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  She headed downtown to one of River Heights’s biggest drugstores. Nancy knew Mr. Bailey, the pharmacist, would probably be able to test the sample of Spotless she’d received on her doorstep the day before to see if it contained arsenic.

  “What can I do to help you, Nancy?” Mr. Bailey asked when Nancy appeared in his store.

  She pulled out the sample of Spotless that she’d found on her front step. “I wondered if you could test this,” she said. “I think it might contain arsenic.”

  Mr. Bailey had obviously read about the case—he wasn’t at all surprised. “I’d be glad to help you,” he said. “It should only take a few minutes.”

  When he returned, there was a grim smile on his face. “You were right,” he said. “There’s arsenic in it.”

  “Do you know how much?” Nancy was still puzzled that Marcia’s reaction had been so severe. Perhaps, for some reason, there were other samples of Spotless that had more poison in them.

  “Ten milligrams,” said Mr. Bailey.

  The same amount the police had found in the samples they had tested.

  “You’re working on the Spotless case, right?” asked Mr. Bailey, and Nancy nodded.

  Nancy slid the Spotless sample back into her bag. “I just don’t understand it. How come some kids have gotten only mildly sick from it, and one girl is in a coma?”

  “From the cream?” The pharmacist looked startled. “Someone’s in a coma from this cream?”

  Nancy nodded,

  Mr. Bailey was shaking his head. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said. “If someone used this cream, they might develop a rash or stomach problems, but they’d never become seriously ill. In order to cause something like a coma, you’d need to swallow the arsenic. A lot of it.”

  “Are you sure?” Nancy asked.

  Mr. Bailey nodded. “I’m telling you, there’s just no way this cream could kill you.”

  Chapter

  Twelve

  ARE YOU SURE?” Nancy repeated.

  Mr. Bailey looked her straight in the eye. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

  “But that means—that means—” Nancy broke off. It meant Marcia must have ingested the arsenic. And that meant the case now went off in about fifty new directions.

  “Thank you, Mr. Bailey,” Nancy said. “You’ve been a big help.”

  Nancy got back into her car and planned her next move. First, she wanted to try to see Marcia. Maybe her condition had stabilized enough for her to talk. If not, Nancy could always question one of the doctors. He or she might be able to tell her something she didn’t know about Bess’s poisoning.

  As she approached the nurses’ station on Marcia’s floor, Nancy saw she wasn’t the only one paying a visit to the hospital that morning. Nancy spotted Heather walking down the hall ahead of her.

  “Hi, Heather,” she called.

  Heather turned and gave her a listless imitation of a smile. “Oh, hi, Nancy,” she said. “If you’ve come to see Marcia, they won’t let you in. She’s still in a coma. The nurses told me we can call again this afternoon, but she can’t have any visitors. Isn’t this horrible?”

  It certainly was, but at least Heather was treating Nancy like a real person now instead of just someone standing in the way of her getting together with Ned. Nancy wasn’t sure what had brought about the change.

  Now that I think about it, though, Heather’s been acting a lot nicer since we heard about Marcia, Nancy said to herself. She hasn’t tried to flirt with Ned once, and she’s even being friendly to me.

  Looking more closely, Nancy saw Heather’s fingers gripping the strap of her shoulder bag as though it were a lifeline. She was clearly nervous about something, and Nancy wondered what it might be.

  “I guess there’s no point in staying here,” Nancy found herself saying. The doctors could wait. “Do you want to stop for a soda or something?”

  “Oh, well—well, I guess not,” Heather said.

  “We can at least walk out to the parking lot together.” There, Nancy thought. There’s no way Heather can say no to that.

  In fact, Heather looked as if she was about to protest again, but then she gave a little shrug and started down the hall. “There’s something I just don’t understand,” Heather commented as they walked toward the hospital’s main door.

  “What’s that?” Nancy asked, watching Heather’s eyes for some sign of emotion.

  Heather answered slowly, as though she was having trouble voicing her thoughts. “We all used Spotless, but only Bess and Marcia got sick. Why them? Why not me or Brad or Justin or even Ned? Who’s singling out Bess and Marcia?”

