Stolen Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

Sam’s hair looked a little grayer these days, and his eyes seemed tired.
    Before he could answer I said, “Is it the same reason you don’t want us talking about what happened at Gold Town?”
    Sam glanced around the room. “I just don’t think we should involve them. Not yet. It’s probably some kid. Whoever it was could have taken the ATVs or computers. Strange.” He locked the barn on our way out and put a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll sic the hounds on them if they come back.”
    If Ashley was right and this whole thing was Boo Heckler’s work, he was sure to be back.

Chapter 21

    I tried to get some rest after school Friday with the sleepover coming up that night, but I couldn’t. Sometimes reading helps, but I was so gripped by the book I was reading that it kept me up. That and Pippin and Frodo barking.
    Mom drove Bryce and me to the elementary school later that afternoon. Parents and leaders had a pre-sleepover meeting, complete with pizza and sub sandwiches. The kids would arrive in an hour.
    The principal, Mrs. Genloe, had several things planned. The kids would eat when they arrived at six. At seven, a clown would perform (which made Bryce roll his eyes). Mrs. Genloe said the clown had trained pigs that did tricks. Then Mom would tell her story. “And we have a special presentation on safety by a surprise duo,” the principal said. “With all the talk about the assault, we don’t want to brush this under the rug.”
    “What about the bonfire?” somebody asked.
    Mrs. Genloe frowned. “Because of the assault, we won’t be having our annual bonfire.”
    Between 9 and 11 the climbing wall, an inflatable jumping castle, dodgeball, and other games would be set up in the gym. At 11, the kids would have a scavenger hunt throughout the school, with prizes awarded. Each class had selected a video to watch at midnight. Then it would be lights-out.
    Just before six, we got our assignments. Bryce would be with the third-grade boys.
    I was the last helper to get an assignment. Mrs. Genloe took me aside. “We have a fifth grader we’d like you to keep an eye on.”
    “Just one?”
    “Wally is a little slower than the rest and has been known to wander. It would help if you’d stay with him until midnight. Can you do that?”
    I looked out the window at a little boy with thick glasses. He wore a Colorado Rockies jersey, a pair of Avalanche sweats, a Broncos hat, and a smile a mile wide. His full backpack bounced as he walked. I wondered if Mom had told Mrs. Genloe that I might want to be a special ed teacher when I grew up.

Chapter 22

    The third-grade class was a blast. Out of 23 kids, only 12 had made it through No TV Week without watching (or so they had said). Everybody wore a name tag with their room number. I helped pass out the pizza. One boy, Darrel, said he didn’t like pizza, so his mother had packed carrots and celery. I ran to the cafeteria and found an untouched sub sandwich. Darrel’s eyes grew round as hot air balloons. When I gave it to him, I figured I had made at least one friend for the night.
    Red Rock Elementary is a flat, one-story brick building half the size of the middle school but twice as confusing. It kind of looks like the Pentagon, with five entrances for the different grades. In the middle is a combination library/auditorium, where special speakers talk to the kids. The fenced-in playground is outside a back door, and you have to walk outside across the playground to get to the gymnasium.
    You’d think it would be easy to figure out where to go, but if you’re not careful, the hallways are like a maze, with curious trails that lead to dead ends and doors that open to spooky unused rooms.
    I’ve worked in the church nursery, so it wasn’t hard to figure out that the adult leaders wanted me to blend in and help. When they asked me to get something, I asked Darrel to point the way.
    After the clown came, one of the adults said I could take a break. What a relief! I hate