Halloween Party by R.L. Stine Page B

treasure hunt, and this is his mature way of showing it. Did he pay you off to go along with it, Dave?”
    â€œIt’s no joke!” said David, shaking slightly in his wet clothes. He and Terry were standing in front of the fireplace, drying off. They were facing the remaining party guests. Tentative smiles and laughs had turned to expressions of horror as they began to realize that this Halloween trick might be for real.
    Trisha spoke now, trying to fight back tears. “Are you telling us that Les is—is dead?”
    â€œMurdered,” said Terry grimly.
    â€œBut who—?”
    â€œAnd Uncle Philip?” Justine spoke for the first time. “Something has happened to him too?”
    â€œWe don’t know for sure,” said Terry. “But we found his jacket covered with blood.”
    Justine buried her face in her hands and began to cry. Alex, who had been sitting next to her, put one arm around her and patted her gently with the other.
    Angela stood up, shaking. “Someone—someone in this house is a—a murderer!” she said. Her voice sounded very high-pitched and almost hysterical.
    â€œOr someone outside the house,” said David. He told the others about the cut phone line.
    â€œI—I want to go home!” Angela said. “I have to get out of here!” She ran toward the front door, with Ricky and Murphy both after her.
    â€œYou can’t go out!” said Ricky. “It’s really pouring now!”
    â€œBesides,” Murphy added, “Marty and Bobby might still be out there!”
    â€œI don’t care!” she shrieked. She slipped away from them and rushed through the door. An instant later there was a cry from the front porch.
    Murphy and Ricky rushed outside. A moment later Ricky came in, more frightened than ever. “It’s okay,” he said. “She fell down. She tripped on the piece of plywood Marty and Bobby put down as a ramp.”
    Murphy came inside carrying Angela. She was still crying but no longer sounded hysterical. “My ankle,” she moaned.
    â€œI think it’s sprained,” said Murphy. He set her down on one of the sofas.
    â€œYou’ll have to carry me home, Murphy,” Angela said. “I don’t think I can walk.”
    â€œI’ll help,” said Alex.
    â€œStop!” Justine cried suddenly. “Don’t leave mealone! Please! Wait till morning! We can all go for help then!”
    â€œWe’ve got to call the police,” said David gently. “But there’s no reason for everyone to go. There’s a pay phone at the corner of Fear Street and the Old Mill Road. It should only take me a few minutes to drive there.”
    Terry thought about the walk through the cemetery to get to the cars and wondered how David could face it. But he knew David was right—he had to go. In any case, Terry had to stay there to find Niki.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said David. “You’ll be safe here as long as you all stay together. Don’t leave the living room and lock the front door. I’ll be back with help in just a few minutes.”
    He pulled on his varsity jacket and slipped out the front door. For a moment the only sound in the room was Angela’s muffled sniffling. Then Ricky got up and locked the front door.
    Everyone had crowded closer together in front of the fire, and even Justine seemed lost and frightened in the flickering light.
    â€œIt’ll only be a few minutes,” said Trisha soothingly to Angela. “As long as we all stick—Terry, where are you going?”
    â€œI still don’t know where Niki is,” he said, trying to sound calmer than he felt. “I was looking for her when I found Les.”
    â€œThis isn’t just a trick?” said Alex suspiciously.
    â€œWhat do you think?” Terry snapped. “Do you see Niki anywhere? She’s been missing for over an hour!”
    â€œI’m sorry,