The Wrong Number Read online

  “Okay,” Chuck said, “but no more of this dinky ‘Oh, Rob, you’re so handsome’ stuff. Let’s make some real calls.”

  “Like what?” said Jade.

  “Let me see the phone book,” said Chuck. He thumbed through the Shadyside directory for a moment. “What a hick town,” he mumbled. “What do people do around here for fun?” he asked after a minute.

  “A million things,” said Deena, feeling furious. “The same things you do in the city, probably. Go to movies, go dancing, miniature golfing, bowling. . . .”

  “Bowling, that’s good,” said Chuck. He flipped through the yellow pages. “Here we go—Shadyside Lanes.” He punched in a number. After a moment a woman’s voice sounded over the speaker phone.

  “Good evening, Shadyside Lanes.”

  “I’m only going to tell you once,” said Chuck. He had dropped his voice really low and was speaking in a kind of gravelly tone. “There’s a bomb planted somewhere on your premises. It’s timed to go off at ten.”

  “Who is this?” demanded the woman. She sounded scared.

  “You have fifteen minutes to evacuate,” said Chuck. And he hung up the phone.

  “Chuck!” said Deena, shocked and appalled. “How could you do that? Calling in a bomb threat is serious!”

  “Hey, it’s probably the only exciting thing that’s happened around here in months,” said Chuck. He laughed and began flipping through the phone book again.

  “It is sort of a funny idea,” said Jade. “I mean, all those people standing out in the rain in their bowling shoes.”

  “Jade!” said Deena. “For heaven’s sake! It’s a crime to make bomb threats!”

  “You’re right,” said Jade. “Chuck,” she said, her voice all honey again, “we were just calling kids from the school. I mean, we don’t want to get in trouble.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” said Chuck. Then he snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute, I’ve got an idea. What’s the name of that place that’s supposed to be so spooky?”

  “You mean Fear Street?” said Deena.

  “Yeah, that’s it. What a name!” Chuck laughed again.

  “It’s named after some creepy old guy named Simon Fear,” Deena told him. “You’d better not make fun of it,” she added. “Terrible things have happened on Fear Street. Really.”

  “Like what?” said Chuck, grinning.

  “People have disappeared,” said Jade. “And there have been a number of unsolved murders. Late at night people have heard weird screams from the Fear Street woods.”

  Chuck looked at her with the goofy grin on his face. “Get real,” he said. “Don’t you know that every small town has some place like Fear Street? It’s all a bunch of garbage just to make a boring place a little more interesting.”

  “Fear Street is real, Chuck,” said Deena.

  “It’s not something to fool around with,” Jade added. Deena noticed that Jade was deadly serious, for once not flirting.

  “Real or not,” said Chuck, “I’m not afraid of Fear Street. Let’s see, now,” he said, continuing to flip through the phone book. “You want to call kids from school, right?” he said. “What’s the name of that kid that picked a fight with me the other day?”

  “Bobby McCorey,” said Jade immediately. “He and his buddies think they’re hot stuff. They’re always pushing the little guys around.”

  “Well, let’s try pushing him for a change,” said Chuck. “See how tough he really is.” Before Deena could talk him out of it, Chuck had called Bobby’s number.

  “May I speak to Bobby McCorey?” he said in the weird, gravelly voice. Deena felt a chill go up her back. After a moment Bobby’s voice came on.

  “This is Bobby,” he said.

  “This is the Phantom of Fear Street,” said Chuck. “And I’ve got my eye on you.”

  “The Phantom of—who is this?” said Bobby.

  “I’ve got my eye on you,” Chuck repeated.

  “What do you mean?” All of a sudden Bobby didn’t sound so confident.

  “Just what I said,” said Chuck. “I’ve got my eye on you—the evil eye. If I were you, I’d make sure all the doors and windows are locked tonight—and every night.”

  “Say, who is this?” said Bobby, his voice shaky. Deena was about to grab the phone from Chuck when he gave a maniacal cackle and hung up the phone.

  “You’re right, Jade,” said Chuck. “It’s much more fun to call up the kids from school.”

