032 High Marks for Malice Read Online Free Page B

floor. In the sitting area, a sofa was positioned under a window, a pair ofsheets, a blanket, and a pillow stacked on one end. A white wicker trunk served as a coffee table.
    “Nice,” Ned said, putting Nancy’s bag down. “The rooms at Emerson are half this size. Think she’ll mind my waiting up here?”
    “We’ll find out soon enough.” Nancy removed her coat and folded it across the back of the sofa.
    Ned caught her and pulled her close. “I am glad you came. Whoever tried to kill Line doesn’t stand a chance now that you’re on the case.”
    “We’ll solve it together,” Nancy said with a quick smile. On tiptoe, she kissed him, her arms wrapped around his neck. He smelled of pine forests and rain, courtesy of his cologne, and of pepperoni, courtesy of Gianelli’s pizza. It was a lovely combination. Nancy breathed deeply, taking it in.
    The door opened. Cassandra stood, a laundry basket in her hands, her mouth open in surprise.
    “Hi, Cassandra,” Nancy said, moving out of Ned’s arms. “I hope you don’t mind Ned being here. We—”
    “Why should I?” she snapped, striding into the room and plunking the basket down on the bed. “You two can go right on playing kissy-face, for all I care. I’m closing the screens and going to sleep.”
    Nancy felt a surge of annoyance and swallowed it. She would be a polite and considerate guest, no matter how rude her hostess might be.
    “Can we talk to you for a few minutes?” she asked. “There are a few questions—”
    “Sorry,” Cassandra cut her off. “I have to be up early to get to the hospital by eight. So if you’ll excuse me . . .” Grabbing the edge of a screen, she began to slide it across.
    “In case you’re interested,” Ned said, sounding as if he too was finding it hard to ignore Cassandra’s behavior, “I called intensive care about twenty minutes ago. They said there was no change.”
    Cassandra stopped for a moment, her eyes filling with tears. Quickly she blinked them away. “I know. I called, too. The sofa opens up, Nancy. Good night.” With that, she disappeared behind the screens.
    “I’d better go,” Ned whispered. “The questions can wait.”
    “I’ll walk you out.” Nancy grabbed her coat and purse and followed him.
    “I guess she’s too upset about Line to care about her manners,” Ned said, going down the steps. “Line wouldn’t like her if she was always like that.”
    “If she does act that way all the time,” Nancy said, “the nights will be awfully long in one room with her.”
    After a very satisfying—and uninterrupted—good night kiss on the front steps, Nancy watched until the taillights of Ned’s car were no longer visible. She hesitated before going in. Thechill of the night seemed preferable to the chill upstairs in 212.
    There was more traffic than she’d seen since she had arrived—cars entering and departing the main gate, a couple strolling hand in hand. They looked up and called out, “Merry Christmas!”
    I like this place, she thought as she waved back. It was a warm, friendly campus.
    The carillon began to chime—it was eleven o’clock. I’d like a closer look at that tower, Nancy said to herself. She wished she’d thought of it before Ned left. But it was too late. She’d have to do it alone.
    Nancy walked toward the tower and saw that it was lit up now. Penlight in hand, she minutely examined the area where Line had fallen, but found no clues. She moved around the tiny chapel, searching for a door. It was at the back, securely locked.
    She hesitated only a moment, then removed her lockpick set from her purse and went to work. In less than a minute she was standing in a tiny foyer, facing a second door.
    This wasn’t a chapel at all, but simply the housing for the mechanisms that rang the chimes. The chimes were sealed in a room behind the second door, on which a sign was painted. “ ‘Danger. High Voltage,’ ” Nancy read out loud.
    To her left were the circular