What Holly Heard
Author: R. L. Stine
Date: 1995-12-02 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Horror; Young Adult; Fiction; Thriller; Mystery; Teen; Childrens; Mystery Thriller; Murder Mystery; Middle Grade
Description: Holly Denver is the biggest gossip at Shadyside High. Her best friends Miriam Maryles and Ruth Carver are sure it’s going to get her in big trouble someday. But Miriam and Ruth never thought Holly would wind up dead—strangled with her own scarf. Now the murderer thinks Holly told her friends what she heard—and will do anything to silence them forever.
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Have you read the latest

FEAR STREET books®

BAD DREAMS

DOUBLE DATE

THE THRILL CLUB

ONE EVIL SUMMER

THE MIND READER

WRONG NUMBER 2

TRUTH OR DARE

DEAD END

FINAL GRADE

SWITCHED

COLLEGE WEEKEND

THE STEPSISTER 2
by R.L. STINE

Available from Archway Paperbacks Published by Pocket Books

A Bad Connection …

The phone rang at seven-thirty and Miriam jumped.

“Hello?”

“Miriam, it’s me.”

Miriam felt a sudden chill. “Holly, what’s wrong? Why are you whispering?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Holly replied, a little louder now. “That’s not true. Everything’s wrong. I’m seeing shadows everywhere, Miriam. Please come down.”

“Holly,” Miriam said sternly, “you’re imagining things.”

“Please, Miriam? I’m really scared.”

“Let me make sure I can get the car.” She covered the receiver with her hand while she got permission to borrow her mom’s car.

Miriam uncovered the receiver. “I’ll be right there.”

There was no reply.

“Holly?”

Silence.

Miriam’s heart began to pound.

“Holly?” she cried into the phone. “Holly, answer me!”

Books by R. L. Stine

FEAR STREET

THE NEW GIRL

THE SURPRISE PARTY

THE OVERNIGHT

MISSING

THE WRONG NUMBER

THE SLEEPWALKER

HAUNTED

HALLOWEEN PARTY

THE STEPSISTER

SKI WEEKEND

THE FIRE GAME

LIGHTS OUT

THE SECRET BEDROOM

THE KNIFE

PROM QUEEN

FIRST DATE

THE BEST FRIEND

THE CHEATER

SUNBURN

THE NEW BOY

THE DARE

BAD DREAMS

DOUBLE DATE

THE THRILL CLUB

ONE EVIL SUMMER

THE MIND READER

WRONG NUMBER 2

TRUTH OR DARE

DEAD END

FINAL GRADE

SWITCHED

COLLEGE WEEKEND

THE STEPSISTER 2

WHAT HOLLY HEARD

THE FACE

SECRET ADMIRER

THE PERFECT DATE

THE CONFESSION

THE BOY NEXT DOOR

NIGHT GAMES

FEAR STREET SUPER CHILLERS

PARTY SUMMER

SILENT NIGHT

GOODNIGHT KISS

BROKEN HEARTS

SILENT NIGHT 2

THE DEAD LIFEGUARD

CHEERLEADERS: THE NEW EVIL

BAD MOONLIGHT

THE NEW YEAR’S PARTY

GOODNIGHT KISS 2

THE FEAR STREET SAGA

THE BETRAYAL

THE SECRET

THE BURNING

FEAR STREET SAGA COLLECTOR’S EDITION

FEAR STREET CHEERLEADERS

THE FIRST EVIL

THE SECOND EVIL

THE THIRD EVIL

99 FEAR STREET: THE HOUSE OF EVIL

THE FIRST HORROR

THE SECOND HORROR

THE THIRD HORROR

THE CATALUNA CHRONICLES

THE EVIL MOON

THE DARK SECRET

THE DEADLY FIRE

FEAR STREET SAGAS

A NEW FEAR

HOUSE OF WHISPERS

FORBIDDEN SECRETS

FEAR PARK

THE FIRST SCREAM

THE LOUDEST SCREAM

THE LAST SCREAM

Available from ARCHWAY Paperbacks

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For information on how individual consumers can place orders, please write to Mail Order Department, Simon & Schuster Inc., 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 07675.

The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as “unsold and destroyed.” Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this “stripped book.”

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK Original

An Archway Paperback published by
POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright © 1996 by Parachute Press, Inc.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN: 0-671-89427-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-6718-9427-6
eISBN-13: 978-1-439-12123-8

First Archway Paperback printing January 1996

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FEAR STREET is a registered trademark of Parachute Press, Inc.

AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.

Cover art by Bill Schmidt

Printed in the U.S.A.

IL 7+

What Holly Heard

What Holly Heard

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
About the Author
Advertisement
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E

chapter 1

“Guess what I just heard!” Holly Silva called as she hurried down the hall of Shadyside High.

Miriam Maryles and Ruth Carver exchanged knowing glances. It was time for gossip. The final bell had rung, and they stood at their lockers, stashing away their books for the weekend.

Holly rushed up to them, her dark hair bouncing and her trademark electric blue scarf fluttering behind her.

“The Gossip Queen strikes again,” Ruth murmured as Holly approached.

Miriam grinned at Holly. “Come on—spill.”

Miriam loved to hear the latest dirt. Ruth, on the other hand, was always a little chilly toward Holly’s gossip.

No surprise, Miriam thought. Her two best friends were opposite in every way.

Ruth was shy, with a definite sarcastic streak running beneath her quiet exterior. Holly was bubbly and social, and went out of her way to make others smile.

Ruth wore no makeup and let her blond hair hang straight to her shoulders. Holly spent hours on her “look.” She permed her long dark hair and sported a trendy wardrobe that always included her bright blue scarf, which she claimed brought her good luck.

Miriam sometimes wished the two got along better, but she loved them both anyway. They made her laugh, they listened, and they were good friends.

“What have you got?” she asked excitedly.

Holly huddled close to Miriam. “You will never guess!”

“What?” Miriam urged.

“I just heard that Mei Kamata has been having huge fights with her mother for the past two weeks.” Holly’s green eyes grew wider. “She told me she might run away!”

“Whoa!” Miriam cried. That was juicy. Mei Kamata was an old friend of Miriam’s. She came from one of the wealthiest families in Shadyside.

I guess money doesn’t always mean happiness, Miriam thought.

“That’s not the best part,” Holly continued. “Guess what they’ve been fighting about? Noah!”

“You’re kidding!” Miriam exclaimed. “I thought Mei’s parents were cool with Noah.”

Holly shook her head. “They’re both doctors, Miriam.

Think about it. They’re really big on Mei working hard and doing well in school. Noah is too much for them.”

Miriam had to agree. Noah Brennan was one of Shadyside High’s most infamous seniors. He was kind of wild, and very unpredictable. He wore his black hair long, past his shoulders, and he had a double-pierced ear, a lean muscular body, and a lot of attitude.

Miriam didn’t like talking to Noah because he always seemed to be sizing people up rather than paying attention to their words. The jocks avoided him. Intimidated, Miriam guessed. The girls whispered about him. The teachers watched him like prison guards.

He’s exactly the kind of guy parents are afraid of, Miriam thought.

“If Mei is angry at her mother,” Ruth said, “Noah Brennan is just the guy to bring home. It must drive Mrs. Kamata nuts to see her daughter with a guy like him!”

Miriam smiled. Ruth had read her mind.

“What do you think will happen?” Holly asked.

“You’re the one with all the dirt, Holl,” Miriam teased.

Holly’s eyes sparkled. “Well…”

“Come on, Holly,” Ruth said. “What else?”

“I thought you hated gossip, Ruth.” Holly laughed.

Ruth straightened up, as if suddenly remembering herself. “I do. I’m just … curious.”

Miriam was glad to see her friend interested in something other than books. Maybe she and Holly were finally rubbing off on Ruth.

It’s about time, Miriam thought. The three of us could have so much fun if Ruth would only come out of her shell.

Miriam couldn’t even count all the times she had introduced Ruth to boys and taken her to parties. In fact, she’d set Ruth up with her cousin Patrick for that very night. She thought they might make a cute couple.

But Ruth had resisted—as always—before giving in. Miriam couldn’t understand why Ruth was so shy.

“I think Mei and Noah will break up,” Holly predicted, bringing Miriam back to the moment.

“No way,” Miriam replied. “Mei is nuts about him. She’ll never give him up just because her mother wants her to.”

Holly sighed. “A girl can hope, can’t she?”

“You’re still interested in Noah?” Ruth cried, sounding shocked. “What about Gary?”

Miriam raised an eyebrow. It was a good question. Holly had been dating Gary Foster for about a month—and her friends had assumed that Holly had given up her long-standing crush on Noah.

I guess that was too much to expect, Miriam thought. She glanced at Ruth.

Gary lived next door to Ruth, and the two had grown up together. Miriam knew that Ruth thought of Gary as a brother. She was always amused by the way Ruth watched out for him.

Holly shrugged. “Gary’s nice, Ruth. But I don’t know what it is about Noah. I think about him all the time.”

“Don’t look now,” Miriam warned, peering over Holly’s shoulder. “But here he comes.”

“Oh, no!” Holly frantically fluffed her curly bangs. “How do I look?”

Miriam groaned. “You look fine.”

Ruth scowled. “I don’t know what you see in Noah. He’s a jerk. You and Gary have a good thing going.”

“Gary who?” Holly asked, deadpan. She smiled at Ruth’s reaction. “I’m kidding, Ruth. Calm down!”

Still, Miriam saw Holly gazing at Noah. As he worked his way down the hall, Holly’s expression grew more and more hopeful.

Miriam knew what it was like to have a crush on someone. Miriam had felt that way about Jed Holman for weeks before they went on their first date.

Miriam noticed that Noah was dressed in his usual ripped jeans, a black T-shirt, and worn leather bomber jacket. His hair was shaggy, but Miriam had a feeling he’d spent a lot of time getting it to look that way.

“Hey, Holly,” Noah called, his voice gravelly and low.

Holly’s grin grew wider. “Hi, Noah. Nice earring.”

Noah absently fingered the silver arrow dangling from his lobe. Why does he always have to act bored by everything? Miriam wondered.

“Yeah, it’s new,” Noah said.

“So what’s up?” Holly asked. She ran a hand through her dark curls and nervously wet her lips.

Miriam felt a poke in the ribs. She turned to Ruth.

“Here comes Mei,” Ruth muttered.

Miriam spun around. Mei Kamata strode down the hall toward them, her glossy black hair flowing behind her. She was dressed in a black miniskirt and snug blue cotton top. Miriam could understand why a guy like Noah would be attracted to Mei. She was gorgeous.

Noah’s tough attitude and Mei’s quiet cool made them a strange match. But Miriam had to admit they made a great couple in spite of their differences.

Mei strode toward them.

Miriam knew what Mei saw: Holly Silva flirting with her boyfriend!

“Holly, let’s go.” Miriam gave Holly’s sleeve a sharp tug.

Holly shook her off. Miriam decided to go for Mei instead.

“Hi, Mei!” she called as she stepped into Mei’s path. “Your parents aren’t going to spoil the party tonight by hanging around, are they?”

“Over my dead body,” Mei replied, her icy gaze on Noah and Holly.

Miriam saw Noah turn at Mei’s voice, a smile slowly curling his lips. “There’s my girl,” he murmured. “Ready to go?”

He turned away from Holly and slid his arm around Mei’s slender waist. Mei grinned in triumph, tossing her glossy hair right in Holly’s face.

Miriam winced. Noah had instantly forgotten Holly was there—and that had to hurt. She could practically feel Holly’s embarrassment.

“Let’s go,” Mei said, giving him a soft hug. She turned to the rest of them. “See you at my party.”

Miriam and Ruth both smiled and gave a quick wave. Holly didn’t. Miriam saw her jaw muscles clench.

Noah and Mei started down the hall, hand in hand.

“Guess what,” Mei told Noah, just loud enough for all of them to hear. “My parents won’t be home until six.”

“Cool,” Noah replied.

Miriam turned to find Holly slumped against the lockers, defeat on her face. Her green eyes shot daggers at Mei’s back.

“I’m sorry, Holly,” Miriam said softly.

“That’s one couple that’s not breaking up anytime soon,” Ruth added.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Holly muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Give me a break,” Ruth snapped. “You’ve got a great guy like Gary—and all you can think about is that jerk!”

“Just because you’re friends with Gary doesn’t mean Noah is a jerk,” Holly argued.

“Whoa. Take it easy. We’re all on the same side here,” Miriam reminded them.

“I don’t get it about Noah,” Ruth grumbled. She stared after the disappearing couple with a shiver. “He’s a creep. He gives me the creeps.”

“Not me,” Holly replied dreamily. Her eyes followed Noah to the front doors, a stare so intense, so trancelike, that Miriam thought Holly might be daydreaming a little too hard.

“Be careful what you wish for,” Miriam warned her friend. “Noah seems really hard to deal with.”

“Yeah, give it up, Holly,” Ruth insisted as she grabbed one last book and closed her locker. “He’ll never break up with Mei.”

“We’ll see,” Holly whispered. Finally she broke her stare, flashing a playful smile. “In fact, maybe we’ll see tonight at Mei’s party.”

Ruth gazed at Holly with raised eyebrows.

Miriam asked, “What does that mean?”

Holly shrugged. “Things happen. Girlfriends break up with boyfriends. And for the silliest reasons.”

“Uh-oh. What are you thinking?” Miriam demanded.

Holly shrugged again, a strange smile on her face.

“Holly,” Miriam pressed. “You’re being weird. What are you going to do?”

Holly smiled. “Well, if Mei saw Noah doing something he shouldn’t be doing, she would go totally ballistic. Wouldn’t she, Miriam? You were friends with her for a long time before Noah came along. You know her better than anyone.”

“Come on, Holly,” Miriam replied. “You aren’t that kind of a person.”

“Well,” Holly declared, “love makes you do crazy things.”

“You mean stupid things,” Ruth muttered. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and stared directly at Holly. “Really stupid.”

“Lighten up, Ruth. I’m not going to hurt Gary. But you’ve known for a long time that it’s Noah I really want.”

“And Gary gets dumped.”

Holly met Ruth’s stare, but didn’t reply.

“I’m out of here,” Ruth said, heading for the doors.

“Hey, Ruth!” Miriam called.

Ruth turned back.

“We’re still going to the party together, right?”

Ruth nodded. “Call me when you get home.”

Miriam sighed as she watched Ruth disappear out the doors. She wished she didn’t always have to play referee between her two best friends.

“I’m sorry for being evil, Miriam,” Holly admitted with a sigh. “It’s just that I’m so crazy about Noah, you have no idea!”

“Oh, I think I do.”

“I can’t help it,” Holly moaned.

“Just don’t do anything dumb tonight at the party, Holl,” Miriam warned. “Mei is crazy about Noah.”

“That’s the problem,” Holly cried miserably. “I am, too!”

“That’s because you can’t have him.”

Holly glared at her. The coldest look Miriam had ever received from her friend.

Miriam took a quick step back.

Instantly Holly’s expression returned to normal. Still, a chill crawled up Miriam’s spine.

Her best friend was losing it.

“Sorry. It just hurts so much, Miriam.” Holly sighed. “I would do absolutely anything to get Noah.”

Miriam eyed her skeptically. “Anything?”

Holly nodded and her eyes narrowed farther.

“Anything.”

Miriam felt another chill.

What did Holly plan for the party tonight?

chapter 2

“Where do you hear all these rumors, anyway?” Miriam asked Holly as they wandered down the hall toward the front doors of the school. Holly gave Miriam a ride home almost every day, since both girls lived on Fear Street. It was one of Miriam’s favorite times of the day.

Holly laughed and tossed her blue scarf over her shoulder. “A good reporter never reveals her sources.”

Miriam gave her a shove. “You’re no reporter!” she declared. “You’re a walking tabloid!”

Holly pointed down a side hallway. “Isn’t that Jed?”

Miriam turned to the water fountain outside the boys’ locker room and saw her boyfriend. Jed Holman wiped his mouth and stepped away from the fountain. He dropped something into his gym bag and zipped it quickly.

“Yeah, it’s him,” Miriam answered. “Jed!”

Jed whipped around at Miriam’s call.

“I’ll be right back, Holl,” Miriam said. “I have to talk to him real quick.”

“Go ahead,” Holly replied, waving her away. “I’ll wait.”

Miriam half walked, half jogged over to the tall, muscular captain of the Shadyside Tigers basketball team. Miriam had been dating Jed since the beginning of their senior year, and it was now February.

She was nuts about Jed. He was the most important thing in her life—which was why she could appreciate a relationship like Mei’s and Noah’s. Jed was a great guy. Smart, athletic, handsome….

Miriam had always thought of him as her dream guy.

That had changed over the past few weeks.

The boy Miriam had fallen for was gone. Jed was still Jed, of course. But more and more often a dark, angry creature seemed to slide into his body. Jed had been acting like a different person ever since the basketball playoffs had started.

