Power of Suggestion

  Chapter

  One

  BESS, WAKE UP, we’re here,” Nancy Drew said to her friend Bess Marvin, who was snoring softly in the passenger seat of Nancy’s blue Mustang.

  “Hmm?” Bess opened her eyes and yawned. “Just when my dream was getting good.” She brushed back a few strands of long blond hair that had fallen over her face. “Johnny Lightning was about to ask me to be a backup singer in the Stormkings.”

  Nancy poked Bess in the ribs with her elbow. “Too bad your dreams are the only place something like that could happen,” she teased. “Come on. Ned’s waiting for us.”

  Looking through her windshield, Nancy saw her longtime boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, coming down the snow-covered steps of his fraternity, Omega Chi Epsilon. Just looking at his tall, athletic frame, wavy dark hair, and warm brown eyes made her smile.

  “Hey, check out that cute guy with him!” Bess said, straightening in the passenger seat.

  Nancy glanced at the shorter, red-haired guy who emerged from the fraternity behind Ned. “He must be the friend Ned mentioned. Ned said he was sure you two would hit it off,” she added, grinning at her friend.

  Before she could get out of the car, Ned was knocking on her window. She rolled it down, and he gave her a kiss. She felt a warm tingle pass through her from head to toe.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he said in a husky voice. “It’s about time—I’ve been watching for your car from the window. I’m glad you could make it up for the weekend. Saturday’s party will be the best ever!” He smiled over at Bess. “Hiya, Bess. Where’s George?”

  George Fayne was Bess’s cousin and the third member of the girls’ almost inseparable trio. “She couldn’t get away,” Bess explained. “The girls’ volleyball team she coaches has a big tournament tomorrow and Saturday.”

  She and Nancy climbed out of the Mustang. Nancy pulled her down jacket around her as she was greeted by a blast of cold late afternoon air. She pulled her blue angora hat lower over her reddish blond hair, then threw her arms around Ned and gave him a big hug.

  “I see you missed me,” Ned said, laughing.

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Nickerson,” she teased. “I’m just trying to stay warm!”

  Bess smiled over at Ned’s friend and held out her hand. “I’d better introduce myself, since Ned’s so excited to see Nancy that he’s forgotten his manners—I’m Bess Marvin.”

  “Sorry,” Ned apologized, pulling away from Nancy. “Bess, Nancy, this is Parker Wright. He’s a new fraternity brother, not to mention Emerson’s top gymnast.”

  “Ned’s told me a lot about you,” Parker said, flashing Bess a grin as he shook her hand. Although he was only about Nancy’s height, five-foot-seven, he was lean and well-built, with green eyes, a shock of auburn hair, and freckles. He wore boots, jeans, and a leather bomber jacket.

  “Come on, let’s get you two girls settled in at Packard Hall,” Ned said. “Parker knows two roommates who are going to be away for the weekend. They said you could stay in their room.”

  The four climbed into Nancy’s Mustang, then drove through the scenic, snow-covered campus. Soon they were at Packard, a brick and steel dormitory that Nancy remembered from her last visit to the college. She parked her car behind the dorm, and the boys helped Bess and her with their luggage.

  “Gee, Bess,” Parker said as he lifted two huge suitcases from Nancy’s trunk, “I guess you’re planning to stay here the rest of the semester.”

  Bess didn’t miss his teasing smile. “I never know what I’ll need, so I just bring everything,” she answered, smiling back.

  As Bess bounded up the stairs to open the door for Parker, Nancy noted how he admired her small, curvy figure. She could already feel sparks flying between the two.

  The boys led her and Bess to a room on the second floor. It was small, with two beds, two chests, and two wooden desks and chairs. Dark wood paneling covered the walls halfway up, and the rest was painted a warm peach shade. The large window overlooked a snow-covered quadrangle surrounded by campus buildings.

  After depositing their bags on the floor, Nancy turned to Ned with a challenging smile. “The party’s not until Saturday, right?” she asked. “It’s only Thursday afternoon. So what do you have planned for us, Nickerson?”

  “Why don’t we head over to the student union and decide what to do over some hot cocoa,” Parker suggested.

