Free All-Night Party by R.L. Stine

the pile.
    â€œThis is probably going to be a waste of time,” she said, pulling it out.
    Gretchen unrolled the sleeping bag. “Oh no,” she moaned. “Oh no! Oh no!”
    Gretchen staggered back from the sleeping bag, covering her eyes with her hands.
    Jackson rushed to her side. She felt his hand on her arm, steadying her. “What is it?” he cried.
    Marco, Gil, and Hannah hurried over, surrounding her. “What’s wrong?” Marco asked. “What did you find?”
    Gretchen pointed to the floor.
    There, in the middle of Patrick’s sleeping bag, was the missing bread knife.
    Its blade covered with dark stains.

Chapter
26

    â€œT he knife used to kill Cindy,” Gretchen murmured.
    They all stood staring down at the sleeping bag.
    At the knife.
    Gretchen’s gaze fixed on the razor-sharp edge of the blade.
    She shivered and tore her eyes away. The thought of the knife slashing into Cindy made her feel sick.
    She hugged her arms around her stomach. And forced herself not to look at it again.
    â€œI can’t believe it,” she heard Hannah moan. “I can’t believe that Patrick…”
    Gretchen suddenly felt light-headed. She staggered to the couch and sat down. She dropped her head down to her knees and swallowed deep breaths.
    She heard someone walk toward her.
    â€œAre you okay?” Jackson asked softly.
    Gretchen pushed her hair out of her face. “I’m okay,” she answered. “I guess.”
    â€œThis is all the proof we need,” Marco said. “Let’s see Patrick try to deny this!”
    Marco led the way back to the kitchen.
    â€œI can’t go back in there,” Hannah whispered. She clutched Gretchen’s arm. “Stay out here with me. Please?”
    â€œI want to hear what Patrick says when he sees the knife,” Gretchen told her.
    She put her arms around Hannah and gave her a hug. “I’ll come back in a minute, okay?”
    â€œOkay,” Hannah nodded. She twisted the bottom of her sweater in her hands. “I’ll wait out here, by the door. I’ll be okay.”
    Gretchen turned from Hannah and stepped into the kitchen.
    Marco, Jackson, and Gil stood in a grim circle around Patrick.
    â€œI knew you wouldn’t find anything,” Patrick said angrily. “Now untie me!”
    â€œYou’re wrong, Patrick,” Gretchen said. “We did find things. Two things.”
    All the blood drained from Patrick’s face. His mouth fell open, and he stared at Gretchen as if he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”
    Gretchen stared hard at Patrick.
    Either he’s telling the truth and didn’t murderCindy. Or he’s giving the performance of his life, she thought.
    â€œWe found two things,” Gretchen repeated. “We found a note in your backpack. From Cindy. She said she was going to tell her parents about the secret the two of you shared. She said she couldn’t keep it anymore.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” Patrick said through gritted teeth. “Cindy and I didn’t share any secret. The note is a fake. It has to be a total fake. I never got any note from Cindy.”
    They all stared hard at Patrick, studying his face.
    Patrick sighed. “What else did you find?”
    Gretchen took a deep breath. “The missing bread knife… smeared with blood… in your sleeping bag.”
    â€œYou murdered her!” Gil cried suddenly.
    â€œI didn’t! I didn’t!” Patrick screamed.
    â€œBut Patrick,” Gretchen cut in. “How do you explain the knife in your sleeping bag?” Gretchen asked.
    â€œI don’t know. I really don’t. I didn’t put it there,” Patrick insisted.
    â€œBut it was there,” Gretchen stated. “And it’s smeared with blood.”
    â€œI didn’t murder Cindy!” Patrick cried. “Why won’t anyone listen