Whose Pet Is Best? Read online

  “Everything.” Nancy leaned in close to Brenda. “Even what you did.”

  Brenda twirled her brown hair around her finger. “So what? Skeevy didn’t hurt anyone.”

  Nancy’s eyebrows shot up. “Skeevy?”

  “Mr. Lizard should thank me for letting the rat out of the cage,” Brenda continued. “It was the most exciting thing in that whole contest.”

  “You let Skeevy out of the cage?” George asked.

  Brenda nodded. “And I’d do it again. It made a great story.”

  “And you sprayed Paws Off on my soccer ball for your story, too,” Nancy said. “So Chip wouldn’t do her trick.”

  Brenda stared at Nancy. “Stop making excuses for your dumb dog,” Brenda sneered. “I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Chocolate Chip is not dumb.” Bess bent down to give Nancy’s puppy a hug.

  Nancy didn’t want to, but she believed Brenda. If she had used the Paws Off, she probably would have bragged about that, too.

  “Let’s go,” Nancy told Bess and George. “Oh, by the way,” Nancy said to Brenda as they walked past. “Mr. Lizard gives the coolest interviews.”

  Before Brenda could say another word, Nancy and her friends were out the door.

  • • •

  Later Nancy, Bess, and George sat on the floor in the Drews’ den. Hannah had gone to spend the night at her sister’s house. Mr. Drew was in the kitchen, cooking a spaghetti dinner.

  “Well, that rules out Mr. Lizard,” Nancy said, scratching his name out of her book. “He’s very honest, and he really likes Chip.”

  “I’m glad Mr. Lizard didn’t do it,” Bess said. “I would hate to have to stop doing the lizard dance.”

  “The boys are off the hook, too,” Nancy said, crossing off their names. “There was no spray can in Jason’s backpack. And they didn’t let Skeevy out of his cage—Brenda did.”

  “Are you sure that Brenda didn’t spray the soccer ball?” George asked.

  Nancy nodded and crossed off Brenda’s name. “I’m sure,” she said.

  “So who did it, Nancy?” Bess asked.

  “I don’t know,” Nancy said. She stared down at her list. “We have no more suspects. And I can’t think of anyone else who might have wanted Chip and me to lose the contest.”

  “Let’s take a break from detective work, Nan,” George said.

  “Yeah,” Bess said. “Let’s play with Lester!”

  “Arrrrrrk,” Lester squawked, rolling his colorful neck as Nancy, Bess, and George walked over to the parrot’s cage.

  “Let’s teach Lester a new song so we can surprise Katie when she comes to pick him up,” Nancy said. “Here’s one I learned from Hannah called, ‘Friendship.’”

  Nancy sang the first line. “‘If you’re ever in a jam, here I am!’”

  Lester looked at Nancy and blinked.

  “You’re supposed to be a talking, singing parrot,” Bess said. “Say something.”

  Lester stared at the girls. Then he screeched, “Paws Off. Paws Off. Does the trick. Arrrrrrk!”

  7

  The Unusual Suspect

  Did you say Paws Off?” George asked Lester. She touched the bars of the cage.

  Lester tilted his head from side to side. “Ohhhhh-boy,” he screeched.

  “I didn’t mention Paws Off in front of Lester,” Nancy said. She whirled around to Bess and George. “Did either of you?”

  Bess and George shook their heads.

  “Whoever said ‘Paws Off’ in front of Lester probably used it.” Nancy sat back down on the floor and grabbed her blue notebook.

  “But who?” Bess asked.

  Nancy felt something being tugged out of her back pocket. She turned to see Chip with the red bandanna in her mouth.

  “Katie’s bandanna,” Nancy said. She took the cloth from Chip’s mouth. “I found it near the soccer ball during the contest.”

  “You did?” Bess asked. “When?”

  “After the Skeevy chase,” Nancy said, “and right before Chip’s trick.”

  Nancy thought for a minute.

  “What is it, Nancy?” George asked.

  “Katie was by the soccer ball right before Chip’s trick,” Nancy said. “Alone.”

  Nancy wrote Katie’s name in her notebook. Next to her name she wrote “Lester” and “red bandanna.”

  “Katie also said she’d do anything to win,” Nancy said.

  “She said she’d eat brussels sprout sandwiches,” George said, “not spray Chip’s soccer ball with Paws Off.”

  “George is right,” Bess said. “Katie would never do a mean thing like that.”

  “Don’t you see?” Nancy said. “Katie must have said, ‘Paws Off does the trick.’ And Lester repeated it. Lester is always repeating what Katie says!”

  The doorbell rang and Chip barked.

  “That’s probably Katie now,” Nancy said. She stuffed the bandanna back into her pocket and picked up Lester’s cage.

  Bess and George followed Nancy as she answered the front door.

  “Thanks for looking after Lester, Nancy,” Katie said.

