Dead Is Just a Rumor Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nightshade had had an influx of doppelgangers not that long ago, and it hadn't been a pleasant experience.
    Her grin faded. "Daisy, I'm so sorry!" she said. "I completely forgot."
    I smiled at her reassuringly. "Maybe that's a good thing," I replied.
    I waved to Lilah Porter, who was working on a mural. I went over to check it out.
    "This is amazing," I said to her. It was a fantastic ocean scene of Nightshade, complete with sailors, mythical beasts, and singing mermaids.
    "Thanks," she said. "It's for the ballroom. What are you working on?"
    "I'm afraid I don't have your talent," I said. "Strictly coloring in the lines." I held up a half-finished papier-mâché bat.
    "How many of these things did you say we needed?" I asked Sam.
    "I didn't," she said."I was afraid it would freak you out. We still have to make papier-mâché pumpkins and cats."
    I sighed. It was going to be a long night.
    Eventually, people started to leave. I yawned and stretched. It was getting late and I had glue in my hair and black paint all over my hands. I wanted some food and a shower, in that order.
    Sam, Jordan, Rachel, and I were the only people left when a strange rustling noise was heard coming from the other end of the room.
    "Do you think it's a rat?" Rachel asked.
    "Let's take a look," Jordan said.
    "I'll pass on the bubonic plague," Samantha drawled. I stayed with her, just to keep her company, of course.
    When Rachel and Jordan went to investigate, Jordan accidentally knocked something over. It was the painting I had noticed the first day I went to the room. It had been propped in the corner, turned away from view. We gasped as it clattered to the ground, but it landed face-up. She turned it over and examined it. "It's okay," she said with relief.
    "Bianca told us to stay away from that stuff," Samantha warned, but they ignored her.
    "What is that?" Rachel said.
    "It's a painting of a young woman," Jordan said. "She's beautiful."
    Sam and I looked at each other and then trooped over to take a look. We couldn't help it.
    She was beautiful, but there was something spooky about her. Her long dark hair was parted in the middle and swept up into a bun and a locket hung around her neck. There was a faint frown on her face. On the back, in faded handwriting, there was one word. Lily.
    The rustling came again and we all jumped. "What was that?" Samantha said.
    "Maybe it's a mouse," I said, but I was getting a strange vibe. I felt someone was listening in on our conversation.
    The sound came closer.
    Samantha and Jordan were holding on to each other, but Rachel had picked up a folding chair, ready to swing it. I admired Rachel's spunk. I was preparing to use my power of telekinesis when Bianca came into view.
    We all breathed sighs of relief.
    "Is everything all right?" she said.
    "We ... You startled us, that's all," I said.
    "Mrs. Wilder has asked that I close up for the day," Bianca continued. "Wilder's will be closed to the public tonight. A ... private event."
    It was clear that they wanted us out of their hair, so we packed up and called it a night.

    The rest of the week passed without incident, except for a pop quiz in calculus on Wednesday, which I was prepared for. Sam caught up with me after my last class. Sean and Ryan had lockers right next to ours.
    "Do you need a ride home?" Sam asked. "I'm taking Katie shopping after school." Katie was Sean's sister. Samantha spent nearly as much time with Sean's family as she did with Sean. I think she was lonely sometimes. Even though Mrs. Devereaux wasn't the greatest mom in the world, I knew Sam missed her. She'd moved to San Francisco after the divorce and rarely visited.
    "Ryan is coming over, so I'm set, thanks." My father had a job interview at some college a couple of hours away. It was a non-tenured position and the salary was a lot less than he used to make, but he was excited about the interview. He had a friend on the faculty there and would be out of the house until late.
    I glanced over