“I’ve solved a few crimes,” Nancy said noncommittally.
“A few? Ned makes you sound like a regular Sherlock Holmes. Well, take a tip from me, Ms. Sherlock . . . watch where you poke your nose here at Emerson. It might get cut off.”
“Can it, Ray!” Ned said angrily, taking a step toward him. “I know you’re carrying a grudge, but take it out on someone else!”
Ray held up his palms. “Hey! I was just giving the lady some advice!”
“Well, save it. In fact, why don’t you move along and enjoy the party?”
“Sure, I know when I’m not wanted.” Throwing a hostile glance at Andy, Craig, and Howie, he sauntered away.
Nancy was relieved. “Whew! Talk about intense! What’s his problem, anyway? And what’s all this about a grudge?”
“Ray used to be on the team,” Ned explained. “He wasn’t a starter, but he wasn’t bad as a forward, either.”
“Used to be?”
“Coach cut him this season because he’s got a low grade-point average. Now he’s bitter. He swears Coach cut him for personal reasons.”
“Sounds like he really hates the team.”
“That’s the understatement of the semester!” Ned agreed grimly. “He won’t even come to our games to cheer us on!”
The group gradually drifted apart. As it did, Nancy remembered what she had said to Ned earlier about having only one suspect. Well, scratch that, she thought. Now I have two!
The party wore on, growing louder and wilder by the minute. Nancy met many more of Ned’s friends, including Mike’s girlfriend, Jan Teller. Finally, around midnight, she went to the refreshment table to pour herself a soda. Bess was there, too, taking a break.
“Having fun?” Nancy asked.
“Believe it!” Bess smiled. “They really know how to party here.”
“Did I see you dancing with Craig Watson a little while ago?”
Bess’s eyes grew misty. “Yes. He’s a great guy. Soooo cute! And such a sharp dresser, too . . . did you notice?”
Nancy hadn’t. Glancing across the room, she saw Craig talking to Ned. In his loose-fitting gray wool shirt, pleated flannel trousers, and Gucci loafers, he indeed looked sharp. He could have posed for a layout in a fashion magazine.
“Matter of fact, a lot of these basketball guys have style,” Bess went on.
“Really? Who else?”
“Mike and Andy, see?”
The two players were talking together at the other end of the table. Both were dressed very well, Nancy realized. Andy wore an Italian-cut silk suit, and a gold watch flashed on Mike’s wrist.
She frowned. “That’s odd . . . didn’t I read in the game program that Craig, Andy, and Mike are scholarship students?”
“Did you? I don’t know.”
“Hmmm . . . I’ll have to check it out when we get back to our room.”
A second later, though, Nancy forgot all about that idea. The disk jockey put on a favorite song of Ned’s, and suddenly she wanted to dance. Setting down her drink, she crossed the room and pulled her boyfriend onto the dance floor.
They danced for what seemed like hours. Finally, flushed and happy, Nancy realized that she was worn out. She also needed the bathroom. Excusing herself, she went down the hall, only to find a short line in front of it.
Deciding that she couldn’t wait, she slipped up the stairs to the second floor. Doors lined both sides of the hall, but which one was the bathroom? She didn’t know.
Nancy chose a door at random. She knocked, and—receiving no answer—pushed it open.
“Oops!”
It was a fraternity brother’s room, empty at the moment, luckily. She was about to shut the door and go when, in the light from the hall, she noticed a framed picture above the desk. It was of Mike and Ned! This wasn’t Ned’s room, she knew. She had seen that before, so it must be Mike’s.
Curious, she moved toward the photo for a closer look. As she did, she accidentally kicked a cardboard carton. She looked down—and gasped. It was full of Styrofoam packing chips!
Rooting among them, Nancy also found scraps of cloth, thread, and the mangled half of a pillowcase—the same materials used to construct the effigy! She was stunned. There could only be one conclusion, she knew: Mike O’Shea—Emerson’s best player—was the practical joker!