Warning: This chapter contains adult language and mature subject matter.

-o-o-o-o-

Chapter 11: The Final Clue

Frank had just dropped her off when Nancy's phone rang. The caller ID wasn't blocked, but Nancy didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Nancy Drew? My name is Josh Carter. A friend of mine told me you're trying to get in touch with Lisa Delaney."

"Yes! Thank you for calling me, Mr. Carter. It's really important that I speak to her as soon as possible."

"Well, I have an old phone number for her that she gave me when she first moved to Paris. I haven't called her for a while, though, so I don't know if it's still good. The long-distance relationship wasn't working out."

"It's better than what I have right now. Let me get a pen." Nancy hurried into the kitchen, where there was a notepad and paper by the phone. "Ok, go ahead."

Josh gave her the number, including the country code. "I hope that helps."

"I'm really grateful, Mr. Carter. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." Josh hung up.

This is great! Nancy thought. What time is it in Paris? She glanced at the clock. It was early evening in Paris. Not too late to call. She dialed the number. The phone rang six times.

"Allo?"

"Hello. I am calling Lisa Delaney." Nancy put a questioning inflection in the statement.

"This is she."

"Miss Delaney, I'm so glad I reached you! My name is Nancy Drew. Do you have time to talk for a few minutes?"

"What's this about, Miss Drew?"

"I don't know if you're aware, but several people you used to know in high school have been killed recently."

"You're kidding! Who?"

"Darren Bolton, Tonya Amberson and Julie Baker."

"Oh my god! How?"

"I'm afraid they were all murdered. That's why I needed to speak to you. I thought your like might be in danger."

"My life? Why?"

"I believe they were all killed because of that celibacy pledge you took in high school."

"That stupid thing? Why would anyone kill over that?"

"I don't know. But can you tell me anything about Kevin Brown or Kimberly Watson? When was the last time you spoke to them?"

"I haven't spoken to Kevin since graduation. I think he went off to become a priest or something. I talk to Kim every few months or so, usually right after she breaks up with her latest boyfriend. The woman's a complete mess. I keep telling her to find a nice girl and settle down, but she's in such denial, she just ends up in another crappy relationship with some loser guy."

"Are you telling me Kim is gay?" Nancy asked in astonishment.

"Bi, anyway. And she had this huge crush on Tonya back then, but Tonya was straight as they come, so nothing ever came of it."

"Did the guys know?"

"I doubt it, but even if they did, it wouldn't have mattered. Jack would have been hot for her anyway. I think she made a big mistake not starting a relationship with him, at least until she got over Tonya. She might have, too, if Tonya hadn't come up with that whole celibacy thing." Lisa snorted. "And you want to know what the real joke was? Tonya wasn't even a virgin! Julie told me afterward that Tonya had already done it with at least three guys. The pledge was just a joke she wanted to play on the others. She didn't think they'd take it seriously."

"Except some of them did."

"Yeah, Kevin sure did. When he handed us those certificates he'd made up, I thought Tonya was going to burst out laughing."

"What about Kim?"

"She took it pretty seriously for a while. Anytime a guy asked her out, she'd tell him about the pledge. After a while, they stopped asking. I thought maybe she'd start dating girls then, but she didn't. I lost touch with her for a while and then the next thing I hear, she's making porn videos. I felt kind of sorry for her."

Nancy thought back over what Lisa had told her. Then something struck her. "You said Kevin was studying to be a priest?"

"Yeah, something like that. Of all of us, he was the only one to take to the pledge naturally. He was just like that anyway. He was pretty quiet and kind of shy, but a real sweet guy. Julie was pretty hard up for him, but then she went and got herself knocked up and her parents made her marry the father. Kevin moved away while she was married. I think she always regretted that."

"Did Kevin know about the others not keeping the pledge?"

"I don't know for sure, but he must have. It's not like any of us were particularly discreet. 'Scuse me a second."

Nancy could hear Lisa speaking in French to someone in the background.

"Look, Miss Drew, I've got to go. Was there anything else?"

"Just one more thing. When was the last time you spoke to Kim?"

"Maybe three weeks ago? She called me, crying as usual. She was pretty incoherent. I think she'd just broken up with her latest boyfriend. She kept saying something about it all being a lie. I thought maybe she was finally ready to accept she should be with another woman."

