Sweet Revenge by Carolyn Keene

charming,” said Brock, chuckling. “I can’t wait to meet him. But I don’t think I have met him yet. Never even heard of him. And I certainly have no idea why he’d want to kill me.”
    â€œWell, thanks for your help. We’re glad you’re better, at least,” said Nancy, straightening up. She’d been hoping to come up with more leads, but Brock hadn’t added much to what they already knew. “Did you eat or drink anything unusual the night you were poisoned? The chocolates came up clean, you know, so you must have taken the poison in some other food.”
    â€œI can’t really think of anything,” Brock said, shaking his head. “I had exactly what Sam had. In fact, she brought me my plate of food from the buffet line. I was afraid that I’d pig out if I went up there myself.”
    Nancy, Bess, and George exchanged a quick glance. What Brock had just told them was more important than he realized. If Samantha was the last person to handle Brock’s food before he ate it, the finger of suspicion pointed very strongly in her direction now.
    But Nancy didn’t think she should mention this detail aloud—not until she had more to go on, at least. There was no point in upsetting Brock unnecessarily. “Thanks again for your help” was all she said.
    â€œAnd we’ll come to see you again very soon,” Bess added eagerly.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    â€œThis case is turning out to be tricky,” said Nancy as she and her friends walked out to the parking lot. “I haven’t been able to narrow down our list of suspects at all.”
    â€œYou’ve never blown a case yet, Nancy,” George reminded her. “I’m sure you’ll turn up something. You always do.”
    â€œWell, I wish I knew where to turn next,” Nancy said, half to herself. The three girls had almost reached the row where Nancy’s Mustang was parked. “It all seems so—”
    Nancy stopped in her tracks. “Look!” she gasped, pointing across the parking lot. “There’s Dan Avery!”
    He was just unlocking a car door.
    â€œWe’ve got to catch him!” Nancy cried. She and George took off across the lot at the same time.
    â€œThis time, he’s not going to get away!”

Chapter

Eleven
    A T THE SOUND of Nancy’s voice, Dan Avery dropped his keys and bolted. This time, though, Nancy had started running before he had—and it was two against one. While Nancy was making a beeline for Avery, George dashed around the other side of the parking lot to head him off. It took only a couple of minutes before they had him trapped.
    For a minute it looked as if Avery was going to fight. But while aiming a totally ineffectual punch at Nancy, he slipped and fell flat on his back, and lay there panting from the exertion.
    â€œHelp me hold him, George,” Nancy gasped, struggling to pin Avery’s feet down.
    Bess had just caught up to them. “I’ll get his arm,” she called, panting.
    In a few seconds the three girls had Avery totally immobilized.
    â€œAnd now,” Nancy said, “now you’re going to tell us what’s going on.”
    â€œNo way,” said Dan Avery sullenly. “I’m not wasting my time explaining myself to a bunch of hysterical teenage girls. Let me up or I’ll report you to the police.”
    â€œThe police know about you already,” said Nancy grimly. “The officer guarding Brock is on the lookout for you right now.” It wasn’t exactly true, but Avery wasn’t in much of a position to question her. “So you might as well talk to us.”
    Glaring at her, Avery said defiantly, “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m just doing my job. And you’ll be sorry if you get in the way.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” asked Bess incredulously. “Murdering people is your job?”
    â€œMurdering