Pageant Perfect Crime (Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series #30)

1 DETHRONED Did you miss me?" Ned asked with a grin as he helped me out of my hybrid car. It was a bright sunny day, and I was meeting him at the River Heights University student center after having lunch with him just hours before. "Oh, terribly," I replied with a smile. "So tell me about this classmate of yours who needs my help." "Right," said Ned, taking my hand as we walked through the parking lot to the food court entrance. "Her name is Portia Leoni, and she's in my psych class. After our lecture today, she asked to see my notes, and we got to talking. It turns out she's really struggling to pay tuition, because of something that happened to her a few months ago." I nodded as Ned opened the door for me and we stepped inside. "Something that sounds kind of fishy, you said." "More than fishy," Ned countered as we walked into the seating area. "It sounded like Portia could use the services of the one, the only..." Suddenly a pretty, petite brunette stood up from her table and started waving at us. "Are you her?" she called to me as we started over. "Are you Nancy Drew?" I smiled. I do a lot of snooping around, sure, but I didn't know I was famous at the university. "I sure am." The girl's face erupted into the hugest, whitest smile I'd ever seen. "I'm Portia," she said. "Oh my God, Nancy, I'm so glad you came. When Ned told me he had a friend who investigates things...I was, like, 'This could be it,' you know? You could be the answer to all my problems!" I glanced over at Ned: What had hetoldthis girl? Still, it was pretty flattering. "Um," Ned interrupted as I sat down at the table. "You two get started, but can I get anyone anything? Personally, I could use a cappuccino." "Oooh, me too," I said. Portia bit her lip. "Oooh, Neddie, that's so nice of you. But those have, like, four hundred calories. Can you just get me a Diet Coke?" she asked, reaching over to touch his arm. Ned quickly backed away. "No problem. Two cappuccinos, one Diet Coke." As he walked over to the coffee stand, I realized what Portia had said:a friendwho investigates things? I was sure Ned would have mentioned my being his girlfriend. He's about the most solid, stand-up guy you could imagine. "Anyway," Portia was saying, turning back to me. She had gorgeous dark eyes, done up in a kaleidoscope of eye shadow, that seemed to latch on to mine when she spoke. "I'm sure Ned told you I lost my scholarship." "He said you were having trouble paying for tuition," I replied. "Right. Well, the reason for that is I lost my scholarship. And the reason for that is..." She paused, looking almost disappointed. "Do you not recognize me at all? Really?" I shook my head. "Well." Portia sat up straight and sighed a little. "The fact is, I was involved in a local scandal. You've heard of the Miss Pretty Face pageant?" I shook my head again, but Portia still looked confused. "I don't really follow pageants," I clarified. Portia took a good look at me, then pursed her lips and nodded, like it made sense. I wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or not. "Well," she said, "I won it. I was Miss Pretty Face last year." "Oh." Right then, Ned came back with our cappuccinos and Portia's Diet Coke. I dove into mine, getting whipped cream on the tip of my nose. Ned laughed and flicked it off with a napkin. Portia didn't look amused. "So you lost your scholarship when your reign ended?" I asked, trying to get back on track. "No." Portia leaned over so her eyes bore right into mine. "I wasrelievedof my reign. I was dethroned. And I lost all my winnings, including the scholarship." "Wow," I breathed, glancing over at Ned. "That's terrible. But why were you -- " "I was set up," Portia broke in before I could finish. "I was dethroned for shoplifting. But I was set up!" She smiled a little rueful smile. "I've never shoplifted in my life." "So how -- ," I began. "I got a call one morninKeene, Carolyn is the author of 'Pageant Perfect Crime (Nancy Drew Girl Detective Series #30)' with ISBN 9781416955283 and ISBN 1416955283.