“She said Tristin was going to kill her.”
“Seriously? Kill her?” Cassidy sounded doubtful as she turned onto a main road.
“I’m sure Devon’s just being melodramatic, but I’m just as sure that Tristin must be furious. What kind of measures do you think she’d take to get that flash drive back?”
“I have no idea. But if Devon really got the evidence, Tristin’s going to be in big trouble at school. Maybe even legal trouble.”
“Tristin isn’t exactly a passive sort of person. Plus she’s tall.” Emma cringed to think of Devon being cornered by an enraged Tristin. Who knew what she might do?
“Do you think Tristin was armed?” Cassidy sounded even more concerned now. “Is it possible her dad might have a gun or anything like that?”
“A gun?” Emma couldn’t imagine Tristin with a firearm . . . or even a knife. “I don’t think so. Devon didn’t say anything to suggest that. But she did sound totally scared. I’m guessing Tristin is pretty desperate to get that drive back.”
“This is creeping me out big-time,” Cassidy said as she turned on the street that paralleled the Lakewood development. “Think we should call the police?”
“I don’t know . . . I mean, really, could it be that serious?” Just the same, Emma reached for her phone. “Devon didn’t say to call the police.”
“What if we find them and Tristin is beating up Devon? Or what if she has a knife or a gun or something dangerous?”
“Oh, Cassidy, you don’t think that could happen, do you?” Emma nervously fingered her phone.
“I don’t know . . . but no, not really.”
Emma leaned forward, peering out into the foggy darkness. “Devon said she was near the corner of Aspen and Willow.” She pointed to a sign. “That’s Willow, you better turn there.”
“Which way?”
“I don’t know.” Emma looked up and down the darkened street. “Try right. If we don’t find Aspen soon, we’ll double back.”
“This really is creepy,” Cassidy said as she slowly drove down Willow. “Like I’m expecting to see Devon’s lifeless, bleeding body in the middle of the street.”
“Cassidy!” Emma scolded. “Now you’re creeping me out.”
“Why did Devon do this—go there all by herself? She should’ve given us a heads-up or something.”
“I don’t know any details.” Emma was looking back and forth, trying to spot some kind of movement in the headlights.
“Maybe you should have your phone ready to call 911 . . . just in case.”
“Don’t worry, I do.”
After slowly cruising several blocks, Emma spotted the Aspen sign. “This is the right corner!” she exclaimed. “Devon should be near here.”
“Should I stop driving?” Cassidy asked. “You want to open your window and call out for her?”
“What if Tristin is nearby?” Emma cringed.
“Yeah, good point.”
“Devon knows your car. She knows we’re coming.” Emma looked down at her phone, wondering if she should call Devon to let her know—
“Look!” Cassidy pointed to a shadowy figure on the other side of the street.
“That’s Tristin,” Emma whispered. “Keep driving. Don’t even look at her. Just keep going.”
“Where is Devon?” Cassidy asked in a hushed tone.
“She can’t be far from here.” Emma looked from side to side.
“Dear God,” Cassidy prayed out loud. “Please, help us find Devon. Safely. Amen!”
“Amen,” Emma agreed.
“Why don’t you call her?” Cassidy urged. “Find out where she’s hiding.”
“What about the ring tone? If Tristin’s nearby she’ll hear it.”
“Where is she?” Cassidy muttered as she slowly cruised.
They were several blocks beyond where they’d spotted Tristin. “Maybe you should double back,” Emma suggested. “She might still be hiding at that intersection.”
As Cassidy turned back, Emma hit speed dial. “I’m calling her,” she said quietly, pressing the phone to her ear to hear better.
“Hurry back!” Devon hissed as a greeting. “Same place. I saw you just now.” Before Emma could warn that Tristin was nearby, Devon hung up.
“She’s still at Aspen and Willow!” Emma told Cassidy. “Hurry!”
“She’s not the only one there,” Cassidy pointed to someone standing next to a tree alongside a driveway as they came up to the intersection. “Tristin’s there too. Like she’s waiting.”
“I’m unlocking the doors,” Emma said. “In case Devon makes a break for it.”