  Nancy shook her head. “I wish I had the answer,” she said. She also wished she knew whether Heather’s distress was real or fake.

  What if Heather was somehow involved in the poisoning and now she wanted a way out? With Marcia in a coma, this case had suddenly become very serious. Maybe it had become too much for Heather. Was that why she and Justin had argued?

  As Heather got into her car, Nancy remembered Heather telling Justin that she didn’t want anything to do with it—whatever “it” was. Could it possibly be more poisonings?

  She thought about following Heather but then remembered she wanted to talk to a doctor. Instead, Nancy said goodbye to Heather in the parking lot, then turned around and headed back inside.

  “The usual form of arsenic poison is ingesting it—swallowing it,” Dr. Perlman, Bess’s doctor, confirmed when he and Nancy were seated in his cluttered office. “That’s why at first I thought that Bess had eaten something with poison in it. But it is possible to become ill from spreading arsenic on the skin.”

  “And Marcia?” Nancy asked. “Why is she so sick?”

  “Your pharmacist friend is right. The only explanation is that she must have eaten something that contained arsenic. Lots of arsenic.”

  • • •

  “I’m home at last, Hannah,” Nancy said as she sank into one of the comfortable chairs in the living room. “What a long morning.”

  The housekeeper came to the doorway. “How’s your case going?” she asked.

  Nancy frowned. “Don’t ask. I thought I was close to solving it, and now I feel as though I’m farther away than ever.”

  “Maybe you’re trying too hard,” Hannah suggested. “Can’t you take a day off? You deserve a break, just like everyone—”

  Suddenly Nancy jumped to her feet. “Bess! The concert!” she gasped. “How could I forget?” She turned to Hannah. “How would I survive without you?” she asked affectionately.

  “What did I do?” asked a bewildered Hannah.

  “Ned and I are going to a concert tonight, and I was supposed to ask Bess,” Nancy explained. “I can’t believe it—but I forgot all about it.” She reached for the phone. “I only hope she hasn’t made other plans.”

  She hadn’t.

  “Nan, that would be fantastic!” Bess exclaimed when Nancy told her about the Last Night concert. “You know I love Last Night.”

  “And I bet the idea of spending an evening with Brad isn’t too painful, either,” Nancy teased her.

  “I’ll make the sacrifice,” Bess said with a giggle. “I guess I should start getting ready now.”

  “Bess, you still have hours!” Nancy protested.

  “Just because you can get dressed in twenty minutes doesn’t mean I can, Nancy Drew!” Bess said. “Now, I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Nancy had to admit that Bess’s primping had paid off. When Nancy, Ned, and Brad arrived at the Marvin house that night, Brad’s mouth actually fell open at the sight of Bess.

  “You look great,” he finally managed to say as Bess slid into the back seat.

  Bess did. She had gotten her normal color back, her cold was almost all better, and her rash had all disappeared. And the time she had spent deciding what to wear had definitely been time well spent. Her black leather miniskirt and blue silk T-shirt looked fantastic, but what was really making Bra
d stare was Bess’s hair. Although the riot of blond curls looked artless, Nancy knew they’d taken hours to arrange.

  It was wonderful to see Bess looking so healthy—so much better than healthy, actually. Nancy told her so.

  “Well, you look pretty impressive yourself,” Ned said with a smile at Nancy’s leopard-print minidress with matching stockings. “I think Brad and I are pretty lucky.”

  “I’m glad you like my outfit.” Nancy grinned. “I know it’s pretty daring for me. Hey, we’d better get going. I’d hate to miss any of the concert!”

  By the time the four of them had gotten to the stadium, they were all cheerful, and even Nancy had pretty much forgotten about the case.

  “So tell me about your family . . .” Brad said to Bess as the four of them settled into their seats.

  “It looks as though we don’t have to worry about either of them,” Nancy said softly to Ned. “They both seem all right tonight.”

  Ned put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad about that. Now you and I can just relax and enjoy the concert.” Then he leaned across Nancy to ask Brad, “Do you think they’ll sing ‘Endless Days’?”

