Wrong Number 2

  “I think I agree with Chuck,” Jade confessed. “I mean, it’s not like we’re robbing a bank or anything. The money is already there—and no one knows it’s there. And we did go through a lot because of Farberson. I mean, Chuck ended up in jail, and you and I nearly got killed!”

  “But it’s illegal money!” Deena protested. “Farberson stole it.”

  “The insurance company has probably paid everyone by now,” Chuck said, finishing his third slice and dropping the crust onto his paper plate. “Don’t be such a wimp, Deena. It’s free money. And it can be ours!”

  For a moment Deena just stared at her brother. How could Chuck even be thinking of trying to find that money?

  Jade is nearly as bad, Deena decided. How could she encourage him?

  “So what do you say?” Chuck asked, jumping up. “How about a little treasure hunt?”

  “You mean tonight?” Jade cried, surprised.

  “The sooner the better,” Chuck told them.

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to go back there,” Jade said, biting her lower lip. “Especially after last night.”

  “Let’s go to a movie or something instead,” Deena suggested.

  Ignoring them, Chuck made his way to the front entryway.

  “Chuck—come back!” Jade called. “We have to talk about this some more.”

  “I don’t need your permission,” Chuck called back. “I don’t even need your help.” He pulled open the front door.

  “Chuck, no!” Deena pleaded.

  “Last chance to come with me!” Chuck announced. He stepped out into the dark.

  Deena and Jade followed him onto the porch. “Jade, you’ve got to stop him!” Deena pleaded.

  “I’m trying!” Jade said. She ran down the sidewalk after Chuck, screaming his name over and over. “Chuck, please stop! Listen to me! Chuck!”

  Jade grabbed his shirt and he struggled, pushing her aside. “No! Don’t!” she wailed.

  Deena started after them. But she stopped when she saw someone standing under the streetlight at the curb.

  His face was buried in shadows.

  But Deena could see that he was tall. And broad.

  Dressed in black.

  Farberson?

  She opened her mouth to call to Jade and Chuck.

  Too late.

  The man burst out from behind the light post.

  He grabbed Chuck. They wrestled for a moment.

  Jade uttered a frightened scream as the man wrapped Chuck in a choke hold.

  Deena watched Chuck sink to his knees, his arms flailing wildly, helplessly, as the man, grunting and cursing, strangled him.

  chapter

  14

  In the pale, hazy light from the street lamp, the scene in front of her seemed like a dream to Deena.

  Chuck lay sprawled on his back at the foot of the driveway, the big man pressing him down. Jade shrieking as she tried frantically to pull the man off Chuck.

  A terrifying dream.

  And as Deena ran down the driveway, she entered the dream.

  Jade’s frightened cries grew louder.

  The intruder’s grunts and groans rose on the still night air.

  Chuck didn’t move.

  “Chuck! Chuck!” Deena repeated his name as she ran.

  And then another name burst into her ears.

  “Teddy—stop! Teddy!”

  Jade’s desperate cries. “Teddy—please!”

  And Deena realized the powerful intruder wasn’t a stranger. She recognized Teddy. The basketball game flashed into her mind. Teddy’s heroic shot at the sound of the buzzer.

  Teddy had seemed so light on the basketball floor. So graceful and light.

  And now he had become a heavy monster, strangling Deena’s brother, leaning on Chuck’s still body, holding him down.

  “Let me up!” Chuck pleaded weakly.

  Not dead. Not strangled!

  Deena breathed a long sigh, her heart still thudding.

  “Let go of him! Teddy—let go!” Jade’s shrill pleas.

  A neighbor’s lights flashed on. And the lights flickered on in the house across the street.

  Slowly, breathing hard, Teddy backed away.

  “Teddy—why?” Jade cried shrilly, tugging him away. “Why?”

  “I heard you screaming at him,” Teddy replied, breathing hard. “I saw you running after him, yelling at him. I saw him push you. I thought he was hurting you—”

  “But he’s Deena’s brother!” Jade cried.

  But before Teddy could say anything, Chuck startled them all by jumping to his feet.

