Undead Much by Stacey Jay Page B

I was planning to crash the cheer table during lunch to see what I can find out.”
      “You have first lunch, right?” she asked. I nodded. “I have second, so I’ll do the same thing. They’re going to be at Pizza Pie tonight for the joint fund-raiser, so at least we’ll have something to talk about.”
      “Right,” I said, silently cursing myself. I’d totally forgotten about the joint fund-raiser at the new pizza place near the highway. They’d promised us 5 percent of sales and to let the customers choose which team they wanted to support when they paid their bill. Our job was to hang out and solicit supporters and bring in business. Unfortunately, I’d also booked myself for a late-night investigation session with Ethan. “What time does that start again?”
      Monica narrowed her eyes. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
      “No, I didn’t, I just-”
      She sighed and turned to trudge up the hill as the first bell rang. “Don’t worry, it’s cool. I can’t say I’d be stressing about fund-raising if I were in your place.” Wow, Monica was being so nice. It was quite possible she had been body-snatched along with my mother. “But seriously, you’ve got to figure a way out of this mess. I heard my dad talking to one of the Elders last night. Whatever forensic tests they’ve been waiting for came back, and it doesn’t look good for you.”
      “What kind of forensic tests?” I asked.
      “I don’t know, I couldn’t tell from hearing just Dad’s side of the conversation, but I did get this much, they’re totally planning to lock you up and throw away the key.” She paused and cocked her head to the side. “I’m actually sort of surprised to see you. I thought the Enforcers would have taken you into custody last night.”
      “What?” God, this couldn’t be happening! Everyone had lost their minds! Was there no sanity left in the world? I hadn’t done anything! What in the world could these “tests” have shown them, besides that I was completely innocent?
      “I mean, I could be wrong, but-”
      “No, you’re probably not wrong.” I sighed, swallowing the burnt rubber taste that had risen in my mouth. I couldn’t let Monica’s news make me lose it. I had to stay sane and focused so I could prove to all the crazy people how crazy they really were. “But maybe they figure the spies are keeping an eye on me for now.” I nodded to my right, in the direction of the beige sedan that had followed me to school.
      “Wow, you’ve got spies.” She made a sound halfway between a snort and a laugh. “Aren’t you a bad girl?”
      “This isn’t funny, Monica.”
      “Of course it isn’t. You’re screwed unless we figure something out. It’s a done deal. I mean, you’ll get a trial and everything, I guess, but it sounds like a formality. Everyone’s sure you’re guilty.”
      “I know,” I said, trying not to let my terror and confusion show. Did we really need to go over this? I knew I was in trouble, what I didn’t know was how to get out of it.
      “I don’t know what they have on you, but if it’s enough to totally discount the fact that no Settler has ever been convicted of-”
      “Nothing!” I yelled, then lowered my voice when a couple of guys in front of us turned to stare. “Nothing, I swear. They won’t even tell me what I’m being accused of. I mean, I know it has to do with raising those zombies, but I don’t know why I’m the only suspect. They’re supposed to be sending the formal charge to my house today, and hopefully that will give me something to go on, but-”
      “Well then, whoever really raised them must be a Settler, and probably a super-powerful one like you.”
      “Right.” Duh, Monica. I figured that one out a while ago.
      “And whatever forensic evidence they’ve got must prove that.”
      Okay, not so duh. She was probably on to something. Settlers’ Affairs’ tests must have implicated