Designs in Crime by Carolyn Keene

Beau took several deep breaths to calm himself, Nancy introduced herself and Bess toDetective Noonan. “And this is Beau Winston,” she said. “He brought Bess and me into his studio to find out who was stealing his designs. We figured it out, but just a little too late.”
    â€œWhat?” Beau stared at Nancy. “You mean Angel—”
    â€œWas selling your designs to Budget Fashions,” Nancy said, explaining how Bess had tricked the saleswoman in the Budget showroom. She also told them about the phone call she’d heard Angel make. “They were going to meet here at ten-thirty. When we arrived at quarter to eleven, Angel was dead. There was no sign of the killer.”
    â€œPoor Angel,” Beau said, rubbing his eyes wearily. “It was lousy of him to steal my designs, but he didn’t deserve to die.”
    The detective jotted notes on a clipboard. “Now, let me get this straight,” he said to Nancy. “You think Angel was working with a partner, who turned on him tonight, stabbing him in the back?”
    Nancy nodded.
    â€œAny idea who this accomplice might be?” Detective Noonan persisted.
    â€œThere’s Mrs. Chong,” Nancy said speculatively. “After all, Angel was stabbed with her scissors.”
    â€œAnd she left the studio early today, without any explanation,” Bess added.
    â€œMrs. Chong is not the killer,” Beau saidwearily. “I’ve just spent the past five hours with her in the waiting room of Midtown Hospital.”
    Seeing the girls’ surprised reactions, Beau explained. “Her husband was in surgery all night. I didn’t finish up at the Plaza till six, so I went straight over to the hospital to stay with her. He’s going to pull through just fine. But by the time I called in and got your message to meet you here, it was already well after ten.”
    â€œDid you find out how Mrs. Chong got the money for the operation?” Nancy asked him.
    Beau nodded. “From her great-uncle.”
    â€œWhy was the surgery such a secret?” Bess asked. “Angel wouldn’t tell us anything about it.”
    â€œMrs. Chong is very secretive about her personal life,” Beau answered. “But Angel knew about the operation. In fact, he’d agreed to cover for us at the studio tonight.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” Nancy said, snapping her fingers. “That’s why Angel told the person on the phone to meet him here. He knew the studio would be empty, since you and Mrs. Chong would be at the hospital. And if one or two of the assistants had wanted to work late, he had the authority to send them home.”
    Detective Noonan pointed his pen at Nancy. “I like the way you work,” he said.
    â€œShe’s a great detective,” Bess said. “Nancy’s solved lots of famous cases.”
    â€œIf Mrs. Chong is not the killer, we should check out Mimi Piazza,” Nancy said thoughtfully. “I think that blue handkerchief sitting beside Angel’s body might belong to her.”
    â€œThat’s quite a charge,” the detective said. “Who is this Mimi?”
    â€œMimi Piazza, a rival designer,” Beau said, explaining his history with the woman.
    â€œWait a minute,” Nancy said, her mind racing. “When Angel was talking on the phone, he complained that he was taking all the risks, that the other person was safe in a castle. Mimi is known for being a security freak. And she would have a lot to lose if Angel revealed their theft to Delia Rogers, as he threatened on the phone.”
    â€œSounds as if it might be worth checking this woman out,” Detective Noonan agreed.
    â€œIn the meantime, are you going to search Angel’s apartment for clues?” Nancy asked him.
    â€œThat’s standard in a case like this.” The detective nodded, then hesitated. “Why?”
    â€œI’d like to go along,” Nancy said.