Dangerous Designs Read Online Free PDF Page A

pointed out the landmarks. "This is the trailer entrance to the old Bankhead mine. Remember, it closed down a few years back?"
    "How do you know? I thought you were new?" she murmured with a sidelong glance. Way off topic, but the fact that she could actually keep a conversation going right now was a freakin' miracle. So what if it was a mine entrance? What she really wanted to know was how the hell she'd managed to get inside.
    "If you didn't know what the place was, how did you get inside?"
    Trying for an air of nonchalance she didn't feel, Storey went for simplicity. "I fell down a hole, ended up in the mine."
    A long slow whistle escaped his lips, his eyes widened in shock. "Wow. Good thing I found you when I did. You could have been stuck in there forever."
    Oh, God. He was right. A shudder worked up her legs, reducing them to the consistency of wet noodles. But as much as she wanted to bolt from the place, she knew she had to have answers. Otherwise, what would stop her from ending up there again? She needed to go back in – with the door open for light.
    "Come on, let's go home." Eric faced the wide, gravel road overgrown by bushes and weeds.
    Storey glanced from the door to the road then back to the door. She had to know. "Just a second."
    A few quick steps and she had her hand on the doorknob before she could talk herself out of it. It wouldn't open. She frowned and spun back to Eric. "Did you lock it again?"
    "Lock what?" He walked back and tested the door himself. It wouldn't open. "No. I didn't. At least, I don't think so."
    "Freaky," she murmured. The door was old and rusty. Eric stood off to one side, hands on his hips, glaring at her. Had he locked it to stop her from going back inside? Then why not just say so? Or maybe he'd locked it accidentally.
    "Are you coming?"
    "Yeah, "she said with one long last look at the door.
    She'd explore later. When Eric wasn't around. And when she had a flashlight.
    Something beyond weird was going on and she needed to know what it was.

CHAPTER FOUR
    S chool slogged by. Storey was desperate to get home, yet every time she checked her watch, it appeared to have stopped, forcing her to check the clock on the back wall.
    "Yes, Storey, it's at least two minutes since you last checked the time. What's the matter? Do you have a hot date or something?"
    Snickers raced around the classroom, gaining momentum until they became an outright laugh.
    "She's probably heading to the coven for her initiation." That comment came from somewhere off to the left. Storey didn't bother looking for the culprit. Could be any one of a dozen people hitting at her because of her mother.
    Laughter swelled.
    Stone-faced, she slouched lower in her seat. To hell with them.
    "So if we have everyone's attention again," Mr. Morrison continued with a smirk, "there's going to be a quiz on chapters eleven and twelve tomorrow. Study and do well. Don't study, don't care and maybe fail. Everyone is dismissed." He waved good-bye before wiping off the blackboard.
    Letting the class empty ahead of her, Storey took her time to collect her stuff. The last thing she wanted was to attract any more attention.
    "Nice pencil. Can I see it?" Eric's long, black, jean-clad legs showed up beside her desk as she crouched to repack her overstuffed backpack.
    Storey snatched the pencil off her seat where she'd set it and slipped it into the side pocket of her bag before zipping it shut. "It's a pencil. Nothing special."
    Eric studied her face. "An art pencil?"
    "Nope. Just a pencil."
    He raised his left eyebrow. "Then why won't you let me take a look at it?" He waited another moment. "Where did you get it? I'd kinda like one for myself."
    "Check the stores. I'm sure someone will carry it." Storey turned and walked out of the classroom.
    Paying attention during school had been impossible with memories of her crazy, late-night outing running through her brain. She'd made it home from the mine that morning and raced to her bedroom, only