My Deadly Valentine

  Cupid sure covered his tracks, Nancy thought. “I’ll have to dig deeper if we’re going to prove that the Dombrowskis are playing Cupid.”

  “In the meantime,” the dean said, “let me check out the names of the other two girls.” Nancy waited while he punched the names into his computer. “Both girls withdrew from the college after last year,” he said. “Dinah Ryan transferred to a college in Iowa, and Jessica Watson dropped out.”

  Strike that theory, Nancy thought. The next thing she had to do was follow up on Marina, Max, and Casey.

  Nancy was saying goodbye to Dean Jarvis when she spotted Ned outside. He was whistling as he turned up the front walk. She hung up the phone and hurried to the front door.

  “Morning, gorgeous!” he said as he stepped inside. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m free until the afternoon. What do you want to do first?”

  “I thought we’d start with that visit to Casey we talked about yesterday,” Nancy said. “By the way, he made a surprise appearance at the hospital last night.” She told Ned about the disguise Casey had worn to sneak into Rosie’s room.

  “So that’s why he didn’t show up for basketball practice,” Ned said. “He must really care about Rosie.”

  Bess came out of the den with a box of party decorations. “I’m going to stick around and help the Theta Pis set up for the auction this afternoon.” She gave Nancy a nudge. “Time is running out. When are you going to work on your valentine?”

  “I almost forgot!” Nancy said. “I’ll pick up something later.”

  “Remember, it has to be personal,” Bess reminded. “It has to say something about you—”

  “At least make it obvious enough for me to figure out,” Ned teased Nancy. “I don’t want to lose out to some other guy.”

  As Nancy and Ned headed out, Bess, Kristin, and Denise were already at work draping red and white streamers across the living room ceiling.

  “Looks like they’re trying to get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day, despite all the problems the sorority’s been having,” Ned said.

  Nancy nodded as they got into Ned’s car. “It has to be frightening to be the target of a stalker.”

  At the dormitory they signed in at the reception desk and rode the elevator up to Casey’s floor. They followed the blaring rock music to room 347, where the door was open.

  “Casey!” Ned banged on the door frame, then stepped inside.

  Nancy followed him into the room furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, and chair. A brightly colored parachute was pinned to the ceiling, giving the room a soft, colorful look.

  “You caught me on my way out,” Casey said after he’d turned down the CD player. “I’ve got class in twenty minutes.”

  “We wanted to talk to you about all the attacks against the Theta Pis,” Ned said. “I don’t know how much you’ve heard, but it’s getting really bad, and the police still think you might be involved.” Ned explained about the poisoned chocolates that had been discovered the day before.

  “Sounds like there’s a maniac on the loose,” Casey said. “But I’d never hurt those girls.”

  “We want to believe you, buddy,” Ned said.

  “The police are going to look only at the facts,” Nancy explained. “So far your alibi for the night Rosie was attacked hasn’t checked out. You were on the scene the day that light switch was rigged, and—”

  “Hold it a second,” Casey said. “Whose side are you on, Nickerson?”

  “Yours,” Ned insisted. “But Nancy can’t prove you’re innocent unless you cooperate.”

  While Ned tried to calm his friend down, Nancy’s eyes wandered around Casey’s room. His closet was open, revealing a jumble of clothes, jackets, and shoes. There was nothing unusual about the stack of books and papers on the desk.

  She glanced at the dresser, where shaving cream, toothpaste, and a razor were lined up beside some plastic packets.

  Nancy edged over for a closer look and gasped.

  “Hey!” Casey jumped up, pulled open the top drawer, and shoved the packets inside. “That stuff is personal!”

  But he wasn’t quick enough. Before the drawer closed, Nancy was able to make out the long objects in the plastic packets.

  They were syringes! And someone had used a syringe to inject the chocolate candies with poison!

  Chapter

  Twelve

  WHY DO YOU HAVE syringes in your room?” Nancy demanded.

  “None of your business!” Casey snapped, his face turning red with fury.

  Ned stepped forward. “Easy, Casey.”

