Free Poisoned by Kristi Holl

could find a safe, unopened package.
    In the pantry she found several boxes and opened a new package of cinnamon graham crackers. She wasn’t taking any chances on the open boxes. She grabbed out five or six large crackers and bit off a piece, returning the box to the shelf and closing the pantry door.
    Back in the kitchen, she turned slowly, studying the cupboard doors as she munched. Each girl had a small shelf of her own for personal snacks, with her name on a card taped to her cupboard door. Jeri’s shelf was near the back door. She shared a cupboard with Rosa, Abby, and Nikki. Each girl also had a clearly labeled white plastic container for perishable snacks in the giant refrigerator. Jeri’s was empty now. She’d thrown away everything after Nikki got sick.
    She wondered what everyone else had in their cupboard and refrigerator space. There’d never be a better time to investigate. If she looked, could she tell if something was suspicious? Maybe. She’d sure check out anyone with green potatoes, rhubarb leaves, and mushrooms!
    But when she looked, the plastic containers in the double-wide refrigerator contained nothing moresuspicious than some yogurt, cheese sticks, and candy bars. Not really surprising, she decided. Would a poisoner be stupid enough to leave her poison in plain sight?
    Quietly and quickly, she opened cupboard doors and poked among the girls’ things: cookies, Pop Tarts, birthday candles, cans of soup, chips, and kettle corn. She had just opened Brooke and Emily’s cupboard when she heard a shuffling noise behind her. She whipped around, her heart pounding.
    “What are you doing?” Emily’s voice barely carried across the room.
    Jeri’s heart sank at the sight of her frightened expression. How in the world was she going to explain this?

8
setting a trap
    Jeri gulped.
    Emily stared wide-eyed at her own cupboard door, now standing open. “What are you doing?” she asked again.
    “I came down for some crackers.” Jeri tried to keep her voice light and nudged the door shut with her elbow. “You hungry too?”
    “No.” She paused. “When I went to the bathroom, I saw you going downstairs and wondered if you were okay.”
    “Just hungry.” Jeri moved away from Emily’s cupboard, but Emily remained standing in the doorway. Jeri wished the cracker box was on the counter to make her story look true. She could tell what Emily was thinking.
What are you doing in my cupboard when your own is way over by the back door?
    Emily glanced over her shoulder. “You’ll get in trouble for being down here so late.”
    “I don’t think Ms. Carter would want me to starve.”
    “Probably not.” Emily seemed to consider that. “I’ve been working on my science fair project. It’s chilly in our room.”
    “Want some hot chocolate? You have a couple packets left.” Jeri could have kicked herself the moment the words left her mouth. Why not just announce that she’d searched Emily’s cupboard?
    “Um, no.” Emily looked at Jeri, and then glanced quickly away. Her fingers twisted the hem of her shorty pajamas into knots. “Good night, Jeri.”
    “I’ll come too.” Jeri reached to turn out the overhead light. Before she touched the switch, Emily had turned and fled from the kitchen. In a moment Jeri heard her taking the stairs two at a time.
    Oh, brother,
Jeri thought, following more slowly.
Did she think I was going to hurt her? Now what should I do?
    On Friday morning Jeri yawned as the Hampton House girls lined up two by two to walk to the dining hall for breakfast. Jeri noticed Emily and Brooke watching her. Jeri tried to catch Emily’s eye to smile at her, but each time Emily turned another direction.
    I wasn’t doing anything!
Jeri wanted to scream. But if she tried to explain why she’d been snooping through everyone’s food, it would only make her sound guilty. And yet, Jeri hated the idea that Emily might suspect
her
now. Brooke did too. She could tell by the way she was