Free What Holly Heard by R.L. Stine, Bill Schmidt

and Noah come after Ruth and me before the police have a chance to arrest them?
    It was such a real possibility that Miriam shivered. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, trying to smooth away the goose bumps.
    A car drove by on the street in front of her house. She turned off the living room light and watched it pass.
    She didn’t recognize it. The car kept right on going.
    Don’t get completely paranoid,
she warned herself. Then she went to bed.
    Miriam lay back on her bed, trying one more time to fall asleep. Instead she found herself picturing Holly. Then Jed. How Jed was there to save her.
    Jed.
    She missed him. Since his temper had started taking over, Miriam hadn’t confided in him the way she used to.
    Ruth was her best friend now. But Miriam wanted to talk to Jed. She needed to tell him what was happening.
    She hadn’t seen him since last night—the most horrible night of her life—in the gym. He had called twice during the day to see how she was doing. He was sweet and caring—acting once again like the old Jed.
    Should she call him now? It wasn’t too late. She hesitated. Could she trust him to be the caring guy he used to be? Not to fly off the handle?
    She picked up the phone.
    He answered on the first ring.
    â€œJed?”
    â€œMiriam? Are you okay?”
    â€œNo,” she whispered. She felt the tears coming. All it took was hearing his voice. “I miss you.”
    â€œI’ll be right over,” Jed answered quickly.
    Miriam tried to reply, but he had hung up.
    He was coming.
    â€œHurry,” she whispered into the dead receiver.
    Ten minutes later Jed’s Civic screeched to a stop in front of the Maryleses’ house. Miriam had dressed quickly. Now she sat hunched on the porch steps, the cold ripping through her. She liked the cold. It reminded her that she was alive.
    Jed smiled warmly as he came up the sidewalk, tall and handsome in his Shadyside varsity jacket, like a prince right out of her dreams. Fresh tears filled her eyes even though she’d promised herself she was through crying.
    â€œJed,” she croaked.
    She ran to him, and he took her into his strong arms. She wiped her face against his coat. “I’m sorry,” she sniffed, taking a deep gulp of cold air. “I didn’t call you over here to watch me cry. How was practice?”
    â€œForget practice,” he replied. He guided her to the porch steps, and they sat down. “That’s not why you called me.”
    â€œI know.” Miriam took a deep, calming breath. “It’s Holly.”
    Jed nodded, but he didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry, Miriam. I don’t know what to say.” He swallowed. “Everyone was talking about her murder at school today. No one could talk about anything else.”
    Miriam sighed and leaned against Jed.
    â€œGary is a total mess. And now everyone is turning Holly into some kind of saint. I just want to forget about the whole thing. But I can’t,”
    Miriam studied him closely. What did he mean by that last comment? Holding her breath, she waited, hoping her silence would force him to explain.
    It didn’t.
    â€œI never thanked you for being there for me last night,” she murmured, holding on to his arm.
    Jed flashed her a quick smile, but he still didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he stared into the darkness, his jaw muscles clenching.
    Miriam opened her mouth, about to tell him everything—about Mei and Noah, the police, the bloody notebook, the scrawled threat.
    But his expression made her keep quiet. She’d seen that look in his eyes before. Last Saturday, after he came out of the locker room.
    A murderous look.
    How could she tell him about Mei and Noah? He’d go berserk.
    He’d do something violent. She knew it.
    Frowning, Miriam tried to think what had set him off this time. She couldn’t stand it any longer.
    â€œAre you all right, Jed?” she