  “The Theta Pis received a box of candy laced with poison—poison that was injected into the candy,” Nancy said firmly. “I’d say that makes it my business when syringes are found in one of the suspect’s rooms.”

  “Wait a second.” Casey’s eyes locked on Nancy. “Do you think I was the one who—”

  “What would you think?” Nancy asked him.

  “I see your point.” Casey frowned. “If you must know, I’m a diabetic. I need to inject insulin every day.”

  “Why is that such a big secret?” Ned asked.

  Casey shrugged. “Coach knows about it, but I kept it hidden from the team. I didn’t want any of the guys to treat me differently, like I was sick or something.”

  “I understand,” Nancy said quietly. She felt sorry for Casey. It was hard to imagine that he’d attacked his girlfriend. “But it only adds to the case against you. You’ve got to stay away from Rosie. The police will arrest you if they find you anywhere near her.”

  “I know you’re right,” he said, frustration tightening his voice. “But it’s hard. I’m really crazy about Rosie, and I know she wants to get back together. How’s a guy supposed to make up with his girl when he can’t write her, call her, or see her?”

  “Just lay low until the stalker is found,” Ned told his teammate.

  “I’ll try,” Casey agreed. “But I sure hope you snag Cupid soon. Every day without Rosie is torture.”

  • • •

  “What’s next?” Ned asked as they left the lobby of Casey’s dorm.

  “Let’s shoot downtown,” Nancy suggested. “I want to try, one more time, to see if anyone saw Casey the night of Rosie’s attack. I also want to talk with Marina Dombrowski. There’s a good chance that we’ll find her working at the diner.”

  As Ned drove down the hill, he and Nancy discussed the case.

  “My heart sank when you found those syringes,” Ned said. “For a second I thought that Casey was Cupid.”

  “But we know he’s not the only person on campus with access to syringes,” Nancy pointed out.

  “True,” Ned replied. He found a parking space near the video arcade. Nancy had told him about her talks with the guy at Video Zone.

  “Just make sure you let old Tiger down easy,” Ned teased as they went into the arcade and approached the guy sitting behind the counter. Judging by the white stripe that ran down the back of his jet black hair, Nancy had a feeling that this was the guy she was looking for.

  “Are you Tiger?” she asked.

  He nodded, eyeing her suspiciously. “Who are you?”

  Nancy introduced herself and Ned. “We’re trying to find out if anyone saw a friend of ours hanging around here on Tuesday night.”

  Tiger shrugged. “We had a decent crowd in here that night. What does this guy look like?”

  “Tall, trim, long blond hair that’s usually pulled back in a ponytail,” Nancy said.

  “And he was probably wearing an Emerson uniform,” Ned added.

  “Oh, him,” Tiger said, snapping his fingers. “Sure, he was here. Had to kick the guy out when I closed at one. He was playing like a wild man.”

  “What time did he arrive?” Nancy asked.

  “Around ten or ten-thirty,” Tiger answered.

  “That does it,” Ned said, smiling at Nancy. “Casey was here the whole time.”

  “Are you sure it was Tuesday night?” Nancy grilled the
arcade clerk.

  “Absolutely.” Tiger nodded. “You notice a guy who comes in wearing a basketball uniform in the dead of winter. He had on a jacket—but shorts?”

  Nancy nodded. Ned had told her that Casey stormed out of the locker room without changing his clothes. “Looks like Casey’s off the hook,” she told Ned. She smiled as an expression of relief crossed his face.

  They thanked Tiger, then headed down the street to the diner.

  “Boy, am I glad my teammate is in the clear,” Ned said.

  Nancy nodded as she walked past a gift shop. “At least we know Casey didn’t attack Rosie. I’ll need to update Dean Jarvis and the police.” She paused as something in the shop window caught her eye. It was an old-fashioned magnifying glass.

  She pushed Ned away from the shop window before he could get a good look. “I’ve just spotted the perfect start for my valentine,” she said. “Why don’t you grab us a booth in the diner? This should only take a minute.”

  Ned tried to peer over her shoulder, then shrugged. “Okay, but you’d better tip me off during the auction,” he said, flashing her a smile. “I wouldn’t want to bid on the wrong valentine and wind up taking someone else to the Sweetheart Ball.”

