Stop the Clock (Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective Book 12) Read Online Free

and why would you think you missed anything?”
    “I’m on your committee, Nancy,” Deirdre said, breezing into the room and sitting down in the seat vacated by Mr. Franklin.
    I was finding it almost impossible to say anything. I looked at Mrs. Corning. All I was able to say was, “I didn’t know.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry, dear. The library clock theft has me so rattled, I can’t seem to remember anything,” Mrs. Corning said. “Deirdre called this morning and offered her services. Since I know how much work this is going to be, I was sure you wouldn’t mind.”
    What a disaster. The library clock was gone, Mr. Franklin was going to be impossible to work with, and Deirdre would be around to make our lives miserable. What else could go wrong?

3
     
    Ralph Mullins’s Threat
    B etween gritted teeth, I managed, “We’re delighted to have you, Deirdre, but try to be on time for all the future meetings.”
    Deirdre gave me a smirk. “Well, actually, I was on time, Nancy,” she said. “In fact, I was here before you and your friends were.”
    “Really?” I said. “Well, then, where were you?”
    “It’s my fault, Nancy,” Mrs. Corning said. “When Deirdre got here, things were in such chaos, because we had just discovered that the clock was missing—so I asked her if she would help the children’s librarian shelve books.” She gave Deirdre a big librarian smile. “Without any hesitation whatsoever, she agreed to do it.”
    Oh, brother. Deirdre Shannon, library assistant ?
    “Well, that was nice of you, Deirdre,” Bess said. She turned to George. “Isn’t that really nice of Deirdre?”
    “Why, yes, it really is,” George said. She looked at Deirdre. “We were just talking about you this morning, when we saw you pulling into that parking space at the supermarket. We were just saying what a nice, thoughtful, sensitive person Deirdre Shannon was. You know the type of person we’re talking about. The one who helps little old ladies and gentlemen across the street. The one who would never park in a handicap parking space. The one who . . . well, you get the picture.”
    Deirdre turned bright red.
    “Well,” I said, “I guess we’d better start our meeting. What I think we should do first is—”
    “Ned is really disappointed that you didn’t want him on the committee, Nancy,” Deirdre said, interrupting. “Actually, I am too, because I think he always has really good ideas.”
    “What do you mean, Deirdre?” I said. “He is on the committee.” I didn’t add that I hadn’t told him yet.
    Deirdre eyed me suspiciously.
    “Anyway, when were you talking to Ned?” I asked.
    Deirdre gave everyone her I’m-in-control-here smile and said, “This morning, at the student union, when I had an early breakfast with a friend of mine.I told Ned I was really sorry that you didn’t want him on the committee.”
    “Why did you tell him that, Deirdre?” I asked.
    “Because it’s true!” Deirdre said. “Ned hadn’t heard anything about this committee, Nancy!” she added triumphantly. “You were just saying that.”
    “It isn’t true, Deirdre,” I said, turning to everyone else. “Ned Nickerson is on this committee too, but he had an English lit test this morning, so he wasn’t able to attend this first meeting. I’ll see him tonight, so I’ll fill him in on everything we talked about.”
    Of course, I wasn’t really lying. Every time Ned and I were together recently, he was studying for another exam. How could I have a chance to tell him?
    Bess and George smirked.
    “Perhaps he just forgot, Nancy,” Deirdre said sarcastically. She was still eyeing me suspiciously. “If you’d like me to, I can fill Ned in before then.”
    The girl never gives up!
    “I’ll probably see him this afternoon at the university library,” Deirdre continued. She looked at everyone else. “My friend works in circulation,” she added. “I’m at the library a lot. So is Ned.”
    “Why, thank you, Deirdre!