032 High Marks for Malice Read Online Free Page A

everything. We’re taking you in. Get the lady’s coat, Jenson. Let’s go. And don’t try anything funny,” Officer Floyd said.
    “Wait a minute,” Ned said. “Please, do something about that door. You broke the lock. Line probably wouldn’t care about someone walking off with his TV and stereo, but his computer is another matter.”
    “We’ll take care of it,” Officer Jenson said. “We called for backup. They’ll secure the door. Let’s go.”
    Nancy gazed at Ned and he shrugged helplessly. She knew exactly how he felt. She was sure they would have things straightened out sooner or later, but how much should they say?
    The only sign they had that Line was in trouble amounted to a box of taffy and a note stuck in a textbook. They couldn’t prove anything. It made more sense to find out if they were right before springing this on the police.
    One thing at a time, Nancy decided. They had to clear themselves first. Turning, she let the policeman lead her out.
    • • •
    They spent two hours answering questions before they were released with apologies. It ended finally with a call to Dr. Garrison, who verified their story.
    By the time they got out, Nancy was ready to eat anything in sight. Outside the station, she lit up when she saw a pizza restaurant. She towed Ned across the street.
    “Now what?” Ned asked, after they had demolished a giant pizza. He and Nancy hadavoided talking about Line while they were eating, but the subject had never been far from their minds.
    “There’s a phone,” Nancy said gently, pointing to a pay phone by the take-out counter. “Go call the hospital.”
    Ned gave her an anxious smile. “Thanks.” He stood up and strode to the phone.
    • • •
    “Well, he’s not any better,” Ned said, as they headed back to Line’s in a cab. “But he’s not any worse. How do we find out what’s wrong?”
    “Cassandra,” Nancy said. “Since she works with him, she may know something that would help.”
    Ned lapsed into silence. He was quiet until the cab dropped them beside their rental car. Then he said slowly, “I have a feeling it wouldn’t be smart to tell her what we suspect, not right now, anyhow.”
    “Do you think Cassandra’s involved with what’s happened to Line?”
    “No. I just haven’t figured her out yet,” Ned said, unlocking the door of the compact. “She’s certainly not the friendliest person I’ve ever met.”
    “You can say that again,” Nancy agreed, getting in and buckling her seat belt. “Okay. We won’t tell her we agree with her that Line’s fall wasn’t an accident. We’ll just ask general questions and hope something she says will point usin the right direction. Maybe we can talk on our way to the hospital in the morning.”
    “I’d like to talk to her tonight, Nan.”
    Nancy doubted that Cassandra would feel like talking to them, considering how unfriendly she had been before. But she knew they should at least try.
    “Fine,” she said. “I’ll see if she’s still up.”
    Becker Hall was brightly lit and welcoming, the enormous Christmas tree in the lounge ablaze with twinkling lights. Using the house phone, Nancy dialed 212. After four rings, she said, “No answer. She must be asleep. Maybe we can have breakfast together, and—”
    A short girl bundled up in a bushy fur coat trotted down the stairs. “Hi,” she said, with a friendly smile. “Are you staying with Denton?”
    “Yes, I am,” Nancy answered.
    “Might as well go on up. I saw her on the elevator a few minutes ago with her laundry. She’s probably down in the basement.” She swept out the door before Nancy could thank her.
    Room 212 was almost as large as Line’s apartment. It had a sitting area that could be closed off from the sleeping area by a set of sliding screens anchored to the ceiling. At the moment the screens were open.
    Cassandra’s room was decorated in pink and white, and a thick white carpet covered part of the gleaming hardwood