31

ANOTHER CALL

Karen and Mrs. Armstrong stayed about an hour. Wendy thought about calling Kyle to let him know about the serval kitten, but decided to wait until he got home. She was pretty sure that Radar would charm Kyle as quickly as he had charmed her.

Just then the phone rang. That will be Danny, Wendy thought. Calling to tell me how his weekend at Red River Ranch went. She almost snatched up the receiver, then caught herself and waited until the number registered on the display. It was not Danny’s home number, and it was not the Red River Ranch number. It was one she did not recognize. She waited for the machine to record the call.

“We’re watching you, Blondie,” growled a male voice. “Day and night. If you don’t wanna get hurt, you don’t talk to nobody. I mean nobody!”

There was a click and the line went dead.

Wendy’s hands flew to her face, hands that were ice-cold with fear. She turned a circle, wanting to run, wanting to hide, but not knowing where to go. How on earth did they get her phone number? The new unlisted number. The number she had given to nobody! Nobody! Except …

Just then she glimpsed, out the window, Danny pulling his bike to a stop and leaning it against the front porch. Danny!

“Danny!” she screamed, banging out onto the porch as he started for toward the steps. “Who did you give my telephone number to?”

Danny stopped, a stunned look on his face. “Nobody.”

“Oh Danny!” Wendy crumpled down on the top steps. “You must have! You are the only person except Kyle who had it! Bad enough you told! Do you have to lie about it, too?”

Wendy folded her head down on her knees and began to sob hysterically. When she looked up several minutes later, Danny was gone.