Perfect Plot Read Online Free PDF Page B

time.”
    â€œAnd I was in and out of the study all afternoon, from just after lunch until around five,” Kate added.
    â€œWe really need to get these times down asexactly as possible,” Nancy said. “When was ‘just after lunch’?”
    Kate thought for a moment. “I don’t know—one-thirty?”
    â€œThen it sounds as if the most likely time for the theft was between noon and one-thirty,” Nancy said. “George and I are in the clear. We didn’t even get here until nearly five. Anybody else?”
    â€œThe staff,” Kate said. “They arrived in the middle of the afternoon, and none of them has ever been here before. I doubt if they’ve even heard of the figurines, and they certainly wouldn’t know where they were kept.”
    â€œI arrived after five also,” Erika said, obviously relieved.
    â€œAnd so did I,” Vanessa said. “Of course, any one of us could have paid an earlier visit secretly. . . .”
    â€œSomeone would have had to buzz you in,” Kate pointed out. “Ordinarily, that someone is me, but with all the comings and goings this afternoon . . .”
    â€œWhat times are we talking about?” Bill asked. “Noon to one-thirty? Let’s see, I was on the phone with Leo Mallet, a client of mine in Chicago, from a little before noon until about one. He’s a very talkative guy. Then I decided I had to talk to him in person, so I went out to my car.”
    â€œWe went down together, remember?” Professor Coining put in. “I was walking along the hallway, and you cannoned into me as you left your room. I was on my way for a stroll on the grounds, so I walked you to the parking lot.”
    Bill Denton nodded. “I drove into Chicago, spent a little time with Leo, and drove straight back. I got here a little before five.” Smiling, he added, “I guess I’ve got an alibi.”
    â€œI don’t,” Julian said, glowering. “I didn’t go into the study, but I was all over the rest of the house, setting up the mystery challenges for the weekend.”
    With a shrug, Maxine said, “Don’t fret. I don’t have one either, and I already admitted that I spent time alone in the study. That doesn’t mean I’m a thief.”
    Nancy had been listening carefully to the other guests. Was one of them a thief? It certainly seemed like it, but which one? This wasn’t going to be an easy case to solve—all the suspects were mystery experts!
    â€œWhat about the police?” George asked. “Shouldn’t we call them and report the theft?”
    â€œI don’t think we should rush to do that,” Kate said. “I’d like to find out what Armand thinks before we bring officials in. With a distinguished group like this, we ought to be able to solve the crime and recover the figures without a scandal.”
    Nancy studied her curiously, but Kate wouldn’t meet her eyes.
    â€œI think we should report the theft,” Nancy said, “but I’m a guest here. It’s not up to me to decide.”
    â€œWhat about searching the house?” Patrick suggested.
    â€œIt’d be a waste of time,” Julian said, rolling his eyes. “A place this size, we could search for weeks and still miss something as small as those figurines.” After an uneasy silence, he added, “If nobody minds, I’m going to turn in early.”
    There were murmurs of agreement from some of the others.
    Taking a deep breath, Kate said, “All right. I’ve decided to ask Nancy Drew if she’ll take charge of investigating the theft. I’m sure you all know her reputation as a detective. If any of you think of anything that might help solve it, please tell her right away.”
    Nancy was surprised. Of course she was ready to help in any way she could, but it would have been nice if Kate had asked her before making that