What Holly Heard by R.L. Stine, Bill Schmidt Read Free Book Online Page B

voice strained.
    They nodded.
    â€œWe’re so sorry,” Miriam offered. What could she say to this …
killer?
    Stop it,
she told herself.
You have no proof. So just stop.
    â€œMei’s really wrecked,” Noah said. “I am, too. I came to school to get her work for the rest of the week.”
    He turned his eyes to Holly.
    Miriam swore she saw her friend shrink three inches.
    â€œI saw you at the game Saturday,” he said.
    Holly blinked. “You did?”
    â€œYeah. In the parking lot. You were on your way to your car.”
    Miriam’s eyes were locked on Noah’s hands.
    Could those be the hands of a killer? Could they have pushed Mrs. Kamata down the stairs?
    â€œI gotta go,” Noah said, his eyes regaining their far-off glaze. “I’ll tell Mei you’re sorry about her mom.”
    Miriam gulped.
    â€œThanks,” Holly mumbled. “We—we’ll call Mei later.”
    Noah moved off, down the hall and out of sight.
    They all collapsed against the lockers. Miriam wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the gooseflesh under her fingertips.
    Holly whirled on her.
“Do you believe me now?”
    Miriam stared at her best friend. She didn’t know what to think.
    â€œDid you hear him?” Holly cried. “Did you hear what he said about Saturday night?”
    â€œHolly …”
    â€œDid you see the way he looked at me?”
    Miriam pictured Noah’s cold eyes.
    â€œThey
saw
me, Miriam! They know I heard them plotting to kill Mei’s mom,” Holly’s voice was shrill.
    â€œThey know—and now they’re going to kill me, too!”

chapter 11

    â€œD on’t be ridiculous,” Ruth said. “Noah is just upset. He wasn’t threatening you.”
    â€œNo,” Holly moaned, shaking her head. “I could see it in his eyes. He
knows.”
    â€œHolly,” Miriam said. “Think about what you’re saying. You’re talking about murder.”
    â€œI
know.
Don’t you think I know that?” Holly’s voice came out shrill and high.
    â€œHolly!” Miriam pleaded. “Noah didn’t mean anything by what he said. He didn’t kill anybody. He came over here to tell us about Mei’s mom.”
    â€œBe careful,” Ruth warned. “If you spread false rumors about them, they’ll be hurt. And furious. You don’t really believe they would kill someone.”
    â€œHow can I
not
believe it, Ruth?” Holly shrieked.“You weren’t there. You didn’t hear how serious Noah was.”
    â€œRuth is right,” Miriam said. “If you spread this rumor, Mei and Noah would be destroyed. Everyone will think they’re guilty just because you accused them.”
    â€œWhat if they
are
guilty?” Holly insisted.
    Miriam shrugged. “Then they’ll get caught. But not because of us. You can’t say anything, Holly. You just can’t.”
    Holly heaved a sigh. “Okay. I won’t say anything.”
    â€œPromise?”
    â€œI promise.”
    Miriam turned to Ruth. Ruth raised her eyebrows. “Don’t look at me like that.
I
don’t think they did it. Holly’s crazy.”
    â€œThanks, Ruth,” Holly murmured. “Thanks for the support.”
    â€œI’m realistic,” she replied.
    â€œWe all agree?” Miriam asked. “No one spreads nasty rumors?”
    Ruth and Holly nodded, but the air remained tense. Miriam could feel the tension pouring from Holly.
    Studying her best friend, Miriam knew Holly had no doubt that Mei and Noah were murderers. Holly thought they were coming for her next. She believed it down to her bones.
    The worst part about it, Miriam thought, is that I’m not completely sure Holly is wrong.
    Mei couldn’t do something like that, she insisted to herself. Holly
is
wrong.
    Miriam thought about Mei sitting at home, in shock, grieving, dealing with her mother’s sudden