Free Framed & Dangerous (9780545443128) by Kim Harrington Page A

in the bed.
    A bald man, much bigger and older than Mr. Gray lay sleeping in front of us.
    Darcy turned to me. “What the —?”
    But my eyes went to the yellow curtain by the side of the man’s bed. It was a shared room. My dad had had one of those, too. I quietly slid the curtain aside and there was Mr. Gray, in the second bed, reading a book.
    His usually clean-shaved face had stubble, and his black hair stuck out at all angles. But he didn’t look too bad. His eyes widened at the sight of us.
    Darcy immediately went to his bedside. “We’re not supposed to be here so please talk quietly,” she begged. “We want to ask you about the fire. And we’re kind of in a rush.”
    Mr. Gray smirked and laid his book down. “Norah and Darcy. Since when did you two join the police force?”
    â€œWe just have a few questions,” I said, wringing my hands. “It will only take a minute.”
    â€œI already told the police everything, girls. You should leave this to them.”
    Darcy said, “But our friend is the main suspect right now and we know he didn’t do it.”
    Mr. Gray frowned. “Who?”
    I couldn’t hide the desperation in my voice when I answered, “Zane Munro.”
    The shock showed all over Mr. Gray’s face. He shook his head. “Zane’s a good boy. He would never do something like this.”
    â€œWe know,” Darcy said. “But whoever did left Zane’s wallet at the scene. They framed him. This person is definitely dangerous. Who knows what they’ll do next, especially with our big dance coming up. We need to figure out who it is.”
    â€œIs there anything you can remember?” I prompted. “Something you saw or heard?”
    Footsteps sounded outside the door, and we all went silent. The nurse was walking from Room 306 back to her desk. I closed my eyes and hoped she didn’t stop to check on the patients in here. I stood completely still, every muscle in my body frozen.
    The footsteps passed.
    I exhaled in relief. “Please,” I said, begging Mr. Gray with my eyes.
    He let out a long, slow breath. “Unfortunately, girls, I didn’t see or hear anyone. But … I did smell something out of place.”
    â€œSmell?” Darcy repeated.
    â€œWhat?” I asked, gripping the footboard of the bed. “What did you smell?”
    â€œPerfume,” he said. “Lots of it.”

Darcy and I waited until Psychic Nurse took a bathroom break. Then we snuck back out of the hospital and ran over to our bikes.
    â€œNow we have proof that Zane didn’t set the fire!” I said, exhilarated.
    â€œHe clearly doesn’t wear perfume,” Darcy agreed. “The arsonist is a girl!”
    â€œWe did it,” I said in disbelief. “We saved him.”
    I was so happy and in the moment that, without thinking, I reached my fist out. And Darcy, equally thrilled with what we’d done, bumped it.
    Then our smiles dropped as we realized we were supposed to be in a fight. We weren’t supposed to be doing our special best-friend fist bump. I awkwardlylooked down and started fiddling with my bike’s kickstand.
    â€œWe should talk,” Darcy said. “And not about cases. About us.”
    I nodded and let go of my bike. I didn’t know what Darcy was going to say, and it felt like a butterfly sanctuary had set up in my stomach. We sat down beside each other on the curb.
    Darcy began, “I was really mad at you. But now that we’ve been working the case together … I just can’t stay mad. You’re my best friend, you know. And, yeah, things might be changing a bit, but —”
    â€œThey’re not changing,” I protested.
    â€œBut … you joined the Dance Committee and you’re hanging out with all these popular girls.”
    â€œThe only popular girl I’m friends with is Fiona! And she’s just as much friends