“Hi,” she greeted him. She pecked him on the lips. He barely responded. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” he replied stiffly.

Miriam knew he was lying. The dark circles under his eyes matched the gray of his Shadyside sweatshirt.

“Are you up for the party tonight?” she asked cheerfully.

“What party?” he replied.

“At Mei’s house,” Miriam reminded him. “We’re going with Ruth and my cousin Patrick. Remember?”

Jed frowned. “No.” He looked so tired, so angry. She knew Jed had been concentrating on the playoffs. But how could he forget one of the biggest parties of the year?

“Do we have to go?” he demanded.

“I want to go. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” he growled, shaking his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh, man.”

“Jed? What’s wrong?” Miriam cried.

“Nothing!” he barked. “Nothing’s wrong! I have to go to practice, Miriam. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“Jed—”

“Eight,” Jed repeated gruffly, throwing open the locker room door.

Then he was gone, leaving Miriam to stare at the empty hall.

“What’s his problem?” Holly asked as they drove toward Fear Street.

Miriam pressed her forehead against the passenger window. “I don’t know. Sometimes he’s so nice, and other times it’s like I don’t even know him.”

“Are you still going to the party?”

“I think so,” Miriam replied. “He said he’d pick me up at eight. But first he totally forgot about it.”

“What was he putting in his gym bag?” Holly asked casually.

“I don’t know.” Miriam turned to her friend suspiciously. “Why?”

Holly shrugged. “He just looked nervous when you called his name.”

“Who knows?” Miriam let out a sigh and slumped into her seat. “The way he’s acting, anything’s possible.” Miriam sat up straight and glared at her best friend. She knew Holly never asked casual questions.

Holly cocked an eyebrow. “What’s that look for?”

“You know something.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You think you do.”

“I swear, Miriam, I don’t know a thing,” Holly replied firmly. “But … I might be able to find out.”

“How?” Miriam pressed.

Holly laughed. “You forget who you’re talking to. I can find out anything. About anybody.”

Miriam smiled. “I apologize, Your Highness. The Gossip Queen knows all.”

“I try.” Holly grinned. “And for my best friend, I’d try even harder.”

Miriam felt better, but she didn’t think Jed would like this plan very much. “Please don’t spy on him, Holly.”

“Of course not!” Holly replied. “I’ll just talk to some people. Find out what’s what.”

“I don’t know …”

“That’s the problem, Miriam!” Holly exclaimed. “You don’t know.”

Miriam didn’t want Holly talking about Jed behind his back. But Jed won’t tell me anything, she thought. What could possibly be bad enough to hide from the girl he loves? This was one of those times Miriam hated gossip, but it was also a time when she simply had to know.

“Do me a favor, Holly?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t be obvious about it?”

Holly gave a sly smile. “I promise.”

She already knows something about Jed, Miriam realized. Something bad.

But what?

What did Holly know?

chapter 3

Just after eight that night, Miriam sat in the passenger seat of Jed’s Honda Civic. They drove toward Mei’s house in North Hills with Ruth and Patrick sitting quietly in the backseat.

“If you’re not up to this, Jed, we can always drop Ruth and Patrick off and just go to a coffee shop,” Miriam whispered. “Have a burger by ourselves? You know—and talk?”

Miriam waited, holding her breath. She was hoping that Jed might say something to help her understand what was bothering him.

He shrugged. “I’m okay.” He looked at her and smiled, and Miriam felt a rush of relief.

“Sorry I was so out of it this afternoon,” Jed continued. “It’s the playoffs and everything. I’m really stressed. If I don’t get a basketball scholarship, it means no college at all. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to explode.”

His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “Some of the college scouts will be at the game tomorrow. I can’t mess up.”

Miriam reached over and stroked his freshly showered hair. It felt smooth and moist. “You’re going to be great, Jed. The Tigers are going to kill them.”

“Thanks, Mir.” He grasped her hand and brought it to his mouth. His lips were soft and warm and felt wonderful on her skin.

“Whoa! Hand kissing!” Patrick jeered from the backseat.

Miriam glanced over her shoulder as Jed chuckled. Patrick flashed his winning smile and continued tapping a beat on his legs. A drummer in a garage band, Miriam’s cousin had big dreams.

Miriam turned to Ruth and felt her hopes for the evening fade. Ruth gazed out the car window with an annoyed expression on her face.

Sighing, Miriam turned to the front again. She wished her friend would give Patrick a chance. He was a fun guy.

She didn’t expect thunderbolts of love to strike. But Miriam hoped he and Ruth would hit it off.

Maybe they needed more time by themselves.

“We’re here,” Jed announced. He parked across from the Kamatas’ house, a massive two-story colonial with thick pillars in the front.

About two dozen other cars lined the street. Even with the car windows rolled up, Miriam could hear the music. Mei had told Miriam that one of the best local bands, the Dustmites, would be playing.

“Wow,” said Patrick, whistling. “Now that’s a sound system.”

“Are Gary and Holly meeting us here?” Ruth asked anxiously.

“Yeah,” Miriam replied. “I’m sure they’re here already—it’s packed.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Patrick cried, clearly itching to be free of the backseat. “Let’s go!”

Miriam stepped into the house and was hit by a blast of music.

Shadyside students were everywhere—in the spacious living room, filing up and down the spiral staircase to the second floor. The carpets had been rolled up to save them from traffic and drink stains.

Miriam smiled. She had forgotten how beautiful the Kamata house was—and what good friends she and Mei had been.

“I haven’t been here in ages,” she told Jed. “Ever since Mei started seeing Noah, she’s practically dropped all her friends.”

Jed nodded absently as he pulled Miriam toward the music. They edged their way into the family room. Its large floor, perfect for dancing on, made it the beating heart of the party.

The Dustmites were set up by the sliding glass door to the patio, playing hard. Patrick immediately found a spot close to them. Ruth stood next to him, looking bored.

Again, Miriam sighed. Maybe he wasn’t the best date for Ruth.

Jed nudged her. “There’s Holly.” He pointed toward the kitchen doorway. “And check out that dress.”

Miriam gave Jed’s arm a playful smack. “Stop staring!”

It was hard not to stare, Miriam thought. Holly wore a short, skintight black dress that looked painted on.

“Wow!” Jed cried appreciatively.

Miriam smacked his arm again. She knew he was only joking. But lots of other guys in the room were openly gaping at Holly.

Miriam frowned as she noticed Gary Foster. He stood next to Holly, all his attention on her even though she obviously had her eye on someone else. Miriam scanned the room.

Noah was nowhere to be seen.

Feeling sorry for Gary, Miriam pulled Jed toward the doorway. Gary grinned as they approached. He and Jed were teammates on the basketball team and best friends off the court.

Gary was shorter than Jed, but he had good moves. And most of his passes resulted in points for Jed. Miriam often wondered if that was why the two were such close friends.

“Hey, man!” Gary called.

He and Jed high-fived.

“You ready for tomorrow night?” Gary bellowed over the music.

“No one gets off that court alive!” Jed shouted.

They high-fived even more violently.

Miriam exchanged suffering glances with Holly.

“Let’s leave the warriors to themselves,” Holly suggested, trying not to spill her soda as Gary bounced around. She motioned for Miriam to follow her into the far corner where they could talk.

“Where’s Mei?” Miriam asked as they walked.

“In the kitchen with her parents,” Holly replied. “She’s being the perfect hostess.”

Miriam stared straight into Holly’s eyes. “Are you being the perfect guest?”

“Yes.” Holly grinned devilishly. “I haven’t spoken to Noah all night.”

“But, Holly … that dress.”

“Isn’t it hot?”

“Too hot,” Miriam replied. “Everyone’s staring at you.”

“I know. But it’s working.”

Miriam’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I get it. You figured if you wore a skimpy dress, you wouldn’t have to talk to Noah to get his attention.”

Holly blushed. “Oh, Miriam. Am I evil for doing this? Noah’s been staring at me all night, but … now that he is, I don’t feel right about it. Mei is so furious. She’s giving me looks of death. I just … I don’t know why I’m even thinking about Noah so much! But he’s so cute, and I can’t get him out of my head.”

Miriam stared at Holly in surprise. Maybe her friend’s crush was more serious than she had thought. Miriam wasn’t used to seeing Holly upset over a guy. She almost never took boys seriously.

“You’re not evil, Holl,” Miriam assured her friend. “But you are out of control. Noah isn’t worth being upset about. And no matter how much you like him, you can’t try to steal him from Mei. Okay?”

Holly nodded and smiled, but Miriam could see she was still upset. I wish Noah would just disappear, Miriam thought. Then I might have a chance of having a good time tonight.

Giving Holly her brightest smile, Miriam asked, “So where’s Gary?”

Holly frowned. “He’s over there with Jed.”

“And what does he think of the dress?”

Holly chuckled. “He’s been asking me to dance all night.”

Miriam nodded. “Then let’s go over there and get those guys to dance.”

It took a while to push their way through the crowded room.

“Think you can take a break from basketball talk long enough to dance?” Miriam asked Jed and Gary, shouting over the music.

The boys halted their conversation and stared. “What do you think, Gary?” Jed asked.

“I think they’re girls,” Gary said.

“I think you’re right,” Jed replied.

“Oh, come on!” barked Holly, grabbing Gary’s arm and pulling him out into the crowd.

Miriam grinned at Jed. “Can you use those feet for anything other than faking left and driving to the basket?”

Jed slid his arm around Miriam’s shoulders and steered her out onto the floor where a dozen other couples danced.

“Hey, this is a fast dance,” Miriam protested when he pulled her close.

“Shut up,” he said.

“Okay.” Miriam relaxed against him. His hands slid down her back. Miriam swayed with him, ignoring the fast beat.

Okay, so Jed couldn’t fast dance. Who cared? She loved slow dancing with him. She could tell by the tender way he held her that the pressures of his life had floated away.

Miriam opened one eye and saw Holly and Gary jumping around with the other dancers. She noticed Holly’s eyes searching the room, probably trying to find Noah.

Oh, well, Miriam thought. At least she’s dancing with the guy she came here with.

The song began to build in intensity, the drummer playing faster, the guitarist strumming harder. Jed continued to hold her close, his breath warm in her ear, his arms strong and protective.

As the song climbed higher and higher, louder and louder, Miriam felt the world around her slip away.

With a sustained blare of screeching guitar feedback, every light in the house went out.

Blackness. And silence.

Jed’s arms stiffened around Miriam.

She was about to whisper her surprise.

But someone began to scream.

One more scream.

From the kitchen.

Miriam gasped—and ran through the darkness toward the frightening sound.

chapter 4

She heard voices in the kitchen, loud and angry.

Was that Mei’s voice?

A flashlight beam cut through the darkness, casting silhouettes on the walls.

“Calm down, everyone!” came the voice of Mei’s father. “The band blew the circuit breaker, that’s all.”

“But who screamed?” Miriam demanded.

“It’s okay.” Mei’s voice was so close to Miriam’s ear that she jumped. “When the lights went out, I dropped a plate. It scared my mom, and she screamed.”

“I’m going to hit the breakers and get the lights back on,” called Dr. Kamata. “But I think the Dustmites are going to have to turn it down a bit.”

A shower of boos flew at him.

After another tense minute the lights finally came back on.

The first thing Miriam saw when she turned toward the family room was Holly.

She stood at the edge of the dance floor, wrapped in the arms of Noah Brennan.

Miriam heard Mei’s sharp intake of breath. She turned to her old friend. But Mei was already heading straight for Holly and Noah.

Miriam groaned. Holly was in major trouble now.

But as Miriam watched, Holly casually moved away from Noah—and walked over to Gary as though nothing had happened. And Noah smiled at Mei, slipping his arm around her waist.

Miriam saw him murmur something to Mei, soothing her as he turned her away from Holly.

Miriam made a beeline for her best friend. “What was that all about?” she whispered, pulling Holly aside.

“What?” Holly asked innocently.

“Holly! The entire party just saw you hugging Noah!”

“Well, I was scared,” Holly explained. “I grabbed the first guy I found.” Holly sounded sincere—but Miriam could see the self-satisfied smile on her friend’s face.

“How could you flirt with Mei’s boyfriend in her own house?” Miriam demanded angrily.

Holly’s smile faded. “I wasn’t!” she cried. “I really was afraid! I wouldn’t do that to Gary!” Holly’s voice was so indignant that Miriam actually began to believe her.

“Still,” Holly went on, “it will give Noah something to think about.”

The guitarist gave his instrument a tentative strum, shrugged, and kicked right back into the groove. Holly turned to Gary and drew him onto the dance floor.

Miriam glanced up at Jed. “I think I’ve had enough fun for one night,” she said.

“Jed seemed like he had it together last night,” Ruth commented to Miriam.

It was Saturday night, and they were waiting at Ruth’s house for Holly to pick them up. The three girls always went to the basketball games together. And Miriam was especially glad her best friends would be with her for the big game tonight.

“I guess so.” Miriam stretched out on Ruth’s bed, fanning her straight red hair over the white bed-spread. “Thank goodness.”

Ruth sat on the floor of her bedroom holding Lizzy, a brown-and-white hamster, in her cupped hands. Another hamster—Tilly—covered in tan fuzz, wandered over Ruth’s legs.

“Did Jed say what was wrong?”

“Sort of,” Miriam replied. “It’s the pressure. The playoffs, trying to get a scholarship, all that. But he’s okay now. I think.”

Miriam realized that she didn’t truly know if Jed was okay. He’d become quiet again on the way home from the party. But his kisses had been long and warm.

She hoped he was okay.

“I couldn’t believe Holly last night,” Ruth grumbled. “Did you see that dress?”

“Yeah.” Miriam reached for a can of soda on the nightstand. “And so did everyone else.”

“Miriam, what is she trying to prove?” Ruth demanded. “Why did she throw herself at Noah last night? In front of Mei and Gary?”

“I don’t know,” Miriam replied thoughtfully. “Maybe she’s really in love with Noah. She thinks she is.”

“She doesn’t even know him,” Ruth sneered. “All she sees is how happy Mei is. I think she’s jealous.”

Miriam thought about that. “No. Holly loves to gossip. But I think that’s as petty as she gets.” Miriam smiled. “I think Holly is just majorly hot for Noah.”

“Yeah, well, she’s going to crash and burn,” Ruth said sourly.

“Speaking of crash and burn, you and Patrick sure didn’t hit it off.”

Ruth shrugged. “He was okay. I’m just not into music.” She slid a hand around Tilly to prevent her escape. “He kept talking about it all night. I swear, he knew the name of every drummer in every band.”

Miriam grinned. “That’s Patrick all right. I’m sorry you had a lousy time. I promise I’ll never fix you up again.”

“It’s a deal,” Ruth declared. The two girls laughed.

Ruth lovingly picked up Tilly and set her down inside the large glass cage beside the desk. The little fuzzball went immediately for her water bottle. Ruth did the same for Lizzy and slid the wire mesh cover back into place.

“Home sweet home,” Ruth cooed. “Right, girls?”

She turned back to Miriam and smiled. “I think I have more fun when I curl up with my hamsters and read than I do going to parties,” she confessed. “Especially parties like Mei’s. Did you see that group of guys that pulled up as we were leaving?”

Miriam nodded, remembering. She hadn’t recognized any of the tough-looking guys. “I wonder who invited them,” she commented. She finished her soda, stood, and stretched. “And I wonder what’s keeping Holly?”

Ruth didn’t answer. She pulled her backpack from her closet and unzipped it. She removed a hooded, Shadyside High sweatshirt. A few other items spilled out onto the bed—a brush, a dog-eared copy of Catcher in the Rye, and a large hammer.

Miriam idly picked up the hammer. One of its claws was broken off. It looked very old.

“What’s this monster for?” she asked, slapping the head against her palm.

Ruth yanked it away so quickly that Miriam’s arm hurt.

“I’m using it to build a loom in art class,” Ruth said. She paused. “It belonged to my father.”

Miriam didn’t know what to say. Ruth’s father had died suddenly of a heart attack three years ago.

She knew that Ruth was still very hung up on her father’s sudden death.

Deep down, Miriam thought this could be the reason Ruth avoided guys. She didn’t want to be close to anyone again. She had loved her father very much. Maybe building something with his tools felt like a tribute to his memory.

“I’m sorry, Ruth. I didn’t know.”

Ruth nodded. “It’s okay. Really.”

She shoved the hammer back into the pack and stuffed the pack in the closet. “So,” she asked, “how long did Gary and Holly stay at the party?”

Miriam could hear the forced cheerfulness in her friend’s voice. Clearly, Ruth wanted to change the subject.

“I don’t know. I didn’t talk to her today. But Gary has the game tonight. So I don’t think he wanted to party all night.”

Miriam saw Ruth bite her bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?”

Ruth sighed. “I hate the way Holly treats Gary. The whole thing with the dress, and hugging Noah. Everything.”

