The Wrong Chemistry (10 page)

Maszak stared at Nancy. “Yes, Ms. Drew?”

“Professor Maszak,” Nancy began boldly, “I have some questions, and I think you're the only one with the answers.”

Maszak stepped back. “Please come in.”

Nancy walked into a dim living room and sat in the chair he indicated. Maszak made no move to sit. Instead, he stood between her and the door.

“Well?”

Nancy took a deep breath. “Suppose we start with Jamison College,” she said. “And the mysterious growth of that bacteria.”

At Nancy's question, Maszak's face turned a deathly shade of white. Then he lunged for her, his hands outstretched. Maszak was going to strangle Nancy!

N
ANCY PUT HER HANDS UP
to protect herself. Maszak must have realized what he was about to do, because he pulled back, then threw himself into a chair facing her. He stared at Nancy in stunned surprise.

“The Jamison experiment—how did you find out?”

“I
am
a detective,” Nancy said wryly.

As Nancy watched, Maszak's expression had changed from defiant anger to helpless defeat. He slumped deeper in his chair, and all his usual bluster faded. The professor looked drawn, even sickly.

“It was a brilliant discovery. And I couldn't pass up experiments with CLT. Yes, some of the CLT had come in contact with the bacteria and produced the abnormal growth. I've been terrified someone here would find out. Then you walked into my office, and I knew you were going to be trouble. I knew you'd uncover the theft.”

“That's what I came here for,” Nancy said.

Maszak shook his head impatiently. “No, not
this
theft. I mean the theft at Jamison.”

The theft at Jamison? Nancy hid her confusion. “Well, the Jamison newspapers put two and two together for me,” she bluffed.

“Ah, yes. Of course,” the professor said sadly.

“Maybe you'd better start at the beginning,” Nancy suggested, trying to sound as if she knew what Maszak was talking about.

Maszak nodded. “I came to America because of my wife's illness,” he began. “It was very difficult to get all the necessary permission to teach here. Finally, because of my specialty, we were approved.

“We spent two and a half happy years at Jamison. Linda, my wife, was being treated successfully at the hospital. And I loved teaching.”

“That wasn't the first time you began working with growth hormones, was it?” Nancy guessed.

“No, I worked with them in Hungary. It was
the first time I'd had such success, however. And then, just as things were ready to take off, someone stole the CLT.”

“But no one ever knew what happened at Jamison,” Nancy said, frowning. “Not even Dean Jarvis here at Emerson.”

“No, he knew nothing.” Maszak sighed. “It was terrible. I walked into my lab at Jamison one morning and the place was a shambles. Whoever broke in had torn the lab apart. The department head wanted to keep it quiet, though he requested a thorough list of everything that was stolen. Of course, I omitted the loss of the CLT.”

“But if you didn't take it, why would you cover up the theft?” Nancy asked. “You might have stopped the thief then.”

“I thought I would lose my job,” the professor said miserably. “I was afraid because of my mistake with the bacteria that people would think I was extremely careless to have the CLT stolen, too. I couldn't afford to take the risk.”

“No one would have blamed you for something beyond your control,” Nancy assured him.

“Maybe, maybe not.” Maszak shrugged. “I'm not used to your freedom here. I couldn't take the chance.” He fell silent.

Nancy waited for him to continue. “Is that why you left Jamison?” she prompted.

“Yes. When Emerson applied for a visiting scientist, I asked to come here. But the thefts followed me.”

Nancy was almost convinced that Maszak was telling the truth. Why would he risk his whole career and livelihood by stealing the CLT? Still, there was one thing that nagged at her. Nancy hesitated: “Professor, can you explain the argument I overheard you having yesterday on the pay phone?”

The professor reddened. “I was talking to the accountant at the hospital. Emerson hasn't sent the papers for us to be reimbursed by our health insurance yet. I owe a lot of money to the hospital still, but I don't think I should have to pay it with my money when my insurance covers it. The hospital will be paid eventually, but they want their money now. It's a mess.”

Maszak could be accused of poor judgment, Nancy thought, but he didn't have to steal the CLT for money. He had insurance.

Nancy looked at Maszak, rumpled and slumped in his chair. She needed more information. Something still didn't make sense.

“Tell me, professor, how did you get involved with Bangs' group?” she asked innocently.

“Bangs' group? What group?” The professor looked genuinely blank.

“I mean POE,” Nancy said slowly. “Philip Bangs was at Jamison at the same time the
bacteria was discovered growing abnormally and the CLT was stolen. I don't think it's coincidence that he's here now, at the same time as the Emerson thefts.”

Professor Maszak gave Nancy a startled look. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Nancy replied patiently, “that Bangs is known for fighting technology that threatens the environment. He might feel the CLT threatens the future safety of animals. He might be after you to try to prevent you from continuing your experiments.”

Maszak stared at her, and then a smile began to spread across his face. He was actually laughing!

“Ms. Drew,” he said when he had gotten ahold of himself, “CLT doesn't harm the animals. It is only used to stimulate growth in cells. That's all.”

Nancy was determined. “Professor, someone has tried very hard to get rid of me. There must be more to CLT than even you are aware of. Would you come with me to the lab? Maybe you'll see something I've missed.”