  “You’re welcome,” Nancy said, still standing in the doorway.

  “Did Chip’s checkup go okay?” Katie asked with a smile.

  “Not really,” Nancy said. “The vet found something called Paws Off on Chip’s nose. Someone sprayed it on her soccer ball so she wouldn’t do her trick.”

  Katie opened her eyes wide. “How awful! Who would do a thing like that?”

  “According to Lester,” Nancy said, “you.”

  “Me?” Katie shrieked.

  “Lester called out ‘Paws Off,’” Nancy said. “Where did he hear that if not from you?”

  “Nancy,” Katie gasped. “I would never do a thing like that.”

  Nancy handed Katie her bandanna. “This was in Chip’s mouth. I hope you don’t mind dog spit.”

  “My pirate bandanna,” Katie said. “I knew I dropped it when I brought Chip back to the stage.”

  “Or while you were spraying Chip’s soccer ball with Paws Off,” Nancy said.

  “Nancy,” Katie cried. “I’d rather hug a porcupine than do something awful to you!”

  Nancy handed Lester’s cage to Katie. “Here’s your parrot, Katie, or should I say—stool pigeon?”

  Bess and George looked at each other. Then they watched as Nancy shut the door.

  A second later Nancy heard Lester sing from the other side: “‘If you’re ever in a jam, here I am!’ Squaaaaaawwwwk!”

  • • •

  Nancy woke up early Sunday morning. She got dressed and went downstairs.

  Mr. Drew was in the kitchen, reading the Sunday paper. Nancy had told him all about Katie the night before. “Blaming a friend is very serious, Nancy,” her father said. “Are you sure about this?”

  Nancy poured herself a bowl of cereal. “It’s as clear as the itchy nose on Chip’s face, Daddy.”

  She swallowed a mouthful of Crispy Crunchies. “I’m going to keep very busy today. The busier I am, the less I’ll think about Katie Zaleski.”

  After eating, Nancy cleaned her room. She had decided to surprise Hannah by recycling the trash when she heard Bess and George knocking on the kitchen door. Nancy let them in.

  “I just spoke to Katie on the phone,” Bess said. “She’s really upset.”

  “We think the whole thing stinks, Nancy,” George added.

  “Whose friends are you anyway?” Nancy cried.

  “We’re your friends,” Bess said. “But we think you made a mistake.”

  “A mistake?” Nancy repeated. “But I’m the school’s best detective. Remember?”

  Nancy didn’t want to argue anymore. She slipped on a pair of rubber gloves and knelt down by the recycle bin. Chip padded into the kitchen and over to Nancy.

  “What are you doing?” George asked.

  “Sorting the recyclable stuff,” Nancy said. “Want to help?”

  Bess made a face. “You mean go
through garbage? That’s even grosser than going through Jason Hutchings’s backpack.”

  “Come on, Bess,” Nancy said. “Let’s see what’s in here.”

  Nancy reached into the bin. She pulled out all the items one by one. “An empty bottle of cranberry juice, an old tuna fish can—”

  “Eeeeew,” Bess said, making a face.

  Chip barked and licked her chops.

  “This isn’t recyclable,” Nancy said, pulling out the next item. “It’s an empty can of—”

  Chip grunted and jumped back.

  Nancy read the label and froze.

  “Nancy, what is it?” George asked.

  “Paws Off,” Nancy gasped. “It’s an empty can of Paws Off!”

  8

  Hannah Comes Clean

  How could Katie have thrown the can away here?” Nancy wondered out loud.

  Suddenly Nancy heard Hannah’s voice. “Nancy, I’m home,” Hannah called.

  Nancy stared at the can. “Could Hannah have used it?”

  “No way,” George said. “Hannah wanted Chip to win the contest.”

  “But she also wanted Chip to stay away from the furniture,” Nancy said. “Remember?”

  “What are you going to do, Nancy?” Bess asked.

  “There’s only one thing to do.” Nancy tossed the can back into the bin. Then she led Bess and George to the front door to greet Hannah.

  “Hi, girls!” Hannah said. She placed a small suitcase on the floor.

  “Hannah, may I ask you something?” Nancy asked.

  “Sure, Nancy,” Hannah said with a grin. “Ask me anything.”

  Nancy took a deep breath. “Did you ever use a spray called Paws Off?”

  Hannah nodded. “Oh, yes. I used it on the living room furniture yesterday morning while you were still asleep.”

  “You did?” Nancy asked.

  “Yes, and I’m sure glad I did,” Hannah said. “It’s been a whole day, and there’s not one muddy paw print on the furniture. That Paws Off really did the trick!”

  For a moment Nancy felt her knees grow weak. Katie was innocent all along.

  “Was Chip’s soccer ball near the furniture when you sprayed it?” Nancy asked Hannah.