  “Great idea,” Bess agreed. “There’s always something going on there, anyway.”

  In a few minutes the four teens were outside again. The snow fell gently but steadily as evening approached. The wind had let up, and the fresh snowfall made the whole campus sparkle.

  As the four of them walked through the snow, Bess turned to the others and said, “You guys aren’t in a hurry to get to the student union, are you?”

  Parker shrugged. “I guess not. Why, what did you have in mind?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Bess said, smiling mischievously. She ran a few steps ahead, then bent quickly and scooped up a handful of snow. “Maybe something like”—she hurled her snowball, hitting Parker squarely in the chest—“a snowball fight!”

  The next thing Nancy knew, they were all laughing and hurling snowballs at one another on the main lawn of the campus.

  “Oho!” Ned cried, after Nancy surprised him with a particularly wet snowball. “Now you’ve turned traitor on me!” He took off after her, caught her, and swept her up in his arms.

  “Put me down, Ned!” Nancy demanded. As he whirled her around in his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck, grabbing the hood of his parka to keep from falling.

  “Here goes!” Ned shouted. He sent her flying into the snow, but Nancy hung onto his coat, and he fell with her. They landed in a deep drift. Laughing all the more, they struggled up into sitting positions. “Hi, Nan,” he said, planting a snowy kiss on her nose. “I missed you!”

  “I missed you, too,” she replied softly, sinking into his arms for another long kiss.

  “I think we’ve found the perfect targets,” a voice said.

  Pulling away from Ned, Nancy saw that Bess and Parker were standing over them, smiling down. They were each holding two snowballs. “No!” Nancy cried, but it was too late.

  • • •

  “We’re all soaked!” Nancy exclaimed twenty minutes later as she, Ned, Bess, and Parker entered the student union. They brushed the snow from their parkas and jeans before walking through the ornate foyer of the building. Nancy knew from previous visits that this used to be where the college president lived. Beyond the foyer, the downstairs rooms had been opened up into one huge space that was filled with tables, a coffee shop, and comfortably furnished nooks where students could meet and talk.

  They found a table near the door. While Ned and Parker went to get cocoa, Nancy leaned toward Bess. “So, was I imagining things, or is there some electricity between you and Parker?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t start planning my wedding yet. I mean, we just met,” Bess said. “But he’s really nice. Ned was definitely right about us hitting it off.” She shrugged out of her parka and hung it on the back of her chair. “It just feels . . . I don’t know, natural to be with him.”

  Nancy was happy for her friend. Even though Bess dated a lot, Nancy thought that maybe Parker was a boy Bess could really get serious about.

  The girls looked up a moment later, as Ned and Parker returned with four steaming mugs of cocoa. “This isn’t how I pictured the famous Nancy Drew, ‘the world’s greatest detective and the best girlfriend a guy ever had,’ ” Parker said, gazing at Nancy. He set a mug down in front of Bess, keeping the other for himself.

  Nancy laughed at the way Parker imitated Ned’s voice. “You said that about me?” she asked her boyf
riend, batting her lashes outrageously.

  Parker flicked his thumb at Ned. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you since you called to say you’d be coming for the weekend.”

  Holding up his hands in surrender, Ned admitted, “I’m afraid it’s all true.” Then he punched Parker lightly on the shoulder. “But you’re not supposed to blow my cover like that. I thought you were my friend!”

  As the four of them continued to joke around, Nancy didn’t miss the way Bess and Parker beamed at each other. She had to admit they looked cute together, and they seemed to have the same sense of humor.

  “Say, Parker—it’s almost five-thirty,” Ned said, breaking into Nancy’s thoughts. “Weren’t you supposed to be at the psych lab by—”

  Parker slapped his forehead. “By five o’clock! I totally forgot!”

  “Isn’t five o’clock kind of late for a class?” Bess asked.

  “Actually, it’s a study group,” Parker told her. “I was supposed to show up at the psychology lab for a session. I’m part of this experiment . . .” He gave a resigned shrug. “Well, it’s too late now. Besides, I’m having too much fun. Maybe I’ll just blow it off.”