“Just be sure to lock them back up after she’s in,” Cassidy commanded.
“There she is!” Emma exclaimed. Devon was making a mad dash for the car and Tristin wasn’t far behind.
“Drive!” Devon yelled as she leaped into the backseat. “Go!”
Tristin pounded on the back of the car, yelling, and Cassidy stepped on the gas. The car lunged forward as Devon slammed the door and Emma pushed the lock button. “Go-go-go!” Emma screamed in terror. “Tristin looks furious!”
“Does she have a gun?” Cassidy asked as she continued driving fast.
“No,” Devon said breathlessly. “But if she’d gotten her hands on me, she wouldn’t have needed one.”
“Are you crazy?” Emma turned around to peer at Devon. “Going to Tristin’s alone like that?”
“How did you do it?” Cassidy demanded. “Tell us everything.”
“I hooked Tristin earlier today,” Devon explained in a gruff-sounding voice. “Got her interested in talking about MyPlace and how it wasn’t that hard to create a phony page. She invited me to come home with her so she could show me her tricks.” Devon coughed.
“Are you sick?” Emma asked. “Your voice sounds raspy.”
“I pretended to have this bad cough while we were on her computer. I coughed so long and so hard that I convinced her to go get me some hot water and honey for my throat.” She coughed again. “I could actually use some now. Anyway, it was while she was gone that I did a quick search in her photo file and found some Felicia pics. So I pulled out my flash drive and had just loaded a couple when Tristin came back.”
“Oh no.” Emma gasped.
“She didn’t know what I’d done at first. I got up from the computer and met her at the door, but then she saw one of the pics still open on her computer and she got suspicious.” Devon made a nervous laugh. “Then I did something pretty stupid, but it worked.”
“What?” Cassidy and Emma asked simultaneously.
“I bumped her arm, spilling the hot water down her front as I made a break for the door. You should’ve heard her screaming at me.”
“Was anyone home?” Cassidy asked. “Her parents?”
“Unfortunately, we were alone. So I knew I had to get out of there before she really did try to kill me. You should’ve heard the language she was using. And I thought Northwood girls had class.” Devon laughed. “Hey, I need you to take me to Emma’s grandma’s house, Cass. Remember, I live there now.”
Cassidy nodded, turning down the next street.
“Does Tristin know you live there?” Emma asked fearfully. “What if she comes looking for you and Grandma is—”
“Tristin doesn’t know where I live,” Devon assured her. “If she tries to look it up, she’ll get my mom’s address. If she goes looking for me there, she’ll probably meet Rodney, and he can scare anyone.”
“Just the same, you better call your mom and warn her,” Emma said. “Tell Lisa not to give Tristin my grandma’s address.”
“Yeah. Good point.” As Cassidy drove, Devon called her mom and without going into details explained that a crazy girl was looking for her. “Do not tell her where I’m staying,” Devon commanded. “This girl is totally psycho. I’m not kidding, Mom. In fact, if she shows up, you might want to call the police. Seriously!”
Devon was just hanging up with her mom when they got to E
mma’s grandma’s house. “Thanks for rescuing me,” she said lightly. “I’ll fill you in on the rest of it tomorrow.”
“So we can schedule a meeting with Mrs. Dorman in the morning?” Emma asked eagerly. “And present all our evidence to clear Felicia’s name?”
“Sure.” Devon grinned. “See you tomorrow.”
“Wow.” Cassidy shook her head as they watched Devon running up to the house. “That was a little too much excitement for one night.”
“I think Devon thrives on excitement.” Emma let out a long sigh. “At least she’s got the goods on Tristin. I can’t wait to tell Felicia.”
“Should she come to our meeting tomorrow?” Cassidy asked as she backed out.
“Maybe it would be easier on Felicia not to be there,” Emma said. “It seems cruel to make her sit there and see the evidence all over again. Pretty demeaning, you know.”
“Right.”
Before long they were back at Emma’s. “Thanks for being willing to run out there like that,” Emma told Cassidy. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”
“It was worth it,” Cassidy assured her. “To help Felicia.”
