“Lenny, please!” Cassie cried. She clung tightly to my hand. “Somebody is going to get hurt.”
I couldn’t speak. I could only stare at the glinting metal in Lenny’s hand.
Lenny slowly raised his hand. He pointed. The dim light glistened on the gun.
I took a step backward. Time seemed to stop.
“Put it away,” Cassie whispered.
“Just chill, you two,” Lenny said. “Nobody is going to get hurt.”
He swung his hand up.
“Get it away,” Cassie insisted. She squeezed her eyes shut and clung to me.
I forced myself to look. At the spray-paint can.
Spray-paint can?
Relief rushed through me. I sighed. “Cassie, it’s just spray paint,” I said.
She opened her eyes and began laughing.
“What are you going to do with that?” I whispered.
Lenny smiled. “I thought I’d do a little redecorating.”
“Lenny, don’t!” I pleaded. “This is getting way out of control.”
“Crowell deserves it,” Lenny replied quietly.
He shook the paint can. The loud rattling echoed in the silent room.
“Lenny, no,” I whispered. I tugged on his arm, but he shook me off.
He shook the can again. Took a step toward the wall.
My stomach tightened. My legs grew rubbery. But I stood and watched Lenny.
He walked up to the bookshelf and began spraying the paint in a thick zigzag all over the books. He whipped his arm around, changing from zigzags to big circles. Then spirals.
He laughed out loud. “Hey, this is fun! Want to try?”
“No way,” I yelled back.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I suddenly felt sorry for Mr. Crowell. This had gone too far.
I ran out of the room. Out into the dark hallway.
“Cassie?” I whispered. “Where are you?”
“Here!” she called. I stumbled forward in the darkness until I found her.
“We have to get out of here!” I cried. “This is horrible. I don’t want to be a part of this!”
“Where are the guys?” Cassie asked.
“What do you mean?” I began. “They’re right …” My voice trailed off as I realized that I couldn’t hear Lenny’s spray can anymore. I started to panic.
“Where are they?” I cried. “I don’t hear them.”
Cassie grabbed my hand and we inched along the wall. We slowly turned into the short hallway.
It seemed even darker here.
Suddenly I heard excited whispers. Cassie heard them, too. Her nails dug into my arm.
I took a step forward. Cassie walked so close behind me that she stomped on my heel. “Sorry,” she whispered.
I followed the sound of the voices. It was so dark that I walked with my hands out in front of me to keep from bumping into things. The floorboards squeaked with each step.
Cassie clung to the back of my jacket.
I felt rough fabric. Wool. I moved my hand closer. A coat maybe.
A coat.
The coat moved. I screamed and stumbled back, as someone pulled the coat over my head.
I stumbled over Cassie. I heard her scream.
I pulled the heavy coat off my face—and grabbed at my attacker.
No one. An empty coat.
Attacked by a coat tree! I had walked into it in the dark.
I sat up, my heart pounding.
Cassie stood up and then helped me. I gasped for air. “I thought someone—”
“Me too,” Cassie choked out. “The coat fell and—”
“Let’s just find the guys and get out of here,” I said.
She nodded. “Lead the way.”
We started down the hallway again. Slow steps. My hands out straight. Feeling in the darkness.
I heard a gasp. Lenny’s voice. My fingers met a dead end. The bedroom door—closed. I pushed it open. It made a loud squeaking sound.
Cassie let go of my jacket and disappeared into the dark room. I stood just inside the door. I squinted into the darkness.
The light flashed on. Cassie had found the wall switch.
I blinked against the bright light. I saw Spencer and Jordan. They stood close to each other. Staring down at something on the floor.
I followed their gaze.
Mr. Crowell!
Sprawled on the floor on his back. Legs out straight. Arms hanging stiffly at his sides. Fists clenched.
His cold, black eyes stared blankly up at the ceiling’s glaring light.
He didn’t blink.
Spencer leaned over him. Then he looked up at me.