Fabulous Five 011 - Hit and Run by Betsy Haynes Read Free Book Online Page B

there
on the kitchen table in the box from Mama Mia's Pizzeria she remembered that it
was Randy's favorite, too.
    Her mom and Pink were looking at her with quizzical
expressions. She knew she should at least take one bite to show them she
appreciated their thoughtfulness, but she was sure she would never be able to
swallow it around the lump in her throat.
    Jana slowly pushed her chair away from the table and stood
up. "I guess I'm just not very hungry right now," she said. "I'm
sorry. Save a couple of slices for me, and I'll warm them in the microwave
later. Okay?"
    Pink and her mother exchanged worried glances, and then Mrs.
Pinkerton said, "Of course, honey. I'm sure you aren't feeling like your
old self yet. Why don't you watch some television for a little while and try to
rest?"
    Pink nodded sympathetically, and Jana told them thank you
with her eyes as she went into the living room and sank onto the sofa. Picking
up the remote control, she aimed it at the set and punched the on button, not
caring what she watched. Her heart was too heavy with worry over Randy.
    The news was on, and Marge Whitworth, the local anchorwoman,
was talking about a senator in Washington, D.C., who had suffered a heart
attack at his desk.
    "And now for local news," said Ms. Whitworth. "Police
are continuing to investigate the hit-and-run accident Thursday, which slightly
injured one teenager and left a second in critical condition."
    Jana's heart almost stopped, and she leapt off the sofa and
landed on her knees just inches from the set, remembering too late how stiff
and sore she was from the accident.
    "Authorities say that they have pieced together enough
information from witnesses to get a partial description of the car. It was a
black or dark blue, late-model, two-door sedan. The license plate number began
with three seven and ended with nine. Anyone with additional information is
asked to contact the police department as soon as possible."
    "Oh, my gosh!" Jana shouted.
    "What was that about the accident?" asked Pink,
who was coming into the room carrying a slice of pizza. Her mother was right
behind him. "Your mom and I thought we heard something about it on the
television."
    "Witnesses saw the car and got part of the license
number! Now maybe they can find the driver and put him in jail!" The words
gushed out of Jana almost faster than she could move her lips. Her eyes
narrowed. "I just hope he hasn't skipped town," she grumbled. "He
deserves to be punished for what he did."
    "I'm sure they'll find him, sweetheart," her
mother said. "They can run the partial license plate number through the
computer at the department of motor vehicles and check out every car in the
state that matches. It may take a while, but they'll find him. Now why don't
you try to eat something? This pizza is delicious. It won't taste nearly as
good warmed over."
    Jana followed her mother and Pink back into the kitchen like
a robot and ate three slices of pizza without tasting any of it. All she could
think about was the hit-and-run driver and how the police were closing in on
him at that very moment. She smiled to herself. Someone was finally doing
something, and for the first time since the accident, there was something to
get her hopes up for.

CHAPTER 10
    A little later Funny called. "You're not going to
believe this," she said in an excited voice.
    "What? Tell me," Jana insisted. She feared the
worst, but she had to know.
    "Okay. I'll start at the beginning. I called Laura and
said that I really didn't understand what The Fabulous Five were talking about
yesterday when they asked her what was going on between her and Randy Kirwan.
At first, she insisted that it was nothing. She said it was all a big mistake,
but I kept pushing, and finally she told me the whole story."
    "So, what did she say?" Jana urged.
    "Are you sitting down?"
    "Yes. Shoot," said Jana.
    "Okay. Laura's still crazy about Shane Arrington."
    "What!" cried Jana.
    "Sure," said Funny. "You remember,