Fear Street 5 - The Fire Game by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

the poem. About fire?"
    "Well, sure--I don't know," said Andrea. "It was just something I thought of on the spur of the moment. It's no big deal."
    "I think it's a bigger deal than you realize," said Diane. "Did you two see the article in the paper today?"
    "You mean the article about all the fires?" said Jill.
    "Today?" said Andrea. "I didn't see it."
    "It wasn't on the front page or anything," said Jill, "but there was an article about how there's been an increase in arson in Shadyside. It specifically mentioned fires at the school and in the cemetery."
    "Wow!" whooped Andrea, her face suddenly flushed with excitement. "We made the paper!"

    "Luckily," Jill went on, "they don't seem to suspect anyone in particular."
    "That's just too much," Andrea said. "I wonder if the guys know?"
    "Gabe knows," said Diane. Her voice sounded strained and upset. "He's the one who told me about it."
    "What does he think?" said Andrea.
    "He feels the same way about it you do!" said Diane, her voice suddenly angry. "He sees it all as some sort of game! But it's not! Someone could get in real trouble--or get hurt."
    Jill and Andrea both stared at Diane. Jill knew how much Diane feared fire, but she never realized until now how serious she was about it.
    "It has to stop," Diane went on. "The whole fire thing."
    "In other words," said Andrea sarcastically, "just because sweet little Diane doesn't like fire, the rest of us have to stop having fun?"
    "Andrea, there are plenty of ways to have fun without setting fires,"
    said Diane.
    "Maybe so," said Andrea. "But I don't know who said you can dictate to the rest of us what we do and don't do."
    "Fine," said Diane. "But if you guys are going to keep setting fires, then I'm not going to hang out with you anymore."
    "Hey, girls, come on!" Jill had been listening to the argument with growing concern. She had to admit she'd been just as excited as everyone else by the fires, but she thought Diane had a point. "Diane's right, Andrea," she said, trying to placate her friend. "This fire game could get someone in a lot of trouble."
    "Great," said Andrea. "Now you're on her side too!"
    "I'm not on anyone's side. But--we've been good friends for a long time, and I don't want to see anything break that up. Besides, I think the guys are getting too competitive about setting fires."
    "You mean Gabe's the only one with any guts."
    "Gabe takes it too seriously," said Jill. "They all do. That's the whole point I think we ought to tell them to stop it."
    "They'll listen to you, Jill," said Diane. "I know they will."
    "I don't know," said Andrea. She had begun painting her fingernails and seemed bored with the whole discussion.
    Jill was trying to think of another argument to use on Andrea when the phone rang.
    "Will one of you get that?" asked Andrea. She was holding her hands in front of her face, blowing on the nails as they dried.
    Jill picked up Andrea's red Trimline phone. "Hello?"
    "Is this Miss Andrea Hubbard?" said a gruff, official-sounding voice.
    "She's busy right now," said Jill. "May I take a message?"
    "Just tell her," said the gruff voice, "that this is Inspector Lindsay of the Shadyside Fire Department. We want to ask her some questions about a suspected case of arson."

Chapter 11
    For a moment Jill felt as if her heart had stopped.
    They've found us! she thought.
    "Jill? What is it?" Diane was staring at her with alarm.
    Jill waved at her to be quiet. "Who did you say you are?" she asked, hoping she had heard wrong.

    "Inspector Lindsay," repeated the voice, "of the Shadyside Fire Department." His voice cracked slightly, and Jill felt relief flood through her. Relief and anger.
    "Max, you dork!" she shouted.
    "I don't know any Max," said Max. "This is Inspector--"
    "I know it's you!" Jill cut in. "And you're very funny. As funny as a coffin!"
    "How's the slumber party, girls?" It was Nick's voice on Max's other phone.
    "Everything's just peachy!" said Jill sarcastically. "And I don't remember anyone