“Gary doesn’t seem to mind,” Miriam pointed out.

“Yes, he does,” Ruth replied quickly. “Gary and I were talking last night at the party for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He knows Holly isn’t really interested in him.”

Miriam’s eyes widened. “Really?” she repeated.

“Of course. It would take an idiot not to notice. And Gary isn’t an idiot. He’s just too nice for his own good.”

“Why does he stay with her?” Miriam asked.

Ruth’s eyes were hard. “Because he likes her,” she replied flatly. “I think he—”

They heard Ruth’s mother greeting someone downstairs.

“Holly’s here,” Miriam said.

They heard fast footsteps on the stairs. Then the door to Ruth’s bedroom burst open. Holly stood triumphantly, a wide smile on her face.

“I just heard the most incredible thing!”

“What is it?” Miriam demanded.

chapter 5

Holly grinned. “After you left last night, the party got good.”

“Oh, so it stank as long as we were there?” Ruth asked.

“Ha-ha,” Holly replied. “That’s not what I meant.”

“So?” Miriam prompted. “What happened?”

“First, some of Noah’s friends from Center City showed up. And they were totaled. Reeking of beer.”

“That must have been the group we saw,” Ruth said.

Miriam nodded. “And knowing Mei’s parents, they probably had heart attacks as soon as the first guy stumbled through the door.”

“That’s just the beginning!” Holly exclaimed. “Right after Mei’s mom kicked them out, she and Mei got into a huge fight. We’re talking total blow-out!”

“What did they say?” Miriam gasped.

“It was all about Noah, and how he’s irresponsible and a creep. But Mei kept saying it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t invite his friends. They just showed up. It got really intense!”

“Then what happened?” Ruth asked.

“Dr. Kamata kicked everyone out—including Noah. So we go out on the lawn—and there’s beer cans all over the place. Noah’s friends dumped them there after they got kicked out. And they toilet-papered Dr. Kamata’s car.”

“Wow,” Miriam muttered.

“What then?” asked Ruth.

“We had to leave,” Holly answered sadly. “But I heard more later. After everyone left, Mei and her mother went ballistic. Mei was hysterical, screaming and crying that her mother treated her like a child, that she loved Noah more than anything.”

Miriam noticed that Holly’s voice gained a slight edge on the word loved.

Holly continued. “And guess what happened after that?”

Miriam and Ruth stared at her, waiting.

“Mei’s mother said that Noah could never set foot in their house again. And Mei can’t see him anymore. She broke them up!”

“No way!” Miriam cried. “That is so unfair!” Holly didn’t reply.

Miriam studied her best friend. Holly was almost glowing. Obviously she still had her eye on Noah. She’s probably happy about this, Miriam thought. But Mei must be devastated.

Miriam felt terrible. She knew Mei was crazy about Noah. She would do anything for Noah.

Couldn’t Mei’s parents see that?

“Mei and her mother aren’t speaking,” Holly added matter-of-factly. “Mei’s father is taking her mother’s side, but not very loudly. He probably hates seeing his little girl cry.”

“Don’t be mean,” Miriam scolded her. “It’s not funny.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” Holly said quickly. But Miriam could still see the spark of hope in her eye. “It’s just … I can’t help thinking …”

“About Noah?” Miriam asked.

Holly nodded.

“I’d forget that idea if I were you,” Miriam said. ‘After this, I bet Mei and Noah are more of a couple than they ever were. She’s not going to listen to her parents.”

“I know.” Holly slumped down on the bed. “I wish I never heard these rumors.”

“That’s a first,” Ruth muttered.

“What do you care, Ruth?” Holly replied angrily. “You’ve never cared about any guy before.”

Ruth’s eyes narrowed, and she took a deep breath. “How do you know?” she snapped. “You don’t know anything about me! And I know everything about you—whether I want to or not.”

“Hey,” Miriam said sharply. “Let’s all take a deep breath and—”

“What about Gary?” Ruth demanded. “You don’t have the guts to steal Noah from Mei, so you just string Gary along. He really likes you!”

Holly’s mouth dropped open. “I like him, too, Ruth! I do!”

“You’d never know it the way you obsess about Noah,” Ruth accused. She put on a fake high-pitched voice and imitated Holly. “‘Oh, Noah is so sexy.’”

“Gary is, too,” Holly shot back. “But … I don’t know. He’s just not that much fun. He’s always talking about basketball. I mean, who cares? Besides, this is none of your business, Ruth!”

“Stop it—both of you!” Miriam cried. She stepped between them. “I’m sick of this! We’re supposed to be friends.”

Holly turned to Miriam. “But she’s always taking Gary’s side! She’s supposed to be on my side!”

Miriam sighed. “Can we go to the game? I don’t want to miss the first quarter.” She thought it was incredible that the three had remained friends for so long. Ruth and Holly were so different. She also didn’t want to scold her friends anymore. It made her sound like someone’s mother.

“Yeah,” Holly agreed, pulling out her car keys. “Let’s do that. Okay, Ruth?”

“No, thanks,” Ruth muttered. “I lost my appetite for rah-rah. You guys go ahead.”

“Come on, Ruth,” Miriam pleaded. “It’ll be fun.”

“I promise not to mention Noah all night,” Holly said, attempting to be playful.

Ruth smirked at the comment, but shook her head. “Wish Gary and Jed good luck for me, okay?”

Miriam nodded, still upset by her friends’ arguing.

But by the time she had buckled herself into the passenger seat of Holly’s car, all Miriam could think about was Jed. She could hardly wait to see him take over the basketball court and single-handedly win the big game.

She had no way of knowing about the disaster that awaited her. No way of knowing what Jed was about to do.

chapter 6

Miriam screamed and jumped to her feet as Jed stole the ball right from the hands of a Waynesbridge Gladiator. She cheered as Jed drove the full length of the court for the easy layup.

The crowd roared, and the second quarter score jumped to 36-31, in favor of Waynesbridge. Jed had only four points so far and was playing badly.

“Why didn’t he slam it?” Holly moaned.

“He’s having a horrible game,” Miriam replied fretfully. “He needed an easy basket to get back on track.”

“But easy baskets are no fun to watch!” Holly complained.

Miriam let out a sigh of relief and clapped for Jed.

Poor Jed, she thought.

He just couldn’t get into the groove. He missed every outside shot. Inside, he got mauled on every play and couldn’t make a rebound.

She could tell by the way he carried himself that he was absolutely furious, Miriam hoped the easy basket would help. The last thing Jed needed was to lose control.

Waynesbridge scored again. A Gladiator whisked smoothly past Jed for two points. Jed cursed loudly, and most of the gymnasium heard it.

“Whoa!” Holly cried. “Nice language.”

“Give me a break,” Miriam barked.

Gary had the ball now, and the Tigers were driving downcourt. Two passes later Gary fed the ball to Jed.

Jed charged for the basket. As he leaped, the tallest Gladiator leaped with him, knocking the ball away and elbowing Jed in the face.

Both players went down hard as the whistle blew.

Immediately Jed jumped to his feet, glaring down furiously at the Waynesbridge player.

Miriam froze.

The Waynesbridge player said something to Jed.

The crowd gasped as Jed punched him in the face.

Blood spurted from the boy’s mouth.

Miriam uttered a low moan. What was Jed doing?

The crowd roared.

Jed leaped on the fallen Gladiator. Grabbed him in a choke hold.

Other players tried to pull them apart.

But Jed held on.

The Gladiator turned an ugly shade of scarlet.

His eyes bulged.

Jed was strangling him, Miriam saw to her horror.

Jed was choking him to death.

chapter 7

The excited, startled cries of the crowd drowned out Miriam’s thoughts. She gasped in horror as players from both teams struggled to pull Jed off his red-faced opponent.

“How could Jed do this?” Miriam cried out loud. When the crowd on the floor finally cleared, Jed stood to one side. Gary and some other teammates held him back. Jed struggled against them, but they were too strong for him.

Miriam took in a sharp breath. Jed’s lip was bleeding.

On the floor in front of him lay the fallen player. The boy held his chest, struggling to breathe. His teammates were huddled around him.

Miriam felt numb. She had never seen Jed so furious, so totally berserk.

Why? she asked herself over and over. What was wrong with him?

Finally Jed calmed down enough so that his teammates could let go. Coach Hurly pointed his finger toward the locker room and bellowed, “Hit the showers!”

Jed stomped off the court to a chorus of boos. Miriam could see his tightly clenched fists. Staring down at the floor, Jed marched through the locker room doors and disappeared.

Slowly Miriam sat down.

She felt dazed. And sick to her stomach.

The game started up again. But she was no longer interested.

“Miriam, what’s his problem?” Holly demanded. “I don’t believe it!”

Miriam didn’t answer. She kept picturing the look on Jed’s face. His hands around the other player’s throat.

She thought back to his blowup Friday afternoon by the water fountain.

Something had to be seriously wrong with him.

She’d watched every basketball game this season. Sure, Jed made lots of fouls. He was a physical player. But this was totally different. Miriam couldn’t imagine where such fury had come from.

The rest of the first half was a blur to her. When the buzzer went off, people stood and stretched. Miriam remained sitting, staring down at the empty court.

“Are you okay?” Holly asked gently. “Miriam?”

Miriam raised her eyes to her friend. “I’ve never seen him like this before.”

Holly sat down again and put a reassuring hand on Miriam’s arm. “Remember yesterday when I said I’d try to find out what was up with Jed?”

Miriam glanced up hopefully. “Did you hear something?”

“Not yet,” Holly answered. “But I haven’t hit up my best source. I’ll ask Gary what’s going on. Jed and that guy from Waynesbridge might just have a grudge. That would explain everything that happened tonight.”

Miriam sighed. “Jed never said anything to me about it.”

“It will be okay, Miriam. I promise.”

Miriam shook her head sadly. “This is the playoffs, Holly. If the colleges hear about this, they’ll never recruit him! These games are so important to Jed.”

Holly didn’t reply.

There’s nothing to say, Miriam thought miserably. It’s hopeless.

She put her face in her hands and waited for the game to end.

The Shadyside Tigers managed to pull off a victory—with a buzzer-beating jump shot by Gary. The scoreboard lit up, Tigers: 72, Visitors: 71.

Hopes of a state championship were still alive at Shadyside High.

Miriam, however, didn’t feel like celebrating.

“Ready to go?” Holly asked.

Miriam nodded, silently gathering her bag and coat.

Holly’s hand clamped onto her arm. “Look,” she whispered.

Miriam followed her friend’s gaze. Mei and Noah strode briskly across the gymnasium floor toward the doors to the student parking lot.

Miriam could see the disappointment in Holly’s eyes.

“You knew they’d stay together,” Miriam said softly.

“A girl can hope, can’t she?”

“Only if she likes to torture herself.”

They watched Mei and Noah disappear out the doors. In spite of Holly’s feelings, Miriam couldn’t help but be happy that Mei and Noah were still together. Miriam wanted to believe that love was all that mattered in a relationship.

“Um … Holly?” Miriam asked.

“Yeah?”

“Do you mind waiting a few minutes for me? I want to see if I can catch Jed outside the locker room.”

“Don’t you think you should wait until he cools off a little?” Holly replied.

“No.” Miriam shook her head. “Now.”

Holly smiled. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the car.”

“I won’t be long,” Miriam replied.

I hope, she thought grimly.

*   *   *

The hallway outside the boys’ locker room was empty except for a few kids and parents doing exactly what Miriam was doing: waiting. She leaned against the wall and sighed.

In a few minutes the locker room door opened. Miriam jerked upright. Several players filed out, their hair wet from the showers. She searched for Jed.

Gary came out with Teddy Miller and Luke Appleman. He grinned triumphantly, still riding high after his game-winning shot.

Miriam caught his eye and waved. He waved back and jerked his head toward the locker room as if to say, Jed’s coming. Miriam nodded, and Gary continued on with his teammates.

Finally Jed came out, his gym bag slung over one shoulder, his head down.

“Jed,” Miriam called, her voice tight and shrill.

His head snapped toward her. His lower lip was swollen and red. He seemed to stare right through Miriam.

“Hey,” he uttered curtly.

Miriam fell into step beside him. “What happened, Jed? Are you all right?”

He stopped walking. “No, Miriam, I’m not. I came this close to getting kicked off the team, okay? Is that enough information for you and your friends?”

“Why? What happened?”

Jed snorted. “Weren’t you watching the game? That guy elbowed me on purpose. So I decked him.”

He made a fake swing with his fist, and Miriam saw cuts on his knuckles from the punch.

She took a step backward. Jed didn’t seem aware that she was there. The dryness in her mouth made it difficult to speak.

“You’ve been elbowed before….”

Jed laughed. A humorless laugh.

“Well, maybe this time it ticked me off,” he sneered. “These guys come in here and think they can take shots at me. I don’t like being elbowed in the face.”

He stepped closer to Miriam, glaring down at her. “Would you like it if someone pushed you around?”

He poked her in the shoulder with his free hand. Hard.

“Jed!” Miriam stumbled back a step, bumping the wall behind her. She frantically searched up and down the hall. It was deserted.

“Would you?” he demanded, poking her shoulder again, even harder.

“Ow! Stop it, Jed!”

Miriam tried to slap his hand away. Jed caught it, crushing and twisting her fingers in his iron grip.

“Jed!”

“See?” he sneered. “You don’t like it, either. Now you know how I felt out there in front of all those people, humiliated and bleeding like some kind of loser!”

Miriam tried to free her hand, but his grip remained locked. She stared into his eyes—and saw only delight there.

Delight in the pain he was inflicting on her.

“Jed,” Miriam gasped. “You’re hurting me!”

He didn’t seem to hear her.

He’s going to break my hand! she realized.

The pain shot up her arm, and she started to scream.

chapter 8

Her scream snapped him out of his daze.

He tossed down her hand, uttering a hoarse cry of surprise.

She clutched her throbbing fingers to her chest and stared at him. She felt the tears coming now, fresh, hot, and unstoppable.

Jed blinked as if coming out of a deep trance. He rubbed his temples, squinting.

“Oh, no … oh, Miriam.” He backed off and tried to meet her eyes. “Miriam, I am so sorry.”

“Jed, what is wrong with you!” Miriam felt her self-control slipping away. Felt the tears burning her eyes.

She hated to cry.

Hated Jed for making her cry.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he murmured. “I’m out of control tonight.”

Anger suddenly flooded Miriam. “That’s your excuse? You really tried to hurt me, Jed!”

“I …” He let his arms flop to his sides. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I just… I might have blown everything tonight, Miriam. I’m going crazy.”

Miriam spun around and strode down the hall. She had to get away from Jed. Her anger completely blocked out her fear.

How could he hurt her? How? She wanted to scream.

It was so sick! She couldn’t stand to be near Jed right now.

“Miriam, wait!” he called after her. She could hear his footsteps.

Suddenly another thought unfolded in her head. This is Jed. This is the guy you care about. And he’s hurting, and he’s scared. I don’t think he’s ever been scared before.

Miriam turned back—and Jed stopped short as if expecting her to hit him.

“Listen to me, Jed,” she growled, pointing at his chest. “If you ever, I mean ever lay a hand on me again, we’re through. Do you hear me?”

He nodded. He avoided her stare. “I never wanted to hurt you, Miriam. I just … I only wanted you to know how it felt for me out there. Playing basketball has never been this hard before.”

Miriam nodded. Her anger was fading. He looked so tired, so broken, like a scolded puppy that truly didn’t mean any harm.

She could actually feel some sympathy for him. She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze.

“I have to go. Holly’s waiting for me.”

“I’m so sorry, Miriam,” Jed whispered. “You don’t know how sorry I am.”

She nodded. “I know.”

He kept his eyes on the floor. “Miriam?”

She stopped. “What?”

“Can I call you?”

Miriam smiled. “I don’t know. Can you?”

Jed gave her a wide, relieved grin in return. “Yeah, I can.”

“Then, okay.”

The February night was frigid, and most of the cars had left the school parking lot. Miriam spotted Holly standing next to her car, breathing clouds and jumping up and down to keep warm. When she caught sight of Miriam, she waved frantically.

“Get over here!” she yelled.

Miriam ran to the car. The engine was running. Holly appeared tense … and very scared.

“Get in!” she ordered. She slid into the driver’s seat.

Miriam quickly slid in next to her and slammed the door. The heater was blasting, thankfully.

“What is it? What’s wrong, Holly?”

“I … I just heard something…”

Miriam groaned. “Holly, the last thing I want to hear is more gossip—”

“No!” Holly cried. “This is different, Miriam. I heard this myself.”

“Heard what?”

“On my way to the car, I was digging through my purse for the keys. I wasn’t watching where I was going. And I passed Mei and Noah standing by Mei’s car. I wouldn’t have even seen them, but I thought I heard Noah’s voice.” Holly paused and took a deep breath.

“And?”

“They were talking. But it sounded more like fighting. So I stopped and hid between two cars where they couldn’t see me. I listened to them.”