  “I don’t believe you did that!” cried Deena. “Bobby McCorey is really a bad guy. What if he recognized your voice?”

  “Don’t sweat it,” said Chuck. “It’s just harmless fun. Or maybe you’re afraid of the Phantom of Fear Street!” He laughed, then ran to the window and raised it. Outside it was raining harder than ever, and the sky rippled with lightning.

  “Spirits of Fear Street!” Chuck yelled at the top of his voice. “Do you hear me? I’m waiting for you! Right here! Come and get me!”

  He’s crazy, Deena thought. He gets that wild look on his face, and his whole personality changes. It’s like he’s two people, and the side of him that loves danger can take over in an instant.

  Suddenly there was a terrific flash of lightning and at the same time a rolling clap of thunder. In the next instant the lights went out, and the total darkness was pierced only by a bloodcurdling scream.

  After a moment the lights flickered on, and the two girls gaped at each other with wide eyes.

  “That lightning was close!” said Deena in a shaky voice. “It might have even struck—”

  “Deena!” cried Jade urgently. “Where’s Chuck?”

  Deena took in the room—but Chuck was nowhere! Then there was a groan over by the window.

  “Over here,” said Jade. “Quick!”

  The girls ran over to the still-open window. Rain slanted in, and another flash of lightning illuminated Chuck, his limp body curled up on the floor.

  chapter

  6

  For a moment Deena just stared at the still form of her brother. “Chuck!” she screamed. “Chuck!”

  “Oh, no!” cried Jade, her voice trembling. She bent over him. “What do you think—is he—is he—AARGH!”

  Jade and Deena both jumped back at the same moment as Chuck sat up, screaming, “Booga, booga!” Then he lay down on the floor again, laughing so hard he started to choke.

  “I sure had you going there,” he gasped between laughs and coughs. “Guess the so-called spirits of Fear Street had you girls scared half to death!”

  Deena had never felt so many intense emotions so quickly in her life. First had been fright—terrible fright. Then shock, then relief when she realized Chuck was all right. But what she felt now, the strongest of all, was anger. Anger that filled her body until she thought she would explode.

  “Chuck, you stupid creep!” she shouted. “That was really the pits! You shouldn’t go messing around with things you don’t understand!”

  “I’m s-s-sorry,” Chuck said, breathless from laughter. But he didn’t sound sorry. “But, hey—I just couldn’t resist.”

  All the excitement of the last hour gone, Jade pressed close to the window to glance out. “The rain’s letting up,” she said. “I guess I’ll go on home.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll walk you,” said Chuck. “After all, there are strange—things out there in the night.” And he started laughing again, turning his goofy grin on Jade. Deena was still furious, but Jade didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, she was looking at Chuck as if she didn’t care if he was the Phantom of Fear Street.

  The next day Chuck apologized and offered to help Deena with her math homework. It was as if he were two people, she thought. One Chuck—the one with the grin—was kind, and brave, and funny. The other Chuck was mean and immature. Deena was beginning to care a lot for the first Chuck. She just had to think of a way to encourage that side of him.

  She was still thinking about the two Chucks the next day at school and nearly bumpe
d into Rob Morell in the hall on her way to French class. “Excuse me,” she said.

  “My fault,” said Rob. “How you doing, Deena?” He gave her a big, friendly smile, and her heart began to pound as she stammered an answer. She remembered the past week, when she had felt so powerful after her first anonymous call to Rob.

  But after what happened the past Saturday night she didn’t feel powerful anymore. Instead she felt a little dirty and ashamed. She wasn’t sure what had changed, except that the calls Chuck had made were mean. They could even be dangerous. The calling game wasn’t fun anymore.

  And she wasn’t going to do it again. She’d talk to Jade and Chuck and convince them to stop.

  She had her chance in the lunchroom later that morning. She was just about to bite into her mystery-meat sandwich when Jade plopped her tray down across the table. “Deena, did you see this morning’s paper?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “No,” Deena admitted. “Listen, Jade, I’ve got to talk to you—”

  “Sure,” said Jade. “But first take a look at this!” She thrust the Shadyside Morning Press at Deena, nearly knocking over Deena’s milk carton. It was open to the front page, and an article was circled in red. As Deena began to read she felt her heart sink.