  Hannah nodded. “I saw it after I sprayed the chair. I put the ball outside in the yard,” Hannah explained. “That’s where you found it yesterday morning.”

  Bess clapped her hands.

  It was Hannah who sprayed the soccer ball, Nancy thought. But then where did Lester learn how to say “Paws Off”?

  “Just a few more questions, Hannah,” Nancy said. “Did you talk about Paws Off with anyone yesterday?”

  “I phoned my sister about it,” Hannah said. “She has a problem with her golden retriever jumping on the beds.”

  Nancy took a deep breath. “Were you in the den when you spoke to your sister?”

  “Hmmmm.” Hannah rubbed her chin. “I believe I was.”

  Nancy’s mouth dropped open.

  “Nancy,” Bess whispered. “You kept Lester’s cage in the den yesterday.”

  “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Hannah asked. “Am I some sort of suspect?”

  Nancy explained everything to Hannah.

  “I’m sorry, Nancy,” Hannah said. “I should have told you I was going to use Paws Off. After all, Chip is your dog.”

  “That’s okay, Hannah.” Nancy smiled. “It was an accident.”

  Hannah gave Nancy a hug. “Well, if Paws Off caused all that trouble, we’ll never use it again.”

  “But how will we keep Chip off the furniture?” Nancy asked.

  “We can try this.” Hannah looked at Chip. “Down, girl,” she said sternly.

  Chip’s ears shot up. She whined and lowered her head.

  “See? It might work,” Hannah said.

  The girls laughed along with Hannah. After Hannah headed for her room, Bess turned to Nancy.

  “We’ll go with you to Katie’s house when you decide to apologize,” Bess said.

  “Of course I’m going to apologize,” Nancy said. “I’m not afraid to say I was wrong.”

  George and Bess looked at each other and giggled.

  “What’s so funny?” Nancy asked.

  Before George and Bess could explain, Nancy spotted Katie outside the window.

  “Here comes Katie now,” Nancy said. “I just hope she forgives me.”

  “I’ll cross all my fingers,” Bess said, scrunching up her hands.

  “And I’ll cross my eyes,” George said, doing just that.

  “Hi, Katie,” Nancy said with a big smile. “I’m so happy you came by.”

  Katie stared at Nancy. “You are? Really?”

  “Really,” Nancy said. “I’m sorry I blamed everything on you. It was Hannah who sprayed the soccer ball with Paws Off.”

  “Hannah?” Katie gasped. “No way!”

  “She didn’t mean it,” Nancy said. “It was an accident.”

  “Accidents will happen,” Katie said.

  “I know I acted like a creep, Katie,” Nancy said, “but do you think we can be friends again?”

  Katie smiled and reached into her pocket. She pulled out three small square cards and handed them to Nancy.

  Nancy stared at the cards. “Three tickets for Mr. Lizard’s Funhouse. Cool!”

  “They’re for you, Bess, and George,” Katie said. “Lester and I could use a few fans the day we’re on the show.”

  “We’re all going to Mr. Lizard’s Funhouse?” George asked.

  Katie nodded and smiled.

  “Let’s lizard dance!” the four friends screamed together. They waved their fingers behind their heads and hopped up and down. Then they ran into the living room.

  Chip barked and jumped up and down, too.

  Hannah came back to see what they were doing. “I could hear you girls all the way from my room,” she said with a grin.

  Nancy grabbed Hannah’s hand. “We’re doing the lizard dance, Hannah. Come on, join us!”

  Nancy showed Hannah the steps. Hannah repeated Nancy’s motions. She waved her fingers behind her head and flicked her tongue in and out.

  “I think I’ve got it,” Hannah said, wiggling her hips. “Mr. Lizard—step aside!”

  Nancy and her friends formed a circle around Hannah as she danced. “Go, Han-nah! Go, Han-nah! Go, Han-nah! Yay!”

  • • •

  That evening Nancy sat on her bed with her blue notebook. Chip lay on the floor, nibbling lightly on Nancy’s fluffy pink slippers.

  Nancy opened her book and turned to the page that said “The Amazing Pet Contest Mystery.” On the bottom she wrote:

  Daddy was right when he said I should gather all the evidence before closing a case!

  I’m glad Katie and I are friends again. And I still like Mr. Lizard, even if his red hair isn’t real. I guess even the biggest TV stars can have secrets.

  And even the best detectives can make mistakes!

  Case closed.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A MINSTREL PAPERBACK Original

  A Minstrel Book published by

  POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 1997 by Simon & Schuster Inc.

  Produced by Mega-Books, Inc.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  ISBN: 0-671-56861-2

  ISBN 13: 978-1-4424-6790-3 (ebook)

  First Minstrel Books printing March 1997

  NANCY DREW, THE NANCY DREW NOTEBOOKS, A MINSTREL BOOK and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon
& Schuster Inc.

  Cover art by Joanie Schwarz