Betrayed by Kristi Holl

Author:Kristi Holl [Holl, Kristi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-310-39964-3
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Published: 2008-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

7

friends and suspects

Several prop people arrived first. Miss Kimberly followed, out of breath. “What’s going on here?” she demanded.

Jeri handed over the envelope. “I caught Britney putting this in Lisa’s coat pocket.” She stared meaningfully into Miss Kimberly’s eyes. “I’m guessing it’s a blackmail note.”

The director gave Jeri a startled glance and tore open the note. Then her whole body sagged. She read it aloud. “Cinderella Celebrates! After Sunday’s final performance, come to Britney’s dorm lounge for a cast party. Festive food, fabulous fun. Don’t miss it!”

The prop people applauded, but Jeri’s mouth fell open. It was a cast party invitation?

“Thanks a lot!” Britney spat at Jeri. “A blackmail note? Are you crazy? How dare you?” She marched down the row of coats, found Jeri’s, and pulled two envelopes from the pocket. “You wrecked the whole surprise. I’m taking back yours and Rosa’s. You’re uninvited!” She tore the envelopes in half.

“Look—I’m sorry,” Jeri said. “I really am. It’s just

that — ”

Britney marched off to the dressing room, slamming the door behind her. The prop people left, snickering about what they’d witnessed. Miss Kimberly patted Jeri’s shoulder. “I can guess what happened here. Are you being blackmailed?”

“No.” Jeri bit her tongue, wishing she could mention Rosa’s notes. “Actually, I found something you dropped.” From her pocket she pulled the note about illegally photocopying music. “I thought Britney’s invitation was another blackmail note.”

“I guess we can’t jump to conclusions, can we?” Miss Kimberly said.

“What will you do about your note?”

“Nothing. Scare tactics don’t intimidate me.” She rubbed her forehead. “But clearly someone’s out to get me. First, we lose our leading lady. And now blackmail.” She slapped her hand hard against the wall, and Jeri jumped. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I haven’t broken any copyright laws.”

Shocked—and a little embarrassed—by her outburst, Jeri jammed her hands in her coat pockets and left. She couldn’t blame Miss Kimberly for being upset. And if Britney was the blackmailer, she’d be on guard now. Either way, Jeri had just managed to get herself and Rosa uninvited from the cast party.

She told Rosa about it when she got back to the dorm. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t be here then anyway.”

“Don’t say that! I still have three days to trap the blackmailer before your aunt and uncle come.”

“Not really, not with your dad coming for the weekend. But it won’t matter. I got expelled for stealing. ‘Zero tolerance policy,’ the Head said. She means it too—zero.”

“But you didn’t steal any money!”

Rosa rubbed her arms as if chilled. “No, but the Head doesn’t believe me.”

Jeri rubbed her sweaty hands on her jeans. She just couldn’t give up. Rosa had followed her advice about the first note, and it had backfired, leading to the second note. Jeri felt the crushing weight of knowing this wretched situation was her fault.

Before she fell into bed that night, Jeri got an email from her dad.

Just checking in. I’ll be in Landmark Hills late afternoon tomorrow. I’ll call your room at 4:30 to make plans for the evening.

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