"Well, thank you, Miss Delaney. You've given me a lot to think about."

"You're welcome, Miss Drew. Ciao!"

"Goodbye."

Nancy hung up and stared at the notes she had furiously scrawled all over the notepad around Lisa's number. Who would be more upset to learn the others never believed in the pledge: a young man aspiring to the priesthood or a young woman confused about her sexuality?

But it all came back to how Darren had died. Who was with him that night?

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

If Fenton was upset about missing group that night, he didn't show it. He listened just as intently as Sheriff Becker as Frank went over what he and Nancy Drew had learned in the last three days.

Tom Becker was taking neat notes as Frank spoke, but he didn't say a thing until Frank was finished.

"I always knew you had good instincts, Frank," Tom said approvingly. "And Chief Jones is making a mistake not taking advantage of Nancy's eye for detail. There's enough here to at least warrant picking those two up for questioning. They may not be guilty, but maybe they can point us at the one who is."

"That's why I decided we had to talk to you, Sheriff," Frank said. "If I'm wrong, it's just a few hours out of their lives. But if I'm right…"

"Maybe you'll have saved their lives." Tom closed his notebook with a snap and tucked it away in his pocket. "I have to get all this to Chief Jones. We should probably pick Brown up first thing in the morning. Thanks for dinner, boys." He stood up, but then paused with a thoughtful look on his face. "I know Chief Jones won't approve, but I'd like to take you boys along when we interview Kevin Brown. Since you've been in on this from the beginning, maybe something he says will ring a bell with you. I'll have Nancy Drew invited as well."

"Thanks, Sheriff!" Frank exclaimed. "I really appreciate that."

"Great." Tom held out his hand and Frank clasped it in a firm handshake. Tom shook hands with Joe, too, before turning to Fenton. "I'll pick you and the boys up first thing tomorrow."

"Ok, see you then."

After seeing Tom to the door, Fenton returned to the kitchen to stare at his sons with a stern expression. "I thought I said no investigating on your own."

Frank grinned. "You know me, Dad," he said with a shrug. "You knew I wouldn't leave it alone."

Fenton smiled wryly. "Well, I had hoped…" Then he shrugged too. "But, what's done is done, and if it solves the case, so much the better." He glanced at his watch and sighed. "Too late for group tonight," he said regretfully. "Why don't I clean up for a change? You boys go relax."

"Thanks, Dad."

Outside the kitchen, Frank spoke quietly to Joe. "I want to give Nancy a call and let her know what's going on."

"Good idea." Then Joe grinned. "Did you notice? Dad didn't say a thing about me missing school tomorrow."

"Yeah, I noticed." Frank smiled back. "Don't let me forget to call the school and report you absent tomorrow morning. I don't want your absence marked as unexcused."

Joe laughed. "You're worse than Mom!"

"Well, someone's got to make sure you graduate. We're supposed to go to college together next year, remember?" He put his arm around Joe's shoulders. ""I already have a lead on an apartment that will be available near campus."

Joe smiled dreamily. "Living all alone with my big brother: what could possibly be better than that? And if that's not motivation enough to graduate, I don't know what is."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Despite Frank's call the night before, Nancy was still a little flabbergasted when Chief Jones himself called Friday morning to invite her to Kevin Brown's interrogation. He didn't sound all that happy about it, but he still called and Nancy was delighted.

"We'll be picking him up at ten," Chief Jones said in a sour voice. "So if you come by around ten-thirty, we should be done processing him."

"I think I should come over earlier so we can talk, Chief," Nancy replied, trying to sound cool and professional. "I talked to another one of their friends last night and I have a little more information that might be helpful during the interview."

"Oh, really?" He sounded even more sour. "Very well, I'll try to make time for you while we're checking him in."

'Thanks, Chief. I'll see you shortly." Nancy hung up with a smile. She hadn't been able to witness a police interview since Chief Henderson retired. It was starting to feel more like old times. She quickly changed into a conservative gray pantsuit and put her hair up. She transferred her wallet, phone and a few other items from her purse to a small briefcase. Examining herself in the mirror, Nancy couldn't help grinning. I even look like a cop!

She left at once for the police station.

