Wrong Number 2 by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

again.
    Couldn’t Chuck try to get along with them for five minutes?
    Maybe I should stay in bed all day, she thought. But she pulled herself up, washed, and brushed her teeth, then slipped into her robe.
    The shouting grew louder as Deena made her way down the stairs.
    â€œAs long as you’re living here, you’ll follow the house rules!” she heard her father scream.
    â€œJust get out of my face! Stop trying to run my life!” Chuck screamed back.
    Deena heard a loud pounding sound. Then Chuck shouted again. “Awww, forget it!” Once again the kitchen door slammed so hard that the entire house shook.
    When Deena entered the kitchen, both her parents were staring at the kitchen door. Through the window she could see Chuck disappearing around the side of the house.
    â€œGood morning,” Deena said in a small voice.
    â€œOh, good morning, dear,” said her mother, chewing her bottom lip.
    â€œMore trouble with Chuck, huh? Where’d he go?” Deena asked.
    â€œWho knows?” grumbled her father. “Who cares?” Scowling, he sat at the table and picked up the Sunday paper.
    Mrs. Martinson gave him a worried glance, then turned back to the stove. “I’m making blueberry pancakes this morning,” she told Deena. “How many do you want?”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Deena was starting on her second stack, when she heard a knock at the back door. Jade hurried in without waiting for anyone to open it.
    She was wearing a powder-blue wool skirt and turtleneck under a navy jacket, with stockings and navy pumps. Deena had never seen her dressed that way before.
    â€œGood morning, Jade,” said Mrs. Martinson. “Don’t you look nice! So grown-up!”
    â€œThanks,” Jade replied, beaming. “Hi, Deena. Ready to go to that party with me?”
    â€œParty?” Deena asked, not understanding.
    â€œYou know,” Jade said, flashing her a meaningful glance. “That business party my mom is giving that I said we’d help her with?”
    â€œOh, that party!” Deena exclaimed, catching on. “I totally forgot.”
    â€œThat’s obvious,” said Jade, motioning to Deena’s bathrobe.
    â€œCan I help Jade with her mom’s party?” Deena asked her mother.
    â€œI suppose so,” Mrs. Martinson replied. “Have you finished all your homework?”
    â€œMost of it,” Deena replied. She jumped up, leaving the pancakes, and hurried up to her room. “What’s up?” she asked Jade, closing her bedroom door.
    â€œI’ve figured out how we can find out what’s going on with Linda Morrison,” Jade announced in a whisper.
    â€œOh, no!” protested Deena. “Jade, I’m not—”
    â€œRelax!” Jade instructed. “I’ll explain it all on the way. Just change your clothes. What do you have that looks really businessy?”
    Deena stared into her open closet, then pulled out a maroon A-line dress that her mother had bought her the year before. Deena never wore it because it madeher look too much like her mother. “How’s this?” she asked.
    â€œPerfect,” Jade replied. “We’ll just dress it up with a scarf.”
    While Deena pulled on the dress, Jade began rummaging through Deena’s dresser. She pulled out a black- and gold-striped scarf and knotted it at Deena’s throat.
    â€œCome on,” she said. “I’ve got my mom’s car only till one.”
    A few moments later Deena slid in beside Jade in the front seat of the Chevy. “Now will you tell me what’s going on?”
    â€œHere’s the deal,” said Jade. “I figured out a way we can ask questions and snoop around without Linda Morrison suspecting anything. I borrowed some wigs from my mom’s beauty shop so Linda won’t recognize us.”
    â€œBut how are we going to get into her house?”
    â€œI already took care