Free The Stolen Kiss by Carolyn Keene Page A

better lock the doors even during the day and keep the ground-floor windows shut.”
    The girls acted scared as they disbanded to get ready for the party.
    â€œTell me about Rina,” Nancy said to Brook as they headed upstairs. “She doesn’t seem like the other girls in this sorority. I’m surprised she got pledged.”
    â€œShe was a legacy, which means a relative was a Theta Pi. We had to take her,” Brook explained. “And I understand Rina’s aunt told her she’d pay her housing if she pledged—kind of a bribe. People do things for their own reasons.”
    Nancy nodded. Her work as a detective had proved that time and again.
    â€œAfter she pledged,” Brook continued, “Rina went her own way. She got along okay here—until Bryan and Debbie started dating. Then Rina acted as if we were all against her. I guess she’s angry at the world.”
    â€œAngry enough to slash a dress?”
    Brook shrugged. “I don’t know.” She glanced at the clock on the landing. “We’d better get moving,” she said, heading for her room.
    Nancy showered and changed and was ready to greet Ned when he showed up at the front door. Twirling, she showed off her short, black fringed dress, curls of her reddish blond hair peeking out from under a black cloche hat. “Like it?” Nancy asked.
    Ned poked his straw boater hat to the back of his head and whistled. “I love it.”
    Nancy thought that Ned looked great, too. He was dressed in a white double-breasted suit, striped shirt, and red bow tie.
    When they reached the Omega Chi house, the party was in full swing. George had come earlier with Mindy and Rosie to help set up. She waved Ned and Nancy over to the buffet table, where she was serving punch.
    â€œGreat party!” she shouted over the music.
    One of Ned’s frat brothers, Howie Little, strode up and pounded Ned on the back. He grinned at Nancy. “Hear you turned up just in time to play detective again.”
    Ned groaned as George handed him a cup of punch. “Tell me about it.”
    Nancy sighed. “Mysteries just seem to follow me.”
    â€œDon’t sound so sad about it,” Howie said. “Half the girls in this room would love to be in your shoes—lending a helping hand to our artist heartthrob.”
    Nancy felt Ned tense up and quickly stifled the desire to kick Howie. Instead she gazed up at Ned, batted her eyes, and said with sugary sweetness, “Oh, I thought you were going to say they’d love to be in my shoes because I’m here with Ned.”
    Howie threw back his head and laughed. “Since this is such a dependent relationship, I guess I’ll have to ask if I can borrow him a second. We’re having trouble with the sound system.” With that Howie steered Ned away.
    Nancy glanced around. Strobe lights had been hooked up to the ceiling fixtures. The flickering lights and dancing bodies made it hard to identify people. She did see Chris, which made her wonder which of Chris’s dresses Debbie had chosen to wear.
    Nancy spotted Bryan first. He was the only guy in the room not dressed in twenties-style clothing. He was wearing blue jeans and an EC T-shirt. Yellow and red lights flickered across his face and glinted off his earring. Debbie was half hidden in the shadows. A feather jutted up from her white headband, and she looked cool and elegant in a white feathery chemise. Nancy could see Debbie did not feel cool. Her cheeks were flushed, and her gestures were agitated.
    Nancy wove her way through the press of dancers until she could hear Bryan and Debbie. Nancy stood close to the couple, pretending to study a poster on the wall.
    â€œIt’s over, Bryan. . . .” Debbie’s voice shook. “Why don’t you come out and say it—it’s my fault you lost your job.”
    â€œNo,” Debbie insisted. “It’s just not working between