“Holly, I don’t believe you!”

“Can you just shut up for thirty seconds and listen to me?” Holly snapped.

Her anger stunned Miriam into silence.

“They were talking about the night of the party, about how Mei’s mother won’t let them see each other. Mei and her mom have been fighting a lot worse than we know, Miriam. It’s scary. I never heard Mei talk that way before.”

Holly paused for a breath.

Miriam felt nervous now. Jed’s problems faded into the background as she concentrated on her friend’s words, on her friend’s fear.

“What did they say, Holly?”

“I was only a few feet away, Miriam. I swear I heard them say it. I swear.”

Miriam wanted to take Holly by the shoulders and shake the information out of her. “Say what?” she demanded.

Holly took a deep breath and leaned closer to her friend.

“I heard them say they were going to kill Mei’s mother!”

chapter 9

“No way,” Miriam insisted. “That’s crazy.”

“I swear, Miriam, I heard it myself!”

“Okay, okay, I believe you!” Miriam soothed her friend.

Holly seemed almost hysterical. Miriam had never seen her like this—truly scared.

But Miriam didn’t believe that Mei wanted to kill her mother. It was totally insane.

“Holly, tell me exactly what you heard.”

Holly took a deep breath.

“At first I heard them talking about the party, about what idiots Noah’s friends were for crashing it. Noah said he warned them to stay away if they were going to drink. He said he was sorry he had gotten Mei into trouble. Then Noah shouted something like ‘There’s no way your mother can keep us from seeing each other.’”

Miriam nodded. It sounded normal so far.

“Then I think they hugged, because they were quiet for a minute. I couldn’t see them, so I don’t know. And then … and then I heard Mei.” Holly’s voice shook. “Mei yelled, ‘I’ll kill my mother for this.’”

Miriam almost laughed out loud. “That’s it?”

Holly glared at her. “What do you mean, that’s it? I heard her say it, Miriam, and she sounded like she meant it!”

Miriam rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard Mei say that exact thing a thousand times, whenever she and her mother had a blowout. Everybody says it! Everybody wants to kill their parents when they’re angry.”

“Yeah, but everybody doesn’t have Noah for a boyfriend!” Holly cried. “You should’ve heard him, Miriam! When Mei said she wanted to kill her mom, Noah took her seriously. He said it was a good idea. He told her he’d be willing to do whatever it took to make sure he could keep seeing her. Whatever it took, Miriam! Even murder!”

Miriam thought about that for a moment. “It still doesn’t mean anything, Holl,” she decided. “Noah was just being dramatic—as usual. Mei would never do something like that. No one would.”

Holly stared at Miriam, clearly not knowing what to believe. “Are you sure?”

“Everyone says stuff like that, Holly,” Miriam insisted.

Holly blinked. “Really?”

“Really.”

Holly let out her breath. “Okay.”

Miriam shook her head. “Let’s go before we freeze to death.”

Holly slowly pulled out of the student parking lot, and they drove toward Fear Street in silence. Miriam stared out her foggy window, trying to imagine what she would do if her parents told her she couldn’t see Jed.

“Oh, Miriam, I forgot!” Holly cried a moment later. “What happened with Jed?”

The night came back to Miriam in a rush—Jed punching and choking the Waynesbridge player, getting thrown out of the game—and nearly breaking her hand.

She told Holly the whole story. Holly didn’t say a word until Miriam finished.

“Are you okay?” Holly asked quietly.

“My fingers are sore, but that’s no big deal.”

“No, Miriam, it is a big deal. Jed tried to hurt you. What is his problem?”

Miriam could see the anger on her friend’s face.

“It’s the pressure, Holly. He’s so scared of losing the playoffs and the scholarship that he’s self-destructing.”

Holly scowled. “Don’t defend him. Any guy who will hurt you like that isn’t worth it.”

“He’ll be okay,” Miriam replied. “He just needs a little time, that’s all. I’m not defending him.”

“Yes, you are. Listen to yourself.”

Miriam realized Holly was right. “I can’t help it, Holl,” she answered softly. “I care about him. I really do.”

“I know.” Holly put a hand on Miriam’s arm. “But if he tries something like that again, you have to do something. I saw him drop that guy on the court. Jed just totally lost it. He’s messed up.”

The words echoed in Miriam’s ears as she massaged her sore fingers. All she could do was hope Holly was wrong.

Monday morning at school Miriam met Ruth by her locker. Ruth had gone away with her mother on Sunday, so Miriam couldn’t phone her. Miriam wanted to tell Ruth all the news from Saturday night.

Ruth was happy to hear that Shadyside had won the game. But her mood darkened when Miriam told her about Jed.

“That’s really scary,” she said in a shocked whisper. “Maybe you should try to get him some help.”

“No, he’ll be all right. As I told Holly, he just needs some time. He’ll be okay.”

“I hope so,” Ruth murmured. “For your sake.”

Miriam nodded. Jed would be all right. She was sure of it. After he got his scholarship, he’d go back to his old, lovable self.

Miriam was sick of her friends being worried about Jed. She decided to change the subject.

“Wait till you hear this.” She giggled. “I almost forgot.”

She told Ruth about Holly and how she had eavesdropped on Mei and Noah. How she heard that Mei was plotting to kill her mother so she could be with Noah. “It scared Holly to death,” Miriam confided.

Ruth laughed, for the first time in ages. “Serves her right! It’s about time gossip got Holly in trouble.”

Miriam felt a little guilty for laughing at Holly behind her back. Holly had been genuinely frightened.

But since Ruth’s father died, her laughter was rare. Any humor, however twisted, was probably a good thing, Miriam decided.

“Mei plotting to kill her mother,” Ruth said, shaking her head. “Yeah, right. Mei wouldn’t risk breaking a nail.”

“You’re so mean,” Miriam scolded.

“What weapon would Mei use?” asked Ruth. “An eye pencil? Nail polish fumes?”

“Ruth! Stop it.”

“No, wait, I’ve got it. Death by blow-dryer!”

Miriam couldn’t stop herself from laughing. She had forgotten how funny Ruth could be. She leaned against her locker for support, laughing as she pictured Mei chasing her mother with a can of hair spray.

She opened her eyes to find Holly standing in front of them.

“Hey, Holl!” she greeted cheerfully.

Holly didn’t reply. Her lower lip trembled, and her hands were clenched into fists.

“Guess w-what I just heard,” she stammered.

Miriam’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“Mei’s mother is dead.”

chapter 10

Dead.

The word exploded in Miriam’s head. For a moment everything went white.

Dead. Dead.

The word repeated, until it had no meaning.

“That’s not funny!” Ruth gasped.

Holly shook her head. “I’m serious. They found her last night. At the bottom of the front staircase. You know. The spiral one.” Holly swallowed hard. “Her neck was broken.”

Miriam struggled to breathe. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak.

Dead.

She couldn’t believe it.

They’d just been joking about it!

Wait! Miriam thought suddenly, her mind racing. This is only gossip! It’s something Holly heard. It didn’t really happen.

Did it?

Miriam stared at her friend. Holly hadn’t moved. Her eyes were frozen wide and she absently bit her bottom lip. Her color was bleach-white.

“She did it, Miriam,” Holly whispered. “Mei killed her mother.”

“No!” Miriam choked out. She didn’t want to believe it. “Mei could never do that. Never.”

“Then explain what happened,” Holly growled. “How did her mother die?”

Miriam tried to make herself think. “I don’t know! Maybe she had an accident. People fall down the stairs all the time.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Ruth demanded.

Miriam had to turn away. She didn’t know what she believed.

“Of course she doesn’t!” Holly cried. “She knows what we all know. That Mei or Noah pushed Mei’s mother.”

“It’s crazy,” Miriam insisted. “I know Mei! She wouldn’t do it! No way!”

“Yeah, but you know Noah,” Ruth said pointedly.

Miriam didn’t reply. She hadn’t thought about Noah. She had no idea what he would do for Mei.

He hung out with a bad crowd. Miriam knew he sometimes drank, and he bragged about doing dangerous things.

But was he capable of murder?

“Come on,” Miriam said. “People don’t kill their parents just because they can’t date each other!”

“Keep your voice down!” Holly snapped. “Do you want the whole school to hear?”

“What should we do?” Miriam asked.

Holly nervously tugged at her blue scarf. “I think we should go to the police.”

“No!” Miriam protested.

If they told the police, it would be like admitting that she thought Mei had murdered her mother. Miriam didn’t want to believe that.

Holly turned to Ruth. “Help me convince her, Ruth. You know Mei did it.”

Miriam saw Ruth’s eyes grow icy. She had been quiet since hearing Holly’s news, perhaps shocked into silence, Miriam thought. News of a dead parent probably made Ruth think of her father’s death.

“Are you okay?” Miriam asked her friend.

“Yeah,” Ruth replied, expressionless. “I don’t know what to believe. Why would anyone want to watch their parent die?”

No one replied. Miriam couldn’t imagine herself even considering killing her parents.

The bell for homeroom exploded in Miriam’s ears, making her jump nearly out of her skin.

“Before we go,” Holly insisted, “I have to know what we’re doing!”

“Nothing,” Miriam replied. “We don’t have to do a thing.”

Holly gaped at her. “Are you kidding?”

“Holly,” Ruth began.

“We have to—”

“Holly.” Ruth yanked her sleeve.

“What?” Holly growled, her teeth clenched.

“It’s Noah,” Ruth replied, gazing over Holly’s shoulder.

Miriam spun around. She drew in a quick breath.

Noah Brennan was walking toward them!

“Oh, no,” Holly whispered.

Noah looked frightening. So tired, his hair uncombed and hanging in his face. His eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

“What do we do?” Holly whispered.

“Don’t say a word,” Miriam replied. “He doesn’t know you overheard them in the parking lot.”

“So you do believe they did it,” Ruth muttered.

Miriam ignored her.

Noah’s eyes leveled on the three of them as he approached. His eyes were hard and cold.

Miriam shivered.

Noah stopped in front of them. He rubbed his unshaven chin as if sizing them up.

“Noah?” Holly asked cautiously.

“I guess you heard about Mei’s mom,” he murmured, his voice strained.

They nodded.

“We’re so sorry,” Miriam offered. What could she say to this … killer?

Stop it, she told herself. You have no proof. So just stop.

“Mei’s really wrecked,” Noah said. “I am, too. I came to school to get her work for the rest of the week.”

He turned his eyes to Holly.

Miriam swore she saw her friend shrink three inches.

“I saw you at the game Saturday,” he said.

Holly blinked. “You did?”

“Yeah. In the parking lot. You were on your way to your car.”

Miriam’s eyes were locked on Noah’s hands.

Could those be the hands of a killer? Could they have pushed Mrs. Kamata down the stairs?

“I gotta go,” Noah said, his eyes regaining their far-off glaze. “I’ll tell Mei you’re sorry about her mom.”

Miriam gulped.

“Thanks,” Holly mumbled. “We—we’ll call Mei later.”

Noah moved off, down the hall and out of sight.

They all collapsed against the lockers. Miriam wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the gooseflesh under her fingertips.

Holly whirled on her. “Do you believe me now?”

Miriam stared at her best friend. She didn’t know what to think.

“Did you hear him?” Holly cried. “Did you hear what he said about Saturday night?”

“Holly …”

“Did you see the way he looked at me?”

Miriam pictured Noah’s cold eyes.

“They saw me, Miriam! They know I heard them plotting to kill Mei’s mom,” Holly’s voice was shrill.

“They know—and now they’re going to kill me, too!”

chapter 11

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ruth said. “Noah is just upset. He wasn’t threatening you.”

“No,” Holly moaned, shaking her head. “I could see it in his eyes. He knows.”

“Holly,” Miriam said. “Think about what you’re saying. You’re talking about murder.”

“I know. Don’t you think I know that?” Holly’s voice came out shrill and high.

“Holly!” Miriam pleaded. “Noah didn’t mean anything by what he said. He didn’t kill anybody. He came over here to tell us about Mei’s mom.”

“Be careful,” Ruth warned. “If you spread false rumors about them, they’ll be hurt. And furious. You don’t really believe they would kill someone.”

“How can I not believe it, Ruth?” Holly shrieked. “You weren’t there. You didn’t hear how serious Noah was.”

“Ruth is right,” Miriam said. “If you spread this rumor, Mei and Noah would be destroyed. Everyone will think they’re guilty just because you accused them.”

“What if they are guilty?” Holly insisted.

Miriam shrugged. “Then they’ll get caught. But not because of us. You can’t say anything, Holly. You just can’t.”

Holly heaved a sigh. “Okay. I won’t say anything.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Miriam turned to Ruth. Ruth raised her eyebrows. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t think they did it. Holly’s crazy.”

“Thanks, Ruth,” Holly murmured. “Thanks for the support.”

“I’m realistic,” she replied.

“We all agree?” Miriam asked. “No one spreads nasty rumors?”

Ruth and Holly nodded, but the air remained tense. Miriam could feel the tension pouring from Holly.

Studying her best friend, Miriam knew Holly had no doubt that Mei and Noah were murderers. Holly thought they were coming for her next. She believed it down to her bones.

The worst part about it, Miriam thought, is that I’m not completely sure Holly is wrong.

Mei couldn’t do something like that, she insisted to herself. Holly is wrong.

Miriam thought about Mei sitting at home, in shock, grieving, dealing with her mother’s sudden death. Holly’s melodrama had clouded over the real tragedy—the death of a friend’s mom.

Miriam tried to imagine her own mother dying. She couldn’t. It was too painful, too terrifying.

Ruth’s father had been dead for three years, and from time to time Miriam could still see the grief in her friend’s eyes. Ruth carried her father’s memory with her like a dark shadow.

How would Mei cope?

“I have to get to math,” Ruth said, bringing Miriam back to reality. It seemed strange to have to go to class after hearing such awful news.

“Me, too,” mumbled Holly, still distant and brooding.

“Holly?” Miriam asked.

“What?”

“This is probably a stupid time to ask, but can I get a ride home with you again? I don’t think I could take the bus after a day like today.”

Holly appeared confused for a moment. She shook her head as if to clear the memory of Noah’s threatening eyes. “Sorry, I can’t today. I’m staying late to help decorate the gym for the victory rally.”

“Who says we’re going to win?” Ruth demanded.

“The varsity club advisers want to start hanging streamers and posters and stuff before the big game,” Holly explained. “That way we’ll be ready to have a rally the next day if the Tigers win. I said I’d help paint signs.”

“Call me when you get home, Holly,” Miriam suggested. “Please?”

Holly nodded. “I promise.”

The phone rang at seven-thirty and Miriam jumped. She’d been deep in The Scarlet Letter for English class, and the shrill noise sent a shock through her.

“Hello?”

“Miriam, it’s me.”

Miriam recognized Holly’s whisper.

“Hey, Holl. How are you holding up?”

“I’m still at school,” Holly answered, still whispering.

“Why?” Miriam asked. “It’s seven-thirty.”

“I was working late in the gym. Everyone’s gone.”

Miriam felt a sudden chill. “What’s wrong? Why are you whispering?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Holly replied, a little louder now. She paused. “That’s not true. Everything’s wrong. Will you come down here and keep me company? I’m seeing shadows everywhere, Miriam. They all look like Mei.”

“Just go home,” Miriam replied.

“I can’t,” Holly moaned. “I promised I’d stay. Miriam, I won’t be long. Please come down?”

“Holly,” Miriam said sternly. “Mei isn’t going to hurt you. You’re imagining things.”

Holly ignored her. “If you won’t come down here for me, then come down because I have something important to tell you. About Jed.”

Miriam sat up straight. “What about Jed?”

“You have to come down to find out,” Holly told her. Then her voice grew fearful again. “Please, Miriam? I swear I’m telling the truth. I found out something about Jed. And I’m really scared.”

Miriam eyed her coat. “Let me make sure I can get the car.” She covered the receiver with her hand. “Mom!”

“What?” came the shouted reply from downstairs.

“Can I borrow the car? Holly needs a ride from school.”

Holly had her own car, of course, but this was urgent. Miriam needed the car!

“Okay, dear. But come right back. It’s getting late.”

Miriam uncovered the receiver. “Holl, it’s cool. I’ll be right there.”

There was no reply.

“Holly?”

Silence.

Miriam’s heart began to pound.

“Holly?” she cried into the phone. “Holly, answer me!”

chapter 12

Fifteen minutes later Miriam pulled into the Shadyside High parking lot next to Holly’s Camaro. Clearly, her friend hadn’t left the school yet.

So why did she leave the phone? Miriam wondered.

The big double doors near the gym entrance were unlocked. They fell shut behind Miriam with a clank.

The main hallway stood dark and empty. Miriam paused, listening for the sound of other kids working. In the auditorium. In the library down the hall. Anywhere.

Silence.

“Holly?” she called.

She heard only her echo off the endless row of gray lockers.

