Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

the house like a scared little mouse. Rae ran to the back door and slammed outside. Maybe not the smartest move. But every muscle and nerve in her body were demanding action. She was going to find out exactly who was in her yard. And right now. “Where are you?” she demanded.
    The guy in the uniform appeared from around the corner of the house. “Hey. I didn’t realize anyone was home. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said in a rush. He waved a clipboard at her. “Just here to read the meter. I’ll be out of here before you know it.”
    “You didn’t scare me,” Rae told him, although she felt like her body had sprouted a heart at every pulsepoint. She could feel the little hearts pounding in her throat, her ears, her wrists, even her fingers.
    Okay, meter reader, she thought. Makes sense. All her little hearts slowed down a little. Of course, how hard was it to get a uniform and a truck and say you’re a meter reader? The hearts started speeding up again. If you hadn’t
    come out, who knows what the guy might be doing right now. He could be planting a bomb or -
    “Shouldn’t you be in school?” the guy asked. He moved toward her, and Rae was hit by how alone they were.
    Most of the neighbors were at work. If the situation got ugly, no one would hear her even if she screamed her head off. And the closest phone was in the kitchen, which might as well be a thousand miles away. Definitely would have been smarter to be a little house mouse and just watch. Get information. Then decide what to do. But it was too late now.
    The guy’s green eyes narrowed, and Rae realized she hadn’t answered his question. Well, why should she? He had no right to question her. And if she said anything right now, he might be able to hear how nervous she was.
    “Guess it’s none of my business,” the guy said, his eyes darting around the backyard.
    Looking for the meter, Rae realized. He doesn’t have a clue where it is. The little hairs at the back of her neck began to prickle. She swallowed hard. Then, willing her voice to stay steady, she asked, “Are you new?”
    The guy took a step closer. He knows I’m suspicious, Rae thought. Not good. Shouldn’t have asked him if he was
    new. Should have acted like everything was normal. Her adrenaline rush had faded. It had made her feel strong and powerful, like she could take on anyone. But God, the guy outweighed her by probably fifty pounds. And Rae was almost the worst person in her gym class. What was she doing out here? What had she been thinking?
    “Nope. Been on this route for almost four years,” the guy answered.
    Yeah, right, Rae thought. And in another year you ’ll be able to remember where the meter is. She forced herself to nod and gave a little smile. If the guy figured out she wasn’t buying his story, who knew what he could do.
    Okay, so don’t stand here until it’s totally obvious to him that you know that he has no idea where the meter is.
    Back off. Let him think he’s convinced you.
    “I hear the microwave. My pizza’s ready,” Rae muttered, then headed back inside, trying to look like she’d completely lost interest in talking to the guy.
    She returned to her bedroom and watched the truck. If she’d convinced him that she bought his story, he’d be gone in a few minutes. Her eyes began to sting, but she didn’t blink. She wasn’t looking away from the truck for even a second until she saw it drive away. Less than a minute later the guy came out and climbed in the truck and backed into the street. Rae watched until he drove out of sight.
    Maybe he was really the meter guy, Rae thought. Maybe he goes to so many houses, he just forgot where our
    meter is. Maybe I just created this huge drama out of nothing.
    Maybe that’s what you want to believe. Maybe it’s a little thing called denial. She sat down on her bed, picked up the phone, and dialed 411. Facts. From now on, it was all going to be about facts. She got the number of the power company,