Free Trail of Secrets by Brenda Chapman Page A

least a little bit and fill in the part of me that’s always seemed to be missing.”
    I inwardly gave a big sigh of relief. If Martin Donaldson had broken off contact, Ambie would settle back into her life and forget him. That seemed best as far as I could see.
    â€œThere’s a talent night at the Raven tomorrow. Do you want to go?” The Raven’s Nest was the local youth hangout. The owner sometimes held karaoke nights or brought in singers from the area to perform.
    â€œOkay. I heard Derek Taylor’s band will be playing a set. Cindy and Rosemary talked about going too, so we could go together if you want.”
    Derek was the closest thing Morton T. High had to a music celebrity. His band Cold Hands consisted of five guys, and they played at our local dances and at other highschools and events in the area. Their repertoire included top forty songs with the odd original composition thrown in. Derek was the lead singer and played electric guitar. His voice was okay, but he wasn’t ever going to make a career of singing as far as I could see.
    â€œSounds like a plan,” I said and swung my feet onto the floor. “I’ve got to get home. What time do you want to meet tomorrow?”
    â€œCome over around eight, and my dad will give us a drive.”
    â€œSee you then,” I said.

    Saturday morning, I woke early. It was sunny but cool, as I quickly discovered when I stepped outside to go for a run. I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head and put on a pair of gloves that I had in my pocket. Warm-ups completed, I started jogging lightly on the spot, deciding which direction to go in. It had been a while since we’d heard from Roxie Firestone, and the Stoykos’ was a decent distance from our house. I made up my mind and started taking side streets toward the east end of town. I could see my breath and feel the cold tingling my cheeks and forehead. For the first time, I noticed some yellow and red leaves amongst the green canopy. I ran for over half an hour, soon finding a comfortable stride. The houses had become quite spread out by the time I reached the base of Cavers Hill, a deceptive little incline that would test my stamina as I entered the last stretch before the Stoykos’property. I felt soreness in my leg muscles, and my breathing was laboured by the time I made it to the top of Cavers. I forced myself to pick up speed, imagining that the bridge ahead was the finish line to my imaginary race. I stepped onto the bridge and raised my arms in mock victory. Another race over, and not a competitor in sight.
    By the time I started up the Stoykos’ long, winding driveway, I’d caught my breath, and my heart rate was approaching normal. Their white terrier ran to greet me and circled my legs, barking and wagging his tail. I bent and gave him a scratch behind the ears. As I straightened up, a flock of geese flew honking overhead on its way south. The air had warmed considerably from when I’d started on my run, and I took off my heavy sweatshirt as I started up the Stoykos’ front steps. Their home was an old farmhouse with a red brick exterior and a sweeping wooden porch that wound around the first level. White wicker furniture with red and yellow flowered dahlias made the house look inviting. I knocked loudly on the door and waited. It was a minute before I could hear footsteps approaching from inside.
    â€œHey, Jennifer!” Roxie said as she flung the door open. Her pink and red hair was flattened down on one side as though she’d just woken up, and without makeup she looked closer to her real age of thirteen than she usually did. “How did you hear so soon?” she asked.
    â€œHear what?”
    â€œThat Mr. Stoyko had a heart attack last night. Isn’t that why you’ve come?”
    â€œHe had a heart attack?” I asked, trying to grasp whatshe’d said. “Is he okay?” I looked more closely at Roxie.