Miriam pulled open the gym door and peered into the massive room. The orange gymnasium lights were on, casting shadows onto the newly decorated walls. The floor was littered with pieces of crepe paper and freshly painted Shadyside Tigers signs.

No one in the gym.

Where was Holly?

Miriam called her friend’s name again as she walked into the center of the gym.

No answer.

A heavy fear grew inside her. She suddenly wanted to run out of there as fast as she could. She thought about their conversation that morning—about murder and killers.

What if Holly was right?

No. Impossible.

Taking a deep breath, Miriam strode across the gym toward the boys’ locker room. She peered around the corner into the short hallway filled with random pieces of athletic equipment. The locker room door was closed.

No Holly.

Turning back to the gym, Miriam looked toward the girls’ locker room entrance. She could see a pile of art supplies just within the hallway leading to the door.

Taking a deep breath, Miriam made her way toward that hallway. As she approached, she could make out a GO, TIGERS! sign. A half-finished Shadyside tiger was painted on the plywood. She saw a tarp spread on the floor in front of it. She spied two dishes of paint and a brush as well—still wet, as if waiting for someone to return.

“Holly?” she called one more time.

The last time, she vowed. She wanted to get out of the gym as fast as possible. Her temples pounded. Her mouth had gone dry as cotton.

Still no answer.

As Miriam turned to leave, she noticed the orange light falling on something behind the hand-painted sign, partially hidden from view.

A strip of bright blue snaked across the floor.

Miriam’s breath hitched.

Holly’s scarf.

A chill ran down Miriam’s back.

Holly never went anywhere without that scarf.

Miriam felt dizzy. She wanted to back away, run across the gym, out the doors, escape from there for good.

But she couldn’t. She had to look behind the sign. She had to examine Holly’s scarf.

She took a timid step forward, careful of the paint cans.

When she peered around the sign, she let out a gasp of horror.

Holly. Sprawled on the floor, her curls spread around her face.

A trickle of dark blood ran from her nose into her ear. The scarf lay twisted around her neck, its flesh an angry purple.

Was Holly breathing?

No.

Her hands were flung out to her sides, curved into rigid claws as if fighting off an attack.

And then Miriam saw what would haunt her nightmares—Holly’s eyes.

Her beautiful green eyes.

No longer green.

They had rolled back into her head. Like two egg whites, they stared up blankly, lifelessly at Miriam.

And Miriam opened her mouth in a long, high scream of horror.

chapter 13

Miriam had never truly screamed before.

Screamed in terror.

Screamed for her life.

The sound burst out of her, a frantic animal cry. So loud she found herself holding her own ears.

She stumbled away from Holly’s corpse, slipping on the tarp. A can of paint spilled, pouring thick red liquid all over her sneakers and the floor.

She fell hard.

Miriam felt no pain. All she could think about was the sickening gray-whites of Holly’s eyes, the claws of her hands. She had to get away.

Holly’s dead! How can she be dead?

Miriam scrambled on her hands and knees, slipping in the paint, trying desperately to regain her footing.

When she finally struggled to her feet, Miriam stood still for a moment, ignoring the whimpering sound that escaped her throat.

Tears blurred her vision, and she turned and ran blindly for the doors.

Someone grabbed her.

Held her hard. Someone tall and very strong.

“No!” she wailed, struggling like a trapped animal, pounding her fists against the chest and arms that reeled her in.

I’m going to die, Miriam thought.

Holly’s killer is going to strangle me, too.

“Miriam!”

“No!”

“Miriam! It’s me! It’s Jed!”

“Jed?” Miriam stared up into the shadowed face. It was him! “Oh, Jed.”

She clamped her arms around him and held tight, wanting him to make it all go away.

“What is it?” he asked. “Why are you screaming?”

“Holly,” she sobbed. “Holly’s by the locker room. Dead. She’s dead.”

Jed’s fingers dug into the flesh of Miriam’s arms. “What?”

She managed to meet his eyes.

“Yes!” she screamed. “Go look. Look for yourself.”

Slowly Jed released her and moved toward the locker room door. He cautiously avoided the spilled paint. He leaned to peer around the sign. In her mind, Miriam saw what Jed was looking at—Holly’s horrible, purple face and neck. Holly’s corpse.

Miriam sank to the floor, gripping her hands together tightly.

How could this happen? She didn’t understand. She couldn’t think.

Jed thundered across the gym floor. He scooped her up by the arm. “Come on. We’re getting out of here.”

“Jed—what about—”

“She’s dead. We have to get to a phone. Call the police.”

Blindly Miriam nodded.

Moving side by side, they slammed through the doors and ran down the hall to the phones near the gym entrance. Jed frantically fished in his pockets for a quarter.

“You don’t need it!” Miriam yelled. “Just dial!”

Jed grunted and punched the numbers. Miriam hardly heard him speaking into the receiver. She couldn’t make her mind focus on anything. Nervously she wandered away from the phone, toward the double doors leading outside.

“Miriam,” Jed called. “Stay close.”

Her ears barely recorded the order. All she could hear was the echo of her own scream. Once again she saw Holly’s sprawled corpse, the blue scarf pulled so tight around her throat. She imagined Holly struggling, clawing at her attacker.

Her attacker.

Miriam froze. Who did this?

Mei? Noah? Could it really be true?

Distantly Miriam heard Jed hang up the phone. Then he was next to her again, holding her close.

“Come on,” he whispered. They moved to the double doors and stepped outside.

The cold, clean air swirled around Miriam. She saw everything around her so clearly now—Jed’s grip, her paint-smeared sneakers on the sidewalk, the tears freezing on her cheeks.

Jed sat her down on the curb near Holly’s Camaro. She could picture Holly behind the wheel, happily dishing out the latest rumors flying around school. Holly driving her to Jed’s basketball games. Holly wearing her favorite scarf. Holly’s attacker pulling the scarf tight, strangling her.

Holly.

Miriam couldn’t believe she was really gone.

Murdered, she reminded herself. Someone murdered Holly.

“Are you going to be all right?” Jed asked softly.

Miriam shook her head. She reached into her pocket and found a tattered tissue. She blew her nose loudly.

“I’ll never be all right,” she murmured.

She tossed the tissue aside. Jed pulled her closer and told her everything would be okay.

“I don’t want to be comforted, Jed,” she whispered coldly. “I want to know who killed her.”

“Whoever it is, they’re long gone by now.”

Maybe, Miriam thought. But I think I know their exact address.

“Part of my brain keeps telling me this is all a dream,” Miriam mumbled. “That Holly is still alive.” She gazed up at Jed. “But I know she’s dead. I saw her lying there. I saw her.” Miriam covered her face and sobbed into her hands.

Jed jumped to his feet and paced back and forth. “Where are the cops?” he growled. “Why is it taking so long?”

Miriam glanced up at her boyfriend. His eyes were cold. He seemed to have forgotten she was there.

Jed threw himself at Holly’s Camaro.

Miriam stared in astonishment as Jed smashed his fists against the hood of the car. He kicked the tires, the door. But not a sound escaped his lips.

Oh, no, Miriam thought. He’s really lost it this time.

She choked back a sob. “Jed?”

“What?”

“Will you stop that? Please?” Miriam gazed at him with desperate eyes. “Will you hold me?”

He stared at her for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, nodded, and returned to his seat. He slipped his arms around Miriam, and she buried her face in his shoulder. “I’m so glad you were here,” she whispered.

Surprised by her own words, Miriam glanced up at Jed’s face. He had been there all along. In a dark, deserted school by himself.

Miriam sat up straight. She felt a chill of fear.

Jed. All alone in the gym. So late.

“Why were you here?” she asked in a trembling voice.

She suddenly didn’t want to know the answer. But she had to ask.

“Jed—why were you here?”

chapter 14

“I was working out,” he mumbled absently. “I was putting in a late set in the weight room. Gary left about ten minutes ago.” Jed stiffened. “Oh, man. Gary. When he hears about Holly …”

“Oh, Jed,” Miriam moaned. “He’ll be devastated.”

Jed nodded.

Miriam could feel her breathing grow slower. Her thinking cleared. “You guys were here,” she said. “Did you hear anything?”

Jed shook his head. “Not a thing. We had Gary’s tape player really loud.”

“Are you sure?”

Jed’s face darkened. “I’m sure, Miriam. We didn’t hear a thing.”

Miriam spotted it immediately—Jed’s violent personality surfacing to meet her challenge. Then it sank back into its dark hole.

She shivered.

“Who would do something like this?” Jed wondered aloud.

Miriam’s eyes narrowed. Who would do this? Who would commit such a horrible crime?

Someone bad, Miriam thought. Someone evil.

Someone capable of killing her own mother.

Mei.

“Are you all right, Miriam?” Ruth asked. “Can I get you anything?”

Miriam shook her head. It felt so heavy she thought it might fall off. “I wish everyone would stop asking me if I’m all right, as if I just got over the flu or something.”

“Sorry,” Ruth replied.

They were in Miriam’s house on Fear Street. It was late the following afternoon. Ruth had stopped by to deliver Miriam’s homework assignments.

Miriam was glad her mother had let her stay home. She would have been totally useless at school.

But even being at home was torture.

The day had passed slowly. Miriam spent the whole time huddled under her quilt, dozing fitfully. The only time she could forget about Holly was when she was asleep.

Even then she had dreams of those rolled-back eyes and Holly’s purple neck.

Too much to bear.

“Gary is really torn up,” Ruth said. “I guess he cared about Holly even more than I thought.”

Miriam wondered why her friend sounded so numb.

Maybe because she is numb, Miriam thought. I know I am.

“He wasn’t in school today, either,” Ruth continued. “I dropped by his house this morning before I left for school. But his father wouldn’t let me in.”

Miriam kept silent, listening to Ruth’s quiet voice, half of her eager to hear what was going on in the twisted world of Shadyside High. Old gossip habits die hard, she thought with some guilt.

“And Mei wasn’t there,” Ruth continued. “I checked.”

Miriam didn’t reply. She knew what Ruth was thinking.

“Noah was there, though. Looking totally psycho. I guess he hasn’t been sleeping.”

Miriam wiped her palms on her comforter. She pulled it up to her chin, feeling safer under its warmth. “I don’t want to talk about them, Ruth. I just can’t.”

Ruth leaned forward. “You know, Miriam,” she said sharply. “You’re not the only one hurting. Holly was my friend, too.”

Miriam shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, I know you’re right. I’m just so miserable. And frightened.”

Ruth sat down on Miriam’s bed. “Holly and I didn’t always get along. But still, I can’t believe she’s gone.” Ruth met Miriam’s gaze. “I’m controlling my emotions, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have them.”

Miriam sat up in bed. “I never thought that, Ruth,” she replied, gripping her friend’s hand. “I know you must be upset too. It’s just that …”

“What?”

Miriam tried to smile. “I miss her already.” A tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. “I miss her, and I haven’t been able to think about anything else. Every time I close my eyes, I see Holly’s face.”

“I know,” Ruth replied. “The school is having an assembly tomorrow. Kind of a memorial. They’re going to talk about Holly’s death, lecture on school safety, all that stuff.”

She paused. “The school counselors think everyone will go nuts if they don’t talk about their feelings. Maybe it would do you some good to talk about it.”

Miriam sighed. “I’ve been talking to myself all day, and that hasn’t helped. My mom says I have to go back tomorrow. She thinks I need to get back into the routine. That it will help me forget.”

Forget Holly’s death? Miriam thought.

Never.

Miriam threw her pillow at the wall, feeling a burst of rage. “Everyone thinks I should forget about seeing Holly’s body! How is that possible?”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Ruth said quickly.

Miriam nodded, her anger fading back into sadness. “I know. I was talking about everyone else—my parents and Jed. Not you, Ruth—you understand how I feel. I couldn’t get through this without you.”

Ruth looked away. “I’m not so strong. On the inside.”

“I wish I was as tough as you,” Miriam persisted. “I always have. You keep your cool. You didn’t miss school. I know you’ve been through this before with your father. But that doesn’t make Holly’s death any easier to take.”

“Holly’s murder,” Ruth corrected her.

Miriam shivered. “I don’t want to think about that.”

“We have to, Miriam,” Ruth argued. “We know who did it.”

“No, we don’t.”

“You’re going to sit there with a straight face and say Mei and Noah didn’t kill Holly?” Ruth jumped to her feet. “Come on, Miriam! Didn’t you tell the police anything last night?”

“No!”

Ruth looked incredulous. “Why not?”

“There’s no proof.”

Miriam’s voice caught on the words. She knew her argument sounded lame. Mei and Noah were guilty. Why couldn’t she accept that? They killed her best friend!

Ruth’s hand tightened around Miriam’s.

“Mei and Noah are the only two who had a reason to kill Holly,” Ruth whispered. “And you know it!”

Miriam couldn’t argue. She did know it.

“Holly knew it, too,” Miriam replied after a moment. “And we didn’t believe her.”

She stared at Ruth in grim silence.

Finally Ruth asked, “What should we do?”

“We can’t do anything,” Miriam insisted. “It’s not that I don’t want to. But we have no proof. The only thing we can tell the police is that Mei and Noah talked about killing her mother. That we heard a rumor that they talked about it.”

“You’re right,” Ruth said, frowning. “The police will laugh at us if we try to convince them that sweet little Mei Kamata killed her mother and her classmate.”

Miriam leaned back against her headboard, exhausted. “If Mei really did it, the police will be able to find out, won’t they?”

Ruth didn’t answer.

They were quiet for a moment.

“I guess I’ll let you get some sleep,” Ruth said. “Let me just give you the homework.”

Miriam watched as Ruth reached for her backpack and dragged it up onto her lap. Ruth unzipped the pack, reached in, and pulled out the top notebook.

It was nearly covered with a reddish-brown, sticky liquid.

Ruth uttered a cry of surprise. She dropped the notebook on Miriam’s bed. “What is that?”

Miriam’s voice was barely a whisper. “Blood?”

Miriam stared at Ruth, and then at the notebook. Something was scrawled on the cover in blood. Squinting hard, Miriam slowly made out the words.

“What does it say?” Ruth whispered.

“‘We know you know,’” Miriam read, her voice trembling. “‘That’s why you die next!’”

chapter 15

Ruth let out a low moan of horror. “Who wrote that?” she cried. “Who put that in my backpack?”

Miriam let the blood-scrawled notebook fall to the floor. The ugly threat repeated in her mind. She shook her head hard, trying to shake away her fear.

“How did it get in my backpack?” Ruth repeated. And then she growled, “Mei.”

“What?” Miriam cried, feeling dazed.

“It was Mei,” Ruth declared. “And Noah. They know that Holly told us what she heard.”

“How could they know that?” Miriam gasped.

“Come on,” Ruth moaned. “The Gossip Queen? They know Holly could never keep her mouth shut.”

Miriam nodded. Ruth was right. Holly hadn’t kept her mouth shut.

And Mei and Noah knew it.

“They’re serious,” Miriam said. “They’re really serious! How can they be so crazy? Killing Mei’s mother, then Holly, and now threatening us?”

Miriam threw back the quilt and got out of bed for the first time all day. “We’re going to tell the police.”

“But we know they won’t believe us!”

“They will now,” Miriam declared, glancing down at the blood-scrawled notebook. “Come on, Ruth. We have to. If Holly had gone to the police, she might still be alive.”

Miriam remembered bitterly that she was the one who had talked Holly out of going to the police. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

“Are you sure?” Ruth asked.

“I’m sure.” Miriam met Ruth’s gaze firmly. This was the strongest she felt since finding Holly’s corpse. “Let’s tell my mom. She should probably go with us.”

“Okay.” Ruth nodded. “Let’s go.”

Miriam returned home two hours later. Her mother drove Ruth home.

What next? Miriam wondered, stepping into the dark house.

The notebook and backpack were in the hands of the Shadyside police. It hadn’t been blood after all. Just red paint—the same kind of paint Holly had been using in the gym the night she was killed.

Miriam didn’t care. The blood might be fake—but the threat was real.

The police had taken Ruth and her very seriously once they got a look at the notebook. They had no real leads as yet. And the story about Mei and Noah, Mei’s mother, and Holly’s eavesdropping was an angle they had not known about. They promised to follow up on it immediately.

Going to the police had made Miriam feel a tiny bit better. What would happen now? she wondered. Would they question Mei and Noah? Would they arrest them?

An ugly thought forced its way into Miriam’s mind.

What if Mei and Noah come after Ruth and me before the police have a chance to arrest them?

It was such a real possibility that Miriam shivered. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, trying to smooth away the goose bumps.

A car drove by on the street in front of her house. She turned off the living room light and watched it pass.

She didn’t recognize it. The car kept right on going.

Don’t get completely paranoid, she warned herself. Then she went to bed.

Miriam lay back on her bed, trying one more time to fall asleep. Instead she found herself picturing Holly. Then Jed. How Jed was there to save her.

Jed.

