Free Kissing in Action by Camilla Chafer Page A

you get a reputation."
    "Why hide perfection? Especially, when there's a party to plan," grinned Lauren.
    "Party?" I asked.
    "Nope, no party. We're in mourning mode right now," said Amelia, looking thrilled. "Hey, did you find the blackmailer yet?"
    "Not yet. I wanted to ask you all a few more questions about that actually."
    "Sure," said Shelley, "But can you do me a teeny-weeny little favor? Can you grab my sweater from my bedroom? I'm getting cold."
    "Ummm," I paused, wondering why Shelley couldn't do that herself. Feeling slightly surprised, I thought, what did it matter? If I grabbed Shelley's sweater, maybe she would be grateful enough to help me find out whom Joe was spending his time with. "Sure. What color is it?"
    "The striped, blue one. It's on the bed, through there." Shelley waved a hand towards the furthest door.
    I walked over, pushing the door open and stepping inside. The room was dark and it was hard to make out anything in the untidy state she left it. I felt on the wall for the light switch, found it, and flipped it on. There was a huge pile of clothes on the bed, but no striped sweater. "I don't see it," I called back, making to leave.
    Shelley appeared in the doorway, blocking my exit. "Try the chair by the window. Maybe I left it over there."
    "Okay," I grumbled, audible only to me as I picked my way across the room. I rummaged through the pile of clothes on the chair, but again, no sweater.
    "Did you find it yet?" she asked, going to the other side of the room.
    "No."
    "It's gotta be here somewhere. Keep looking!"
    I turned to Shelley, to tell her that she was mistaken, but an arm reached through the doorway, and before I could even frown, the door was pulled shut and the light switched off. "Hey!" I yelled, stomping back across the mess in the dark. I gripped the handle and pulled. The door didn't move. I pulled again, but to no avail. Crouching to handle height, I could see why. Someone had deliberately locked the door! "Hey!" I yelled again. "Is this supposed to be funny? Shelley?"
    There was a brief silence, then a small click. Beyond the door, someone giggled before saying, "See ya!" Another door further away slammed and I was left in silence.
    "Shelley?" I asked again. "Shelley? Where's the light switch?"
    I felt around the doorway for a light switch, but couldn't find one, so I groped my way over to the windows and pulled open the long curtains, flooding the room with light. No Shelley. I was alone.
    "Argh!" I moaned. I felt put out at being duped so easily. I was locked in the bedroom and even more confused by Shelley's disappearance. Where did she go? How could I tell Solomon that the band gave me the slip after locking me in a bedroom? I needed to escape and see why they wanted me out of the way so desperately. Why would they pull such a stupid stunt rather than helping me solve the problems plaguing them? There was another door in the rear wall. I crossed over to it, not bothering to be careful about where I put my feet, and wrenched it open, hoping to find Shelley inside. Bathroom. Empty. "Damn," I grumbled as I turned back to the room. Everything I needed for my escape was in my purse: my cell phone, my lock-picking kit, and my Swiss Army knife. Unfortunately, my purse was in the living room. "How else can I get out of here?" I asked no one specifically. "How did Shelley get out of here?"
    It was an attractive room, decorated in a classic style with a super-king-sized bed (unmade), a large, antique wardrobe (doors open and flooded with clothes), a wingback armchair (more clothes) and a thick carpet (even more clothes and various unmatched shoes). As I looked around, I couldn't help feeling dejected. I was stuck.
    Just as I wondered whether hollering would help my predicament, I heard male voices from the sitting room next door. Scrambling over, I hammered on it. "Hey!" I called out, figuring I'd deal with the embarrassment later. "Hey! In here!"
    "Who's that?" asked a voice I didn't