  BOMB THREAT A HOAX, POLICE SAY

  Shadyside police were called to investigate a bomb threat at the Shadyside Lanes at 9:45 P.M. Saturday night. Although the entire building was evacuated, officers found no trace of explosives.

  Louise Cameron, night manager for Shadyside Lanes, reported that the phoned threat was made by a male with a hoarse voice. “He sounded like he meant business,” she said.

  Cory Brooks, a student at Shadyside High School, was among the more than thirty patrons who waited outside in the rain while the building was searched. “Nobody panicked,” he said. “But I wish they’d have let me finish my game. I was bowling the best game of my life.”

  Although they admit they have no leads, police spokesman Lt. Evan Frazier says the investigation is continuing. “It may have been just a crank call,” he told the Press. “But we can’t rule out terrorism. We’re taking this threat very seriously.”

  When she had finished reading the article Deena felt sick and ashamed. She glanced over at Jade, expecting to see shame on her face. Instead, Jade’s eyes were shining, and her face was flushed. She looked excited. “Can you believe it?” she said. “We actually made the front page of the paper!”

  For a moment Deena just stared at her friend in disbelief. “Are you crazy?” she said. “This is serious. It says here that the police are investigating.”

  “Oh, they’ll never find us,” said Jade.

  “What’s this ‘us’ stuff, anyway?” Deena went on. “It was Chuck who phoned in the bomb threat.”

  “Lighten up,” said Jade. “Nobody was hurt.”

  “No,” Deena agreed, “but they could have been. What if someone had panicked at the bowling alley? And what about that other call—the one Chuck made pretending to be the Phantom of Fear Street?”

  For a moment Jade’s face changed, and Deena could see a flicker of fear in her eyes. “What about it?” Jade finally said.

  “That wasn’t so harmless,” Deena went on. “That call was really scary. He really wanted to frighten Bobby McCorey.”

  Jade was frowning now. “All right—so maybe Chuck shouldn’t mess around with Fear Street when he makes calls. But I like telephoning, and you do, too. Admit it, Deena.”

  “Well, maybe the calls we made to kids at school were fun,” said Deena, “but Chuck’s already in enough trouble. And I don’t trust him. Besides, making those calls is basically wrong. We’ve got to stop.”

  “Oh, really?” snapped Jade. “Since when are you a majority? It seems to me there are three of us involved. Maybe Chuck and I ought to have a say.”

  “It’s my phone,” said Deena.

  “Well, then,” said Jade, “maybe I ought to tell Rob Morell who’s been calling him on her phone.” She stopped and smiled nastily at Deena’s sudden look of horror. “Or,” Jade went on, “we can wait for Saturday night, and the three of us can discuss it together.”

  By Saturday night Deena was more convinced than ever that she had made the right decision. Making those phone calls was wrong, and she was going to put a stop to them no matter what. Besides, she didn’t think Chuck would really tell her father what they’d been up to. After all, he was involved, too. Jade couldn’t possibly tell Rob Morell—could she? She’d just gotten a little carried away by the excitement, that was all.

  On the bright side, Deena was getting along with Chuck much better. He had helped her twice during the week with her trig homework and even loaded the dishwasher one night. Maybe Jade was right. He was just lonely. Maybe he was finally adjusting to life in Shadyside.

  That night Deena’s parents went to visit friends, as they usually did on Saturdays. Deena had decided that a barbecue might be the best thing to put Chuck and Jade in a mellow mood for their discussion. It was a perfect night for a cookout. She made hamburger patties with pieces of cheese inside and her special potato salad with onion, tomatoes, and sliced black olives.

  While Chuck got the fire going Deena finished setting the redwood table outside. There was a knock on the gate, and Jade came in carrying a big tub of ice cream.

  “Smells delish,” Jade said. She was wearing one of her jumpsuits, this one made of faded denim and covered with fake patches in bright colors. Deena saw Chuck look at her appreciatively before he turned back to the barbecue.

  The hamburgers were perfect, charred outside and juicy on the inside, and both Jade and Chuck had seconds and thirds of the potato salad. After the meal Chuck seemed to relax for the first time since he had come to Shadyside.

