Free 035 Bad Medicine by Carolyn Keene Page A

her fingers lightly touching the gold necklace encircling her neck.
    “That’s beautiful,” Nancy remarked, eyeing the necklace.
    “Trevor gave it to me,” she answered proudly, as if she’d been waiting for Nancy to bring up the subject. “Nancy, I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day. About someone setting up Trevor. That’s why Dr. Shaw’s body is missing, isn’t it? Whoever stole it must know an autopsy would show that Trevor is innocent.”
    Nancy regarded her silently, waiting for her to get to the point.
    Suzanne hesitated. “I have an idea who the body snatcher might be.”
    “You do?”
    She nodded. “April Shaw.”
    “April!” Nancy was taken aback.
    “I know on the surface it doesn’t seem possible, but think about it,” Suzanne went on hurriedly,before Nancy could respond. “She could have killed her father. She hated watching him suffer. She as much as said she couldn’t wait until his suffering was over. And now I’m convinced that she only pretended to love Trevor!”
    “Suzanne,” Nancy protested.
    “She used him,” Suzanne went on, her jaw tightening angrily. “She needed someone to throw the blame on, and she used Trevor. Have you seen April cry any real tears over her father’s death? No! Nancy Drew, if you’re looking for a murderer, look no further than April Shaw!”

Chapter

Twelve
    O H, COME ON , S UZANNE ,” Nancy said. “April loves Trevor. They’ve been engaged for months, since long before Dr. Shaw came to visit her.”
    Suzanne lifted her chin. “I notice you don’t deny that she could have been involved in a mercy killing.”
    “I only agree that she wanted her father’s suffering to end. That’s a long way from murder.”
    “Not that long.”
    They were at a stalemate. Nancy looked into Suzanne’s dark eyes, wondering if her accusations had any basis in truth. A tiny seed of doubtgrew inside her. April was an emotional wreck—of that much Nancy was certain. April had been very composed after her father’s death—unnaturally so, Nancy had thought at the time. Could her emotional state now be caused by guilt?
    Nancy left Suzanne and went into the hospital. It was almost two. Shaking her head clear of Suzanne’s allegations, Nancy used the lobby pay phone to call April. “Hi, April. It’s Nancy. I’ve been thinking about a few things and wondered if you could help me again. I’d like to know more about what happened to Anna Treadway in Saint Louis. Is there any way I could get my hands on some old records? I have a hunch that what’s happening now must relate somehow to that tragedy.”
    “I could call Dr. Grafton again,” April said doubtfully. “He might be willing to let you see the files.”
    “Tell him about what happened to David. We don’t want any more ‘accidents.’ ”
    “Okay, Nancy.”
    Nancy hung up, lost in thought. She gasped when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm. “Trevor!” she exclaimed, whipping around.
    “Sorry to frighten you. I couldn’t help overhearing. You were talking to April, weren’t you?”
    His handsome face was set and serious. Nancy could no more read his mind than she could Suzanne’s. “Yes, I was.”
    A muscle in his jaw flexed. “How is she?”
    “Okay, I guess. She’s trying to put the last few days in perspective. They’ve really taken an emotional toll.” When Trevor didn’t respond, Nancy added lightly, “I saw the necklace you gave Suzanne. It’s beautiful.”
    “The gold necklace?” Trevor asked blankly. “Suzanne showed it to you?”
    Nancy nodded. “And she showed it to April, too.”
    “What! But I gave that necklace to Suzanne years ago. It was a birthday gift.” He looked stunned. “You don’t think April believes I gave it to Suzanne recently!”
    “As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what she thinks,” Nancy replied, deciding to use the opportunity to clear up some facts. “Trevor, what’s going on between you and Suzanne? Could you be using her to