Nancy Drew Files #62. Easy Marks. Carolyn Keene

Nancy whirled around to find Ms. MacCauley standing in the doorway. For a moment she thought the woman had been talking about the printout. Then Nancy realized she was watching Kim and Victor.

“Just some kind of misunderstanding,” said Nancy.

Ms. MacCauley turned her attention back to Nancy. “How’s your ankle?” she asked, offering her a few cool, wet paper towels.

“Huh—oh, it’ll be okay.” Nancy took the towel and pressed it to her ankle. “Do you know what else? I feel so stupid. My student isn’t even due to arrive for another half-hour. I was mistaken. I’m not used to my schedule yet.”

“Terrific,” said Ms. MacCauley, settling herself at the terminal. “We can continue while Victor sorts out his love life.” With nimble fingers, she closed out the directory of computer terminals. She chuckled and shook her head as she worked. “That Victor! He’d better watch his step or he’ll land in big trouble someday. Once you know how to break into a system it’s very tempting to make mischief. Believe me, I know.”

There was something in the way she said “I know” that jolted Nancy’s memory. Nancy gave Ms. MacCauley a probing look. She was obviously in her early twenties, only a few years older than Nancy. Nancy tried to remember what her father had told her about the girl who had gotten in trouble for using her computer to alter her parents’ telephone bills. Ms. MacCauley seemed to be about the right age. She had her own computer company in River Heights, too. And the remark she’d just made indicated that she had gotten into computer-related trouble. Nancy would be willing to bet that Ms. MacCauley was the girl her father had defended!

Trying to remain calm, Nancy said, “I suppose a person could tamper with all sorts of things, like bank records, government files—even telephone bills.”

Ms. MacCauley looked so sharply at Nancy that Nancy knew her hunch was right.

“Well, uh, let me show you how the E-mail works,” Ms. MacCauley said, her attention on the computer once again. “See these menus on the screen?” Nancy nodded, and Ms. MacCauley went on, “You see the word MAIL? That allows you to send and receive electronic mail. Do you have a mailbox yet?”

“Phyllis Hathaway gave me a password,” Nancy replied. “But I don’t know if I have an E-mail box.”

“That’s easily fixed,” said Ms. MacCauley. She tapped in some commands. “There. From now on, whenever you log onto the system, it will tell you if there’s any E-mail in your box. I’ve just sent you today’s student mailings. Try it. Log off, then log back on.”

Obediently, Nancy exited from the system, then reentered and typed in her password. When she hit Return, a blinking message flashed on the screen: You have three E-mail messages. Do you want to read them now? Y/N.

Nancy pressed Y. A school calendar appeared on the screen, followed by a list of weekly club meetings and an announcement of tryouts for the next Drama Society play.

Ms. MacCauley then showed Nancy how to send a message and how to refuse one.

Nancy kept her eyes on Ms. MacCauley’s face as she said, “This system is really impressive. When I met Phyllis yesterday, I got the impression that she had designed it. But didn’t Victor just say that you had?”

Ms. MacCauley stiffened. “Ms. Hathaway and I have both worked on it,” she said in a tight voice. “She has a solid background in computers and a thorough understanding of the school’s needs.”

Why was she suddenly so cool? Nancy wondered. Had Nancy hit on something when she mentioned Ms. Hathaway?

“Well, however it happened,” Nancy said lightly, “the computer system seems to be a big plus at Brewster. You should be proud of yourselves.”

“We are,” Ms. MacCauley replied. “Too bad the trustees didn’t feel that way when they chose the new head for the school. Phyllis would have been the perfect choice.” Abruptly, she got to her feet, saying, “I have to get back to my office.”

“I’ll walk you outside,” Nancy volunteered. She stretched a little as she got to her feet. “I could use some exercise.” Besides, there was more she wanted to learn from Ms. MacCauley.

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