“No. I’m sure it was a man, but the voice wasn’t familiar.”
That made sense, Nancy thought to herself. She hadn’t gotten a clear look at the menacing figure, but it would require a lot of strength to physically try to toss Josh out the window. That would probably rule out Danielle and Susannah.
Officer Pulaski tapped his pen against his clipboard. “Out of ink.” He looked over at Josh. “Do you have a pen, kid?”
Josh checked his pockets, then shrugged. “Nothing to write with. Sorry.”
Coach Mitchell reached into his jacket and handed the officer a pen. “Now,” said Officer Pulaski. “Can you describe what the assailant was wearing?”
“His face was covered with a black ski mask . . .” Josh began. His voice trailed off, and Nancy noticed that his eyes were focused on something in the crowd.
A moment later he pointed at Zip Williams. He said, “There. He was dressed just like that—in dark clothes.”
Nancy glanced critically at Zip. His clothes were right, and he certainly had the motive, but he also had an alibi. She had seen him down at the fair just before the attack.
The crowd was silent as the two quarterbacks glared at each other. Zip sneered, then turned and stalked off indignantly, with Tamara right behind him.
Tension hung in the air for a long, silent moment. Finally Dean Jarvis addressed the crowd. “Josh is okay, and the homecoming game will go on as scheduled,” he announced. “Now let’s all move off and leave this matter to the police.”
As the crowd began to disperse, Nancy and Bess lingered behind to hear the police finish their questioning of Josh.
“Ready to go, son?” Coach Mitchell asked as Officer Pulaski tucked his clipboard under his arm. “Let’s get out of here and grab something to eat.”
As the officers and the Mitchells headed for the elevators, Nancy found herself staring at the empty table. Something about it disturbed her, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. She glanced over at Josh, then back at the table. Finally it hit her.
“That’s strange,” she said aloud. When Bess met her eyes, she explained. “Josh said he was sitting here studying, but he didn’t have any papers or books with him. In fact, he didn’t even have a pen to lend that police officer.”
“No wonder he’s such a lousy student,” Bess commented.
Nancy thoughtfully drummed her fingers on the table. Could it be that simple? Or had Josh lied about coming there to study?
Come on, Drew! she chastised herself the next second. Josh was practically thrown from a library window. Give the guy a break!
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Nancy turned to Bess. “We might as well go back down to the fair.”
The girls made their way downstairs and back to the crowded oval. They threaded their way past the booths, but Nancy hardly paid any attention to the items for sale. Her mind was focused on the details of the case.
Someone was after Randy—and now it looked as if that person was after Josh, too. The message had been consistent—lose Sunday’s game.
What was so important about that game? Someone was going to an awful lot of trouble to make sure that Emerson lost. Maybe it was Susannah’s way of getting revenge against Emerson or Zip’s incredible need to win.
But each of their motives seemed flimsy in light of the seriousness of the crimes. Whoever was behind the attacks was willing to murder in order to make sure Emerson lost the big game. Nancy couldn’t help thinking there was some important piece missing from the puzzle.
“Nan!” Bess’s urgent whisper tore Nancy from her thoughts. “The police are back!”
“What?” Following Bess’s gaze, Nancy spotted Officer Pulaski and his gray-haired partner walking across the oval with a purposeful stride. They wove around a family with two young toddlers, then cut across the lawn.
A moment later the police stepped up to Zip Williams, who was leaning against a tree at the edge of the oval, talking with Tamara.
“Come on,” said Nancy, grabbing Bess’s arm and pulling her toward the group.
As soon as Zip saw the police, he stood up straight and dropped his girlfriend’s hand. Nancy saw him stiffen as Officer Pulaski clapped a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him.