Jordan scowled. “I painted the notes,” he admitted. “And I strangled Mr. Crowell with my bare hands, too. I’m also the Easter Bunny.”
Bryan chuckled.
Jordan leaned toward me. “Diane, I thought we were friends,” he said angrily. “How could you accuse me?”
“The spray-paint can,” I replied. “The notes are all spray-painted, and you had the can.”
Jordan’s eyes blazed. “I don’t have the dumb can, Diane. Spencer grabbed it away from me before we ran home.”
My mouth dropped open.
“Are you telling us the truth?” Lenny asked.
Jordan frowned at Lenny. “So now you think I’m a liar, too?” He shook his head. “Some bunch of friends.”
I drew a deep breath. Jordan was right. We should all trust one another. We had been friends for years.
“I guess we jumped to conclusions,” I apologized. “I mean, I jumped to conclusions. I’m scared. But I didn’t mean to blame you.”
Jordan shrugged. “No big deal, Diane. It’s a weird time for all of us.”
“For sure,” Lenny agreed. “Sorry, Jordan. I just sort of lost it for a second.”
“But what about Spencer?” Cassie asked. “If he took the spray can, do you think he wrote the notes?”
Jordan shook his head. “Maybe it’s a coincidence.”
“Maybe it’s a joke,” Lenny put in.
“Great joke,” Cassie sighed.
“Let’s go find Spencer,” I suggested. “We can all figure this out together.”
Jordan nodded and stood up. He turned to Bryan. “Do you want to come?” he asked.
Bryan didn’t even glance at me. He held his hands up and shook his head. “Leave me out of it,” he announced. “I don’t want anything to do with your games. I’m not getting dragged into this.”
He got up and walked out without saying good-bye.
Cassie turned to me. “Guess he doesn’t want you back that much!” she joked.
Cassie climbed into Jordan’s Jeep, and Lenny and I followed them to Spencer’s house.
“I never meant for Mr. Crowell to die, Diane,” Lenny said, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the road. “I want you to know that.”
I sighed. “I know. I wish we had never started playing these Night Games.”
We pulled up and parked behind the Jeep. We all got out and stood on the sidewalk.
Spencer’s house looked deserted. No lights anywhere. No car in the driveway. A loose window shutter creaked and groaned as it rocked back and forth on its hinges.
The sound sent shivers down my spine.
“This place could use some work,” I muttered. “What a wreck.”
We trudged through the leaves to the front door. Lenny rapped hard. We waited for a few seconds. No answer.
“Where is he?” I said, frustrated. “We all need to talk about this!”
I pulled away from Lenny. I walked to the front window and pressed my face against the glass. I peered inside, but saw nothing but darkness. Then the room slowly came into focus.
“Oh noooo!” I let out a horrified wail.
“Diane—what’s wrong?” Cassie called from the front stoop.
I didn’t answer her. I slid open the window and climbed through. The others piled in behind me.
It felt like a freezer inside. No heat.
The living room was totally empty.
No couch. No chairs. No furniture at all.
Spencer lay sprawled facedown on the wooden floor in the center of the room. His head twisted to one side.
He didn’t move.
Cassie screamed. Jordan gasped and pulled back. Lenny swore under his breath.
“Spencer?” I cried. “Spencer? Spencer?” I ran to him and dropped to my knees.
I picked up his hand.
It felt spongy and cold.
Lifeless.