Part 14 (2/2)

Macey didnt. 'Thats c.r.a.p. Shes just messing with your head.

Was she? Or did JoJo have a point? It was one I wanted to explore more, but she was drifting out again. That girl had the worst timing.

'What are you thinking, Wills?

I looked straight back at Seth and blew out a huge sigh. 'Too much. But for starters, what if shes right? I shuddered. 'This whole thing is way too creepy, Seth. Lets get this over with. Give me your phone.

He shook his head. 'Dumb idea.

'Unless youve got something else, its our only idea. I softened my tone to try to make him see reason. 'Look, we simply send out a text saying I really do have the phone. Its got to make the blackmailer nervous, right? Push them into action? Come on, Seth, its our only shot.

His mouth was tight, his tone hard. 'Well youre going to have to block the sender info, because theyll never believe I started a rumour about you.

'Oh, thats right. The fake girlfriend thing, I answered flatly.

His eyes narrowed and he stared at me for a few moments. 'Yeah, that.

Macey sprung to her feet and started towards my bathroom. Halfway there she spun back. 'Willow? Your idea? Stupid. Totally dumb. My G.o.d! Dont you guys ever watch TV? Tell them JoJo left a note, for Christs sake! Her arms smacked down against her sides. 'Tell them it held a list of names the police should look at if she suddenly died. Or something.

You know, it made sense. I went to tell her, but as Macey stomped off to the bathroom the words stalled. This was one of Maceys moods; the ones youre just better off ignoring. They didnt come often, but it was always best just to weather them. Still, the suggestion was good. And when I turned to Seth it was evident the idea had grabbed him as well.

'Think it could work? I asked quietly.

'Could. He shrugged. 'I can send the message, say my dad heard a rumour . . . Maybe that the cops spoke to us?

'And maybe were playing with fire, too. I sighed. Trouble was, we were scrambling for choices. It wasnt like the Ghostbusters were going to race to my rescue any time soon. 'But I guess we can only hope it makes someone freak and maybe admit what theyve done?

'Long shot, but I suppose its worth a try?

At my nod he sank down on the bed, flipped open his phone and started composing a message. He flicked me the phone before he pressed send: Looks like JJ left a letr. Things about to explode big time.

It was only after I watched him press send that I fully thought about the risks. Was there really a murderer in that group? What the h.e.l.l had we done?

Long slow breaths . . . That was what I needed.

And to find my phone; that was the other thing I needed. Surely JoJo could not be right. I made a beeline for the closet. Maybe the phone was in there?

And found the mess.

All my shoes were out of their boxes and tossed across the floor. JoJo must have a new trick: she could touch things. I just wished shed build her repertoire on someone elses time! Obviously shed been looking for her shoe. I bit back the added frustration and crossed my fingers that our plan would work. I needed her gone.

It didnt take long to fix the shoe-mess and get on with my original plan. My search. I was a few minutes into it when the voice startled me, just like it always did. She was back 'in.

'I have no idea why youre friends with her.

'Sounds like jealousy to me. Met your match, JoJo?

JoJo scoffed, but I heard the uncertainty in her voice. 'As if! Look at her so cool shes hardly got a pulse! You can tell her from me- I threw more sweaters off the shelves and frowned. 'Okay, you can stop the hate-fest right there. This time I gave her all my attention. 'No, I wont tell her anything; I am not your messenger service. You know, Id appreciate it if you could focus your energies on actually communicating with her directly. In case you havent noticed, Im a bit busy here.

'Wills? Macey slowed on her way out of my bathroom and leaned against the doorjamb. 'Talking to yourself? Or have you got company? Poor you.

A pile of pants joined the sweaters on the floor. 'Yeah, she said you think youre so cool you hardly have a pulse.

'Ha! Me? Has she even tried to take her own pulse lately? She narrowed her gaze and scoped the walk-in closet that was now looking like a war zone. 'Ever heard the term flat-lining, JoJo? That stopped JoJo, who amazingly seemed to shrink back, but then Macey turned on me. 'And what are you doing, anyway?

'Oh duh! Looking for my phone! I told you that!

'Oh, for G.o.ds sake, she said, and in one sweep she cleared the entire top shelf.

I slumped back on my haunches and looked at the now bigger pile of clothes. 'Like that helped! If the phone was there, its now in that pile on the floor. That means going through it all again!

'Get over yourself, Willow, she answered. 'Its just a phone.

I scrambled to my feet to follow as she stomped back out of the closet. 'Macey? Whats your problem? Is this all about your dad?

She whirled. 'I do not have a problem! Got it? I can totally take care of myself!

Seth closed his phone and was watching carefully. 'Mace? You okay? You werent this b.u.mmed this morning. What happened?

She lowered herself onto the bed, crossed her legs and started swinging the top one. I knew that pose well and it usually meant trouble.

'Nothing I cant handle, she answered.

So, something had happened . . .

'Mace? I sat beside her, but she pulled away from me. This was so not Macey.

Seth took up the other side of her. 'Macey? What the h- Her answering look didnt need words but she spat them out anyway. 'h.e.l.lo? Do I look like I want to talk?

Okay, that was it. Time for tough love. 'Give it up, Mace. Somethings obviously crawled up your b.u.t.t so give it up or get over it. If weve done something, then tell us.

But she still wouldnt give; just sat there in her own silent, stubborn way. Giving up, Seth swore and clomped downstairs to get a drink. Okay, brothers might do that, but I wasnt giving up so easily.

'Mace, youre not leaving till you spill.

Her mouth did the p.u.s.s.y-b.u.m thing. 'I told you its noth- She was cut off by a noise in the hallway and we both looked up to see Simon bound past on his way to his room. Seconds later he bounded back out again, mumbling something about having to pick up something hed forgotten. Then he was gone again.

Apart from feeling ill just because he existed, it was no big deal.

Or it shouldnt have been.

But the look on Maceys face was telling a different story.

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