Pretty Little Devils Part 22

"That's okay, I'm still up," Hazel replied.

"I figured you would be." Ellen sighed. "So, was the dance fun?"

"Not exactly," Hazel a.s.sured her. "I left early and went for a drive with Matty."

"Did you talk to Brandon while you were at the dance?"

"No," Hazel said gently. "He didn't really hang with us."

"What did he wear?"

"His tux was black. He had a maroon c.u.mmerbund."

"Flowers?"

"He was there alone," Hazel said.

Ellen was quiet for a moment. "Did he get king?"

"We left before the announcement. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay." Ellen sounded wistful. "Listen. I'm calling for another reason. Those weird messages-"

"What about them?" Hazel asked.

"Well, I got all that 'seven days' c.r.a.p tonight," Ellen said, slightly annoyed. "But that was obviously you guys."

"Yeah," Hazel admitted. "Sylvia's dumb idea. Sorry, El."

"Don't worry about it," Ellen said. "It wasn't those messages that bothered me."

"Was there something else?" Hazel ventured.

"I got one of those texts, from a blocked sender. It was kind of vicious."

"What did it say?" Hazel asked.

"'I'm ready now,'" Ellen read from her cell's screen. "'Tonight someone dies. Guess who?'"

"Oh my G.o.d. Breona really is out of control," Hazel said.

"Maybe." Ellen paused. "What if it's not Breona?"

"Who else could it be?" Hazel reasoned. "She was acting like a total nutcase tonight."

Ellen let out a frustrated sigh. "You're right. It probably is her. Just be careful, Hazel. I know Breona is mad at you. We don't know what she's capable of."

"I hear you," Hazel told her. "And don't worry. I'm safe and sound-locked up tight."

"Good. I'll see you Monday, then."

"Um, Ellen," Hazel ventured, feeling sorry for her friend, "we're only juniors. Next year, homecoming will be different."

"G.o.d, I hope so," Ellen said. "I should go. My dad's knocking."

"Okay. 'Night."

"Bon soir."

Hazel hung up. She plugged her cell phone into the charger, and it buzzed again. A text message had come in.

YRSECRETPAL2PURPLEHAZE: TAG! UR DEAD!.

CHAPTER TEN.

YOU HAVE ENTERED.

The Pretty Little Devils Chat room THIS IS A PRIVATE CHAT ROOM FOR INVITED MEMBERS ONLY.

Members in chat room: PLDSLY.

PLDEL.

PLDCARO.

PLDMEG.

PLDHAZE.

PLDSLY: My voice system's full of these messages. El, did U do it 2 get us back?

PLDEL: No! I got them 2. Like every 5 mins. TAG! UR DEAD!

PLDMEG: Whoever did it, not funny, OK?

PLDCARO: Hearing it!

PLDSLY: Haze? What about U?

PLDHAZE: Same thing. TAG! UR DEAD!

PLDSLY: All right, mes amies. I've had about enough of this. It's freaking me out! We need to get to the bottom of who's leaving these messages, like now.

It was raining on Monday morning, suiting Hazel's mood. The creepy texts and e-mails had continued all weekend. And she hadn't heard from Matty all day Sat.u.r.day or Sunday.

She couldn't figure out why he hadn't called her, especially after he'd said he would.

Now, hurrying to school, she was cold and frazzled; to make matters worse, she had worn a long skirt and the hem was soaked from getting into and out of her car. Like most Southern Californians, she had forgotten an umbrella, and she was getting drenched.

Students in hoodies carrying books above their heads hurried from their cars through the gates of Brookhaven High. Security guards flanked vice princ.i.p.al Clancy, who was standing on a platform as he spoke through a bullhorn.

"First period today will be a mandatory a.s.sembly. File quickly and quietly into the media center auditorium."

"What's up?" Megan asked as she found Hazel in the hallway.

"Not much," Hazel answered. "How are you?"

"Fine, considering the craziness that was this weekend." Megan yawned. "Want to find the others before a.s.sembly?"

Hazel nodded. Together they caught up with Sylvia, Carolyn, and Ellen.

