Bad Moonlight by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

he’s out of a job.”
    Danielle turned toward the elevator, where Caroline and Kit were whispering intently. Danielle felt a stab of jealousy. Was something going on between the two of them?
    She hoped not. Kit attracted her like a magnet.
    â€œWe might as well pack up and move out,” Billy decided. “Maybe we’ll find Joey walking along the road somewhere.”
    â€œYou know we won’t!” Dee broke in sharply.
    Danielle glanced at her in surprise. What did Dee mean?
    Before Billy could respond, Dee grabbed her duffel bag and rushed out the door.
    â€œWhat’s Dee’s problem?” Danielle asked. “We all know she can’t stand Joey. Why is she so upset about him?”
    Billy shrugged. “Beats me.” He turned to Kit and Caroline. “Okay, guys, we’re out of here!”
    Out on the street Kit and Billy secured the instruments and other equipment to the top of the van. The girls loaded the bags inside.
    Danielle started to climb aboard, but stopped as a police car sped by, its siren blaring.
    A second black-and-white cruiser followed, wheeling around the corner, its siren like a wild animal howl.
    A few seconds later a red-and-white ambulance went screaming by.
    â€œThey’re heading for the park!” Kit shouted, shielding his eyes as he watched them. “Come on. Let’s go see what’s up.”
    He locked the van and trotted in the direction of the park. Danielle and the others followed close behind.
    Two police cars and an ambulance, Danielle thought with a shudder. They were sure in a hurry. It’s got to be something bad.
    As they approached the park, Danielle saw that she and her friends weren’t the only curious ones. A few dozen people stood around, craning their necks and asking questions. Two grim-faced police officers tried to keep them back, without much luck.
    Dee ran ahead and caught up with Kit. Danielle saw them push their way through the crowd.
    â€œEverybody back!” one of the officers shouted. “Keep your distance!”
    A scream rang out.
    â€œThat sounded like Dee!” Caroline exclaimed. “What did she see?”
    Danielle’s heart started to pound.
    â€œI’m not going any farther,” Mary Beth declared, stopping a few feet from the edge of the crowd. “Look at all these people. This is sick.”
    Caroline stopped too. Her face had grown pale. She bit her lower lip tensely.
    Danielle kept walking.
    â€œEverybody back! We’ve got a crime scene here!” an angry police officer shouted. “Get back!”
    Danielle reached the edge of the crowd. As she did, a gap opened up and she could see why Dee had screamed.
    What was that heaped on the ground?
    A body? A human body?
    Torn to pieces?
    Its clothing—its skin —had all been ripped and shredded.
    Clawed to death.
    This person had to be clawed to death by a wild animal, Danielle thought.
    And then she saw the corpse’s face.
    Joey’s face.

Chapter 9

    A SONG FOR DEE
    Three Weeks Later
    â€œI know I didn’t do it!” Danielle insisted. “I couldn’t possibly have done anything like that!”
    â€œYou don’t have to convince me, Danielle,” Dr. Moore stated quietly. “Why are you trying to convince yourself? What on earth makes you think you might have killed Joey?”
    Danielle sat tensely on the edge of the chair in Dr. Moore’s office. A new chair, she’d noticed when she came in. Dr. Moore never said a word about how Danielle had torn up the old one.
    But Danielle remembered. She kept her hands in her lap, twisting them nervously.
    â€œDanielle?” the doctor prodded. “Why do you think you had anything to do with Joey’s death?”
    â€œBecause of what I’ve been telling you,” she explained.“The horrible, violent fantasies. What if they become real?”
    â€œYou had a violent fantasy about Joey?”
    She shook her head.