  “Chuck—no!” Deena screamed.

  Too late.

  With a loud groan, Chuck pulled back his arm—and swung his fist hard at Teddy.

  The punch went wild as Teddy ducked. Chuck staggered forward, off balance. Teddy landed a hard punch on Chuck’s shoulder.

  “Stop it, you two! Stop it!” Jade shrieked.

  Deena covered her eyes. Why won’t they stop? Why are they doing this?

  She opened her eyes in time to see Teddy land a solid punch on Chuck’s face. Chuck’s nose began to bleed, bright red blood streaming down his face onto his sweatshirt.

  Chuck staggered, his eyes wild with surprise. Deena thought he would go down. But then he came back at Teddy with a shout—and began beating frantically on the bigger boy’s back and sides.

  Teddy grunted with pain, then twisted around and pulled himself away from Chuck.

  Chuck’s face twisted with fury. He ran toward Teddy again, the full weight of his body behind him.

  Teddy dived to one side.

  Chuck staggered forward. Stumbled.

  Fell.

  Deena heard the crack as his head hit the curb. The sound seemed to split the air. It forced Deena to shut her eyes again.

  “Chuck!” Jade was shrieking. “Chuck!”

  Chuck didn’t answer.

  Deena opened her eyes.

  Chuck lay sprawled facedown in a dark pool of blood.

  His head twisted to the side at an odd angle. The one eye Deena could see was open wide, staring blankly down the street.

  • • •

  Deena dived to her knees beside him. “He’s unconscious!” she wailed.

  Teddy pushed in beside her. “Don’t move him!” he warned breathlessly. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He placed a hand on the side of Chuck’s neck. “Good—I can feel his pulse.”

  Hearing voices, Deena glanced over her shoulder. A crowd of neighbors had gathered on the curb. Turning back to Chuck, Deena could hear their murmured questions behind her:

  “What happened?”

  “Who is he?”

  “What’s going on? Were they fighting?”

  “Did anyone call an ambulance?” Jade was screaming. “Did anyone call 911?”

  Please, Deena thought, staring at her brother. Please let Chuck be all right.

  Chuck stirred but didn’t awaken.

  Deena heard the shrill wail of sirens.

  The street soon pulsed with flashing red and blue lights. Police arrived first. Then the white-suited medics.

  A young police officer ushered Deena, Jade, and Teddy to the side. Deena struggled to concentrate on the woman’s questions. She kept glancing over her shoulder to see what the medics were doing to Chuck.

  He’ll be okay, Deena told herself. He’ll be okay.

  But he’s in trouble once again.

  Poor Chuck. Always in trouble.

  “He’s my brother,” Deena heard herself telling the officer. “Chuck Martinson.”

  “How was he hurt?” the officer demanded.

  Jade answered immediately. “It was an accident,” she said. “The two boys were messing around. Chuck fell.”

  Deena relaxed. As usual, Jade knew what to do to keep Chuck from getting in even more trouble.

  “Is that so?” the officer asked, squinting at Jade. “The neighbors reported a fight.”

  Again Jade answered smoothly. “
That’s probably what it looked like,” she said. “But the guys were just goofing. They’re really good friends, right, Teddy?”

  “Right,” Teddy mumbled.

  The police cars rolled away, their lights still flashing. The ambulance drove off silently with Chuck in the back. I’ve got to hurry home to tell Mom and Dad, Deena told herself.

  “Thanks for not telling them about the fight,” Teddy said to Jade.

  “I didn’t do it for you,” Jade replied wearily.

  “Hey, I’m sorry, Jade,” Teddy said, shaking his head. “I mean, I thought he had taken something of yours or something. The way you were screaming and chasing after him.”

  “What were you doing over here in the first place?” Jade demanded.

  “I just came over to talk to you,” Teddy said, lowering his eyes. “It seems like every time I call you lately, you’re too busy to see me.”

  Jade let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, Teddy,” she said. To Deena’s surprise, her friend really did look sorry. “I think you’re a terrific guy. But I used to go with Chuck, and now that he’s back in town, he’s the guy I’m seeing.”