  Maybe everything was going to be all right after all, Deena thought. The three teens were sitting on the patio in lounge chairs, eating peach ice cream and listening to Deena’s portable tape player. The sky had darkened to the deep purple that comes before true night, and Deena had her head tilted back, watching the stars appear one by one.

  “Great dinner, Deena,” said Chuck, and she smiled. He had actually called her by her name instead of “kid.”

  “I love that salad,” said Jade. “The whole thing was fabulous.”

  Okay, Deena told herself. There will never be a better moment. “Listen, guys,” she said. “We have to have a serious talk. I don’t think we should make any more of those phone calls.”

  “Okay,” said Chuck.

  “Fine,” said Jade.

  “In fact,” Deena went on, “I think we—” She stopped. “What did you say?” she asked.

  “We agree,” said Jade. “Chuck and I already talked it over.”

  “Yeah,” Chuck said. “Jade convinced me it’s dumb to take a chance like that. Especially since our old man works for the phone company.”

  Deena turned to stare at her brother and her friend. Jade had convinced him? When had they talked? It looked as if Jade was going to be a good influence on Chuck whether he liked it or not!

  “What else did you want to talk about?” asked Jade.

  “Nothing—I guess,” said Deena. She had never expected to win so easily.

  It was almost completely dark now, but she saw Chuck’s hand slide across the space between his chair and Jade’s to clasp Jade’s hand. Deena felt a flash of jealousy for a moment and thought of Rob Morell, but mostly she was glad for Jade and Chuck. It looked as if they could be good for each other.

  Deena was thinking that it was so peaceful and nice out there that she could stay forever, eating ice cream and hanging out. The last strains of Dire Straits died down, and she got up to change the tape. She was just pushing the eject button when a dark, fluttering shape brushed her face. She screamed and jumped back.

  “What’s wrong?” called Chuck.

  “There’s a—a bat!” Deena cried in horror. She ducked and ran into the den through the sliding door. Outside the bat w
as fluttering crazily around the patio light.

  “A bat?” Jade shrieked. She jumped up and followed Deena inside.

  “Hey, girls,” said Chuck. “Relax. It’s not carrying a switchblade or anything.”

  “Very funny,” called Deena from inside. “Bats give me the creeps!”

  “Me, too,” said Jade. “Chuck, come on in.”

  “Sure,” he said. He slid the door open and stood for a moment in the opening.

  “Close it!” shrieked both Jade and Deena. “Close it! You’ll let the bat in!”

  “Here, bat, bat, bat,” Chuck said. But he slid the door shut and flopped into the leather armchair by the fireplace. “What is it with you two?” he said. “Are small-town girls afraid of everything?”

  “Most people with any sense are afraid of bats,” said Deena. “They can carry rabies.”

  “That’s not why you’re afraid of them,” said Chuck. “It’s superstition. Just like that nonsense about Fear Street.”

  “Fear Street isn’t nonsense,” said Jade. She sat down on the arm of the chair next to Chuck. Deena thought she looked beautiful in the dim light, and also afraid.

  “Don’t you see?” said Chuck. “All that stuff you’ve heard happened on Fear Street—it’s all exaggerated or made up. It’s like the boogeyman. People tell those stories to scare each other.”

  “For your information,” said Deena, “there are no birds in the Fear Street woods. Scientists from all over the country haven’t been able to find out why.”

  Chuck laughed. “No birds,” he said. “Now that’s what I call a terrifying problem.”

  “People have disappeared,” said Jade. “Houses have mysteriously burned down—”

  “Ha!” said Chuck. “Houses. You mean people actually live on Fear Street?”

  “Well, yes,” Deena said.

  “Who, then?” said Chuck. “Monsters, ogres, witches, Dracula?”

  “I don’t know,” said Deena. The conversation was making her more and more nervous. “I don’t know anyone who lives there.”

  “That’s just the point,” said Chuck. “Now I’m going to prove to you that there’s nothing about Fear Street to be scared of. I’ll show you that only ordinary people live there.” He switched on the overhead light and reached for the phone book.