Free Secrets Can Kill by Carolyn Keene Page B

making them glisten under the bright gym lights. “It all started at the beginning of the school year. See, that bracelet wasn’t the only thing I stole,” she admitted. “I took a sweater the first time, and it was so easy I decided to try for a jacket.” Connie swallowed hard. “Only that time I got caught. It’s all in my school file.”
    â€œAnd since Jake worked in the office, he found out about it,” Nancy commented.
    Connie nodded and took a shaky breath. “I didn’t know he knew, of course. But then, after I took the bracelet . . . Well, I know it was wrong but I wanted it so much, and there was no way I could afford it! I promised myself it was the last time. But then . . .”
    She wiped her face and sniffed loudly. “ . . . Then Jake came strutting along, said he had a ‘movie’ he wanted me to see. I nearly died when I saw it! I told him I was going to return the bracelet, but that slug made me wear it. When I tried to get rid of it, he stopped me and kept it himself. He said he knew all about my shoplifting record and that if he told anyone about the bracelet, I’d probably go to jail. And he was right!
    â€œSo after that, I had to do everything he asked.” Connie shuddered. “Everything. Ihoped that when he died, my secret would die with him.”
    Nancy felt terrible, but she had to keep pushing or she’d never get to the bottom of the mystery. “But Jake didn’t just die,” she said. “Someone killed him.”
    â€œI know, I know,” Connie moaned. Then she looked at Nancy sharply. “I didn’t do it! I’m not sorry he’s dead, but I didn’t kill him—and I can’t believe you think I might have!”
    With a sob, Connie ran down the bleacher steps and out of the gym. Nancy felt helpless. She wished she could have told Connie everything would be okay. But Connie had as much reason to knock off Jake as anyone else he’d blackmailed. Until Nancy found out who did it, she couldn’t afford to feel sorry for anybody, not even sweet Connie Watson.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Still thinking about the answers she didn’t have, Nancy left the gym and walked outside to her car. Daryl Gray was leaning against the driver’s door, and Nancy’s stomach did a little flip at the sight of him.
    â€œI can tell by the look on your face that your ‘interviews’ didn’t go too well,” he said when she reached his side.
    â€œYou’re right,” Nancy admitted. “I’m not much further along than I was last night. But I’ll figure it out eventually.” She looked at him with a mock frown. “What are you doing here,anyway? I didn’t think you’d ever come within fifty feet of a car of mine.”
    â€œWhen you want to be with somebody enough, you have to take chances.” Daryl put a hand on Nancy’s shoulder and brought his lips close to her ear. “Besides,” he whispered, “I have an ulterior motive.” He pulled open the door for her. “What I really want, aside from spending some time with you, is to see that tape.”
    â€œYou mean ‘The Secrets of Bedford High?’ ”
    â€œYeah. It sounds wild.” Daryl shut the door after her and leaned down, his head in the window. “No, really, I thought maybe I could help. I know all those people better than you do. Maybe I can find some clues.”
    â€œIt sounds good to me,” Nancy said. “Let’s go.”
    â€œYou lead, I’ll follow,” Daryl said, and walked off toward his Porsche.
    Half an hour later, the two of them were in Nancy’s house, sitting close together on the beige couch in the den, sipping Cokes and looking at the Jake Webb production.
    Daryl watched carefully but didn’t say much, and Nancy was acutely aware of his closeness in the darkened room. As Connie Watson