“I’ll tell her how you helped,” Emma promised as she opened the door. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it. I plan to call her as soon as I get inside.”
Emma was slightly relieved to see that Mom wasn’t home yet. As she went inside, she realized that she hadn’t even been gone for an hour so the casserole wasn’t finished cooking yet. She dialed Felicia’s number and, after apologizing for calling at dinnertime, told her the good news.
Felicia let out a happy squeal. “That’s so wonderful! Thank you so much, Emma. I can’t wait to tell my parents I get to return to Northwood.”
“Well, we won’t know for sure until tomorrow, but I don’t see any reason they can keep you out. If anything, they owe you an apology.”
“Tristin is the one who owes me an apology.”
“That’s for sure. You should’ve seen how angry she was. Devon was really brave to do that for you.”
“I owe Devon my life.”
“Cassidy drove the getaway car. You should’ve seen her go.”
“I owe her too.”
“So we’ll let you know how it all shakes down tomorrow. After we meet with Mrs. Dorman, I’ll call you. Okay?”
“Thank you so much, Emma. I really do owe you. Big-time!”
“We’re just glad to see you’re going to be treated fairly. Finally.” After Emma hung up, she went back to working on the Santa sleigh. So far she’d cut the box into a graceful sleighlike shape. Spotting an old pair of roller skates in the garage, she chopped off the tops of them and, using hot glue, adhered the wheel portions to the bottom of the sleigh—making it appear as if the sleigh was gliding along. Then she painted the whole thing hot pink. She’d considered going with a traditional Christmas red, but thought it might be more interesting to make this sleigh flashy and colorful. As she left it in the garage to dry, she felt a real sense of accomplishment. Not because of the sleigh so much but because of how things were looking up for Felicia. And, she decided as she went into the house, petite Felicia was just the right size to play the second elf with Emma at Friday’s promotional assembly. After all, hadn’t she just said that she owed Emma big-time? Emma had no problem letting her pay up by being an elf.
14
As she dipped a spoon into her yogurt container, Bryn tried to hide her exasperation at her bickering friends. So much for eating lunch in peace. First Amanda and Tristin got all weird on her, just because Bryn didn’t want to eat with them at their table. Maybe that was a mistake. Especially since it felt like the DG was having a total meltdown today. Why couldn’t people just get along?
“What’s wrong with her?” Emma demanded as she waved her cell in the air. “She won’t answer my texts or her phone.”
“Maybe Devon doesn’t want to talk to you,” Bryn said with nonchalance.
“She ignored my texts too,” Cassidy pointed out.
“Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to either of you.” Bryn winked at Abby, who simply rolled her eyes. Abby was still in a snit because she thought Bryn wasn’t doing her fair share of her work on Project Santa Sleigh. She’d actually accused Bryn of only wanting the limelight. Never mind that Bryn and Jason had gotten a huge donation to ensure that the dance benefit could become a reality.
“Right,” Emma snapped at Bryn. “I suppose Devon would talk to you?”
Bryn pulled out her phone. “Maybe she would.” She called Devon’s cell phone and to her surprise, Devon answered.
“Hey, Devon,” Bryn said smoothly. “What’s up? Are you sick or something?”
“Yeah.” Devon coughed loudly. “Laryngitis.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Cass and Em thought maybe you’d died or something. They’ve been trying to reach you.” Bryn wrinkled her nose at her friends. It was obvious that Cass and Em were not amused.
“I want to talk to her,” Emma declared.
“Em wants to talk to you,” Bryn informed Devon.
“I’m not supposed to talk,” Devon said hoarsely.
“Oh.” Bryn tipped her head to Em. “She’s not supposed to talk. Laryngitis.”
“Then tell her she can listen.” Emma was reaching for the phone.
“Emma says you can listen.” Bryn extended the phone and Emma grabbed it.
“Devon,” she said sternly. “What’s going on? Cassidy and I set up the appointment with Mrs. Dorman. It’s not until after school. But you’re not here.” Emma scowled as she listened. “Okay, fine. You’re sick. So you can just send the pictures and we’ll show them to—” Emma stopped talking, but as she listened her blue eyes grew bigger. “What?” she shrieked. “You can’t be serious. Where did you lose it?” She exchanged a worried look with Cassidy now. “Have you looked everywhere? Checked all your pockets? Do you think it’s in Cassidy’s car?”
