“Coach cut him this season because he’s got a low grade-point average. Now he’s bitter. He swears Coach cut him for personal reasons.”

“Sounds like he really hates the team.”

“That’s the understatement of the semester!” Ned agreed grimly. “He won’t even come to our games to cheer us on!”

The group gradually drifted apart. As it did, Nancy remembered what she had said to Ned earlier about having only one suspect. Well, scratch that, she thought. Now I have two!

The party wore on, growing louder and wilder by the minute. Nancy met many more of Ned’s friends, including Mike’s girlfriend, Jan Teller. Finally, around midnight, she went to the refreshment table to pour herself a soda. Bess was there, too, taking a break.

“Having fun?” Nancy asked.

“Believe it!” Bess smiled. “They really know how to party here.”

“Did I see you dancing with Craig Watson a little while ago?”

Bess’s eyes grew misty. “Yes. He’s a great guy. Soooo cute! And such a sharp dresser, too . . . did you notice?”

Nancy hadn’t. Glancing across the room, she saw Craig talking to Ned. In his loose-fitting gray wool shirt, pleated flannel trousers, and Gucci loafers, he indeed looked sharp. He could have posed for a layout in a fashion magazine.

“Matter of fact, a lot of these basketball guys have style,” Bess went on.

“Really? Who else?”

“Mike and Andy, see?”

The two players were talking together at the other end of the table. Both were dressed very well, Nancy realized. Andy wore an Italian-cut silk suit, and a gold watch flashed on Mike’s wrist.

She frowned. “That’s odd . . . didn’t I read in the game program that Craig, Andy, and Mike are scholarship students?”

“Did you? I don’t know.”

“Hmmm . . . I’ll have to check it out when we get back to our room.”

A second later, though, Nancy forgot all about that idea. The disk jockey put on a favorite song of Ned’s, and suddenly she wanted to dance. Setting down her drink, she crossed the room and pulled her boyfriend onto the dance floor.