She missed him. Since his temper had started taking over, Miriam hadn’t confided in him the way she used to.

Ruth was her best friend now. But Miriam wanted to talk to Jed. She needed to tell him what was happening.

She hadn’t seen him since last night—the most horrible night of her life—in the gym. He had called twice during the day to see how she was doing. He was sweet and caring—acting once again like the old Jed.

Should she call him now? It wasn’t too late. She hesitated. Could she trust him to be the caring guy he used to be? Not to fly off the handle?

She picked up the phone.

He answered on the first ring.

“Jed?”

“Miriam? Are you okay?”

“No,” she whispered. She felt the tears coming. All it took was hearing his voice. “I miss you.”

“I’ll be right over,” Jed answered quickly.

Miriam tried to reply, but he had hung up.

He was coming.

“Hurry,” she whispered into the dead receiver.

Ten minutes later Jed’s Civic screeched to a stop in front of the Maryleses’ house. Miriam had dressed quickly. Now she sat hunched on the porch steps, the cold ripping through her. She liked the cold. It reminded her that she was alive.

Jed smiled warmly as he came up the sidewalk, tall and handsome in his Shadyside varsity jacket, like a prince right out of her dreams. Fresh tears filled her eyes even though she’d promised herself she was through crying.

“Jed,” she croaked.

She ran to him, and he took her into his strong arms. She wiped her face against his coat. “I’m sorry,” she sniffed, taking a deep gulp of cold air. “I didn’t call you over here to watch me cry. How was practice?”

“Forget practice,” he replied. He guided her to the porch steps, and they sat down. “That’s not why you called me.”

“I know.” Miriam took a deep, calming breath. “It’s Holly.”

Jed nodded, but he didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry, Miriam. I don’t know what to say.” He swallowed. “Everyone was talking about her murder at school today. No one could talk about anything else.”

Miriam sighed and leaned against Jed.

“Gary is a total mess. And now everyone is turning Holly into some kind of saint. I just want to forget about the whole thing. But I can’t,”

Miriam studied him closely. What did he mean by that last comment? Holding her breath, she waited, hoping her silence would force him to explain.

It didn’t.

“I never thanked you for being there for me last night,” she murmured, holding on to his arm.

Jed flashed her a quick smile, but he still didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he stared into the darkness, his jaw muscles clenching.

Miriam opened her mouth, about to tell him everything—about Mei and Noah, the police, the bloody notebook, the scrawled threat.

But his expression made her keep quiet. She’d seen that look in his eyes before. Last Saturday, after he came out of the locker room.

A murderous look.

How could she tell him about Mei and Noah? He’d go berserk.

He’d do something violent. She knew it.

Frowning, Miriam tried to think what had set him off this time. She couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Are you all right, Jed?” she asked carefully.

Abruptly he stood. “No. I’m sorry, Miriam, but I don’t want to talk about Holly anymore. I’m sick of it.”

He stood above her, suddenly trembling with rage. “She treated Gary like dirt! And she stuck her nose into everyone else’s business. Miriam—she was even asking Gary questions about me. What did she need to know about me? Huh? What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing, Jed, I—”

“Holly is dead, Miriam. I know she was your best friend. I’m sorry for you. But I don’t feel sorry for her!”

“She was murdered, Jed!” Miriam cried. “Someone strangled her! How can you be so heartless?”

Jed leaned close to Miriam, his breath hot on her face, his eyes cold.

“Because it was all Holly’s fault.”

chapter 16

Rage washed away any fear Miriam felt. “Jed!” she gasped. “I can’t believe you said that!”

She stood, planting herself directly in front of him, her chin angled up at his shadowed face. “I was the one who told Holly to ask about you.”

Jed scowled at her. “What are you saying?” he demanded.

“I did it. You’ve been acting like a total crazy person these past few weeks! So angry all the time. Ruining the biggest game of the year. And hurting me.”

Miriam took a deep breath. “I needed to know, Jed. Holly was doing me a favor. But now she can’t tell me what’s wrong with you. You have to tell me. What is it?”

Jed’s shoulders slumped. He sighed. “Why did you have to do that, Miriam?”

“I care about you, Jed. And if something’s wrong, I want to know about it. No matter how bad it is.”

He turned away.

“Jed?”

“What?”

“Tell me. Please.”

But his face had grown hard again. “I’ve been telling you! Pressure. My father wants me to get a scholarship. Coach Hurly wants me to practice twenty-four hours a day. The rest of the school expects me to win the championship. What more do you need to hear?”

“Well, maybe if you would talk to me more, I could help you!” Miriam cried.

Jed didn’t seem to hear her. He was still pacing, punching his fist into his hand.

“I couldn’t take it anymore,” he continued, his eyes wild. “When Holly came asking all her nosy questions, I got mad. What’s wrong with me? I have a life, that’s what. I don’t have time to stand by my locker and whisper about Mei Kamata’s every move. Okay, Miriam? Does that explain it enough?”

Miriam couldn’t speak. She had no idea what to say. Finally she replied: “That doesn’t explain what you said about Holly. There is no way it was her fault she was killed.”

Jed let out a humorless laugh. “Maybe not.” Miriam saw a muscle twitch in his face. “But you don’t know everything, Miriam. You think you do, but you don’t.”

He turned away from her again and stormed down the sidewalk toward his car.

“Jed, wait!” Miriam started after him. But her anger halted her halfway.

Let him go, she told herself. He’s not the guy you knew.

Could he really be that cold-hearted? Did he really believe all the terrible things he said about Holly? Was it possible that he truly thought Holly had deserved to die?

Without another word Jed climbed into the car, slammed the door, and sped off.

When he was out of sight, Miriam let out her breath in a thick cloud of steam.

What did he mean, I don’t know everything? What else is there to know?

Does Jed know something more about Holly’s death than I do? she wondered.

A bitter wind howled down the street, stinging her cheeks. Miriam didn’t know how long she’d been standing in the freezing winter air. She dug her hands back in her pockets and shivered back to the front door, and warmth.

One thing she did know—she couldn’t talk to Jed anymore about what was happening. Jed had been replaced by a stranger.

An angry stranger who really frightened her.

*   *   *

“I can’t do it,” Miriam told Ruth. She stopped in the main hallway of Shadyside High. She felt cornered. Trapped with Ruth in a long line of students heading for Holly’s memorial. “I can’t go in there.”

“Miriam,” Ruth urged, “come on. It won’t be that bad.”

Students pushed past them, heading for the gym. A lecture on student safety was planned, as well as a group counseling session for anyone who wanted to participate.

Miriam couldn’t bear it. “They’re insane if they think we’ll get up in front of hundreds of people and talk about how we feel! I won’t do it.”

Miriam didn’t say it, but there was another reason she didn’t want to step into the gym.

She’d found Holly there.

Ruth pleaded, but Miriam held her ground. Someone jostled her. Another kid bumped her from behind.

“You’re blocking the way,” someone complained.

Ruth grabbed Miriam’s arm and dragged her out of traffic. “You can’t just stand here,” she whispered. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” Miriam replied. “Just go, Ruth. Leave me alone, okay? I really need to be alone.”

Ruth’s gaze softened and she shrugged. “Okay. But don’t get caught. You don’t need detention right now.”

Miriam nodded. “Thanks, Ruth.”

Ruth slipped back into the crowd and disappeared.

Miriam pictured Holly on the gym floor, her bloated face and purple neck, the trickle of blood down her cheek.

Was this what the counselors wanted her to discuss? Her memories of a strangled corpse?

A sour taste rose in her throat. Suddenly Miriam felt truly sick. Clamping one hand over her mouth, she raced against the tide of students and pushed her way into the bathroom.

She tossed her books into a sink, then dropped to her knees in front of the first toilet. Her breath came in hitches. Visions of Holly flew in her head—Holly fighting off her attacker. Holly choking. Holly dying. Miriam wanted more than anything to get it all out.

But nothing happened.

Miriam’s breathing returned to normal. A cold sweat coated her upper lip.

She felt shaky but better.

She took several deep breaths, then slowly rose to her feet.

Her books had landed haphazardly in the sink. She stacked them neatly on a ledge and turned on the faucet. Then she splashed the cold water onto her face.

She pulled a long strip of paper towel out of the dispenser and dried her cheeks, wiping away the salty grit that never seemed to leave her eyes since Holly’s death.

She stared into the mirror.

What’s happening to me? she asked herself.

She had been so happy. She had had Jed. She had had Holly and Ruth. Friends who loved her—who she loved in return.

All slipping away.

Miriam shivered. It was so cold in this bathroom. The porcelain of the sink felt frozen.

Felt dead.

She heard a sound.

A slow creaking sound that made her flesh crawl.

The bathroom door slowly opened, its hinges squeaking.

Miriam turned.

Mei and Noah stood in the doorway.

chapter 17

“Mei?” Miriam croaked. She held on to the cold sink. Her legs suddenly felt shaky and weak.

Mei and Noah entered the bathroom, letting the door close behind them. They looked as if they hadn’t slept in a week.

What were they going to do?

“Miriam, we need to talk,” Mei said. She held her hand out as if to calm Miriam down. “I have to know what you told the police.”

“I told them the truth,” Miriam replied, trying to steady her voice. Her eyes darted from Mei to Noah.

Mei’s lip quivered and she turned to Noah. He put his arm around her and glared at Miriam.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Noah exploded.

Miriam blinked in confusion. Mei and Noah certainly weren’t acting as if they wanted to kill her. Or even frighten her.

What was going on?

Mei narrowed her eyes at Miriam. “You told them lies, Miriam! Complete lies!” She clenched her fists and stepped forward. “I loved my mother! I would never kill her!”

Miriam pressed herself against the sink behind her.

“How did you know I went to the police?” she asked Mei.

“Because they made us come in for questioning. They kept Noah there for four hours last night!”

Miriam turned to Noah, but he didn’t reply. He stared coldly at her.

“How could you do this, Miriam?” Mei yelled. “I thought we were friends. How could you spread such lies?”

All the blood left Miriam’s face. Her head swam. She didn’t dare say anything.

A frightening thought crept into her head: The whole school was in the gym. No one knew where she was. No one would hear her screams.

“Mei …” she began.

“Don’t,” Mei interrupted. “I know why you went to the police. You think we did it. You think we killed Holly, too.”

Mei shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe Holly sucked you into all of this. My mother fell down the stairs by accident, Miriam. She sprained her ankle last week, and it gave out again on the top of the stairs. Do you hear me? It was an accident.”

Miriam tried to clear her head. She listened hard to what Mei told her. Took it in. Thought about it.

And still didn’t believe it.

Mei and Noah were murderers. She was sure of it.

They were trying to get her off their trail. That was the only explanation.

“I don’t believe you,” Miriam declared.

“I’m telling the truth! I swear on my mother’s soul! You know how close we were!” Mei screeched. “Don’t believe all the garbage Holly put in your head. Think!”

Miriam shook her head. “Holly heard you plotting it. She heard you after the basketball game. She heard Noah say he’d do whatever it took.”

“Yeah,” Noah snarled. “The cops ran that one by me a few times last night. Haven’t you ever said that you wanted to kill your parents, Miriam?”

Miriam squirmed. She had made that very same argument with Holly.

And now Holly is dead, she thought angrily.

“I’ve said it lots of times,” Miriam replied defiantly. “But I never did it.”

Noah’s face darkened. Mei shook her head in disbelief.

“What will it take to convince you?” Noah asked. “You’re the only one left who truly knows Mei. You know her. You know she’s innocent. You know someone else killed Holly.”

“Who?” Miriam yelled.

Noah shrugged. “Who knows? All I know is that it wasn’t us. That’s all I care about.”

“I care about Holly!” Miriam wailed. “She was my best friend!”

“So was I, once,” Mei said. “Why can’t you believe me now? Holly had a big mouth, Miriam. She didn’t care who she hurt. A lot of people probably wanted to kill her. But we didn’t. You have to believe me.”

Miriam stared deep into Mei’s eyes. Memories came rushing back—she and Mei at football games, dances, going to the movies together …

They had been best friends.

Until Noah.

Miriam turned to study him. She could never trust those eyes. Who knows what Noah could convince Mei to do? she thought. Who knows what Noah could do on his own?

Mei touched Noah’s arm. “Come on,” she murmured. “She doesn’t believe us.”

Noah pulled Mei close and gave her a short hug. His eyes never left Miriam. Then they turned to go, arm-in-arm.

What do you believe? Miriam asked herself.

“Mei?” she called timidly.

Mei turned, gazing hopefully at her.

“I want to believe you,” Miriam whispered. “I know how you were before, Mei. Back then you wouldn’t hurt a fly. But now …” Miriam gestured at Noah. “I don’t know.”

Mei’s face hardened. “I would kill for Noah!” she cried. “Don’t say a word about Noah!”

Miriam gasped. “You would kill?”

Mei smiled. “I would,” she repeated. “But I didn’t.”

Miriam saw a smirk cross Noah’s face as he took Mei’s hand and led her away. He kept his eyes on Miriam the whole way to the door.

Miriam felt sick again. Noah’s eyes were dead, expressionless.

She didn’t care what Mei said, or how convincing she was. Noah Brennan was a dangerous person. Miriam couldn’t forget those eyes.

The eyes of a maniac.

The eyes of a killer.

They walked away from me now, Miriam thought.

But will they come back?

chapter 18

Miriam had never been so happy to see the end of a school day. The final bell had rung. The halls were silent.

She stayed after to make up a history quiz. Now she grabbed what books she needed and closed her locker, finally ready to head out. She tried not to think of Holly’s locker next to hers.

She walked down the main hall toward the student parking lot. Her mother had let her drive to school today, probably out of sympathy. Miriam didn’t care why. It was nice to have a car to herself.

As she passed the hallway that led to the boys’ locker room, she heard Jed’s voice.

Jed’s angry voice.

“Get out of my face, man,” he growled.

Miriam whirled and saw him. He and Gary were nose to nose by the water fountain.

Miriam ducked behind the corner and watched, making sure no one saw her. The halls were empty.

“No way!” Gary yelled. “I will be in your face as long as it takes, Jed. I’m not carrying this around with me forever. You’re going to slip up somewhere, and I’ll blow the whistle.”

“No, you won’t,” Jed taunted him. “You don’t have the guts.”

“Watch me,” Gary shot back. “I know everything Holly knew. She was always right about you.”

Jed’s face twisted. “You always have to bring her up, don’t you? Get over it! She’s dead!”

Gary backed off a few steps, clearly shocked that Jed would say such a thing.

Miriam bit her lip. What was going on?

“I’m warning you, man,” Jed said. “Don’t mess with me. Just forget everything you know.”

“You don’t scare me,” Gary sneered.

Jed raised a warning finger. “Forget everything, Gary.”

Gary muttered a curse and disappeared into the locker room.

Jed started walking toward Miriam. She backed away from the corner, her heart racing.

What did Gary know about Jed? What was going on with him?

Miriam backtracked down the hall to make it look as if she were coming from her locker. She didn’t want him to know she’d been eavesdropping. Holly would be proud, she thought grimly.

Jed rounded the corner and stalked away from her, toward the doors to the parking lot. Miriam hurried to catch up.

“Jed?”

He turned violently, his eyes flashing. When he saw her, he relaxed a bit. “Hey,” he said curtly.

Miriam approached, hugging her books to her chest, trying to be brave. She had to be calm, try to find out what was going on.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m … I’ll be okay,” she managed. “I’m getting better.”

“That’s good.” He nodded absently. “Real good.”

A tense moment passed.

“Uh, Jed—”

“Look, I—”

They both stopped.

“Go ahead,” he urged.

“No,” she replied. “Please. You first.”

“I … I just wanted to apologize for last night. I know I’m apologizing almost every day for something. But I wanted you to know I was truly sorry for the things I said. Holly was your best friend, and I guess I let my own feelings get in the way of that.”

Miriam nodded. “And?”

Jed seemed puzzled. “That’s it. And I was hoping you would come to the game tonight. It’s against Reed Valley. If we win, we make the finals. And Coach Hurly said that this is the one I have to nail. There will be a half-dozen scouts watching.” He smiled. “This is the big one.”

Again, Miriam only nodded. Then she said: “I’m going to give you one last chance, Jed. And I want the straightest answer you’ve ever given in your life. What is going on with you?”

His jaw tightened. His fingers flexed on the strap of his gym bag.

“Well?” Miriam demanded.

“Miriam, if I blow this tonight, I’m through. No basketball, no scholarship, no college at all. Can’t you understand that?”

“There’s more, Jed!”

“What else could there possibly be? I swear I’m telling you the truth! What more do you want from me?”

Miriam leaned toward him. “What are you hiding?”

“What?”

“You’re hiding something, Jed. Holly called me the night she was killed to tell me something she found out about you. What is it?”

Jed tossed up his arms. “How should I know? I don’t even know what you’re talking about!”

“Yes, you do!”