  Nancy was startled as a hand clamped down on Parker’s shoulder, causing some of his cocoa to splash onto the table.

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” a deep, gruff voice said behind him.

  A tall, darkly handsome young man loomed over Parker. “I’ve been looking all over campus for you. You’re in big trouble, Parker. And this time I’m not going to bail you out!”

  Chapter

  Two

  NANCY SHIVERED at the cold look in the tall man’s eyes. Next to her, Parker was staring up at him nervously.

  “What’s it going to be?” the man demanded.

  Parker shrugged his shoulders in resignation. “Let’s go, I guess,” he said.

  Parker’s casual attitude seemed to anger the dark-haired man even more. “Do you think you’re doing me a favor, Wright? I’m doing you the favor! I could just as easily be in the library, doing my own work.”

  “No, no, that’s okay, Wayne,” Parker said quickly. “I appreciate your help. Is Dave still there?”

  Wayne shook his head. “We finished up early,” he answered. “Even Dr. Edberg’s gone. It’ll just be you and me. Come on—let’s get this over with.”

  Parker rose and zipped up his jacket. “Sorry, guys,” he told Ned, Nancy, and Bess. “Duty calls.”

  As Parker and Wayne started to leave, Ned suggested, “Hey, Parker, why don’t we meet you in front of the psych building when you’re done? We can all go to dinner together.”

  “That’d be great!” Parker said, brightening. “Meet me there a little after seven, okay?”

  “Sure,” Bess said, smiling at Parker.

  As Parker and Wayne started toward the foyer, Nancy turned to Ned and asked, “What was all that about? Who was that guy?”

  “That’s Wayne Perkins,” Ned replied. “He’s a graduate research assistant in the psych department, and a real hardnose. He works with Professor Aaron Edberg—he’s a hotshot in the department. Parker is in an experimental program that they’re running. I don’t know too much about it.”

  “Hey, who’s that?” Bess asked, staring behind Nancy.

  Turning around, Nancy saw that a beautiful, dark-haired girl had intercepted Wayne and Parker at the archway leading to the foyer.

  “That’s Diana DeMarco,” Ned replied, following Nancy’s gaze. “She’s a transfer junior. She’s been here only a semester, but she’s already made a big impression on everyone.”

  “I’ll bet,” Nancy said, appraising the girl. There was something almost haughty about the girl’s posture and expression. She wore a tight-fitting neon pink and black ski ensemble that showed off every curve of her terrific figure.

  Nancy, Ned, and Bess were close enough to hear some of the exchange between Wayne and the girl.

  “. . . But, Wayne, it’s really important—we need to talk,” Diana was saying.

  “Not now, Diana. I have work to do. Look, call me tonight, okay? Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until then,” Wayne replied.

  “I don’t think it can wait,” Diana said, her voice taking on a frosty edge.

  Wayne gave her a dismissive shrug. “That’s up to you,” he said. “Do what you like.” With that, he and Parker walked through the foyer and were gone.

  “I don’t think I like this Wayne Perkins guy,” Bess said, frowning down at her cocoa. “He seems really cold.”

  “You’re not the only one who thinks so,” Ned told her. “He has a way of setting people’s teeth on edge.” His gaze moved back toward Diana, who still stood by the foyer, her hands clenched into fists. After a moment she too stormed out into the night.

  Bess stared after the brunette, then turned to Ned and Nancy. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to let that guy ruin my weekend. I’m ready for some fun!”

  • • •

  “Do you think Parker will like me in this?” Bess asked an hour later, smoothing the skirt of her red cowl-necked sweater dress.

  Nancy nodded. “I think he’d like you even if you were wearing a burlap bag,” she teased. She glanced down at her own outfit, a brown leather skirt, a cable-knit sweater Ned had given her for Christmas, and warm tights.

  After leaving the student union, the two girls had gone to the dorm so they could change into dry clothes. Now they were waiting in the living room of the Omega Chi Epsilon fraternity house while Ned changed. There was a roaring fire in the room’s stone fireplace, and several of Ned’s fraternity brothers stopped by on their way in or out.

