Free Secrets Can Kill by Carolyn Keene

told.”
    â€œPoor baby,” Daryl teased her, leaning close enough to brush his lips against her ear. “So what’s the favor? You want me to test-drive your new toy?”
    Nancy didn’t tease back. “No,” she said, forcing herself to pull back from Daryl’s handsome face. “I want to tell you something, but you have to promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone.”
    â€œI can keep a secret, Detective. Promise.”
    They were alone at a table in the farthest corner of the cafeteria. Any of the kids who happened to glance their way probably thought they were having a private lovers’ talk. But love was the farthest thing from Nancy’s mind at that moment as she quietly told Daryl about Jake Webb’s blackmail videotape.
    When she finished, she sat back and sipped her iced tea, waiting for Daryl’s reaction.
    But Daryl must have been so stunned he couldn’t think of anything to say. He just stared at her with wide, dark-blue eyes, his face almost blank.
    â€œIt’s okay to be shocked,” Nancy said. “I was, and I’m the detective.”
    â€œYeah, I . . .” Daryl shook his head and whistled softly. “Wow. I am shocked. I mean, it’s unbelievable.”
    â€œIt is—unless you’ve seen the tape.”
    â€œSo what are you going to do with it?” Daryl asked. “Turn it over to the police?”
    Nancy shook her head. “I guess I’ll have to give it to them pretty soon. But since Mr. Parton is letting me handle this my way, I’d like to work on my own just a little longer. For now, that tape’s going to stay safe at home, where I can keep an eye on it.”
    Daryl nodded. “I guess you think one of those kids killed Jake, huh?”
    â€œI don’t know what I think yet,” Nancy admitted. “I don’t want to believe it at all.”
    â€œBut they’re the only ones on the tape, isn’t that what you said?” Daryl asked quickly.
    â€œYes, but somehow I just . . .” Nancy sighed.
    â€œJake really blew it for everybody, didn’t he?” Daryl looked sympathetic and concerned, just the way Ned would have reacted, Nancy thought. Then Daryl leaned across the table and gave her one of his sexiest looks. “Don’t take this wrong, Detective, but be careful, okay?”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Warmed by Daryl’s concern and support, not to mention his touch, Nancy spent the rest of the afternoon—in between classes—tracking down the three “stars” of Jake’s videotape.
    She found Hal in the library, just beginning apaper that she happened to know was due in two days. “Hi,” she whispered as she joined him at the study table. “I thought you’d be finished with that by now. Everybody says you’re a real whiz.”
    Hal gave her a nervous smile and shrugged. “Even whizzes get behind sometimes.”
    â€œWell, I guess you don’t have to worry, though,” Nancy went on. “I mean, if you’re smart enough to get into Harvard and write papers for Jake Webb on the side, then—”
    That got Hal’s attention. “What do you mean?” he interrupted in a whisper. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œReally?” Nancy was all innocence. “Gee, I was sure I heard you and Jake talking about it in the hall, right after that pop quiz, remember?”
    â€œNo. You didn’t. I mean, you must have heard wrong.” Hal stood up, gathering his stuff together with shaky hands. “Look, I’ve got to get going.”
    â€œOh, too bad,” Nancy said. “I was going to ask your advice. See, I’ll be taking the SATs soon and I thought maybe you could give me some hints on how to handle them. Everybody says your scores were sky-high. How did you do it? Or is that a secret?”
    Hal looked so nervous, Nancy thought