Nancy arrived at the station just after nine and had to wait for over an hour before Kevin was brought in. He looked pale and shaken, but he offered no resistance as he was escorted to a seat in the squad room. He sat slumped in the chair with his head in his hands, giving the officer his name, address and other personal information in a whispered monotone.

Chief Jones beckoned to Nancy from the door of his office and waited for her, holding the door open.

"Have a seat, Miss Drew." He closed the door behind her. "We have time to talk after all, because I want to wait for Sheriff Becker, from Bay Port."

"Thank you, Chief." Nancy sat down and crossed her legs. "May I ask how the arrest went?"

"We didn't arrest him; we just brought him in for questioning." Chief Jones frowned as he settled behind his desk. "But I was tempted. He acted mighty damned guilty. When we told him he needed to come to the station for a couple of hours, he freaked out. Kept insisting he couldn't leave his grandmother alone. He wouldn't cooperate until we got a nurse to come over from the hospital to stay with her. He came along quiet enough then. But he looks like he's ready to confess to something." The chief leaned back in his chair. "Now why don't you tell me what else you know?"

It was a loaded question, but Nancy resisted temptation. She told Chief Jones about her conversation with Lisa Delaney. She wondered if he would pick up on as many things as Frank had when she'd told him.

He didn't.

Fortunately, Sheriff Becker and the Hardys arrived as she was finishing, so they all went down to the interview room and she did not have to point out all the pertinent facts that the chief seemed to have missed.

"You may all watch the interrogation from the observation room," Chief Jones said. "I'll be conducting the interview alone, but I'll have an earphone, so if you have something you want to ask, just tell Officer Burton here."

Officer Burton, an efficient-looking young man, was manning the recording equipment, which was operated from outside the interview room for the protection of both the citizen and the officer.

Chief Jones went into the interview room.

Kevin, already seated inside, looked like he might faint.

"First of all, Mr. Brown, I want to re-emphasize that you are not under arrest. We just want to ask you a few questions about some former acquaintances of yours."

"It's about Darren, isn't it?" Kevin blurted out immediately. "I know it is, because that girl already talked to me!" He began to weep uncontrollably. "I didn't do it! I swear I didn't!"

Chief Jones frowned. "Mr. Brown, when did you last see Darren Bolton?"

"It was that night!" Kevin gasped. "The night he died! Oh, god! But it wasn't me!" He collapsed onto the table, sobbing hysterically.

"Please, Mr. Brown, control yourself!" Chief Jones looked exasperated. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"I can't!" Kevin wailed. "It's… I… oh, god help me!" His face alternately flushed and paled.

Sudden realization struck Nancy and she turned to stare at Frank. She saw from his expression that he was thinking the same thing. "Officer Burton, please ask Chief Jones if I can conduct the rest of the interview."

He stared at her in surprise.

"Please!" Nancy said urgently. "He's not going to talk to another man, but he might tell me. Please!"

Officer Burton looked doubtful, but he spoke into the intercom. "Miss Drew wants to know if she can take over."

Chief Jones shook his head and continued to press Kevin, who just sank further down into the chair, sobbing.

Nancy nudged Officer Burton and he spoke again. "She's pretty insistent, Chief. She says he's not going to talk to a man."

That got Chief Jones' attention. He stared at the observation window in surprise and then stood up. "Excuse me, Mr. Brown."

Nancy immediately bolted for the door and met him in the hall outside.

"Just what the hell do you mean by that, Miss Drew?" he demanded angrily.

"Do you want to know what happened that night or not?" Nancy demanded in return.

He glared at her for a long moment and then nodded sharply. "But if you violate his rights, you'll spend the night in jail."

Nancy didn't dignify that with a response. She entered the interview room.

"Kevin, do you remember me? I'm Nancy Drew."

Kevin looked up at the sound of her voice. He made an effort to pull himself together, wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand.

"I'm sorry, Miss Drew. This is very stressful."

"I know." She sat down opposite him. "When did you first meet Darren again?"

"The day after I returned to River Heights. I was walking home from the grocery store when he drove by."

Nancy pushed a box of tissues toward him. He took one and wiped his nose.

"He invited me to dinner." Kevin continued in a quiet voice. "To catch up, he said. My grandmother still needed a full time nurse then, and one was staying with us at that time, so I agreed." He fell silent.