Maszak gladly accompanied Nancy to the science building. Together, they combed the lab, though neither Maszak nor Nancy was sure what to look for.

“Look for anything that seems out of place,” Nancy advised the professor as she stood in the
walk-in freezer. “Or anything you've never seen before.”

She scanned the third shelf from the bottom, where the CLT containers had been kept. She spotted a short, curly black hair frozen onto a shelf. Carefully, she chipped it off.

“I might take this to the police to be analyzed,” she murmured. “Though it could belong to anyone—a student, a janitor, someone who had never even entered the lab.”

“It is good to be thorough,” the professor agreed.

“Do you have an envelope?” Nancy asked.

“An envelope? I must have an envelope somewhere.” The professor looked around him helplessly. “I never realized I had so many papers.”

“Here, let me look,” Nancy offered. She began rummaging through his drawers.

They were crammed with test papers, lab books, copies of scientific articles. Nancy smiled to herself.

As she opened another drawer, Nancy noticed a piece of Maszak's stationery lying right on the top where it couldn't be missed. She picked it up by one corner. She was positive it hadn't been there before. In the center of the page, an address in Caracas, Venezuela, and three numbers had been neatly typed.

“Professor Maszak,” Nancy asked, looking up, “what's this?”

Maszak looked at the paper in her hand. “I don't know,” he answered. “I'm sure I've never seen it before.”

Nancy looked at him questioningly. A man as messy as the professor couldn't really be trusted to remember which papers were his.

“No, I'm sure I've never seen it,” Maszak said. He stared at the paper. “That is a date,” he went on, “written European style, day first, month second.” He frowned. “It's tomorrow's date. Why would someone put that in my drawer?”

Nancy looked at him thoughtfully. “It's my guess, professor, that the paper was planted by the thief.”

“But why?” Maszak looked thoroughly puzzled.

“We don't know that yet,” Nancy told him. “But if something were to happen tomorrow, maybe something dangerous or illegal, and this paper was found in your desk, it might be enough evidence to incriminate you.”

Maszak shook his head impatiently. “I don't understand what you're saying.”

Nancy grinned. “You can't frame someone with false information,” she explained. “We have to assume this address has some real
meaning. Now all we have to do is find out what that is—before tomorrow.”

Maszak rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I'll be ruined. No one will ever hire me again.”

Nancy placed a reassuring hand on Maszak's shoulder. “I don't know exactly how yet,” she said, “but I'm convinced I can solve this whole puzzle.”

She checked her watch. It was already midafternoon. “I've got to hurry, but don't worry,” she told him. “I won't let anyone ruin your career.”

Nancy left Maszak in his lab and hurried back to her dorm to pick up her car. Then she sped to Omega Chi to find Ned. Mike, Jan, and Amber Thomas were in the living room.

Jan and Amber sprang up as soon as they saw Nancy. “Thank goodness,” Jan cried. “Ned called, and we didn't know how to reach you.”

Mike struggled to stand up with his cane. “He said he was going to go over there,” Mike said excitedly. “To POE headquarters. He thinks he's going to find Angela and bring her back.”

“Is he there now?” Nancy asked.

“I'm not sure,” Mike admitted. “He could be there, or he might still be at basketball practice . . .” His voice trailed off. “Do you think I should go over there to see what's up?” he asked Nancy.

Nancy made a quick decision. “I have something
to do first,” she said, trying to soothe him. “If Ned already went to see Angela, he would have come right back. And besides, we don't know if he went there yet.”

“I could find him,” Mike suggested.

Walking with his cane, Nancy thought, Mike would be more of a problem than a help.

Her thoughts must have showed, for Mike suddenly looked embarrassed. “Just say the word, Nancy, and I'll do anything. If my best friend's in trouble, I'll help any way I can.”

“You can help right now. I need directions to the police station in town,” Nancy said.

Amber jumped up. “I know where it is. I have a friend who works there. Why don't Jan and I go with you?”

“Great,” Nancy said enthusiastically. “And Mike, you wait here for Ned.”

The three girls piled into the car and headed for town. Nancy was forcing herself not to worry about Ned. The information she needed now was crucial. Oh, Ned, she thought sadly, why couldn't you have waited until tomorrow to go to POE headquarters?

If Nancy's instincts were right, POE could be very dangerous. Even fatal.

A
S THEY SPED TOWARD TOWN
, Nancy tried to focus on the task ahead. The key to the mystery could be that address in Caracas. When she found out what it meant she would have the last answer to her questions. And the police had a computer that could give her that information.

The police station was a sprawling stone building in the center of Emersonville. Nancy parked and the three girls climbed the long low steps and hurried into the bustling receiving room.

Nancy racked her brain for some way to get access to the computer without giving away the
case. At that moment, a handsome young sergeant with black hair strolled through the area.

“Joe!” Amber gave him a quick hug before turning to Nancy and Jan.

“This is Joe Ross,” she said. “He'll help you, Nancy.”

Joe flashed them a dazzling smile and ushered them down the hall. He was
very
handsome, Nancy decided. She glanced at Amber and saw the soft look in her lovely eyes. Clearly, Joe Ross was more than just a friend.