6 Secret at Mystic Lake by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Bad to Worse

AN HOUR LATER, MY STOMACH was rumbling. Dagger had helped us collect a “breakfast” of edible greens and berries from the forest, and we’d split a couple of protein bars from Zoe’s “snack stash,” plus the bars George’s parents had packed for us, but I was still ravenous from our long ride the day before.

There was no sign of Caitlin.

“We should go,” Dagger said finally, gently, once we’d finished eating.

Henry nodded, balling a protein bar wrapper up in his hand. “Okay.”

We all dragged our gear over to where the bikes waited, near the side of the road.

We picked up our bikes and climbed on—all except, I quickly realized, Zoe. She held her bike upright but was staring back at the campsite. When I shifted to get a look at her face, I realized she looked stricken.

“Zoe?” I asked. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head, not taking her eyes off the woods. “Are you . . . are you sure it’s a good idea to leave?” she asked. “Maybe we should just wait a little longer.”

Surprised, I looked at Bess.

“We talked about this, Zo,” she said gently. “It’s best for us to get help. Come on, she’ll be okay.”

Zoe shook her head again, looking down at her feet. When she looked back up, I realized there was a tear trickling down her cheek. She was crying.

“I just can’t stand the thought that she might be hurt or . . . or . . .” She swiped at her eyes, shooting me a challenging look. “We don’t know what happened to her. She might need us.”

I leaned over to touch her arm. “Zoe,” I said softly. “She needs help right now. Help from the authorities. Come on, we all agreed on that.”

Zoe seemed to pull herself together, then finally nodded.

“Sorry I’m being such a drama queen. You’re right. It’s just . . .”

“I know,” I said quietly, wondering why Zoe was suddenly so teary. “It doesn’t feel right, but it is.”

Henry, who looked utterly bewildered by this whole display, nodded. Everyone lined up in formation, ready to take off. But I lingered back beside Zoe.

“Zoe,” I whispered, “is there a reason you’re so worried? You don’t . . . know anything we don’t, do you?”

Zoe didn’t meet my eye. She was climbing on her bike, and she looked down at the ground as she settled on the seat and put one foot on the pedal.

“No,” she said finally, shaking her head.

I nodded and adjusted my bike helmet. But I couldn’t resist one glance back at her before we took off.

She was glaring right at Dagger, her expression unreadable.

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