If Looks Could Kill by Carolyn Keene

too.”
    â€œInteresting,” Nancy said. “And there are a lot of other loose ends—like what was Maura doing down on the beach in the first place, and why did she have a two-month-old newspaper in her hand? If a silencer was used when someone shot at Martika, why wasn’t one used tonight?”
    â€œGee, Nan,” Bess said, biting her lip. “It is pretty confusing.”
    â€œIt sure is,” Nancy agreed. “Well, I’d better go see Captain Logan. He’s probably wondering what’s keeping me.”
    As Nancy went down the stairs to the lobby, she encountered an officer on his way up. “Ms. Nancy Drew?” he addressed her.
    â€œThat’s me,” Nancy replied.
    â€œCaptain Logan sent me to tell you he isinterviewing suspects in Ms. Sawyer’s suite. Will you please accompany me?”
    â€œSuspects?” Nancy repeated. “Am I a suspect?”
    â€œEveryone is a suspect at the moment,” the man replied.
    When they got to Martika’s suite, Nancy saw Logan sitting at the desk, making notes. Martika was nowhere in sight.
    â€œAh, Ms. Drew,” he said, smiling at her. “Sit down, please,” he added, indicating the chair beside the desk.
    Nancy sat, and as soon as she did, Logan rose and started pacing. “Ms. Sawyer has informed me that she asked you here as a private detective,” he began. “Is that correct?”
    â€œYes,” Nancy said.
    â€œYou have been here for three days and have witnessed several troubling incidents, I am told. Yet you never contacted the police, is that correct?”
    Nancy swallowed hard. “Yes. I’m afraid that’s true,” she had to admit.
    â€œAccording to Ms. Sawyer, you were present when a snake was set loose, Ms. Sawyer’s oxygen line was cut, a bullet went through the sleeve of her blouse—and when Maura McDaniel was found dead on the beach.”
    â€œWell,” Nancy said finally, after it became clear that he was waiting for her to explainherself, “I’m impressed. You’ve done a very good job of finding things out, Captain Logan.”
    The captain smiled wryly.
    â€œOf course, you’re right, Captain,” Nancy continued. “I should have insisted that Martika call in the police.”
    The captain seemed to relax a bit, but he was still suspicious. “Now, why don’t you tell me what you’ve found out through your own investigations?”
    â€œAll right,” Nancy said. “I’ve brought a few things to show you.”
    Captain Logan drew up a chair next to hers as she emptied her pockets and explained each of the items she had brought. By the time Nancy was through, Captain Logan had become much more respectful of her. “I wasn’t implying that you are the killer, mind you,” he assured her. “I was just doing my job.”
    Nancy nodded. She could tell that he didn’t consider her a suspect anymore. Now maybe they could work together to solve the case.
    Just as she was about to say so, however, the door of the suite burst open, and an officer entered, panting. In his hand, wrapped in a white handkerchief, was a small pistol.
    â€œCaptain!” the man cried. “We found the murder weapon!”
    â€œTwenty-two caliber,” Logan said, inspectingit. Nancy noticed that the automatic pistol was small, lightweight, and black. No shiny surfaces to reflect and bounce light on a moonlit night. No silencer.
    â€œWhere did you find it?” Logan asked.
    â€œIn Kurt Yeager’s suite, sir,” came the answer. “Right under his pillow!”

Chapter

Twelve
    N ANCY ROSE FROM her chair in surprise. “Under his pillow?” she repeated.
    Before she could say anything else, Captain Logan cut in. “Have you arrested the suspect?” he asked his man.
    â€œYes, sir, but not without a struggle. He’s a very strong man, and he gave Sergeant Curtis a bloody nose.