  “You’ll figure it out,” she promised, then ducked into the shop.

  The magnifying glass was reasonably priced, and within minutes Nancy walked into the diner with her purchase wrapped in tissue and tucked into a bag. She slid into the booth across from Ned and scanned the menu.

  “I haven’t ordered yet,” Ned said. “But they have great malts here.”

  When the kitchen door swung open, Nancy expected to see Marina. Instead, an older woman with white hair emerged with a tray of food. She delivered the order, then headed for Nancy and Ned’s table.

  “What can I get you?” the waitress asked, pulling a pad and pencil from her apron pocket.

  “A cheeseburger and fries,” Nancy said. “And we’d really like to talk with Marina, if she’s around.”

  “Marina’s off until Sunday,” the woman said as she scribbled down Nancy’s order.

  Nancy was disappointed. Short of showing up at the Dombrowskis’ house, she wasn’t sure how to catch up with Marina now. “Taking the weekend off?” Nancy asked, making conversation.

  “Fat chance,” the waitress said. “She’s working a second job for a caterer. They’ve got a big affair up at the college this weekend.”

  The menu slipped out of Nancy’s fingers. “The Sweetheart Ball?” she asked.

  “That’s the one.” The waitress nodded, then turned to Ned. “And what are you having?”

  As Ned gave his order, Nancy took in this bit of news. Marina was going to be working behind the scenes at the ball! Was it a coincidence? Or did she need to be on hand so that Cupid could strike again?

  With great restraint, Nancy kept quiet until the waitress disappeared into the kitchen. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked Ned.

  “There could be trouble at the Sweetheart Ball,” he said, “by the name of Marina Dombrowski.”

  • • •

  During the drive back to campus, Nancy was reflective. “I think Marina will talk to me,” she said. “Let’s go straight to the student union.”

  “They’re not scheduled to set up until tomorrow morning,” Ned said. “I know because I’m in charge of the music. I had to slate a time for the deejay to deliver his equipment. And believe me, it wasn’t easy. Between the decorating committee and the caterer, that place is going to be hopping.”

  “On to plan B,” Nancy said. “We’ll drop in on Marina first thing tomorrow morning. Right now, let’s see if we can find Max. We can try the gym first. He was hostile toward Dean Jarvis. Maybe if we push a little harder, he’ll snap.”

  Ned gave Nancy a doubtful look as he turned into Greek Row. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “We can’t back off now,” Nancy insisted. “We’ve got to stop Cupid.”

  Ned parked the car behind the Omega Chi Epsilon house. From there Nancy and Ned hurried over to the sports complex. Inside, Nancy told the guard they were looking for Max Dombrowski.

  “You’ll find Max over by the swimming pool,” the guard said.

  “I don’t think he’s going to be too happy to see us,” Nancy said as she and Ned walked down a corridor with windows overlooking the pool.

  Just then Nancy noticed that the door at the end of the hall was ajar. As she watched, it swung open.

  Max stood there, broad and burly, holding a large wrench. He eyed Nancy, then shook his head.

  “Ever since you arrived on campus, I’ve had nothing but trouble,” he said.

  “Hold on a second,” Ned said, stepping forward. “It’s not Nancy’s fault that someone’s stalking Theta Pi.”

  “Isn’t it?” Max’s voice echoed in the corridor. “I say the clever Cupid behind these attacks is pleased at the attention he’s getting. Having a teen detective on campus is only going to egg on a character like that.”

  “That’s an interesting theory,” Nancy said. “But not everyone knows I’m a detective. How did you find out?” she probed.

  “Dean Jarvis,” Max said. “I was really grilled because of you.”

  “A student was attacked with one of your tools,” Nancy said. “And that was just the first incident. You have access to most of this campus. And the crimes that have been committed are perfectly suited to your expertise—a rigged light switch, tampered brakes. And there’s a strong suspicion that the tainted candy was poisoned with the same type of rat poison used here on campus.”

