Free What Lies in the Darkness (Shadow Cove Book 1) by Jessica Sorensen

so you can both get detention.” Ev restlessly taps her foot. “A fight isn’t going to work. You need to do something more inconspicuous that won’t get Kennedy and Embry detention.”
    “Good point, Ev.” I aim a finger at her. “Way to be an active participant in this devious, delinquent plot.”
    Ev lifts her glasses up and presses her fingers to the brim of her nose. “I’m just trying to make sure you guys don’t get expelled so I don’t get stuck going to this hellhole by myself.”
    “Oh.” Kennedy steps back, covering her mouth with her hand, mocking being aghast. “Ev just said hell.”
    Ev gives her a dirty look, but her lips quirk, and I can tell she’s starting to soften.
    “I could always just pull the fire alarm,” Embry offers. “The one near the back of the school is out of view from the cameras. I should be able to get it done without anyone knowing.”
    “How do you know that?” I question.
    “Remember that time the alarm went off during the Biology final last year?” she asks, and I nod. “Well, I may have forgotten to study, and I may have asked for a bathroom pass so I could pull the alarm and get the final postponed until the next day.”
    “That was you?” Kennedy smacks her a high-five. “I owe you a huge thanks, Em. That stunt saved my pretty, little behind from flunking Bio.”
    “You didn’t study, either?” Embry asks.
    Kennedy rolls her eyes. “Duh, I was with you the night before. Remember? We snuck into that club.”
    “I can’t believe I’m just realizing how much trouble you guys get into,” Ev gripes. “And I’m sure this office stunt is going to be another thing to add to your list.”
    Embry drapes an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, Ev; if shit hits the fan, Embry, Mak, and I will take the fall. You won’t be anywhere near the office, anyway.”
    Ev nervously combs her fingers through her hair. “It just seems like you guys are enjoying this a little too much.”
    Embry, Kennedy, and I trade an amused look.
    “Nah, I think we’re enjoying this just the right amount,” I reply. “Even you can appreciate taking down the school’s worst evil villain a teeny, tiny bit. Just think about all the times he’s tormented you personally.”
    She wavers then nods. “All right, I’m in.”
    I smile and force her to give me a high-five.
    Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am enjoying this too much. The truth is, our revenge plan kind of reminds me of the days when I helped my dad get a story. Sometimes, we’d have to do stakeouts or make sneaky phone calls like Kennedy just did to Dixon. Some stories were a real pain in the ass. My dad would have to go undercover to get to the bottom of the real truth, and I’d be his eyes and ears. He was always so good at it, and I’ve often thought it would be great to be like him: chasing stories, getting to the real truth, solving some great mystery.
    I just cross my fingers that I can be as good at this undercover thing as he was and that all the trouble will be worth it. And that my sanity has returned to normal.
     

LOCATION: JUST OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL RECORDING ROOM
    TIME: 11:08 AM
    DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 22 ND
     
    So, yeah, our school has its very own super swanky recording room where aspiring artists can create videos, take photos, paint, record music, or whatever else their little artists’ hearts desire. The room is also fully stocked with all kinds of gizmos and gadgets that these artists can use. And what I have my sights set on are the walkie-talkies the school’s video camera crew uses when televising sporting events.
    While I in no way, shape, or form have a good reason to be in this room, I’m currently pretending I do. With Embry’s camera strapped around my neck, I stand outside the shut door, waiting for the red light to click off and for the person occupying the room to clear out. According to the schedule on the door, they have exactly one minute left. Then there’ll be a ten-minute break