Power of Suggestion (15 page)

“Don't run out on us, Professor,” Backman rumbled. “We've got lots to talk about.”

Behind Backman stood Bess and Dr. Cohen. Ned and Parker had raced out of the control booth after Nancy, and Bess shot them a wide-eyed look. “Are we on time?” she asked. “We had a little trouble locating Captain Backman.”

“You did fine, Bess,” Nancy assured her with a grin. “Your timing couldn't be more perfect.”

“Now,” Marcus Backman said, looking at Nancy, Ned, and Parker, “Bess tells me you were going to get the professor's confession on tape. How about playing it for me?”

• • •

“Well, Nan, I think you've set a personal record for the biggest investigative team you've ever put together for a case,” Ned joked early the next morning.

He, Nancy, Parker, and Bess were standing on the steps of the Emersonville police station with Dr. Cohen and Captain Backman. Diana DeMarco, Maury Becker, and Dave Webb were also with them. The three of them had been awakened by Nancy and her friends so that they could help explain the case.

The group had been at the station for most of the night. Soon after Dr. Edberg had been arrested, Captain Backman had called Lieutenant
Easterling and convinced him to meet the others and listen to the confession Ned and Parker had taped.

Easterling had listened to the tape three times. Then he'd gone to the interrogation room where Edberg was being held. When he came back, his attitude had changed from doubtful to apologetic.

“Edberg waived his right to a lawyer and confessed to everything,” the lieutenant said, shaking his head. “Despite all the bragging he does on that tape you made, he's a pretty unstable individual. All the fight's gone out of him now.”

“What about Larry Boyd?” Nancy asked.

“Oh, we've got lots to charge him with. Bribery, conspiracy. . . . I've sent a patrol car out to pick him up. It's a shame. You know, I've even used a couple of his tapes—the ‘Stop Smoking' series.” He paused to light a cigar. “Anyway, I guess I owe you an apology, Miss Drew. I didn't take you seriously. My mistake.”

“That's okay,” Nancy told him.

Turning to Parker, Easterling added, “I just assumed that you were guilty, kid. Guess I owe you an apology, too.” They shook hands.

For the next couple of hours, Easterling questioned them all, separately and together, trying to follow the path of Nancy's investigation. Maury had brought along Wayne's computer diskettes, and the police took them as evidence.
At last Easterling had told them they were all free to go.

Now Nancy yawned. She glanced at her watch. “Wow, it's six in the morning!”

“I've got to get back to the campus security office,” Captain Backman said in his deep voice. He shook Nancy's hand. “It was a pleasure working with you, Nancy.” Turning to Dr. Cohen, he said, “Give you a ride back to campus, Paul?”

The two of them drove off. Maury and Dave headed for Dave's car, then paused to offer Diana a ride.

“Sure,” she said. “But first I'd like a minute to talk with Nancy.”

The two girls moved a few feet away from the others. “Thanks for convincing me to stay,” Diana began. “I don't think I could have lived with myself if I'd run out without finding out who really killed Wayne. In my heart I knew Parker wasn't the real murderer.”

“So what will you do now?” Nancy asked.

Diana shrugged. “I promised Lieutenant Easterling that I'd come back to town for the trial.” She took a breath before adding, “But right now I'm going back to Pittsburgh to quit working for Subliminal Suggestions. I'm not cut out to be a spy. After coming here . . . well, I discovered that I like being a student again. Maybe I'll come back to Emerson and get a graduate degree.”

“That sounds great! In psychology?”

“Absolutely!” The two girls laughed. Nancy and Diana gave each other a quick hug, then Diana left with Dave and Maury.

As Nancy stepped back over to Ned, Bess, and Parker, Parker turned to her with a sheepish expression. “Nancy, I don't know how I can ever thank you.”

Nancy put a finger to her lips. “Shh. There's no need for thanks. You're Ned's friend—that makes you family.”

Parker smiled at Nancy, then impulsively gave her a big hug.

“Hey, that's
my
girlfriend!” Ned joked. “You don't have to be
that
grateful.”

Nancy and Parker broke off the embrace. Grinning at Ned, Nancy suggested, “How about breakfast?”

“Sounds great,” Ned agreed. “Gus's Diner should just be opening up.”

The four of them walked toward Nancy's blue Mustang, which was parked in the police lot. Bess and Parker walked arm in arm, smiling happily at each other. Bess wrapped both arms around Parker's waist and gave him a squeeze. “This was some way to get to know each other,” she joked.

He paused to look into her eyes. “Actually, I'd like to get to know you a lot better, Bess,” he said softly. Turning to Nancy and Ned, he added, “There's always spring break. Maybe
the four of us could go somewhere together.”

“That would be terrific,” Nancy agreed. “And wherever we go, we'll make sure that there are no mysteries to solve there!”

“That's a nice wish,” Ned whispered in her ear, “but I wouldn't count on it.”

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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