“Look, Miriam, I’m sick of talking about Holly! I don’t care what she told you. Holly’s dead, and you still want to know her gossip! Get over it.”

Miriam took a step back. Jed was getting violent again. Why wouldn’t he tell her what Holly had found out?

Then it hit her.

Holly knew something about Jed.

Something bad enough to upset Gary.

Jed had been at school the night Holly died. Alone.

He showed up right after I found Holly.

Was he somehow involved with her death?

Was he responsible for her death?

Miriam stared at Jed, studying his face.

She had to ask. She had to ask it again.

“What were you doing at school the night Holly was killed?”

chapter 19

“What are you, a cop?” Jed snapped. “I told you. I was in the weight room. Lifting.”

“Wasn’t it a little late for lifting?”

“Whoa. Wait a minute.” Jed’s eyes narrowed. “You think I killed Holly?”

Miriam stared him in the eye. He was obviously furious, but she wouldn’t back down this time. She had to know the truth.

“If it’s not that, then tell me what it is, Jed. Tell me!”

“Gary and I had a late session because of so much time between playoff games!” he told her. “We didn’t want to lose our edge! If you don’t believe me, go into the locker room and ask Gary. Go. Go! Ask him!”

Miriam hesitated. Had she gone too far?

“Something is going on with you, Jed,” she stated. “And I’ll find out what.”

Jed gave a dry, humorless laugh. “I can’t take this anymore, Miriam. I’m done.”

He backed away from Miriam, shaking his head. “If you think I killed Holly, fine. I’m a murderer,” he continued. “Well, this murderer is going home to get ready for his big game. This murderer is going to score forty points tonight and get a full ride to Georgetown. Okay? See you later.”

He bolted for the doors.

“Jed!”

He ignored her.

“Jed!”

The crack in her voice stopped him. He stood still for a moment, then finally turned. His eyes no longer held rage, only exhaustion.

Miriam’s hands were shaking. Her whole body shook. She thought maybe she was truly losing her sanity.

But she had to make a decision.

She did not believe Jed was a murderer. Did not believe he was capable of that much violence. He was acting strangely about Holly now. But he had always been friends with her before. He couldn’t have killed her.

Jed did not kill Holly, Miriam told herself.

“Come on, Miriam,” Jed said impatiently. “I’ve got to go.”

The words wouldn’t come. “Oh, Jed … I’m …”

He nodded curtly. “I know you are.”

“Sorry.”

“I know.”

“I’ll be at the game tonight,” she promised.

“Thanks,” he replied. “So will I.”

“Please come to the game with me, Ruth,” Miriam begged. “I can’t handle being there alone.”

Ruth shook her head violently. “There is no way I’m going anywhere that Mei and Noah can see me,” she declared. “And if you were smart, you’d stay away from them, too.”

Frustrated, Miriam flopped back on Ruth’s bed, watching as Ruth fiddled with the water bottle in her hamsters’ cage.

Miriam had gone to her friend’s house on the way home from school. She needed Ruth’s level-headed advice on how to deal with Jed.

But Ruth didn’t seem very level-headed today.

Ruth seemed terrified.

Ever since Miriam had told her about seeing Mei and Noah in the bathroom, Ruth had been acting like a frightened child. She had gone home directly after school, and she refused to leave the house for the basketball game.

“Gary is going to need all his friends for support, Ruth,” Miriam insisted. “This game will be really hard for him. You know how wrecked he is by Holly’s death.”

“I know. But think how wrecked he’d be if you and I were murdered, too,” Ruth replied. She placed the mesh top back on the hamster cage and turned to Miriam. Her expression was serious.

“I think you should tell the police that Mei and Noah threatened you today, Miriam.”

Miriam thought about Noah and Mei in the bathroom. She pictured Noah’s eyes. So cold.

So menacing.

But Noah hadn’t really threatened her.

“I don’t know, Ruth,” she said thoughtfully. “I got the feeling that Mei was telling the truth. I mean, I did know her really well once. I could probably tell if she was lying.”

Ruth’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t believe you!” she cried. “If Mei and Noah didn’t kill Holly, who did? Why would anyone else want to kill her besides them? Who do you think sent us that bloody notebook?”

“But I think Mei was telling the truth,” Miriam insisted. “I think she believes her mother’s death was an accident.”

“Maybe she does believe that,” Ruth agreed. “Maybe that’s what Noah wants her to think. I bet he’s the one who killed her mother—and Holly.”

Miriam shrugged. She couldn’t stand to think about Holly any more. She dragged herself off Ruth’s bed.

“I promised Jed I’d go to the game,” Miriam told her friend. “If you’re not coming, I’d better go on home and get ready.”

Ruth turned back to the hamster cage. She sure loves those two hamsters, Miriam thought. I can’t believe she hurries home to them after school.

“Please don’t go, Miriam, I mean it,” Ruth warned.

Although Ruth’s voice was calm, Miriam felt a chill crawl up her spine.

“What could possibly happen at a basketball game?” Miriam asked.

“I don’t know,” Ruth replied. “But something is going to happen tonight. Something terrible.”

chapter 20

Miriam’s mother dropped her off at the gym. Miriam had pleaded again with Ruth. But Ruth wouldn’t change her mind. She had insisted on staying safe at home.

Maybe she’s the smart one, Miriam thought as she entered the gym by herself.

She arrived early. The game wasn’t supposed to start for another hour and a half. She hoped to get a moment with Jed before everything started. The afternoon’s explosion still weighed heavily on her mind.

How could she have thought that Jed had murdered Holly?

This was Jed! He had no reason to do it, no reason at all.

She was wrong to accuse him, and she wanted to apologize. He shouldn’t be worrying about her during his big game.

Miriam strode out into the main hallway, which was nearly deserted this far from game time. She rounded the corner to the boys locker room—and grinned at her good luck.

Jed leaned over the water fountain, in his warm-up uniform, all alone.

Before she could call his name, he popped something into his mouth and took a hasty drink to wash it down.

“Jed!”

He spun sideways, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

“Miriam,” he gasped. “You scared me.”

She approached him with a smile. “I’m sorry. What was that you were taking?”

“Oh, um, it’s a high-potency vitamin,” he replied. “I found it at a health food store in Waynesbridge. It gives me energy right before the game.”

Miriam nodded. “Jed, I—”

He held up a finger to stop her. “Don’t apologize, Miriam. I’m the jerk here, remember?”

Miriam smiled. “I do remember something like that, now that you mention it.”

“Look, I’ll make a deal with you. Don’t say anything. I’m going to go out there and kick some Reed Valley butt, mop a few floors, get a couple scholarships, and then we can go out afterward. Sound good?”

Miriam laughed. “Yeah, it sounds great.”

“Good. I’ve got to get to warm-ups.” He gave her a quick kiss. A thrill went through her at his touch. She wished he could stay.

“Jed?” she called.

He turned back to her.

“Kill ’em,” she said.

By the middle of the third quarter, Jed was on fire. He’d already scored twenty-one points, but Shadyside was losing to Reed Valley, 52-45.

Miriam had never gone to a game by herself before, but she was so into it she didn’t even think about Holly’s absence.

Until, during a time out, her eyes scanned the bleachers—and came to rest on Noah Brennan.

He stared back at her.

Miriam stiffened. Why was he watching her? She scanned the crowd for Mei, but didn’t see her. Miriam pretended not to notice Noah’s glare.

She focused on the game.

Jed was barking at his teammates, bringing the ball upcourt. He passed to Gary, who took an outside shot and missed.

Jed didn’t like that at all. He gave his friend an angry shout after a Reed Valley player got the rebound and brought the ball back downcourt.

Reed Valley scored.

Miriam groaned.

Jed was in a fury. He yanked the ball from the ref and inbounded it violently to Gary again.

Miriam looked down the bleachers.

Noah was gone.

She turned her attention back to the game.

Jed drove for the basket. He dribbled hard and prepared to leap. Then a Reed Valley player stepped in front of him. Jed barreled over him, stomping him into the floor.

The refs whistle blew.

An offensive foul on Jed.

He exploded. Slammed the ball to the floor.

It bounced up a good twenty feet, and the crowd let out a gasp. Jed moved into the ref’s face, bellowing words Miriam couldn’t quite make out from her seat in the bleachers. She bit her lip. If he argued any harder, he’d get a technical foul, maybe even an ejection.

“Back off, Jed,” she pleaded. “Back off.”

Gary pulled Jed away from the ref. Too late. The ref called the technical foul.

Jed erupted like a volcano, screaming over Gary’s shoulder.

Then one of the Reed Valley players yelled something at Jed.

Miriam watched helplessly as Jed turned on the player.

And attacked.

Jed punched him in the jaw, driving the boy’s head back so far that Miriam feared his neck would snap.

The player dropped instantly. And Jed fell over him. He latched on to his throat with a savage two-handed grip. He choked the player, slamming his head into the hardwood floor over and over again.

Miriam gasped.

Jed was killing him!

The truth hit her that instant.

In that instant, she knew everything.

Her mind spun helplessly into a picture so complete, so horrifying, and so true that she was paralyzed by it; Jed’s strong hands pulling Holly’s scarf tight around her throat, all his anger channeled into the desperate act of murder.

It was true.

Jed did kill Holly!

Watching him on the floor, Miriam knew he was the murderer.

A shudder of dread shook her whole body.

Now what? she asked herself, feeling so alone, so helpless.

What do I do now that I know?

chapter 21

Miriam struggled to breathe. Again she saw the hideous scene. The blood on Holly’s face. The scarf around her purple, swollen neck. It all made sense now.

Holly knew something about Jed. Jed found out. No one could keep a secret at this school. Jed found out, waited until everyone was gone—and murdered Holly!

Jed had been at school that night, all alone with Holly. Miriam knew that. Why hadn’t she seen it before? His sick, cold attitude toward Holly’s death explained everything.

He said it was Holly’s fault, her own mouth got her killed. She deserved to die.

Of course he would say those things. He killed her!

Miriam felt her pulse beating hard at her temples.

Oh, Jed, she thought, her mind running a thousand miles an hour, why did you do it? How could you kill her? Why why why?

Jed killed Holly. Plain and simple. Mei and Noah were telling the truth that afternoon. And Miriam had been too blinded by love to see it.

Terror gripped Miriam as she watched Jed being pulled off the court. His face was red, his chest heaving. He held his head as if in pain, roaring threats and curses. It took three players to drag him off the court and shove him in the direction of the showers.

He kicked open the door to the locker room and stormed through, alone, enraged.

A sob rose in Miriam’s throat. Get out of here, she thought. I have to get away from Jed.

Miriam grabbed her coat and bag and fought her way past knees and legs to the end of the bleachers. She jumped to the floor and raced for the exit.

There would be no hiding her knowledge from Jed. She wouldn’t be able to fake it. He’d see it in her eyes—and know he had to kill her, too.

So she ran as fast as she could.

The cold air felt like needles against her bare cheeks. She didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore. She didn’t have time for fear.

Miriam thought of Ruth. Only a few blocks from school, Ruth was home. She said she would be home all night.

Miriam ran through the parking lot. Got to get to Ruth’s house.

She heard it then.

The distant sound of the school doors pushing open. She’d heard it a thousand times after the final bell.

Someone else had come out.

She stopped and swept her eyes across the cars in the parking lot.

No one there.

Shivering against the cold, she started moving again.

She stopped when she heard a scuffing sound. Shoes on sidewalk.

Her heart pounding, Miriam whirled around. Her eyes strained against the darkness.

They locked on a tall figure striding quickly out of the shadows.

Into the parking lot.

Coming for her.

chapter 22

Miriam slipped into the deep shadow of a parked car, gazing through the windows at the shape pursuing her.

Who was it?

She put a hand against her chest, trying desperately to slow her heartbeat. She concentrated, swallowing her fear, staring with wide eyes through the glass.

He was definitely male. Tall and lean. Moving smoothly and swiftly. With a stealthy confidence that frightened her even more. This person had a purpose.

Was it Jed?

She couldn’t tell. The school floodlights silhouetted his body. She couldn’t see his clothes, couldn’t see his face.

For all she knew, Jed was still in the locker room, ripping towel dispensers off the wall. This could be anyone. Someone leaving the game. Someone coming outside for a breath of fresh air. He didn’t have to be following her.

The figure halted.

She watched his hands ball into fists.

He scanned the parking lot.

Who am I kidding? Miriam thought.

It had to be Jed.

Who else could it be?

Then she remembered Noah. Remembered his cold eyes staring from the bleachers. Remembered that he left his seat immediately after seeing her.

Miriam squinted into the purple-black shadows.

Was it Noah? Jed?

The figure moved again, moving quickly toward her.

Miriam knew one thing: She had to get away!

She ran bent in a crouch until she cleared the row of cars. At the last car she stood up and broke into a sprint.

She didn’t care if the guy saw her. She knew her lead was short—fifty yards at best. Could she outrun him?

“Miriam!”

The shouted name made her gasp.

She recognized the voice at once.

Jed.

Miriam took off, running as fast as she could.

“Miriam! Wait! Please!”

She didn’t slow down.

Jed was a seasoned athlete in top form. He would catch her.

Then he would kill her.

“Miriam! Stop!”

She made the turn onto Ruth’s street. The houses loomed in darkness, black against a blacker sky. If she yelled for help, no one would hear her.

Miriam had never felt so utterly alone in her life. Thoughts of pain and death gripped her in terror. But she forced herself to keep running.

Miriam chanced a quick glance behind her. Her eyes swept frantically over the trees lining the street, the streetlights giving off circles of eerie haze.

No one there.

No one chasing her.

Her pursuer had vanished.

She slowed, her breath coming in great gulps, her sides spiked with pain.

She backed into the shadow of a tree trunk and squinted into the darkness.

No one.

Ruth’s house came into view, three doors down. Miriam inched cautiously down the sidewalk, half turned to keep her eyes on the street.

Where was he?

Where was Jed?

Had he stopped chasing her? She knew he had his car at the school. Maybe he decided to drive after her.

How would he know which direction she was headed?

He’s a psycho, she thought. He’ll drive all over Shadyside looking for me, even if it takes all night.

Jed, she thought hopelessly, how could you do this to me?

As if in reply, Jed stepped out of the bushes and blocked her path.

chapter 23

“Miriam!” he uttered.

She screamed.

Jed grabbed her.

Tried to cover her mouth.

She bit his hand.

He howled and tore his hand away.

Miriam screamed again. But this time her cry was filled with rage.

She lashed out in fury. She smashed her elbow into his chest.

Jed gasped and dropped to his knees. She could see him struggling to breathe.

For a split second Miriam stood and stared at him. She had never hit anyone before.

Jed groaned and Miriam jumped away from him.

Her entire body trembling, she forced herself to run.

It took all her strength to pull herself up to Ruth’s front door.

She pounded frantically, glancing back at Jed, still on his knees.

The porch light came on.

The door opened slowly.

Miriam pushed her way into Ruth’s house.

“Miriam!” Ruth gasped. She was in pajamas and slippers. “What’s wrong?”

Gasping for breath, Miriam struggled to get the words out.

Ruth stared in confusion.

Finally Miriam turned, slammed the front door, and flicked the deadbolt into place.

“Oh, no!” Ruth’s hand flew to her mouth. “Is it Mei and Noah?”

Miriam shook her head violently. She took a deep, heaving breath and snarled: “Jed!”

Ruth’s eyes went wide. “Jed? Jed? That’s impossible!”

“It’s Jed!” Miriam cried, finding her voice. “Jed did it all! Now lock the back door!”

“It’s already locked,” Ruth replied. “But, Miriam—”

Ruth’s voice broke.

Miriam narrowed her eyes at her friend. To her surprise, Ruth looked terrible.

Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, as if she had been crying. Her hair fell in damp tangles.

“Ruth, what is it? What’s wrong?” Miriam choked out.

“It isn’t Jed,” Ruth said. “Jed isn’t the murderer.”

Miriam uttered a startled cry. “Huh? What are you saying? How do you know?”

A sob escaped Ruth’s throat. “Two other murders,” she choked out in a slow, trembling whisper. “Two other murders. Tonight.”

chapter 24

Miriam’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.

“Come on,” Ruth pleaded. She took Miriam by the arm and dragged her upstairs.

“Ruth, where are we going? We have to call the police. Jed—he’s out there and—”

“Mei and Noah broke in here tonight!” Ruth revealed. “My mom’s working late tonight. I fell asleep in the family room. A noise woke me up.”

They reached the top of the steps. Ruth’s bedroom stood straight ahead, the door slightly ajar. Yellow light washed out into the hallway.

Miriam shivered, wondering what Ruth was so desperate to show her.

“Mei and Noah were here! And they did this!” Ruth cried.

She pulled open her bedroom door. It swung wide and banged against the wall.

Taking a deep breath, Miriam stepped inside. Her eyes swept around the room. At first everything appeared normal. Posters covered the wall. The stereo on its shelf. The bed had been neatly made.