  “Hey, no problem,” Teddy murmured. Even in the darkness Deena could see the disappointment on Teddy’s face. He turned quickly and slumped away.

  • • •

  Deena dreaded telling her parents what had happened. But she had no choice.

  “Two days he’s back, and he’s already in trouble!” her father ranted as they drove to Shadyside General.

  “Aren’t you even worried about him?” Deena cried. “I mean, he’s lying in the hospital!”

  “Of course I’m worried about him. But what does he expect? Getting into fights all the time!” Mr. Martinson grumbled. “At least he can’t get into trouble in the hospital.”

  “What a horrible thing to say!” Deena cried from the backseat.

  Mrs. Martinson sighed. “Why can’t Chuck just obey the rules like everyone else?”

  Deena didn’t have an answer. All she knew was that Chuck was Chuck—and he never wanted to be like other people or do the things other people did.

  Deena knew that her parents weren’t angry with her, but she couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. It was almost as though they expected her to keep Chuck out of trouble.

  It was a relief when she found Jade waiting for them in the hospital lobby. Deena’s parents stopped at the front desk to fill out the insurance forms. Deena and Jade headed straight for Chuck’s private room.

  They crept into the room. Chuck lay back on his pillows, his face nearly as white as the sheets. Deena had already heard the doctor’s report. She knew that Chuck’s injuries weren’t serious.

  But he looked gross. His head was wrapped in a bulky bandage, and his left eye bulged, swollen and bruised.

  “Wow! Happy Halloween!” Jade joked.

  “Don’t make me laugh! I have chapped lips!” Chuck shot back. He groaned. “Did you get the license plate of the truck that hit me?”

  Deena and Jade laughed. Forced laughter. Hospital laughter. Sort of hollow and too loud.

  “You look great,” Chuck told Jade, checking her out with his one good eye.

  It was true, Deena realized. Jade did look great. She wore a dark green sweater and black jeans. Her hair was pinned up on top of her head, with strands and tendrils hanging below her ears. The male interns and patients had all turned and stared at Jade as she and Deena had walked through the hospital.

  “How’s your head?” Deena asked.

  “Do I still have a head?” Chuck groaned.

  “I’m really sorry about what happened,” Jade told him, squeezing his hand. “I had no idea Teddy would come over. And I certainly didn’t think he’d start a fight.”

  “He was the guy you were making out with Friday night, right?” Chuck said, not letting her hand go.

  “Well, yes,” Jade replied reluctantly. “But I told you there’s nothing between—”

  “I know,” Chuck interrupted. “I believe you—now. I guess I didn’t before.”

  “What do you mean?” Jade asked.

  For a moment Chuck didn’t answer. Then he sighed. “I have something to tell you,” he said. His voice came out so weak, Deena had to move up to the bed to hear him. “Something to tell you and Deena.”

  “What are you talking about?” Deena asked.

  “You know those scary phone calls you both got?” Chuck asked. “Well—I know who made them.”

  “Huh?” Both girls cried out in surprise.

  “Who was it?” Deena demanded. “Tell us, Chuck. Who was it?”

  chapter

  15

  “Who was it?” Deena repeated. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She knew what Chuck was about to say.

  “It was me,” Chuck murmured. “I made the calls.”

  “You creep!” Jade shrieked, pulling her hand from his and backing away from the bed.

  “I don’t believe it!” Deena uttered. “Why, Chuck? How could you?” If he hadn’t been lying in a hospital bed, she would have pounded him!

  “I started making the calls before I came back,” Chuck confessed. He stared up at Jade. “A friend of mine from Shadyside told me you were seeing someone else. When I heard that, I went ballistic. I mean, I just stopped thinking straight. All I could think of was how I wanted you to come to L.A. with me. So I decided to scare you.”

  “Oh, that makes a lot of sense!” Jade declared, rolling her eyes.

  “But why did you call me?” Deena demanded. “I didn’t have anything to do with Jade and Teddy.”

