Cheat by Kristin Butcher

Author:Kristin Butcher [Butcher, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Social Issues, Values & Virtues, JUV000000
ISBN: 9781554692750
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2010-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Liz had said the guy behind the scam lived close to the school. Sean lived close to the school. That was one more strike against him. I was sure he hadn’t snagged the answer key when I’d seen him in Draper’s classroom, but he could’ve gotten it since. With the test date creeping up, he might be in selling mode. It was time to keep an eye on him.

I decided to tail him at lunch on Friday. I tore off toward his locker as soon as the bell rang. As I waited for him to show up, I tried to get lost in the mob of kids dumping off books and grabbing lunches.

It wasn’t long before Sean showed. He crammed his books into his locker and took off. I followed him to the exit and watched as he jogged across the field toward his house. All I had to do was wait. Once he was out of sight, I’d follow. There were bushes near his house where I could hide and spy on anyone who paid him a visit.

As I went to push open the door, a hand gripped my arm.

It was Jack.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he sneered.

“It’s none of your business,” I snapped. “And let go of me.” I yanked my arm free.

“You’re following Sean,” he said. “I’ve been watching you.” He didn’t look amused. “You’re a crappy detective, Laurel. The only one getting caught is you.”

I glared at him and reached for the door again, but again he grabbed my arm. This time it hurt.

“I mean it, Laurel,” he said through gritted teeth. “Back off. Sean is my friend. I’m not going to let you drag him through the mud just so you can get a stupid newspaper story.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.

“All you’re doing is looking for glory. You don’t give a rip about the people you’re hurting.”

“So you admit Sean’s guilty,” I sneered.

It was like Jack was a blow-up doll, and I’d just stuck him with a pin. His shoulders sagged, and his head drooped. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m asking you to leave this alone.” Then he let go of my arm and walked away.

All afternoon I thought about what Jack had said. Part of me wanted to do what he asked. But the reporter in me couldn’t let it go. If Sean was guilty, he’d done it to himself. If he wasn’t guilty, great. Either way, there was a story here, and it needed to be told.

After school I decided to make another visit to Mr. Draper’s classroom. If Sean—or whoever the Scantron Scammer was—didn’t have the answer key yet, he might try again today.

This time the classroom wasn’t empty. Mr. Draper was there. At least, I assumed it was Mr. Draper. When I peeked through the window of the door, I saw a dumpy bald guy with glasses sitting behind the desk. He didn’t spot me, but seeing him there almost gave me a heart attack! I spun away and waited for the blood to stop pounding in my ears.

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