"At least my car's still in one piece," Bess said cheerfully . "Not to mention you ."

"Thanks ." Nancy grinned . The two friends were sitting in Nancy's kitchen, sharing a late afternoon snack . "Sorry to break the bad news about Tom ."

"It's okay," Bess said, making a sour face . "Actually, I'd been hoping he'd call to ask me out again . Now I won't wait around for the phone to ring ."

"I kind of like Philip, too," Nancy admitted .

"Mmmm ---- well, he's truly awesome," Bess said, rolling her eyes . " "I don't know how you can keep your mind on investigating him . Those eyes of his are totally distracting ."

"Totally," Nancy agreed . "Actually, I've been feeling kind of guilty . I keep thinking about Ned ----"

"Aw, Nan, give it up," Bess said . "Ned would understand ---- Philip's a suspect, right ?"

"A very cute suspect, Bess ."

"All right, so he's irresistible . Leaving that aside, do you really think he tried to kill Nila,"

"I'm not sure anybody tried to kill Nila," Nancy replied . "It looks as if she set the whole thing up herself to get the others in trouble with Pierce . But I can't be sure . Something about that cranberry juice still bothers me . I can't put my finger on what it is . But there's no doubt that someone tried to kill me this morning . And I'm not about to let whoever it was get away with it ---- even if it means nailing the cutest guy in the whole world ."

Just then the phone rang . Nancy picked it up and said hello to Charles Pierce . He was inviting her to dinner that night .

"I've spoken to Bishop, and the new will's drawn up," he told her with a note of satisfaction in his voice . "He's bringing it over here this evening for me to look over before signing . The only trouble is, I need two witnesses . I can't use the family, of course . Nor the staff . I've left each of them a little something, and no one who's a beneficiary of a will can be a witness ."

"Gee, Mr. Pierce," Nancy said uncomfortably . "Are you sure you ---- You said you'd wait twenty-four hours before signing it ."

"I've changed my mind," he declared . "And don't try to talk me out of it . My family has made their own bad luck, and now they're going to have learn to live with it . It'll be good for them ---- teach them to make their own way in the world . After all, I did, and it didn't do me any harm . At any rate, that's why I'm inviting you ---- so you can...