“What is it?” Cassidy asked.
“She lost the flash drive.”
“No way.” Cassidy threw her head back and groaned.
“Maybe it’s where you were hiding last night. Cass and I could run over there after school and look for it.” She shook her head grimly. “I can’t believe you lost it, Devon. That’s going to ruin everything . . . No, I’m not blaming you. Well, not exactly. Are you sure it’s not in the house somewhere?” Emma let out a hopeless little sigh, told Devon good-bye, and handed Bryn back her phone.
“Bad news, huh?” Bryn slipped her phone back into her bag.
“The worst.”
“Maybe she lost it in my car.” Cassidy took a bite of her apple. “I’ll go look as soon as I finish my lunch.”
“I’ll help you,” Emma offered.
“So what does this mean for Felicia?” Abby asked with concern.
“Good question.” Emma wadded up a napkin.
“We’re not giving up,” Cassidy said as she chewed. “I’ve got a really good defense planned for Felicia. With or without Devon’s contribution.”
“I can’t believe that after all we went through last night, Devon actually lost the drive.” Emma was already gathering her stuff. “Come on, Cass. Let’s go see if it’s in the backseat of your car.”
“We’ll be right back,” Cass told them. “Hopefully with the drive.”
After Emma and Cassidy were gone, it was just Bryn and Abby. And it was plain to see that Abby was still a little out of sorts. She was folding a napkin into tiny triangles over and over—a sign that she was frustrated.
“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” Bryn asked.
Abby shrugged. “I don’t think I’d use the word mad.”
“Perturbed? Aggravated? Irritated?” Bryn made a half smile. “Do any of those fit?”
“Maybe.” Abby pursed her lips. “It’s just that we’re supposed to be partnering on Project Santa Sleigh, right?”
“Right.”
“I’m in charge of the whole project. Plus it feels like I
’m going to be responsible for our own sleigh project too. Do you really think that’s fair?”
“I never said you were in charge of our own sleigh project,” Bryn clarified. “I simply said that I haven’t had time to do anything.”
“And that means what?”
“It means I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
Abby looked unconvinced. Now she actually seemed mad.
“Look, Abby.” Bryn softened her tone. “I’m willing to do more. But you act like I’ve been doing nothing. Already I’ve helped to secure the funds for the dance. As well as the prizes, which are pretty fabulous if I do say so. Besides that, I’ve gotten everything all set up for Friday’s assembly, in which I will be starring—”
“Starring?” Abby blinked. “Really? That’s how you see yourself? Like you’re the star of the show?”
“Sorry . . . for lack of another word.”
“Oh, I think it was rather fitting,” Abby said a bit smugly. “Bryn Jacobs, the star of Project Santa Sleigh. Never mind that she sloughs off the work on all her friends while she goes out getting her hair and nails done.”
“Seriously?” Bryn frowned. “That’s how you think of me?”
“Well, you did admit that you have an appointment this week.”
“Yes . . . something I do about once a month. Nothing new about that. Besides, you seem to forget that I’m also supervising both dance committees—the one for the actual dance as well as the benefit. What more do you want me to do?”
“For starters, you could help me build our sleigh,” Abby said in a snippy tone. “That shouldn’t be all up to me alone.”
“What about letting the boys handle that part of the project?” Bryn suggested. “Why is it that all the girls seem to assume it’s their responsibility? Guys do know how to wield a knife to cut cardboard, don’t they? Or how to apply some paint?”
Abby seemed to consider this. “Okay, that’s probably a good point. Hopefully, we’ll get our dates lined up after the assembly.”
“Yeah. That was the plan, remember?” Bryn felt somewhat vindicated.
“Right. So I won’t obsess over the sleigh anymore. I guess I was getting worried because of what Emma was saying. Don’t forget—this is a competition. Just because we’re on the committees doesn’t mean we can’t win, right?”
Double Date Page 11
