—“On Target.” Susan excitedly read the description out loud, “ ‘Dart throwing for the beginner to the advanced.’ ”

  “Susan Victors!” Nancy said, delighted. “This is great work!”

  “And a little good luck, too,” Susan said, pointing to the letters TH7BH that followed the description. “It meets tonight, Thursday, seven o’clock at Blake Hall.”

  “It’s worth a try,” Nancy said, smiling at Susan.

  • • •

  “I’ve saved you and your cousin a seat,” Kathy said, greeting Nancy on the way into the dining room that evening. “Come join us at Lori’s table.”

  As Nancy and Susan followed Kathy to the table, Nancy was aware that Jan Miller was not sitting there, but was seated across the room with Fran Kelly. This should be interesting, Nancy thought.

  “I’m so glad I got a chance to see you dive yesterday,” Nancy said to Lori, who was seated right beside her. “You were wonderful.”

  “Thanks. The back flip nearly landed me in the bleachers, but otherwise I felt okay about it.”

  Nancy smiled. “More than okay,” she said encouragingly. “Excellent. And the judges seemed to think so, too.”

  “What do you guys think about Jeff Arthurs?” Johanna asked everyone at the table. “Pretty cute, huh?”

  “Are you going after him at tomorrow’s mixer?” Ellen asked.

  Johanna nodded and asked Lori, “Is he going with anyone?”

  “As far as I know, he’s fair game,” Lori answered.

  “Go for it,” Kathy said.

  While the rest of the girls at the table were talking together, Lori turned to Nancy. “I heard you had another accident,” she said quietly.

  “Accident?” Nancy asked.

  Lori nodded as she chewed on a piece of fried chicken. “With a dart.”

  “Oh, yes,” Nancy said, buttering a biscuit. She glanced at Kathy, who was chatting with Susan. “It’s actually not looking very accidental now.”

  “I agree,” Lori said. “When Kathy told me about it, I really started to wonder. Two attacks in one week is pretty outrageous. Do you have any idea what it’s about?”

  “None,” Nancy said, shaking her head. “None at all.”

  “Do you know anyone in town who’d want to hurt you?”

  “I don’t know anybody in town at all,” Nancy said. “Or at least I didn’t before I arrived four days ago.”

  After their conversation, Lori stood up, tapped on her water glass, and made the usual evening announcements.

  As they all filed out of the dining hall, it was no surprise to Nancy that Fran Kelly and Jan Miller approached her. Jan’s short, straight hair framed her smiling face as she said sarcastically, “I’m so glad Lori found herself another puppy.” She turned her back to Nancy and shot over her shoulder, “She was lonely when the last one died, poor thing.”

  Hearing Fran’s laughter, Nancy turned to face her. As Jan walked away, Fran stopped laughing. In hushed tones, her mouth close to Nancy’s ear, she said, “Your cousin’s last roommate didn’t end up so great when she got the special treatment, now, did she?”

  Chapter

  Twelve

  NO, SHE DIDN’T, Fran,” Nancy said angrily. “Rina Charles ended up dead.” The two of them were standing on the back stairway, and Nancy decided it was time for the direct approach with Fran. “And just what do you know about that death?”

  “I know,” Fran said, with a hint of a smile on her face, “that the fool went scuba diving with faulty equipment. Everyone knows that. The police have confirmed it.” Fran took a step up and looked down at Nancy. “Do you really think you are smarter than they are, Nancy Drew?”

  Nancy passed her and turned sideways to block Fran’s way. “I don’t know what the police learned,” Nancy said. “But let me ask a question that I bet they didn’t ask. Where were you when it happened?”

  “When Rina died?”

  Nancy only nodded, still blocking her way.

  “How do I know where I was?” Fran answered, glaring at Nancy. “That’s something the police didn’t ask any of us, because they were smart enough to know we couldn’t answer it. Nobody knows when Rina Charles died. Nobody knows when she put on that wet suit and weight belt and jumped into the Pacific Ocean.”

