Free Perfect Plot by Carolyn Keene Page A

coming to one of his Mystery Weekends. We went to this creaky, spooky, old resort hotel. Dorothea loved every minute.”
    â€œDid Dorothea know about his past?” George asked.
    Kate scowled at her. “You can’t leave it alone, can you?” she demanded. “As a matter of fact, she did. Julian told her. And she was fascinated. She asked him to come here one weekend and give her a lecture-demonstration on how a professional opens a safe. She went on to write a wonderful safecracking scene in her next book.”
    â€œI read that!” George exclaimed. “It was in The Golden Circle.”
    Nancy gestured with her head to the cabinet that concealed the safe. “Is that the safe he gave her the demonstration on?”
    Kate’s face hardened again. “Yes,” she replied. “He managed to get it open in under five minutes. But I’m telling you, Julian did not steal those figurines. And neither did I. If chasing after us is your idea of conducting an investigation, I’m sorry I asked you to help.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t have thought we were very gooddetectives if we’d ignored a possible lead like this, would you?” George asked.
    â€œI guess not,” Kate admitted reluctantly.
    â€œI have to warn you,” Nancy added. “By now Lieutenant Kitridge must know about Julian’s record, too.”
    â€œLieutenant Kitridge?” she asked in a shaky voice. “But he’s working on Maxine’s murder. He’s already solved it. Erika killed her.”
    â€œShe was just taken in for questioning. She hasn’t been arrested, as far as I know,” Nancy pointed out.
    â€œIf only Julian would trust me!” Kate burst out. “I know I could help him prove his innocence. But he won’t talk to me at all.”
    Nancy thought George was thinking the same thing she was. Maybe the reason Julian wouldn’t talk to Kate was that he didn’t want her to know he was still a crook.
    With a groan, Kate went on, “How am I supposed to think about throwing a party at a time like this?”
    â€œParty?” George said, her eyes lighting up with interest.
    â€œThis evening, after dinner,” Kate explained. “The mystery costume party. It was supposed to be one of the big events of the conference. Didn’t you see it on the schedule?”
    â€œSure,” Nancy said. “But I thought the whole conference was postponed.”
    â€œIt was. But we’ve got tons of extra people coming to the party,” Kate said. “The United Mystery Fans from Caldwell College are all coming in costume. We even hired a rock band called the Skeletons. I wanted to cancel, after everything that’s happened. But Armand said we had to go ahead. He’s bringing some major donors down from Chicago for it.”
    Picking up her pencil, she added, “I’m sorry to be rude, but I have to get back to work. Maybe it’ll take my mind off my real problems—like what’s going on with Julian.”
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    The costume party took place in the ballroom of Mystery Mansion, an enormous space that took up one entire end of the west wing. Crystal chandeliers sparkled, and tall glass doors led out onto a terrace where Chinese lanterns flickered.
    George adjusted her trench coat and fedora hat. “Do you think anyone will know I’m supposed to be Sam Spade?” she asked.
    â€œDefinitely. And I’m sure they’ll know who I am,” Nancy said, adjusting her cape and deerstalker hat. She’d already spotted two other Sherlock Holmeses, but still felt her choice was right for her.
    Nancy’s foot started moving to the beat as the band, all dressed in skeleton costumes, began playing a song with a driving beat. She was gladto see a lot of younger kids in costume—obviously they were from Caldwell College.
    A dark-haired guy dressed as a Keystone Kop asked George to dance. As her