  Nancy and Bess knew many of the guys from previous visits, and soon there was a small group of boys sitting with them. Two of them, Howie Little and Craig Watson, were starters with Ned on the Emerson basketball team, the Wildcats, and old friends of Nancy and Bess.

  Nancy looked up as a small, skinny guy in glasses came by. “Here’s one of our newest brothers, Maury Becker.” Howie introduced the newcomer to the girls.

  Maury shook Nancy’s hand, regarding her seriously. “You know, I did a complete workup on you and Ned for my compatibility program,” he said. “You’re the most compatible couple I’ve ever found.”

  Nancy laughed, but gave Maury a puzzled look. “You’ve never even seen us together. What’s this program you’re talking about?”

  “See, I factor in all the variables that can disrupt a relationship, then I cross-reference them against the stabilizing elements and both people’s personality characteristics—”

  Craig Watson interrupted the flow of words, saying, “Enough, pal. You’re overwhelming the poor girls.” Turning back to Nancy and Bess, he explained, “We call him Maury the Hacker, Omega Chi’s resident computer genius. He doesn’t need to meet you—all he needs is raw data to feed into his computer.”

  “The numbers never lie,” Maury assured them.

  Suddenly the front door flew open, and a massive figure burst in. The muscular boy had a blond crew cut and was wearing a half-open Emerson jacket, with no scarf, hat, or gloves.

  “Whoo! It’s cold out there!” he cried, shivering and rubbing his hands together.

  “Maybe if you wore something warmer than your varsity jacket, you wouldn’t be complaining, Webb!” Craig retorted, laughing. “Come on over and meet Nickerson’s girlfriend. Nancy and Bess, this is Dave Webb, star fullback of the football team.”

  “Dave wants to look like a tough guy out on campus,” Howie Little added. “But then we have to listen to him whine.”

  Dave grinned sheepishly. “If I’d known we had visitors, I would’ve acted more macho,” he agreed.

  Nancy’s eyes automatically shifted to the doorway as Ned came into the room. He was wearing a pair of gray corduroy pants and a black V-neck sweater, and Nancy thought he looked incredibly handsome. He walked over, sat on the arm of her chair, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She could feel herself tur
ning bright red as his brothers broke into applause.

  “I just want to remind you all whose girlfriend she is,” Ned said, flashing the guys a grin. Turning to Nancy and Bess, he added, “It’s almost seven. We’ve got to meet Parker.”

  As they rose, Dave Webb turned to Ned. “Did Wayne Perkins ever find him? Parker had the study session after mine. Dr. Edberg really went on the warpath when Parker didn’t show up.”

  “I guess it’s all smoothed over,” Ned said. “Parker is at the psych lab now.”

  “He should really stay on top of this stuff,” Dave said, shaking his head.

  “We should all stay on Parker’s case to be more serious about his studies,” Ned agreed. “See you guys later.”

  After saying goodbye, he, Nancy, and Bess bundled up and went back out into the cold night.

  “What a great bunch of guys!” Bess said, looking out at the snow-covered buildings and evergreen trees that dotted the campus.

  “The best,” Ned agreed.

  As the three of them crossed the main lawn, the seven o’clock bells chimed from the carillon tower. Groups of students passed by, talking and laughing. The campus was so beautiful that Nancy didn’t want to hurry, despite the cold.

  “What’s on your mind, Bess?” she asked, noticing her friend’s preoccupied look.

  Bess frowned. “Is Parker really doing that badly in psychology?” she asked Ned. “I mean, it’s so hard to believe—he seems really bright.”

  “He is. That’s not the problem,” Ned answered. “Sometimes the college whirl can be distracting, especially for freshmen like Parker. He was in training for gymnastics until the season ended, he pledged the frat, and he went to a few too many parties. It’s easy to fall behind.”

  “That sounds kind of irresponsible,” Nancy commented.

  Ned shrugged. “Parker’s a great guy,” he said, “but that might be his one real weakness. He’s always had things pretty easy. He’s good-looking, nice, athletic, and his folks are really wealthy. His dad owns a huge real-estate company outside of Emersonville. Parker just expects everything to be fun, and when it’s not he has a hard time concentrating.”