Carolyn Keene - A Capitol Crime

Nancy Drew Diaries

A Capitol Crime

Carolyn Keene

Dear Diary,

DAD WAS OUT OF TOWN at a conference and Hannah had to go take care of her sister, so I had the house to myself. I was looking forward to a few days of relaxing and catching up with Bess and George. Instead I found myself jetting off to our nations capital for my most personal case yet.

CHAPTER ONE A Bad Feeling

SERIOUSLY, GEORGE? I ASKED, SETTING my fork down with a clang. Another photo?

That one didnt capture just how smooth these mashed potatoes are! George said as she snapped yet another picture with the camera on her phone.

I sighed as she scowled at her latest effort before lifting the phone again. I was starving and couldnt wait to eat, but George is one of my best friends, and I know her quirks well. When George is focused on something, she gets in a zone, becoming oblivious to anything other than her current obsession. I was just going to have to wait until she got a photo she was satisfied with.

Next to me, Bess, my other best friend and Georges cousin, gave me a sympathetic smile. She knows how George gets too.

Finally George looked up at us. All right. Photographed, filtered, and shared. She held up the photo shed posted. I couldnt argue with the results. The image was flawless and the food looked delicious. Sorry that took so long, George said through a mouthful of potato. I wanted to do the food justice. When Hannah gets back, Ill show her how many likes it got. I keep telling her if she set up an Instagram account for her food, shed get a huge following. Shed be a star!

My frown softened. Thats actually really nice of you.

Hannah Gruens our housekeeper. Shes been taking care of me and my dad since my mom died when I was three. She was supposed to stay with me while Dad was away at a lawyers conference in Washington, DC, but her sister broke her leg, so Hannah had had to hop on a last-minute flight to go and take care of her. When George and Bess found out, they were worried about me getting lonely, so they offered to come stay for a few days. The plan was to make it a real girls weekend.

Before shed left, Hannah had whipped up some of our favorite foods: mashed potatoes for George, oven-fried chicken for Bess, and a tomato-and-mozzarella salad for me.

So what exactly is this conference your dads at, Nancy? Bess asked.

It happens every year. Lawyers from all around the country get together and talk about updates to certain laws. There are panels and speeches and parti

Georges phone buzzed loudly against the table, cutting me off. Without thinking, she reached for it and tapped the screen.

I felt my stomach drop. The three of us had been so busy recently, wed barely been able to spend any time together. George had been working overtime at the Coffee Cabin, saving up for a new laptop. Bess had started dating a new guy named Teddy. And Id been wrapped up consulting with the River Heights PD on a case.

Im a detective. Usually I help find items that have been stolen or track down saboteurs, but sometimes the police ask me to provide a second pair of eyes on matters that are stumping them. This last one had been a doozy involving a car theft ring, and I had put in a lot of hours.

Thats why Id really been looking forward to the three of us spending time with one another and catching up, but if the last ten minutes had been anything to go by, George was going to be distracted by her phone the whole night.

Besides, we had a rule about this.

No phones at the table, George! I reminded her.

She pulled her hand back sheepishly. I know. Im sorry! I cant help it. It buzzes and I reach for it.

Youre like one of Pavlovs dogs, George! Bess quipped.

Whats that supposed to mean? asked George, crossing her arms.

Pavlov did an experiment where he rang a bell every time he fed a group of dogs. Soon, theyd drool whenever they heard a bell. Thats you when your phone buzzes.

Rude! But accurate, she admitted much more quietly.

Maybe I should lock your phone in my dads safe, I suggested.

Georges eyes widened. Well, if you lock up mine, youll need to lock up Besss, too! Shes been sneaking texts with Teddy under the table since we sat down.

I turned to Bess, eyebrow raised. She was bright red and could barely meet my gaze. Bess hates breaking the rules and is the politest, kindest person Ive ever met. Still, it was clear from her expression that George was telling the truth.

Im sorry! she said. Our relationship is just so new, I didnt want him to think I was ghosting him.

I have to admit, I was a little surprised. Not that a boy was interested in Bessshes one of those people who can smile at a guy, and hes instantly smitten. Cashiers and waiters are pining for her all over town. And its understandable. Shes pretty, but more than that, I think they can sense her inherent kindness. No, what shocked me was how invested she seemed in this Teddy. Bess tends to keep her relationships pretty casual.

What about you, Nancy? George asked. Are you telling me you havent played any Words with Friends with Ned since weve been over?

No! I answered firmly, but I had to admit, the thought had crossed my mind. Neds my boyfriend, and weve been caught up in an epic Words with Friends battle for the past few months. Hes ahead of me, but only by one game. And when were in the middle of a close match, it can be hard to resist making a move, even if Im tied up with something else. To be fair, I said, hes at his grandmothers and he doesnt have any service there.

George laughed. See? Staying connected is just a way of life now. We shouldnt fight it. George loves anything techie. Shes been coding since she was little, and shes always the first to buy the latest gadget. I dont have a problem with technologyits definitely helped me solve more than one casebut I dont love it the way George does. And while I can momentarily get as caught up in social media as the next person, I like to take a break from it every once in a while.

Its just that I really wanted tonight to be about us, I explained. Ive barely seen you two in ages. George, Im sure youve had some memorable customers you want to vent about. And Bess, dont pretend that you dont want to tell us all about how great Teddy is.

I have been kind of bursting to tell you about him, Bess admitted.

George leaned forward. I dont know if the planets have been aligned in some weird wayyou know Im not into astrology stuffbut this week was a killer at work.

But hearing about it isnt the same if were all keeping one eye on our text messages or Instagram likes, I explained. Its as if were not really here.

George and Bess both nodded.

Youre right, Bess said.

George handed me her phone. You probably should lock this up.

As soon as I had my fingers wrapped around the case, the phone buzzed in my hand. George made an exaggerated grimace. Take it away, Nancy! Its killing me not to look! She slumped down in her seat, pretending to be dead.

I giggled. Youre so ridiculous.

Without hesitating, Bess handed me her phone too. She has incredible self-control. Really? I asked.

She nodded, though it looked like it pained her.

Wow. Teddy must be some guy, I said.

Hes really nice, Bess replied, blushing.