Stacey,The Haunted Masquerade by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: YA, &NEW, Fiction
Published: 2011-07-06T18:59:18+00:00

stopped. "Tell you what, Todd," he said.

"How about if you attach it?"

"Sure, no problem," said Todd. "You stand right here, then." Todd walked away from Mr. Rothman, unrolling the paper as he went. I looked back at Mr. Rothman just in time to see him wipe his brow. But it wasn't hot in the gym, not at all. In fact, it was downright chilly. Why was Mr. Rothman sweating?

I kept an eye on Mr. Rothman as he watched Todd climb the ladder, and suddenly, everything clicked into place. I saw the look on Mr. Rothman's face, and I knew why he hadn't wanted to climb that ladder. It was because he was afraid — make that terrified — of heights.

Just like the Mike Rothman whose file I'd seen in the basement.

That’s when I knew for sure that this Mike Rothman was the very same Mike Rothman who had been in the yearbook. And then and there, I decided it was time to find out more about what Mike Rothman knew.

I walked over to him. My mind was racing, but I couldn't figure out a clever way to bring up the subject. "Hi, Mr. Rothman."

"Hello, Stacey," he answered, smiling at me. "What’s on your mind?"

"Liz Connor," I said, without thinking. "Liz Connor is on my mind."

Mr. Rothman turned pale. For a second, I thought he was going to pass out. He let go of the crepe paper he was holding. "Liz Connor?" he said. "How do you know about Liz?"

That’s when I knew I had guessed right. He didn't try to deny anything, or make up ties about who he was. I was on my way to learning the truth. I took a deep breath, and explained what I knew so far. It didn't take long, since I didn't know much. I told him how I'd figured out his past, and then how I'd learned that a girl had been involved in that tragic dance long ago, and how my friends and I had figured out who the girl must be. (I sort of fudged the part about our explorations in the basement.) Then I told him about finding his

initials in the heart at Charlotte's house, and I saw him dose his eyes as if he were in pain.

'"That's it," I concluded. "That’s all I know. Now I need you to fill in the blanks."

He sighed. "I suppose it’s time," he said. "This story has been haunting me for twenty-eight years. Let’s go sit down, and I'll tell you all about it." He led me to a spot in the bleachers, away from everyone else. We sat together, and then he was quiet for a long time. I was about to ask him some questions, but finally he began to speak.

"I was on the football team," he said, in a faraway voice.

I pictured him in a helmet and uniform. That had been him in the yearbook.

"I was one of tile most popular kids in school," Mr. Rothman continued. "I was good-looking, I was fun to be with, and I was an excellent athlete.

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