Stone Investigations (Stone Series Book 4) by Bob Blanton (open ebook txt) 📗

the table with her and Jason.

“Yeah, it really sucks.”

“I’m sure it was Fallbrook,” Emily said as she joined them.

“That’s the consensus opinion,” Jason said.  “They’re madabout last year, and we play them for homecoming in three weeks.  Who elsewould care about our mascot statue?”

“This is a disaster,” Brianna said as she joined them.

“No it isn’t.  It won’t change anything about the game,”Matthew said.

“Yes it will!” Brianna hissed; she had tears welling up inher eyes.

Matthew put his arm around her.  “We’ll still win.”

“No we won’t.  It’ll distract the team.  It’s not fair.”

Brianna barely touched her lunch and after a few minutes, shetook her tray and left.

“Why is she taking this so hard?” Matthew asked, although hewas pretty sure he knew.

“She’s been stressed ever since she got back from the Open. She’s been a bit of a wreck,” Jason said.

“Is there anything we can do?” Alex asked.

“Mom says we have to just wait it out.”

◆ ◆ ◆

“Matt, we have to figure out who took the statue,” Emily saidas she and Matthew headed for their environmental science class.

“Aren’t we kind of busy investigating the drug thing?”

“Sure, but this is personal.  And I bet we can figure it outquickly.”

“How?”

“We’ll go to their game on Friday.  I’m sure we’ll be able toget some info, maybe sneak into a party after the game.”

“Emily, didn’t you hear the principal?”

“Yes, but this won’t get us into trouble.  And think of thescoop if we come up with the story.”

◆ ◆ ◆

“Matt, I’ve been invited to a tournament in Mission Viejo!”Brianna squealed when Matthew showed up to work with Jason on their play fortheir lit class again.  It was Wednesday, and it was like she was the same oldBrianna, unlike Monday when she was crying over the mascot statue being stolen.

“I assume that’s good.”

“Yes.  They’re going to pay me a bonus to come.  And I get achance to avenge myself against Mariam.  They’ve set it up so we won’t faceeach other unless we both make it to the finals.”

“Then congratulations.  When is it?”

“Uh.  That’s the problem, it’s over Homecoming Weekend.”

“Oh.  Well, it’s just a ballgame.”

“And a dance.”

“It’s okay.  Will it be televised?”

“No, it’s a small tournament.  So it’s not on TV.  But thiscould be the break I’m looking for.  If I can beat her, then I’ll be set fornext year.”

“I’m happy for you.  Really, I am.”

◆ ◆ ◆

“I’m glad you got out of going to the movies with Brea,”Emily said.

“It wasn’t that hard.  Brea and Jen wanted to see some chickflick.”

“Right, I told them they should see it, hoping it would makeyou available for this.”

“It worked.  Besides, I think Brea broke up with me.”

“What?!”

“I think we broke up.”

“How?  . . .  Why?”

“She’s turning pro.  So, she expects to be traveling a lot.”

“Oh.  I thought that might be coming, but I thought she wouldwait for summer.”

“No, she was hoping the Open would launch her career.  She’sbeen invited to a tournament over Homecoming Week.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Matt.  You should have come and talked tome.”

“Hey, I’m a big boy.  I can handle it.”

“I know.”

“Now, let’s get back to this party we’re going to.”

“Right.  Just remember we’re Emily and Matt Grayson.  We’renew at Fallbrook.”

“I’ve got that, you’ve only told me three times.”

“Good, then you won’t blow our cover.  This is the Charles’shouse; their parents are away for the weekend.”

Emily parked on the street and they walked up to the house. Nobody seemed to be too concerned about who was coming or going.  There werekids on the front lawn drinking and the music from the house was blaring away. It was a good thing that the neighbors were two hundred yards away.

“Good luck,” Emily said.  “You should try hitting on a fewgirls, see if you can start up a conversation and learn something.”

“Sure,” Matthew muttered.  He didn’t hold out much hope onhis chances.  He’d never been lucky with girls.  He didn’t have much practice. He’d tried to get Emily to go out with him for over a year, and the result wasthey were just friends.  He’d never even managed a kiss with her.  And hisgirlfriend, Brianna, had been chasing him, so all he had to do was stop runningto close that deal.  And it looked like that relationship wasn’t doing too wellnow.

“Hi,” Matthew said as he passed by a small circle of girls ashe made his way to the kitchen.  There was a beer keg there.  Matthew grabbedone of the plastic cups and filled it with water, then he made his way backinto the living room.

He moved over to the corner.  Two girls were talking about amovie.  One of them was wearing a cheerleader outfit.  When one of them lookedat Matthew he nodded and said, “Nice game.  I think we’ve got a chance at theregionals.”

The girl glared at him, clearly sending a ‘get lost message’. Matthew guessed that you weren’t supposed to talk to them unless you’d alreadybeen accepted into the ‘Cool’ group.

Not having much experience at parties except with Jason andBrianna, Matthew wandered around looking for a spot where he could beinconspicuous while he waited for Emily to get the intel.

“Move!” a girl hissed.

“Not unless you give me a kiss.  Or we can go back to one ofthe bedrooms.”

Matthew looked over to assess the situation.  The boy wasabout 5’ 9” and wiry.  The girl was about the same height, with black hair,built like a cheerleader.  Very pretty.

“Move or I’ll scream.”

“No way you’ll scream.  If you do, you’ll never be invitedback to one of these parties.”

The girl was trapped in the hallway that led to the bedrooms,and Matthew suspected one of the bathrooms.  The guy just kept moving in frontof her whenever she tried to squeeze past.

Matthew waited until the guy was on the opposite side of theentry, then walked over.  He pretended to trip and spilled his water on the guy’sjacket.

“Sorry, it’s just water,” Matthew said as he stepped up andwiped at the water, creating room for the girl to squeeze out behind him whileblocking the guy from moving to intercept her.

“You clumsy ass!”

“I said sorry.”

The guy pushed Matthew up against the wall with his hand. Keeping his hand on