Wrong Number 2 Read Free

papers.”
    â€œLater,” Teddy said, giving both girls a quick one-fingered salute. He ambled off with his friends.
    Deena led the way out of school. A bright sun peeked through puffs of cloud, but the air felt cold. Snow had been on the ground for several days. Now it was patchy and gray. The sidewalks were puddled and covered with dirty slush.
    Jade’s house wasn’t far from school. As they walked down Park Drive, Deena began telling her friend about the midnight phone call.
    â€œYou’re kidding!” Jade exclaimed. “The same guy?”
    â€œIt sounded like him,” Deena insisted. “He called me by my name, and he mentioned you.”
    â€œIt’s got to be some jerk playing a dumb joke—right?” Jade asked. “No way it could be Farberson.” She sounded a little uncertain. “People can’t sitaround in their prison cells making phone calls, right?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Deena. “But even if Farberson could, why would he call us? He’s going to be in there for years and years.”
    â€œSo it’s got to be someone else. Someone who wants to give us a scare,” Jade decided.
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œThat means the best way to deal with it is to not be scared,” Jade suggested.
    â€œRight,” Deena echoed. She started to tell Jade about her very short conversation with Steve that morning—when her friend suddenly grabbed her wrist.
    â€œDeena!” Jade whispered. “Do you see that car up ahead?”
    Deena hadn’t been paying attention, but now she turned to the street. A battered green Oldsmobile with tinted windows was slowly cruising away from them. “What about it?” she said.
    â€œIt just passed us for the second time.”
    â€œYou’re kidding,” said Deena. “Why would it do that? Is it someone from school?”
    â€œI don’t know. But I wonder—There it goes.” The car abruptly sped up and turned the corner, its tires squealing.
    â€œWeird,” Jade murmured. “Anyway, what were you about to say?”
    Deena gathered her scattered thoughts and toldJade what had happened that morning when she’d run into Steve. “He didn’t even get my joke!” she wailed.
    Jade laughed. “Maybe he heard it before.” Her expression turned serious. “So what happened after you talked to him?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNothing?”
    â€œWell, I had to go to class. Besides, I didn’t know what else to say.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter what you say,” Jade assured her. “Just keep letting him know you’re interested. Next time you see him, ask him about something. Ask him about his favorite Australian rock band. Or ask him what sports he played back home. Just don’t make any more jokes about Sydney.”
    â€œBut I don’t know anything—” Deena stopped as a car drew alongside the two girls. “Jade—it’s the same car!”
    â€œI see it,” Jade whispered. The beat-up car was a deep, muddy green, with windows tinted so dark it was impossible to see who was inside.
    â€œJust ignore it,” Jade instructed. The car was barely crawling now, keeping pace with the girls.
    They began to walk a little faster, and the car sped up.
    Deena squinted to see the driver. But the dark-tinted windows acted as a shield.
    Jade stopped abruptly. The car stopped too.
    â€œJade, come on,” Deena said breathlessly. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Jade turned to face the car. At the same time, Deena heard the click of a car door opening.
    â€œJade—” she cried in panic. “He—he’s coming after us!”
    â€œRun!” Jade yelled.

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    J ade grabbed Deena’s arm and tugged her over the patchy snow. They ducked into an opening between two houses.
    Was he following them? Was he right behind them?
    The girls were too afraid to