Nancy watched his face. "What happened?" she asked gently, even though she was quite certain she already knew.

Kevin began to weep again, but softly this time. "He seduced me," he whispered. "I think he drugged me, because I couldn't… I didn't… stop him. I let him…" Tears streamed down his cheeks. "I've never done anything like that before. Not ever."

Nancy reached out and patted his hand gently. "I know. What happened then?"

"I passed out. When I woke up, he was talking on the phone. When he saw me move, he held the phone out and said 'Here, talk to Kim. She doesn't believe you're in bed with me.' I just started screaming at him. How could you do this to me?! How could you tell someone?! Stuff like that. I grabbed my clothes and ran out." Kevin looked up at her. His eyes looked bruised. "He followed me and stopped me before I could leave. He said he was sorry and that he did it to hurt Kim, not me. He said…" Kevin fell silent again, staring at the table in front of him.

"What did he say?" Nancy asked quietly.

Kevin didn't look up. "He said Tonya made up the pledge just to make a fool of Kim because Kim had tried to kiss her once and that he and Julie and Lisa all knew. He told me he had sex with Tonya once during our junior year, almost a year before she came up with the pledge." Kevin stared at Nancy in dismay. "She wasn't even a virgin! None of them were; just me and Kim. And they were laughing at Kim the whole time."

Nancy leaned forward intently. "Did he hang up the phone when he came after you?"

Kevin looked startled. "I don't know. He was holding it while we were talking." He stared at her. "Do you think Kim overheard us? Overheard what he said about her?"

Nancy nodded slowly. "Why did Darren hate her enough to want to hurt her like that?"

Kevin stared down at the damp, crushed tissue in his hand. "Because she told him, a long time ago, that I was in love with her and that she did it with me after graduation."

"Why would she tell him that?"

Fresh tears slid down Kevin's cheeks. "He told me… right before graduation, she asked him to be her first. He told her he wasn't interested because he wanted to be with me and she should go fuck another girl anyway because she was gayer than he was."

"Why did he believe what she said about you?"

"She described my… my genitals… to him," Kevin answered faintly. "I don't know how she would have seen me, but he had seen me in the locker room. So he half-way believed her and hated her for it. But I think that's why he never told me he was gay."

Nancy glanced at the observation window. She wondered if this was making as much sense to Frank as it was to her. Probably. "Did you tell him it wasn't true?"

"Yes. And then I asked him why he… why he seduced me. He said it was because he'd always wanted to and even if it turned out I hadn't done it with Kim, he didn't think I would still be a virgin after all this time."

The crushed, wounded look on Kevin's face almost brought tears to Nancy's eyes. She reached out and folded her hands around his. "Thank you for telling me all this, Kevin. Was Darren alive when you left?"

"Yes," he whispered.

Nancy looked back up at the observation window. A moment later, the door opened and Chief Jones stepped in.

"Thank you, Miss Drew," he said gravely. "Mr. Brown, you're free to go, but please don't leave town. I will have you under surveillance, for your own protection, until Kimberly Watson is arrested."

Kevin nodded mutely.

"I'll have an officer drive you home. Miss Drew, may I have a word with you?"

Nancy followed Chief Jones out into the hall and back into the crowded observation room. He turned to her with an expression of grudging admiration.

"You knew Darren had sex with him," Chief Jones stated.

Nancy nodded. "I suspected it. Frank and I always believed Darren had sex with someone that night, but we initially believed it was the killer."

"Well, I have an APB out on Kim Watson," the chief said. "We'll find her. Thank you for all your help, Miss Drew." He shook her hand. "Sheriff, if you and Mr. Hardy would come with me, there are a few more things I'd like to discuss."

The three of them left. Nancy, Joe and Frank followed them out into the hall and watched as a policeman escorted Kevin away.

"Well," Joe said finally. "That was mighty interesting."

"You did a good job drawing him out, Nancy," Frank added.

"Thanks!" Nancy smiled. "But I think it's time to make myself scarce. I don't want to wear out my welcome with Chief Jones! Want to have lunch?"

"Sure! I'm starved!" Joe replied immediately.

"Great! I'll drive," Nancy said and led the way out of the police station.