The Stolen Kiss by Carolyn Keene Page A

a rope this morning,” the clerk announced, returning to the line several minutes later, “but that’s the only one in the last month.”
    â€œA credit purchase or cash?” Nancy asked, curious even though it had been bought after the break-in.
    â€œIt was a cash purchase.”
    â€œCan you describe the buyer?” Nancy asked. “I wasn’t working this morning—Randy was. But he’s off now. He’ll be here tomorrow morning, if you want to check with him then.”
    Nancy felt exasperated. Every lead seemed to put her on hold. The campus clock’s gonging made her realize she had to get back to the Theta Pi house soon to meet George. As she threaded her way across campus toward Greek Row, she reasoned that the rope that had been purchased earlier that day could be connected to the theft if the thief had needed to replace the stolen rope.
    As she approached the Theta Pi house, she saw Brook, Chris, and Rosie seated under the massive oak tree in the front yard.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Nancy asked, joining the group. Brook pointed at the roof and Nancy saw the sorority house cat crouched above one of the eaves, looking terrified.
    â€œHow’d Kabuki get up there?” Nancy asked.
    Chris shrugged. “The real question is, how will she get down?”
    â€œRina, that’s how,” said Rosie, motioning toward the big tree. Nancy peered up through the branches. Rina’s red braid bobbed as she shimmied up the tree and out along a thick limb that hung out over the roof. “It’s okay, Buki,” Rina called softly to the cat.
    Rina finally reached the roof. Stretching out, she grabbed the cat and pulled her in close to her chest. Rina backed off the thick branch, then climbed down the trunk. Reaching the ground, she kissed the cat’s nose, then passed Kabuki to Brook.
    â€œShe’s scared.” Rina picked up her knapsack and portfolio off the grass. Tossing her braid over her shoulder, she headed for her car.
    â€œThanks, Rina,” Brook called.
    Rina waved her hand but didn’t look back.
    Nancy had watched the scene, fascinated. She hadn’t considered Rina a suspect in the museum robbery. But why not? Rina needed money, she obviously was very agile, and if she was Bryan’s old girlfriend, she probably knew all about climbing ropes—and the timing of his rounds at the museum. She had to be a suspect. Then Nancy remembered—Rosie said that she and Rina had been ushering the night before. But was ushering a foolproof alibi? Nancy needed to find out.
    â€œRina looked good up there,” Nancy said to Brook as the girls headed inside the house. “Is she into climbing like Bryan?”
    â€œNot that I know of. Art is her thing.”
    While Brook headed to the kitchen to get Kabuki some food, Nancy scanned the call board m the back hall, hoping there would be a message from Ned. A lump lodged in her throat as she ran her eyes down the board a second time. There were several folded message slips for Debbie, but nothing for her.
    In the living room Nancy curled up on a couch, a hollow feeling in her chest. Maybe this time their fight was too serious to be made up.
    Her eyes strayed to an overstuffed chair across the room. It was heaped with glittery antique flapper dresses. Nancy had forgotten about that night’s Omega Chi dance.
    Chris collapsed on the couch next to Nancy. “Aren’t those dresses great?” she said. “My grandmother sent me a box of them. They belonged to her mother, my great-grandmother. She was a singer in a jazz club in Harlem in the twenties, and she had all these costumes stored in the attic. I know you’ve already got a dress,” she said to Nancy, “but if anybody else needs a dress for tonight, I’ve got a bunch.”
    â€œThey’re fantastic,” Brook said, walking into the room. She held a silver-beaded chemise up to her shoulders and studied