The Nightmare Game by Gillian Cross Read Free Book Online

Doherty was speaking faster now. “Is that you? Where are you?”
    Warren recognized that anxious note—and he knew the feelings that went with it. They’d knocked Doherty off balance. Made him unsure about what was happening. Good! He turned up the volume again.
    â€œOut!”
    Doherty drew in his breath—and then a different voice came down the phone. It was fainter, as if the speaker was standing on the other side of the room. “Rob? What’s the matter? Are you all right?”
    It was the fox-girl! It had to be!
    Doherty didn’t answer, but Warren heard her coming across to the phone.
    â€œHasmegg,” Hope’s voice said conversationally. “Dohfuss, Wonn. Hasmegg.”
    This time the fox-girl’s voice was much clearer. “It’s not her, Rob. How could she reach a phone?”
    â€œSsh!” Doherty said fiercely. “Listen.”
    Then the phone went dead.
    â€œQuick!” Warren’s mother said. “What’s the number? Get it again!”
    Her finger was already on the button, rewinding the tape. It took a few moments, but as it finished Warren was already redialing. This time, the phone hardly had time to ring before it was answered. Doherty said something very fast. Hardly above a whisper.
    It sounded like, “Law?”
    What did that mean? Did he think they were the police? Warren strained his ears to catch the next word, but when it came, it was the fox-girl speaking.
    â€œIt’s not her , Rob. You know it’s not. It must be someone imitating her voice. Ring off.”
    â€œBe quiet, Em!” Doherty snapped.
    Emma , Warren thought, snatching at the name. Emma Doherty . It was a second before he realized that the phone had gone dead again. He put the phone down, feeling drained and disappointed.
    â€œSorry,” he muttered. “That wasn’t a lot of use, was it?”
    â€œOh yes, it was.” His mother’s eyes were glittering. “Didn’t you hear the boy say, Hope, where are you? He was very surprised. And the girl said, How could she reach a phone? They weren’t expecting to hear her on the phone—because they know where she is. They’ve got her shut up somewhere.”
    Warren’s throat was suddenly dry. “You don’t think she’s dead, then?”
    â€œNo. No .” His mother screwed up her fists. “If she was dead, that boy would have guessed it was a recording. She’s alive—and they know where she is. We’ve got to make them tell us. If only we could get them here and lock them up until they talk!”
    She said it wildly, thumping the air with her fists. But as soon as the words were out, she froze. For a second she was very, very still. Then she lifted her head and looked at Warren.
    His mind made a huge, terrifying leap. But we can’t—
    â€œWe have to,” his mother said fiercely, as though she’d read his mind. “Otherwise we’ll never see Hope again. We have to get them here and make them tell us.”
    Warren was trembling, but he couldn’t look away. He’d never seen her like that before. The need to find Hope scorched out of her, obliterating everything else. He could feel himself being caught up and swept along by it.
    â€œB-but how can we?” he stuttered. “We’ll never manage—”
    â€œYes we will,” his mother said. She was calm now. Perfectly, terrifyingly calm. “We have to watch them. Watch everything they do and everywhere they go—until we know the right one to take, and the right moment to do it. And then I’ll hire a van.”
    That was when Warren really understood that she was serious. His mind made a picture of her walking into a vanhire office and holding out her license. She was going to do it. And she thought he was going to help.
    â€œWhat about Dad?” he muttered
    â€œWe won’t tell him,” she said. “Not until we’ve found