  “They’d better. It’s my theme song, after all.”

  “Is that a private joke, or can you share it with us?” asked Bess. She and Nancy both knew the song. Anyone who had ever heard of Last Night knew about their first platinum hit.

  “I used to sing it freshman year in college because the term seemed endless,” Brad explained. Then he chuckled. “My brother Larry could never relate to it because he works for my dad in our greenhouse. When you’re growing plants, endless days are something you want. It’s not like college.”

  Ned laughed. “Nothing’s like college.”

  “That’s what I tell my folks,” Brad said. “They can’t really relate, either. I’m the Chanin trailblazer, the first person in the family to go to college.”

  “Your parents must be awfully proud,” Bess said softly.

  “They will be if I do as well as they’re hoping,” Brad answered.

  The lights began to dim. Nancy gave one last look around the hall. “Ned!” she said, grabbing his arm. “Isn’t that Justin and Heather over there?”

  But before he could find them, the lights were out. A huge roar of cheers went up from the audience—and the concert began.

  • • •

  “The parking lot is going to be a total mess,” Ned said when the band had taken its final bow. “Do you guys want to walk around for a few minutes until the crowd thins out?”

  “Sounds good to me,” Brad agreed, linking his arm with Bess’s. “I’m in no hurry to go home.”

  The park surrounding the stadium was partially wooded. “Let’s walk in there,” Brad suggested as they came up to it.

  “Okay,” Ned said, wrapping his arm around Nancy’s shoulder. “It’s the perfect night for a romantic stroll.”

  Nancy smiled up at Ned and pecked him on the cheek. “That concert was fantastic. Thanks!”

  “I’m glad you liked it,” Ned murmured in her ear. “And I’m glad I’m here with you.”

  Nancy was about to whisper back, when Brad turned around and glanced uneasily over his shoulder. “I don’t think anyone’s listening,” he said. “Remember when I said there was something I needed to tell you guys?”

  Nancy nodded. A sudden gust of wind rustled the dry leaves barely clinging to the stately oaks as the moon slid behind a swiftly moving cloud. Bess shivered and inched closer to Brad. “What is it?” she asked in a frightened voice.

  Brad lowered his voice to a whisper and motioned the three friends to come together. When they were only a foot apart, he spoke.

  “Justin is the poisoner!”

  Chapter

  Thirteen

  BESS GASPED SHARPLY. “Justin tried to poison me?” she said.

  Nancy realized at that moment that she hadn’t told Bess any of her suspicions. It had to be a shock to hear that a friend of Ned’s— and Brad’s—could be the poisoner.

  “I—I just know it’s not true. I know it,” Bess said rapidly. The harvest moon, free of the trailing clouds, illuminated Bess’s face. “He’s too nice and funny for that!”

  Brad put his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “You never know everything about people,” he said earnestly. “But don’t worry—you’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.”

  “Why do you think Justin is the poisoner?” Nancy asked. She kept her voice as neutral as possible. Brad had voiced her own suspicion, but she didn’t want to lead him in any way. He doesn’t know what I know about Justin, she reminded herself. But what does he know?

  Once again Brad glanced nervously over his shoulder. The crackle of brittle leaves sounded as if someone was advancing toward the little group.

  “It just makes sense,” he said in a low voice. “He worked for Asco, and they’re ruthless. They have the best reason for wanting Spotless to fail. Plus Justin’s very loyal—too loyal. I’m sure it’s got to be him.”

  A loud thud interrupted Brad before he could go on. Everyone jumped, and Bess gave a smothered shriek. “What was that?” she whispered.

  Ned looked around for a second—then chuckled. He bent down and picked up a big pine cone. “Here’s the villain,” he said, tossing it aside.

  Brad blew out a breath and went on. “The way I figure it, Asco must have paid Justin to tamper with the samples. It would have been so easy for him. Remember, he used to be a chemistry major.”

  “That’s right!” Bess exclaimed. “I’d forgotten that!” She looked at Brad with dots of moonlight dancing in her eyes. “You’ve got to be right. Everything points to Justin, doesn’t it?”

