Power of Suggestion Read Online Free Page B

color that had risen to his cheeks.
    Ned took a step toward the policeman. “You’ve got the wrong suspect,” he said heatedly.
    â€œThat’s for a court to decide,” Easterling told him.
    â€œCan we at least have a few minutes to speak to Parker?” Ned pressed.
    The lieutenant’s gaze went from Ned to Nancyto Bess. “Yeah, but make it short,” he finally said.
    Ned put his arm around his friend’s shoulders and led him to the bench where Nancy and Bess were sitting. “How are you doing, buddy?” Ned asked.
    Parker no longer was the same happy-go-lucky guy Nancy and Bess had met just that afternoon. His face looked haggard, and his gaze darted around nervously.
    â€œI—I guess I’m okay,” Parker finally answered. “They let me make some calls. I tried to reach my parents, but they’re out of town—out of the country, actually. They’re in South America, rafting down the Amazon or something like that. I was home just last weekend, but I totally forgot about the trip until our housekeeper reminded me.”
    â€œThere’s no way to reach them?” Nancy asked, studying Parker. He still didn’t seem quite right to her. She had seen many crime suspects, and usually they had strong reactions to being accused. But Parker seemed only depressed and puzzled.
    Parker shook his head in answer to her question. “Not right away. The housekeeper promised to keep trying. Maybe it’s better this way. How can I ask them to bail me out? I feel so ashamed.”
    â€œBut you haven’t done anything,” Bess put in emphatically. “This is all a huge misunderstanding!”
    â€œThat’s right,” Ned agreed. “Besides, bail isn’t something you need to worry about. You’re an Omega Chi brother now.”
    Parker raised a questioning brow. “How’s that going to help me?”
    â€œHey, maybe bail wasn’t on anyone’s mind when the Omega Chi emergency fund was started, but I’m sure the brothers will agree that this is a real emergency.”
    Easterling had been waiting impatiently a few feet away. Now he came over and said, “Sorry, kids. Time’s up.”
    â€œLieutenant, can’t we bail Parker out tonight?” Ned asked.
    The lieutenant shook his head. “You’ll have to wait until the arraignment tomorrow morning. I’m afraid Parker’s a guest in our motel tonight.”
    Parker borrowed a pen and a piece of paper from Lieutenant Easterling and wrote down a name, then handed the paper to Ned. “This is my father’s attorney. I wasn’t able to reach him, either. I left a message on his answering machine, but I’d appreciate it if you’d call him, too.”
    Ned promised he would. Nancy gave him an encouraging smile, while Bess kissed him on the cheek. “We’ll see you in the morning,” Bess promised. Then Easterling led Parker down the hall.
    A police officer drove Nancy, Ned, and Bess back to the Emerson campus, letting them off at Packard Hall. During the ride, Nancy sat silently,going over Wayne’s murder and Parker’s arrest in her mind.
    â€œHey, Nan, you’ve been very quiet since we left police headquarters,” Ned said, pausing outside the dormitory.
    Nancy took a deep breath. “I know you both like Parker a lot,” she began cautiously, “but so far all the evidence points to him as Wayne’s murderer. He was the only one in the lab, his prints are on the gun, and he doesn’t have an alibi.”
    â€œThen the evidence is wrong!” Bess declared.
    â€œBess is right,” Ned added. “Parker wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
    Nancy hoped her friends were right. But she couldn’t rid her mind of the doubts about Parker’s innocence.
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    â€œI’m so glad Parker is free again!” Bess exclaimed as she, Nancy, and Ned left the Emersonville