  “You can’t convict me on the basis of that,” Max snapped. “Besides, I’m not the only maintenance worker on this campus.”

  “But you have a motive,” Nancy persisted. “Your daughter has been at odds with Theta Pi since last year.”

  “I wouldn’t waste my time chasing those girls around,” Max said. “Even if they did break my daughter’s heart.”

  His words reminded Nancy of the note that had been pinned to Rosie’s coat. A broken heart? A clever Cupid? It seemed as if Max was playing a game with her, baiting her, and it was infuriating. But she still couldn’t positively link him to any of the incidents.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a filter to fix,” he said sarcastically. “It’s not all fun and games here at Emerson.”

  As he pushed past Nancy, she noticed a smudge on his sleeve. His coveralls were stained with dark green paint—the same color as the graffiti on the back of the Theta Pi house!

  Chapter

  Thirteen

  WAIT!” NANCY CALLED, pointing to Max’s arm. “That green stain. Where did it come from?”

  Max glanced down at his sleeve and frowned. “When you’re going in and out of electrical closets and boiler rooms, you don’t notice every little spot on your uniform.” He stalked off.

  When the door banged shut behind him, Ned turned to Nancy. “Forest green paint. You’re thinking of the graffiti?”

  She nodded. “We’d better watch out for Max. He’s looking more and more like Cupid.”

  • • •

  “Who would like to open the bidding oh this fabulous valentine?” Kristin asked as she held up a baseball cap embroidered with hearts.

  “I’ll bid two dollars,” someone called.

  “Make that five,” said a guy in the front row. Nancy guessed that the valentine had been made by Brook because she always seemed to be carrying a needlework bag around.

  The living room of the Theta Pi house was crowded with Emerson students. The charity auction was open to every guy on campus, although according to Kristin, most of the guys in the room were boyfriends of the girls in the sorority.

  Despite the festive atmosphere, Nancy felt an undercurrent of tension. What if one of the valentines was auctioned off to the stalker?

  Brook clapped and smiled when her valentine was sold for twenty-two dollars to the guy she was dating.

  Kristin moved on to the
next valentine, a Walkman covered with cardboard hearts. Nancy knew it had been decorated by Denise, a music buff.

  “Do I hear ten dollars? It’s worth at least that much,” Kristin called, then nodded to one of the bidders. “There’s ten, give me fifteen . . .”

  “Fifteen!” shouted a tall, buttoned-down guy. Nancy knew he was Denise’s boyfriend, Larry.

  “Give me twenty,” Kristin challenged.

  “Seventeen . . .”

  “Twenty!” Larry persisted.

  As the bidding continued, Nancy glanced over at the other valentines displayed on the table. Besides the magnifying glass, which she’d decorated with foil hearts, there was a hand-painted mug, a cake with pink frosting, and a few other gadgets Nancy couldn’t quite identify.

  After Denise’s valentine was sold to Larry, Kristin picked up a white plastic bottle dotted with glitter hearts. “This valentine belongs to a friend of Theta Pi—one of the bubbliest girls I’ve ever met.” She unscrewed the bottle top, pulled out a plastic stick, and started blowing bubbles.

  Laughter rippled through the room. That’s got to be Bess, Nancy thought, and darted a look at her best friend. Though Bess was smiling, Nancy knew she was thinking about her boyfriend, Kyle. He should have arrived by now.

  Ned jumped into the bidding when he realized the bubble valentine belonged to Bess. Gradually, the bidding turned into a contest between Ned and one other guy. Bess watched the action tensely.

  Suddenly Nancy noticed a familiar figure moving through the crowd. Several of the Theta Pis turned, raising their eyebrows when they saw the good-looking guy with curly blond hair and sculptured cheekbones. It was Kyle!

  Nancy nudged her friend. When Bess saw him, a look of pure joy filled her face. Meanwhile, Ned had grabbed Kyle by the arm and was whispering and pointing at the auctioneer.

  “Twenty dollars!” Kyle shouted out, sending a murmur of surprise through the crowd. That was double the existing bid.

  “Wow!” Bess said, her eyes glistening. “He must really like me.”