  She turned excitedly to Nancy. “You’re going to talk to Chief McGinnis about him, aren’t you? With Marcia still so sick, he’s got to know!”

  Nancy nodded slowly. Brad’s reasoning was exactly like her own. She’d been looking for someone with both opportunity and motive. Justin had the opportunity—and Asco had the motive. It did all fit.

  Except that there was no evidence.

  If I’d been able to find Justin’s personnel file, Nancy thought, I would have known for sure if he’s being paid by Asco. But until I can confirm his employment, I have no concrete proof.

  Besides, there was a flaw in the theory—a flaw Brad didn’t know about. Even if Justin had poisoned the Spotless samples, he might not be the person who had poisoned Marcia. It was entirely possible the two poisonings were unconnected.

  Nancy didn’t say any of this aloud. “I’ll call the chief tomorrow,” Nancy told Bess.

  Bess looked relieved. “Then can I ask everyone a favor?” she asked. “Could we drop the subject of these poisonings for the rest of the evening?”

  “I heartily second the motion,” said Ned, and Nancy and Brad both nodded their agreement.

  “Okay. Subject is officially changed,” said Bess. “I’m changing it to Brad. Did you know his father has a greenhouse?”

  Nancy grinned. This was a total change of subject. “I heard him mention that, yes,” she said.

  “Well,” Bess went on, “don’t you think we should get some Halloween pumpkins there?”

  “Bess, we haven’t carved pumpkins in about ten—”

  “I was just telling Brad how much we always look forward to making our jack-o’-lanterns,” Bess went on meaningfully. “And he said we’re all welcome to come out to the greenhouse and pick some out.”

  “I think that would be great,” Nancy said hastily. She’d suddenly gotten the message. It wasn’t the pumpkins Bess cared about—it was seeing Brad again. “If your father has a good supply, tell him to save us a bunch,” she told Brad.

  “Oh, he’s got tons,” said Brad. “I’ll give you directions to the greenhouse before we go home tonight—you can all come over sometime tomorrow.” The smile he flashed at Bess told Nancy he was looking forward to the next day as much as Bess was.

  The four of t
hem had started walking along the narrow path again. Nancy held Ned’s hand tightly. The woods were deliciously spooky— just right for Halloween.

  “Do you think Justin’s still going to have his party?” Brad asked over his shoulder. He and Bess were walking ahead of Nancy and Ned.

  “Why wouldn’t he?” asked Ned.

  “Well—um—” It was clear that Brad was uncomfortable. Then Nancy understood why.

  “We don’t know for certain that he was the one who poisoned the samples,” she reminded him. She definitely wanted to go to the party— it would be a great chance to watch Justin more closely.

  Bess turned to Brad. “Are you going?”

  Brad smiled down into her eyes. “I wouldn’t miss a party with you, Bess.” Brad linked his arm through Bess’s, and they quickened their pace to put some distance between them and Nancy and Ned.

  “I guess he wants a little privacy,” said Nancy with a laugh.

  “I’m not complaining,” Ned answered. “I wanted some time alone with my girl, too.” Ned put his arm around Nancy’s shoulder and drew her close.

  They slowed their steps and finally stopped in the hazy pool of light cast down by a lamp post at the edge of the woods. Ned put his hands on Nancy’s shoulders, slowly drew her close, and gently pressed his lips to hers. “Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to do that?” he murmured into her ear. “But I guess we can’t stay here,” he continued reluctantly. “We’d better find the others.”

  “Before we do, I need your advice,” said Nancy.

  “Sure! Professor Nickerson to the rescue.”

  Briefly Nancy outlined what she had learned from Dr. Perlman and Mr. Bailey. “Doesn’t it sound to you as though we have two poisoners on our hands?” she finished.

  Ned looked very grim. “It sure does. I just wish we could talk to Marcia and ask her what she ate or drank,” he said, his voice full of frustration.

  “I know. This case is so confusing. Just when I think I’ve solved it, something happens and my theory falls apart!”