Page 79 of The Executioners Three
“I told her that I believed you, though,” Divya continued, voice muffled by hair and sleeves. “I told her you would never lie about something like this.”
“I’m sure you did, Divya.” Freddie wriggled free from Divya’s arms and smiled tiredly. “I appreciate the apology all the same.”
For several long seconds, Divya eyed Freddie, a frown cinching across her brow. Until at last: “So what do you think happened?” Her words huffed out in foggy gasps. “Ididsee you take pictures of something.”
“Yeah, and that something was a water bottle.” Freddie’s lips puckered sideways, gauging how much to tell Divya about the Executioners poem and missing articles and possible serial killers inspired by the ravings of amad blacksmith and his descendant. Everything was still so nebulous in her brain. Just half-formed hunches and clues out of context.
“All I can figure,” she said eventually, “is that someone switched out the film. I don’t knowhowthey did it, but it’s the only explanation I have.”
“You know why they did it, though.” Divya’s eyebrows notched up. “I can tell by the way you just said that. You think it was…”
“Murder,” Freddie finished. “Yeah. Someone is trying to cover their tracks.”
“Murder.” Divya winced. “I have to be honest that I wasn’t convinced that Dr. Fontana was killed, but… Well, I believe you now.”
“Thanks.” Freddie offered a weak smile.
“Okay, then here’s what we’ll do.” Divya looped her arm in Freddie’s and twirled them away from the entrance. “We’ll stop by your house on the way to grab a coat for you and proper footwear forme.” Divya frowned down at her clogs as she tried to walk forward.
But Freddie yanked her back to a stop. “On the way where?”
“Where do you think?” Divya pulled again. “You’re going to search for that bottle, aren’t you?”
“Uh.”
“Don’t even try to ‘uh’ me, Freddie Gellar.” Divya grinned sideways. “I can see it in your eyes, and as your best friend, it is my sworn duty to aid you.No oneshould go into those spooky woods alone.”
“But you have school!” Again, Freddie dug in her heels. “You can’t wreck your perfect attendance!”
“Oh, I already took care of that, my Honey Graham Cracker.” Divya winked brazenly. “The power of cell phones! All it took was a phone call from the bathroom, and”—she switched to a voice that soundedvery muchlike her mother’s—“Divya needs to be excused for a dentist appointment for the remainder of the day. We can’t ignore cavities for too long!”
Freddie thought she might burst into tears at those words. “I don’t deserve you,” she said, voice quaking.
“No one does.” Divya hip-bumped her. “Except maybe Laina, because she’s amazing.”
Freddie couldn’t argue with that.
“Now, are you coming?” Divya towed one last time at Freddie, and this time, Freddie complied.
“I’m coming.” She kicked into a half jog. “And let’s hurry, please. I amfreezing!”
Ten minutes later, the girls raced into Freddie’s house. While Divya traded out her Birkenstocks for a pair of Freddie’s mom’s boots, Freddie pulled a first aid kit from under her bathroom sink. After a few daubs of Neosporin and a wrap spun firmly around her left wrist, she popped two Tylenol, slotted Sabrina into her back pocket, and looped Xena around her neck. Lastly, she slung her winter coat over the ill-fitting uniform. The shirt and pants were already stained from her earlier tumble, so no reason to change now—and no time, either.
With Divya at her side, Freddie wheeled Steve’s old bike out of the garage. This time, they also took Freddie’s mom’s bike. It was even crappier than Steve’s, but it functioned and was decidedly more comfortable than riding on handlebars.
However, before Freddie and Divya could actually set off down the driveway, Freddie squared her body toward Divya. As soul twins and BFFs until the day they died, Freddie had to do this.
She had to, she had to, shehadto.
“Before we go, I, um… I need to confess something.”
Divya squinted at her warily. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Yeah.” Freddie squeezed her bike brakes; they squealed.Say it, Gellar. SAY IT!“Erm…” Freddie swallowed. Then blurted, “Kyle tried to kiss me.”
“What?”
Freddie’s eyelids fluttered shut. That wasn’t what she’d meant to say. Like, atall.
