Free High Risk by Carolyn Keene Page B

voice at once.
    â€œMy name’s Nancy Drew. I’m a private investigator,” Nancy told her. “I’d like to talk to you about Toby Foyle.”
    Libby’s blue eyes immediately filled with tears. “Oh, poor Toby,” she said sadly. “It’s so tragic, isn’t it? We were just getting to know each other when it happened.”
    â€œUh—how long had you known Mr. Foyle?” Nancy asked.
    â€œI had only two dates with him,” Libby told her. She pulled out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “But it seemed as if we had known each other forever. I mean, we felt like old friends from the moment we met. I think he had that effect on people. You must know what I mean—you worked with him.”
    â€œWorked with him?” Nancy repeated blankly. “What makes you think that?”
    â€œYou mean you didn’t work with him?” Libby looked surprised. “Oh, excuse me, I assumed—Well, he was a private eye, too, you know.”
    â€œI—I see,” Nancy said. This young woman seemed a bit flaky. Could she really believe that Foyle was a detective? “Did he tell you that?”
    â€œSure,” Libby replied. “That’s how we met, actually. I was at a club last weekend, and I was talking to my friend about how I’ve always had a crush on Jim Brandon—you know, the privateeye in the TV show ‘Brandon.’ Anyway, Toby overheard and told me he was a private eye, too.” She gave a forlorn little smile. “I guess the rest is history.”
    â€œI guess it is,” Nancy agreed. Suddenly she felt sorry for Libby. Though she was older than Nancy, there was something innocent, almost childlike, about her. Nancy didn’t think she was capable of lying. Obviously Libby had been blind to the real Toby Foyle.
    Still, Nancy thought, she might as well mention the settlement Foyle had received and see if it had any effect on Libby.
    â€œDid you know that Mr. Foyle recently received a hundred thousand dollars from Mutual Life, as a claim settlement for a car accident?” Nancy asked.
    Libby’s eyes went round with astonishment. “That was Toby?” she said breathlessly. “I heard about that claim. Everyone was talking about it, because it’s the third settlement in the last six months, and Mutual Life almost never settles. But I had no idea it was Toby who got it!”
    Just then Libby’s phone buzzed, and she picked it up. “Yes, Ms. Johnson,” she said into the mouthpiece after a moment. “Which records do you need?”
    Nancy glanced at her watch. This was getting her nowhere. She’d be better off trying to check out Michelle’s salary at Karsh’s. She waved goodbye to Libby, who waved back distractedly.
    After she left the annex, Nancy went down the block to a pay phone and called Ned. She toldhim about her interview with Libby, then hung up and headed for her car.
    She was about ten feet away when she noticed that the small triangular window on the driver’s side of the Mustang had been smashed. Broken glass littered the asphalt around the blue car. Alarmed, Nancy rushed over and opened the door. Her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her.
    The cloth upholstery of the driver’s seat was in tatters. Someone had obviously slashed it to bits with a knife or a razor blade. A piece of paper was taped to the back of the seat.
    Her heart pounding, Nancy pulled it off and turned it over. On the other side was a single, neatly typed sentence: “Next time it’ll be your face, Nancy Drew.”

Chapter

Ten
    N ANCY CAUGHT her breath. The message was dear, and she had a feeling she knew who had sent it. The vicious knife slashes immediately brought one person to mind—Michelle Ferraro.
    Michelle had the opportunity, too, Nancy realized. She worked only two blocks away, and she knew Nancy was in the neighborhood. She could have watched where Nancy went,