THIS MORNING BETT WASHED HER hair and did her bangs. Then she hesitated.
Why not? Who said she had to wear her hair up every day? For practice, maybe, but not in the day. She got the blow-dryer back out and blew her long hair dry, too, letting it wave and curve like ribbons down her back.
It’s not like anyone looks at my head anyway.
But by the time Eddie pulled up, Bett’s hair was back in the messy topknot, although her bangs still looked kickass. Someday, though. Maybe.
“The perp must be tallcakes,” said Ranger on the bus.
“Ranger, quit being a detective about this whole thing,” said Dan.
Ranger was startled. “How did you know?”
“Only maybe you talking about perps and your little posse racing around like madmen,” said Dan. “We all know. And you should quit it, because the perp, as you say, is probably insane, and you are not, like, physically safe pursuing them.”
“But I’ve been coming up with more theories since last night,” said Ranger. “They must be tallcakes because a lot of that art was hung up highcakes.”
“Ranger, the perp could have just stood on a chair,” Bett couldn’t help herself from pointing out.
Ranger was silent. Then: “Maybe there are two of them!” he cried, positively glowing. “One tall, and one short, and the tall one hoisted the short onecakes! I like detecting.”
“Ranger,” said Dan, and Bett could tell he was at his wits’ end. Ranger was tenacious, and plus, the “cakes” thing was really getting legs, and Bett knew it was driving Dan crazy. Bett still kind of loved it. Why? she wondered, but then she knew. She loved focus and single-mindedness, and Ranger had both in spades. Yay, Ranger. But even so:
“Ranger,” said Bett. “Be careful. You don’t know what kind of person this is.”
“Yes, I do,” said Ranger. “I just said. A tall one. Maybe with a short friend.”
Undivertable. Still, though, who could it be? Who hated the school or Salt River so much they’d do these things? Besides Bett?
“You kids better take it easy today,” said Eddie. “I got quite a plan for your workout this afternoon.”
“He’s not kidding,” Mutt added.
“I got quite a plan, too,” muttered Ranger, just as he had yesterday.
Bett’s phone buzzed, and she took it out of her bag, one eye on Eddie in the mirror in case he noticed.
I can’t get Ranger off this. Help me. He likes you. He’ll listen to you if you tell him to quit it with this BS.
It was from Dan. Bett’s eyes went wide. How did he even have her number? How did she have his? Oh, yeah. That ninth-grade Social Studies project. He’d kept her number since then? Bett texted back:
I’ll try. But I don’t know how to get him away from it without scaring him.
Maybe that’s the way to go.
“Who are you texting?” asked Ranger in his clear, high voice.
“WHAT!” Eddie slammed on the brakes, but this time Bett was ready for him and she put a hand against the seat in front of her to minimize impact. “Who! Who’s texting on my bus?”
There was silence. “Me,” said Bett finally.
“And me,” said Dan.
“Well, that’s it,” said Eddie, grinding the bus into gear again. Mutt just shook his head by the window. “I’m writing you two bozos up.”
“We’re sorry, Eddie!” said Dan. “Don’t write us up. We won’t do it again, will we, Bett?”
“Promise,” said Bett. “Please, Eddie. Detention is so boring.”
“And besides,” said Dan, “if we’re in detention we can’t come to cross-country practice, and it’s just you and Ranger and the grim reaper over there.”
“Shut up,” said Mutt.
“You are not to disrespect the rules on my bus,” said Eddie. “You want me to throw your phones?” And it was true they were at the row of basement holes again.
“No,” said Bett and Dan together.
“Then I’m writing you up. Insubordination.”