Free The Secret of the Skeleton Key by Penny Warner Page A

She hoped he was in detention for the rest of the semester. When Ms. Stad appeared in class after lunch in a fresh blouse, her nose was shiny from washing off the brownie and milk. She spent the rest of the class time talking about the dangers of food fights and had the students break into “tribes” to “problem solve” future situations.
    Cody could barely keep her mind on the topic, wondering what was inside the metal case that had caused so much trouble. She’d handed it over to Quinn as soon as they were away from the cafeteria, and Quinn had tucked it safely in his zippered jacket pocket. Her only worry now was Matt the Brat’s threat: “You’re so dead.”
    Detention wouldn’t last forever.
    When the last bell rang, Cody had to fight with her desk to get a book out. When she got out to the hall, M.E. had disappeared. Cody headed for the flagpole, the Code Busters’ usual meeting place, but there was no sign of any of her friends. Uh-oh. It looked like she’d have to walk to the clubhouse by herself.
    Alone.
    With Matt the Brat’s threat hanging over her.
    Not to mention the mountain lion.
    Cody kept glancing behind her to check for Matt as she made her way down the street. Once she headed up the hill toward the clubhouse, she kept her eyes peeled for the lion. There was no sign of either one, although she jumped twice— once when a dog barked, and a second time when something behind one of the eucalyptus trees rustled. Running the rest of the way up the hill, she didn’t know which was worse—a hungry mountain lion or an angry bully.
    When she finally reached the clubhouse, she gave the secret knock and password. The bolt was removed and the door opened, and Cody sighed with relief at finding Quinn and Luke there. But when she realized M.E. was not among them, she recalled Matt the Brat’s words before he was hauled off to detention. Matt knew that even though Luke had started the food fight— Matt had gotten blamed. Cody’s relief quickly turned to concern for her friend.
    â€œWhere’s M.E.?” Cody glanced down the forested hill before closing the door and removing her backpack. She sat cross-legged on her hoodie to protect her legs from the cold sheet metal that made up the floor and hid their secret stash.
    Quinn shrugged. “I haven’t seen her since lunch. She usually comes with you.”
    Cody frowned. “I hope nothing’s happened to her…. ”
    Luke shook his head. “I know she’s not the bravest person on the planet, but M.E. can take care of herself. She’s quick and small, and she can talk her way out of anything. She’s probably just—”
    A familiar knock at the door interrupted Luke.
    â€œThat’s probably her now,” Luke said, rising to his feet. But before he opened the door, he asked, “What’s the password?”
    â€œ Yadsruht ,” came a muffled voice.
    Luke unbolted the door and opened it. It was M.E., all right.
    But she wasn’t alone.
    â€œDude! Who’s your friend?” Luke gawked at the newcomer.
    Cody leaped to her feet. “You found Punkin!” She took the orange cat from M.E.’s arms and stroked him. “Where was he?”
    â€œI found him hiding behind one of those metal sculptures in Skeleton’s yard,” M.E. said. “He was meowing and clawing at the dirt.”
    â€œYou went back there?” Cody asked, surprised at M.E. Normally, she was the first to chicken out when there was any kind of danger involved.
    â€œI knew you missed him, Cody,” M.E. said. “I wanted to surprise you.”
    â€œThat’s so sweet! You even cleaned the soot off him,” Cody said, nearly tearing up as she rubbed the cat’s soft fur.
    â€œHey,” Luke said. “Let’s make him the Code Buster’s mascot. We could name him Decipher.”
    â€œI think we should name him Lucky,” Quinn