But then Miriam’s eyes moved to the wall behind the bed.

To the shelf beneath the window.

To the dark puddles on the carpet.

To the two bodies beside the dark puddles.

And she uttered a scream of horror.

chapter 25

Ruth’s hamsters lay in puddles of blood. Gaping in disbelief, Miriam took a step closer.

“Ohhhhh.” A moan escaped her throat as she saw their heads.

Their heads.

Their heads had been smashed. Smashed flat.

And their little, furry bodies.

Torn and battered.

Smashed.

Miriam raised a hand to her mouth and tried to fight off wave after wave of nausea.

“Mei and Noah left a note,” Ruth said in a voice trembling with emotion.

She picked it up off her desk and read it to Miriam: “Dead hamsters today … Dead girls tomorrow.”

Miriam suddenly felt dizzy. She slumped against the wall, struggling to hold herself up. “Oh, Ruth!” she cried, gazing down at the battered bodies on the floor. “Ruth …”

Ruth shook her head, fighting back tears.

Miriam took a deep breath. She pulled herself up. “We have to call the police.”

Ruth nodded. “The phone is in my mother’s room. Will you come with me? I—I’m afraid to be alone.”

“Of course I will,” Miriam replied, putting her arm around Ruth’s shoulders. They made their way down the hall.

Ruth sat on the edge of her mother’s bed. She took a deep breath and dialed the emergency number.

Miriam wandered over to the window. Clearly, Mei and Noah were the killers—not Jed. But still, he’d been chasing her.

Where was he now? Miriam saw no sign of him outside.

Behind her, Ruth hung up the phone.

Miriam turned to her friend, not knowing what to say.

Ruth stared at her. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and Miriam could see the pain there. Ruth had been so attached to her hamsters.

Miriam felt a shiver. How could Mei and Noah do this? What did they plan to do to Ruth and her?

Ruth had begun to cry.

Miriam handed her a tissue. “Do you want to get dressed before the police get here?” she asked.

“I can’t go back in my room with Lizzy and Tilly like that!” Ruth cried.

“I’ll go back and cover them up,” Miriam offered. “You don’t have to see them like that again.”

Ruth murmured her thanks.

“You wait here,” Miriam said soothingly. She crossed the hallway and made her way back into Ruth’s room.

She glanced around the room in search of a shirt, a coat, anything to cover Lizzy and Tilly. The closet door caught her eye.

There’s probably a shoebox or something in there, she thought. She pulled open the door.

Miriam searched the shelf for a box, but all she found were a few sweaters. Glancing down, she saw a red-and-black flannel shirt on the floor. It was balled up, practically tied in a knot.

That must be dirty, Miriam thought. I’m sure Ruth won’t mind if I use it.

Miriam picked it up.

The shirt felt wet. And heavy.

Miriam brought it out into the light, kicking the closet door closed behind her. As she turned, the shirt suddenly opened.

A heavy object fell out onto the floor with a loud thud.

Surprised, Miriam glanced down.

Her hands were covered with blood.

chapter 26

With a startled cry, Miriam dropped the shirt.

It was wet, stained with dark blood.

“Ruth?” Miriam called hoarsely.

What is going on here?

Miriam stared down at the object that had fallen out of the shirt. She recognized it immediately—Ruth’s old hammer. The hammer that had belonged to her father. The one with the missing claw.

Its head was coated with wet liquid, bits of gristle, shreds of matted hair.

No, she thought. I’m imagining this. It can’t be.

She kicked the wet shirt away from her foot and backed up against the desk.

“Miriam? Are you all right?” Ruth stood in the doorway.

Miriam turned in time to see Ruth’s eyes turn icy.

Ruth stared at the shirt on the floor, at the blood on Miriam’s hands.

Her face twisted in anger.

And Miriam knew the truth.

She saw it on Ruth’s face.

Ruth had killed her pets.

Miriam’s mind reeled. She didn’t want to believe it.

But the proof lay on the floor in front of her, soaked and staining the carpet. The only question that remained was why?

Miriam stared at Ruth. Their eyes locked. Ruth lowered her gaze to the hammer.

The moment stretched on forever.

Without understanding why, Miriam understood that she was in danger.

“Ruth—” she uttered. “Please—”

Ruth dived for the hammer.

Miriam threw herself to the floor, a split second behind Ruth. She reached desperately for the hammer, her fingers brushing the smooth, worn wood of the handle.

She grasped it.

So did Ruth.

They rolled on the floor, struggling for the weapon.

“Why?” Miriam screamed. “Why did you do it?”

Ruth pushed an elbow into Miriam’s stomach. The pain tore through her, forcing the air from her lungs.

Miriam couldn’t breathe.

But she refused to let go of the hammer.

Ruth pulled harder, tried to elbow her again.

Miriam blocked the attack.

“No!” Miriam cried. “Stop! Please, Ruth, it’s me!”

Ruth responded by grabbing a handful of Miriam’s hair and pulling.

Miriam screeched and flopped onto her back.

Ruth rolled on top of her, the hammer between them.

Miriam felt something soft and wet on her back.

“Ohh.” She uttered a moan of disgust when she realized she was lying on top of the smashed hamsters.

Miriam gagged, swallowing hard. Her grip on the hammer loosened.

Ruth let out a roar—and tore it away with a grunt of triumph.

She reared back and swung.

Miriam screamed and threw her arms up to protect her face.

But Ruth had aimed for an easier target.

The hammer smashed into Miriam’s left kneecap.

Miriam shrieked. The raging pain shot up her knee.

Miriam screamed again, swinging her fists wildly. One of her fists connected with Ruth’s jaw.

Miriam heard Ruth grunt. Ruth’s weight eased, and Miriam rolled to the side, clawing her way free of the other girl.

She scrambled across the room and leaned against the closet door, holding her throbbing knee.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her hands shook violently. She could no longer control them.

She couldn’t fight anymore.

Ruth slowly stood, massaging her jaw.

“Nice punch,” she muttered. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Miriam kept shaking her head. No, no, no!

Ruth hefted the hammer.

“You did it,” Miriam choked out. “You did it all!”

Ruth nodded, her eyes vacant.

“Why?” Miriam whispered. “Why did you kill Holly? She was your friend!”

“She was a waste!” Ruth snapped. “She had to die. She led Gary on. He was in love with her, and she didn’t care!”

Miriam gaped at her. “You killed Holly for Gary?”

Ruth nodded again. “I love Gary! I always have. He’s the greatest guy in the world, and I’m so lucky to live next door to him. We talk all the time. We laugh. We even kissed once,” Ruth declared. “I bet you didn’t know that!”

“No,” Miriam murmured. She hadn’t known that. But it didn’t change anything. It didn’t mean Holly had to die.

Ruth was sick. Horribly sick.

“I didn’t mean to kill Holly,” Ruth explained, as if reading Miriam’s thoughts. “But I had to stop her. She was breaking Gary’s heart. I couldn’t let her do that.”

Miriam desperately searched the room for a weapon. For a way to escape. But all she could see was Ruth in front of her, the hammer poised in her hand.

“I only wanted to talk to Holly that night at school,” Ruth continued. “I wanted to make her break up with Gary so he’d be free to be with me.” Ruth scowled. “I would never steal him away the way Holly was trying to do to Mei! Holly deserved to die just for that!”

‘Oh, Ruth—”

“Shut up, Miriam. Just shut up! I don’t want to hear all the good little hopeful things I know you’re dying to say to me. There is no hope. All of us were put on this earth to suffer—and Holly never suffered.” A black cloud of anger filled Ruth’s eyes.

She’s insane, Miriam realized. She’s totally insane.

“Holly laughed at me when I mentioned Gary. As if he belonged to her! As if he had no feelings! She laughed at me. She promised that once she had Noah, she’d deliver Gary to me personally, like he was a shipment of meat!”

“Wh-what did you do?” Miriam gasped.

“She wouldn’t stop laughing at me, Miriam. So I grabbed her. She may have been pretty, but she sure was weak. She didn’t even hit me once!”

Ruth shrugged. “It didn’t take long to make her stop laughing. I was so happy I did it. She deserved to die, spreading those rumors about Mei and Noah, trying to break them up. Hurting Gary.”

“You’re sick,” Miriam whispered. “Holly was a good person. She was only kidding around with you. She thought you were a friend.”

“Shut up, Miriam.” Ruth’s face brightened. “You know, it’s funny. Holly’s gossip ended up being my alibi. She’d already told you about Mei planning to kill her mother. All I had to do was use that. It was all so simple. Mei’s mother’s death was an accident. Just an accident. But you actually believed that Mei killed her mother! You never doubted it.”

“I did so doubt it!” Miriam replied. Her answer sounded lame in her own ears.

“Yeah, right,” Ruth scoffed.

“It’s all over now, Ruth,” Miriam said, trying to sound brave. “Jed will be here any second. He saw me come in here.”

“I’ll kill him, too.” Ruth snapped. “You thought he was a killer.” She chuckled. “Is there anyone you didn’t think was a killer?”

“You’ll never get away with it,” Miriam croaked.

“With both of you dead? I think I will. Jed broke in, killed the hamsters, killed you, so I killed him. Self-defense explains everything.”

Miriam was desperate now, willing to try anything. She couldn’t move with her wounded knee. She couldn’t fight anymore. Her only chance was to talk Ruth out of killing her.

Some chance, Miriam thought miserably.

“Ruth, you’re my friend. How can you—”

“I’m not your friend!” Ruth screeched. “You’re almost as big a snoop as Holly was! I tried to keep you alive! I tried to make you believe it was Noah! But you had to keep poking around where you didn’t belong.”

Miriam sighed. “You hate me.”

Ruth shook her head. “You’re so sickeningly happy, all I can do is pity you. Look at yourself! Your first shot of some real pain, and you’ve cracked already. You’re weak.”

Ruth glanced at the hammer in her hand. “You never had a single problem in your whole life.”

She raised the hammer.

“Well, now you do!”

Miriam stiffened. “No, Ruth! Please!”

Ruth stood over her, beaming in triumph.

She swung the hammer.

chapter 27

The hammer hit air.

Miriam screamed.

Ruth laughed. “See how weak you are?”

“Ruth—put down the hammer,” Miriam pleaded. “I’ll help you. I promise I will.”

Ruth’s smile faded. She raised the hammer again. Fingered the claw.

She’s so crazy, Miriam thought, feeling a wave of terror sweep over her. She murdered her own pets. Murdered them so I’d think Noah and Mei were murderers.

She’ll do anything.

Anything.

“Ruth, please—”

“No one understood,” Ruth muttered. “No one understood about me and Gary. Gary is special. But no one understood.”

She started to say more—but a noise in the hallway made her stop.

Miriam turned as a figure lurched into the room.

Jed!

“Hey—what’s going on?” Jed demanded, gazing from Miriam to Ruth.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Miriam cried.

I’m saved, she thought, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Jed is here. I’m going to be okay.

“Jed, quick! Grab her!” Miriam screamed. “She killed Holly!”

Jed uttered a startled groan. He dived for Ruth.

Ruth stepped aside. She pulled back her arm—and heaved the hammer at Jed.

“Noooo!” Miriam screamed.

The handle of the hammer hit Jed in the side of the head.

Jed’s eyes bulged. His mouth dropped open and didn’t close.

He toppled forward, his expression still stunned, crumpling in a heap on the bedroom carpet.

He didn’t move.

Ruth raised her eyes to Miriam. “You’re next,” she said softly.

chapter 28

Crumpled facedown on the floor, Jed uttered a groan. He didn’t move.

Ruth stepped over him and moved quickly toward Miriam. She picked up the deadly hammer as she advanced.

Miriam’s knee throbbed with pain. She knew she couldn’t step down on her right leg.

But she couldn’t stand there and let Ruth murder her.

“I’m sorry, Miriam. I really am,” Ruth said without any feeling at all.

She swung the hammer.

Miriam ducked away.

Pulled herself up and along the wall with both hands.

Hobbled and hopped to the window.

Turned in time to see Ruth moving in on her, hammer poised.

“I’m sorry. So sorry,” Ruth murmured. “I won’t have any friends left after tonight—will I? Not even my two hamsters. My two real friends.”

“Ruth—please—!” Miriam begged. “I’m your friend. You’ve got to believe me.”

Jed groaned again. He raised his head from the carpet.

Ruth turned to watch him.

The break Miriam needed.

She lunged to the shelf. Grabbed up the glass hamster cage in both hands.

Raised it.

Raised it.

And brought it down over Ruth’s head.

Miriam shut her eyes against the crash of shattering glass and bending metal.

Ruth didn’t utter a cry.

The hammer fell from her hand. It landed on her foot.

And then Ruth slumped to the floor beside it.

Miriam stared down at the shards of glass. The room blurred. Her knee throbbed.

She grabbed the back of the desk chair to hold herself up.

It’s over, she thought.

It’s all over.

So why do I feel so bad?

Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. She pushed herself away from the chair and dropped down beside Jed.

He stirred. Sat up. Rubbed his head with one hand.

“Whoa,” he murmured.

“Are you okay?” Miriam demanded. She put both hands around his shoulders. She pulled herself close. Held him tight.

“Jed—are you okay?”

He blinked several times. Pressed his cheek against hers. “Yeah. I’m okay,” he replied. Then he added, “Now.”

“Jed, I’m so sorry,” Miriam whispered, holding on to him. “I’m so sorry … about everything.”

“Me too,” he murmured.

“I—I can’t believe I doubted you. I can’t believe I really believed that you killed Holly.”

Jed uttered a choked cry. He gently pushed Miriam back. “I—I have to tell you something,” he stammered.

“Jed—what?”

“I did kill Holly.”

chapter 29

Miriam inhaled sharply. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Miriam, you have no idea how many times I’ve wanted to tell you what’s been going on with me. That’s why I followed you from the game tonight. I’d lost everything, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t lose you, too.”

Miriam’s heart started to pound harder. She waited for Jed to continue, dreading what he was about to say.

Jed took a deep breath. “I might as well just say it. About four weeks ago I started taking steroids.”

“Oh, wow,” Miriam murmured. “Steroids.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. It was really stupid. I know.”

“Why, Jed?”

“I wanted scholarships. I wanted a lot of them. I wanted every major basketball power kicking down my door. I knew I was good. But I needed to be great. The pills would give me that edge.”

He shook his head. “And for a while they did. I felt strong. Really strong. My confidence soared. I’d never felt so powerful before. But it didn’t last long.”

“The side effects,” Miriam guessed.

“Yeah. Between the migraines and anxiety attacks and mood swings, I was a walking nutcase,” he admitted. “There were times when I really thought I was going to kill someone.”

Miriam squeezed his hand. “What happened?”

“Gary happened,” Jed replied. “He knew I was out of control. He tried to get me off the pills, but I ignored him.”

Miriam frowned. She squeezed his arm. “I’m confused. What does any of this have to do with Holly?”

Jed looked at his feet. “Gary would’ve done anything for Holly. And she kept asking him what was going on with me. So he finally told her. But I guess he felt guilty, because he also told me that Holly knew.”

Jed paused and shook his head. “The day she was killed,” he continued, “I knew Holly was staying after school. I was going to be there working out. I asked her to wait for me in the gym. I wanted to talk to her. I was going to ask her not to tell you about the steroids.”

Jed lowered his eyes, avoiding Miriam’s stare. “The steroids messed me up. Holly was waiting for me in the gym. But it took me a long time to get my head together. And by that time—”

He uttered a choked sob. “I was fifteen minutes late. And that’s when Ruth killed Holly. If I hadn’t been so messed up. If I hadn’t been late, I would have been there. And … maybe Holly would still be alive.”

Miriam pulled Jed close and held him. “You can’t think like that,” she whispered.

Ruth groaned behind them.

“We’ve got to call the police,” Miriam said. “Right away.”

But Jed held on to her, pressing his face against hers. “Does this mean—you—you’re going to keep seeing me? If I promise never to take another pill. Will you—will you stay with me?”

Miriam sighed and held on to him. “That’s the latest gossip,” she whispered.

About the Author

“Where do you get your ideas?”

That’s the question that R. L. Stine is asked most often. “I don’t know where my ideas come from,” he says. “But I do know that I have a lot more scary stories in my mind that I can’t wait to write.”

So far, he has written over fifty mysteries and thrillers for young people, all of them bestsellers.

Bob grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Today he lives in an apartment near Central Park in New York City with his wife, Jane, and fourteen-year-old son, Matt.

THE NIGHTMARES NEVER END … WHEN YOU VISIT

FEAR STREET®

Next …

THE FACE

(Now Available)

Martha can’t remember anything about that day. Not the smallest detail. The doctors say it will all come back to her in time….

But someone can’t wait for Martha to remember. She draws his face over and over. She can’t control her hand. Who is this boy? What does he want from her?

Martha doesn’t know. But she’s going to find the answer. Even if it means confronting her painful past … and facing the dead.