Page 24 of The Executioners Three
Fair point, Patty. And your own daughter was living proof of that right now.
There were other new additions too, such as two fountains, some rosebushes, and then the yew hedges that probablywouldmake really great kissing corners.
In fact, Freddie hesitated at one such corner because what if Kyle were to decide he wanted to make out? Shouldn’t Freddie leave at least one corner clean for such a possibility?
In the end, she didn’t. It was just too much fun pouring out corn syrup and then flinging birdseed like rice at a wedding.
Emptying trash bags also filled her with Deeply Criminal surges that she enjoyed way too much. Plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, crushed pop cans— who knew what scandalous chaos she might engage in next?
In fact, Freddie was so proud of the mess she created that she tugged Xena from her puffer vest and captured her masterpiece for all of time.
Snap. Flash! Snap. Flash!
To make the night even better, Kyle called FreddiePrank Wizardon three separate occasions.
Perhaps because she was positively effervescent on adrenaline and Kyle’s smiles, she decided to take the night one step further.
“I’m going to the dorms,” she told Divya. “So if I’m not at the gate when you leave, then wait for me at the cars.”
“What?” Divya closed her garbage bag and shimmied toward Freddie. The stench of trash curled into Freddie’s nose. “Why do you want to go to the dorms?”
“Because if I can figure out which room Theo Porter is in, then maybe I can get the prank book back.”
“Bybreaking in? We’ve already committed enough crimes here to permanently smear our college applications, thanks.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“How?”
“Instincts, Div. Instincts.” Freddie reached over a hedge of sunflower seeds and Quick-Bis wrappers to pat Divya’s shoulder. “It won’t take long, I promise.”
“Okay, but what if it does take long? Are you gonna walk through those creepy woods by yourself? You do remember the crows? And then how Laina had her migraine?”
“Yeah, about that.” Freddie chewed her lip. “You think she’s alright now? Ever since we left the forest, she’s been a bit…”
“Intense?”
Freddie had been thinkingpossessed,but Divya’s word was probably better. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Keep an eye on her while I’m gone, okay?”
Then before Divya could stop her, Freddie spun away.
“This is why you always find dead bodies!” Divya hissed at her back. “You haveno common sense.”
Freddie didn’t respond, although she did think this comment was unfair. After all, she’d only ever found one dead body, and it had only been his shoes. Besides, what kind of future sheriff would she be if she was afraid of an old campus filled with rich kids?
After a quick skip along more perfect pathways, Freddie found the dormitories. They were spread out over the original stables, carriage house, and servants’ quarters. All three buildings were within sight of the main estate, with its excess of gables and arches and towers…
Freddie cut in close to the former stables, creeping toward the first lit room. Xena was once again tuckedinsideher vest because Freddie didn’t need to look like a Peeping Tom, thanks. Especially since almost no one seemed to have their blinds closed.
Like, come on, people. Just from a safety perspective, that was silly. And from a Rival-Student-Looking-for-a-Stolen-Logbook perspective, it wasverysilly.
Freddie was almost to the end of the stables with nary a Theo Porter found, when she heard music drifting into the cold night.
I never want to hear you sa-a-ay
I want it tha-at way!
Freddie’s expression soured. Ugh, Backstreet Boys. NSYNC was somuch better. Everyone knew that, and Freddie had half a mind to throw rocks at the offending room, just so they’d turn off Nick Carter’s yowling.