  Nancy was aware that absolutely nothing in Fran’s manner suggested discomfort at the question. Fran’s voice had been unwavering, and she had looked directly at Nancy as she spoke.

  Fran then added coldly, “Rina wasn’t the kind of person you’d miss just because she was gone for a day.”

  Either this person is innocent, Nancy thought, stepping aside, or she’s a very fine liar. But if Fran doesn’t have anything to do with Rina’s death, then why is she behaving so cruelly toward me? Nancy wondered.

  On the second floor, Nancy headed toward Kathy’s room. She had more questions to ask, and now was the time to start asking them.

  Kathy’s door was open, and when she saw Nancy in the hall, she called out, “Come on in! I’ve got plenty of time to visit now—thanks to you!”

  Kathy was looking in the mirror above her dresser and applying eye makeup to her large green eyes.

  Nancy gently closed the door behind her before she asked, “Do you remember if you mentioned to anyone that you and I were going for a walk the other night before we went out?”

  Kathy licked the tip of her eyeliner pencil and mumbled, “Didn’t we leave from the study hall?”

  “No,” Nancy said, reminding her. “Remember, you needed your jacket”—Nancy gestured to the khaki jacket that Kathy had worn—“and went upstairs to get it first.”

  “Oh, right,” Kathy answered, her eyes open wide as she brushed mascara on her lashes.

  “Did you tell anyone then?” Nancy asked.

  “Nope,” Kathy mumbled, concentrating on her eyes.

  Kathy turned and smiled at Nancy. “Lori was very pleased with your helping Delta Phi out, by the way. I told her about that, and she thinks you’re great.”

  “You’re all very welcome.” Nancy touched the collar of the jacket as she asked the next question. “Does everyone in the sorority know about the teaching assistants that help you out?”

  “Are you kidding?” Kathy exclaimed. “Only a few of the very special sisters, if you know what I mean.” After she rubbed some lip gloss on her mouth, Kathy added, “I actually should never have told you; I don’t know what made me do it. But I’m glad I did!” She smiled. “Maybe I’m psychic or something.”

  “Was Rina one of the special ones?” Nancy asked.

  “Rina Charles? No way!” Kathy ran her fingers through her long curls, pushing them into an order of sorts as she said, “Rina was not one of the special people.” Kathy hesitated. “I hate to say it, but I never really understood why she and Lori were close. Rina was nice, but,
I don’t know, she just didn’t seem the right type. Anyway,” Kathy added, “I’m in charge of the exam ‘borrowing,’ and if anyone was let in on the secret, I’d know.” Curious, Kathy added, “How come you asked?”

  “Just wondering about the sorority, I guess, and how it works,” Nancy answered as casually as possible. If Kathy is right and Rina did not know about this, Nancy thought, then this path leads me to another dead end. Then, Nancy thought, this phony exam scheme has been pointless. It won’t get me any closer to the killer, and it may get the killer closer to me.

  “Well, I wouldn’t be worried about getting in if I were you,” Kathy said reassuringly as she touched Nancy’s shoulder. “If you decide to come to SDU, I’m sure there’ll be a place for you in Delta Phi.” Looking at her watch, Kathy said, “Meeting time, I’d better move it. We’re electing a treasurer tonight!”

  • • •

  Blake Hall was well lit, though empty, when Nancy reached it a little after seven. On the bulletin board, under Today’s Activities, was listed “On Target—Room 207.”

  When Nancy walked into the room, all the desks were moved aside and four dart boards were set up against the wall. Only about seven people were in the room, all guys. Nancy had never seen any of them before.

  She stood for a moment at the door, surveying the situation.

  “Don’t be shy,” a voice called out. “We’re always short on girls.”

  Nancy walked over to the person who issued the invitation. “Actually darts isn’t my game,” “she replied. “I was just looking for some friends.”

  “Male or female?” he asked, picking up three more darts.

  “Female,” Nancy answered, taking a stab at it. “I think they usually come here on Thursday nights.”