Free Funhouse by Diane Hoh

iron gate around the huge property. How could she not be safe there? It would be so easy to just leave the condo and go stay where people could take care of her.
    No. She’d always done that. And her father wouldn’t “take care” of her. He’d take charge of her. The two things weren’t the same at all. She didn’t want to take any stupid, foolish chances, but she didn’t want to go running home to daddy, either, especially since “daddy” hadn’t once called or come to see her since Shelley and Tess had left the house.
    “No,” she said as firmly as she could manage. “I don’t think so. Not tonight. I need to think, and I can do that better here, in my own house.”
    “I’ll stay with you, Tess,” Candace said quietly, “if you want me to.”
    Tess was deeply touched. Trudy had been right earlier: Candace was a little like a scared rabbit. To offer her company in a house that might not be one hundred percent safe was a sweet thing to do. It must have taken great effort on Candace’s part. Refusing her offer might hurt her feelings. Besides, she would hardly get in the way. Most of the time, people weren’t even aware that Candace was around. And while Tess may have been confused about other things, she was sure that there was no way Candace could have had any part in the awful things that had happened. No question there. And it would be nice to have some company.
    “Thank you, Candace,” Tess said, “that would be nice.”
    “Oh, great!” Sam complained, “now I not only have to worry about you, I have to worry about my sister, too. That’s just perfect!”
    He was going to worry about her? What about their heated argument when he had said he was washing his hands of her for good? Washing your hands of someone for good didn’t include worrying about them, did it?
    “We’ll be fine,” she reassured him. “I’ll lock all the doors and windows and put my attack cat in the window. Quit worrying.”
    She stood up, ignoring the annoyed look on Sam’s face. “Now you guys, go home. I’ve never been so tired in my life! I’m going to bed.” She managed a slight grin. “Sam, if you’re so worried, you can sleep in a chair out here. I’ll even bring you a blanket.”
    For just a minute or so, she thought he might actually accept. And she wouldn’t have minded. It might have been nice, falling asleep knowing he was out there.
    “No way,” he said angrily. “I’m not freezing my buns off just because you’re too stubborn to go back to your dad’s. Find some other knight in shining armor. This one’s going home to his own nice, warm bed.”
    “Chivalry is dead,” Trudy said gaily, standing up and taking Guy Joe’s hand. “Well, Tess, you had your chance to return to the castle where you’d be protected by the moat. If anything terrible happens to you, it’s your own fault.”
    Is that a threat? Tess wondered, and was amazed by the thought. Trudy? Well, why not? She could have tied the cat on the light fixture earlier. Could have written the poem, too. As for the missing saucer, well, Trudy the athlete and ballet dancer was certainly strong and agile enough to handle that.
    But the question of motive remained unanswered.
    When they had gone, Tess and Candace went inside. The first thing Tess did was flip on every available light switch. The second thing she did was scoop Trilby up out of her wicker basket and sit stroking the soft, very much alive body until her own nerves settled down. Then she showed Candace where everything was, lent her a pair of pajamas, and gave Candace her own bed, explaining that she wouldn’t be using it. She intended to take up her vigilant position on the couch, poker at her side, after making sure that every door and window in the place was locked and the oval table was still firmly pressed against the French doors.
    When she finally settled down under the afghan, Trilby was already fast asleep on the couch.
    Tess wasn’t so lucky. In spite of her