  “I know, Deena, and I’m sorry,” Chuck said softly. “The thing is, I thought it would be too obvious if I threatened just Jade. I thought if I called both of you, it would make you think that Farberson was doing it.”

  “You—you wanted to terrify us!” Jade stammered, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “That was the idea,” Chuck admitted. “I was a jerk, I know.” His voice cracked. Deena knew it was never easy for Chuck to apologize.

  Jade’s eyes narrowed. “Was it also you who sent me that awful note? The one with the bleeding chain saw?”

  “Yeah. I sent it,” Chuck replied, sighing.

  “I don’t believe it! I really don’t! Are you totally messed up?” Jade fumed. “Why did you think that would make me want to go to California with you?”

  “I figured if you thought Farberson was coming after you, you’d want to get as far away from Shadyside as possible.” Chuck told her. “I thought you’d jump at the opportunity to go to L.A. with me.”

  “Dumb,” Jade snapped, frowning. “Really dumb. The way I feel right now, I wouldn’t go across the street with you!”

  “I know. I said I’m sorry,” Chuck repeated. “I don’t know what else to say.”

  “Well, thank goodness Farberson isn’t out,” Jade declared. “That’s the only bit of good news we’ve had today.”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute,” Deena broke in. “What about that green car? A green car followed us home from school a few days ago. We had to run into an alley to escape it.”

  “That was me too,” Chuck said, groaning. “A friend from the city gave me a ride from the airport. I just wanted to see you, to tell you that I was back. But you ran off before I had the chance.”

  He reached out to Jade. “Please don’t be angry,” he begged. “Please accept my apology.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Jade replied coldly. Her eyes lit up. “And I’m also going to think of a way to pay you back!”

  • • •

  The next day Deena sat in study hall, staring down at her history notes, trying to force herself to focus. Why am I still so stressed out? she asked herself. Why can’t I feel normal and calm again?

  She still worried about Chuck. The doctors had kept him in the hospital for observation. They wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding in his skull.

  When she and Jade had left the hospital the night before, Chuck was still t
alking about his crazy plan to go to Los Angeles. And both Jade and Chuck were still talking excitedly about the money that was supposed to be hidden in Farberson’s house.

  Why couldn’t they forget about it? Deena asked herself. Hadn’t they already had enough trouble?

  “Deena!” She glanced up, surprised to hear her name, and saw Steve Mason standing beside her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you,” he whispered.

  Deena happily made room for his papers on the table. I’ve been so wrapped up in Jade and Chuck, I haven’t had a moment to think about Steve, Deena thought.

  “Is that your research on the Colonial period?” he asked.

  Deena nodded. “Yeah. It’s for my history term paper.”

  “Really? I’m working on the same subject in my history class.” For the next few moments they whispered about their history papers.

  Deena glanced up to see Mr. Raub approaching. “Uh-oh,” she said. “Here comes the study-hall cop.”

  “I’ve got to get back to my seat anyway,” Steve said quickly. “The main reason I wanted to talk to you wasn’t the paper. My cousin is giving a party on Friday, and I wondered if you’d like to go with me.”

  “Sure!” Deena replied, smiling.

  “I’ll call you tonight,” Steve promised. He picked up his papers and hurried back to the other side of the study hall.

  • • •

  “Good bye, Steve. See you in school tomorrow.”

  Deena hung up the phone. She couldn’t believe it. For the last hour she and Steve had been talking about everything. Australian music, American music, Shadyside, and Sydney, Australia, his hometown. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so comfortable with a boy.

  Steve and I are going out. At last I have something to look forward to! Deena thought happily. She jumped up from the bed and did a silent dance around her room.

  Let Jade and Chuck search for the money in that creepy old house if they want to. As for me—I’m through with the money, through with crazy Chuck and his bad-news plans, through with Farberson, and through with being afraid.

  She wandered downstairs to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of orange juice and fixed a plate of crackers and cheese, then took her history book into the TV room. It was her mom’s night to work late, and her father was at a meeting. So Deena had the house to herself.