The five friends took the balcony. People were hooting and throwing wadded-up pieces of paper. Sylvia sat in the middle and gathered them toward her.

"All right, ladies, what is the deal with this a.s.sembly?" she asked. "Did you see how freaked Clancy looked when he was out front?"

Ellen nodded. "Seriously. It was like he'd seen a ghost."

"I just hope this is not about the kids who showed up drunk at the dance," Sylvia said, rolling her eyes. "If I have to sit through a lecture aimed at trash like Breona, I am going to scream."

The microphone on the stage squealed loudly. Princ.i.p.al Kim came out from behind the curtain. With his dark blue suit and combed-over hair, he looked uncannily like a game show host.

He was flanked by his enforcer, Mr. Clancy, and a dour-looking woman with no makeup. Her light gray raincoat washed her out even further, Hazel noted.

"Take your seats," Princ.i.p.al Kim ordered above the din. Clancy took a step forward, as if he could intimidate everyone into obeying.

It took a few minutes for everyone to settle down. Then Mr. Kim scanned the crowd.

"I have some very difficult news to give you all this morning. This may come as a shock to many of you, since we know she had many friends at BHS." Mr. Kim looked down for a moment, gathering himself.

"Oh my G.o.d! This is it!" Megan whispered excitedly, tugging at Hazel's sleeve. "Kim is going to tell us that Breona's expelled for good!"

Princ.i.p.al Kim cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but one of your cla.s.smates, Breona Wu, pa.s.sed away over the weekend."

There were gasps, shrieks. Someone started sobbing. Hazel turned to the other PLDs in utter shock. They stared back.

"Drunk driving?" Carolyn asked.

Sylvia nodded. "No doubt. What an idiot."

"This is Detective Charlotte Fullerton from the San Diego Police Department," Princ.i.p.al Kim continued, gesturing to the woman in the gray raincoat. "I want you to listen closely to everything she has to say."

Hazel sat forward. So did the others.

"h.e.l.lo," Detective Fullerton said. "I realize that that is a great shock. We of the department extend our sympathies to the entire student body." She paused, then leaned closer to the microphone. "We are looking for information that might help us in our investigation. We're specifically interested in talking to anyone who saw Breona after she left the dance. There will be a reward for any information that leads to arrests."

"Oh my G.o.d," Sylvia said slowly. "Arrests...That means they're looking for suspects. Which means Breona was killed."

Hazel felt numb. A girl her age-someone she knew-had been murdered.

When the a.s.sembly ended, everyone went to their second-period cla.s.ses, but no one did any work. The death of Breona Wu was all anyone talked about. Rumors were flying. Hazel felt like she couldn't escape people's stares.

After all, she was a PLD. The PLDs hated Breona Wu.

And everyone-everyone knew it.

At lunch, Hazel bought some ramen and a milk. Her stomach had been churning all day. The bland noodles were about all she could handle.

Hazel pocketed her account card, and Lakshmi pounced.

"Hazel! I heard some police officers talking about Breona in the office," she whispered urgently.

"Oh?" Hazel glanced over at the PLD table. They were watching her.

She gave them a weak smile and returned her attention to Lakshmi.

"The police," she continued. "They said Breona was ripped to shreds."

"What?" Hazel asked.

"At first they thought it was a couple of mountain lions. But they're doing all those tests...." Lakshmi waved her hand excitedly. "Forensics stuff. It was a person."

Hazel couldn't make sense of what Lakshmi was saying. "What was a person...?"

"A person ripped Breona to shreds. It took them hours to make a positive ID."

"Oh my G.o.d," Hazel said.

"Yes." Lakshmi's eyes glittered. "It's terrible. Tell them I found out for you."

Hazel had no idea what to say. She bobbed her head and headed for the PLD table.

"What did she want?" Sylvia demanded. "You look like you're going to throw up."

Hazel told them everything.

"Ripped to shreds?" Sylvia said contemptuously. "Where did she hear this? From Mommy?" She leaned sideways, peering over at Lakshmi. "It sounds ridiculous to me."

"She said there are police investigators all over the office," Hazel explained.

"No doubt. First a horse. Then a cheerleader. Next it'll be a human being," Megan drawled.