“Finally,” Chili said once Stella had closed the door. “What’s going on, Logan?”
“I know who the Gears are.”
“You do?” She and Paige both shrieked.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Chili bounced up and down. “What do you mean, unfortunately ? How can it be a bad thing that you’ve found the Gears? Oh, this is so exciting.”
“It is and it isn’t.” I slid down and let my legs stretch and relax in the warmth of the spa. When I looked up, I saw fear on Paige’s delicate, pale face. “Don’t be afraid,” I said.
“Just tell me Hunter’s not one of them,” she blurted.
I couldn’t reveal my suspicions now. It wouldn’t be fair. “I can only say that Hunter’s not one of the boys who streaked through here that night.” I pointed in the direction the Gears had come.
“Thank goodness.” Paige sighed, and I was glad I hadn’t said more. “Well, who did, then?”
Chili grabbed my arm. “Not Trevor?”
“No,” I said. “Jared Hamilton.”
Both of them gasped.
“Ew,” Chili said. “To think Geneva’s creepy brother saw me almost naked.”
“Jared was more naked. The other is J.T.”
A new round of screams erupted.
“Who else?” Paige asked. “There were three.”
How could I handle this one? Just say it, I told myself.
“Nathan.” My lip began to tremble. They both grabbed me at once.
“Oh, Logan,” Chili said.
Paige hugged me with one arm. “I was so afraid you were going to say Hunter. I can’t imagine how you must feel. Nathan seems so nice.”
“He is nice, and he’s not a Gear anymore,” I said. “But he was one of the three here that night. He told me. And listen to this. Geneva is the leader.”
“Geneva?” they shouted in unison.
“She admitted it,” I said.
“Oh, Logan,” Chili said, “you’re going to be all right now. Just think. You’re bringing down the Gears and exposing Geneva for what she really is.”
“I don’t know.” I stared down at my legs, like pale streaks in the water.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Chili said. “You have to tell.”
“But if she tells . . .” Paige’s voice was soft. “Nathan is caught right along with the rest of them.”
“So don’t mention his name,” Chili said. “If the Gears turn him over, that’s not your problem. Besides, you said he’s out now.”
“I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do,” I said. “Besides, Geneva already said she’ll deny it.”
“Let her.” Chili splashed the water with her foot. “You’re telling the truth, Logan. Someone will listen to you. Snider will, I know it.”
“You have to try,” Paige said. “Otherwise, something awful could happen.”
“She’s right,” Chili said.
I glanced from one to the other. They both looked excited, as if convinced that I could do this.
“I guess I don’t have any choice, do I?”
They shook their heads.
“You’ve got to,” Chili said, “and before Monday night.”
NOTES TO SELF
Chili and Paige are right. I’m going to have to tell Snider what’s going on. She cares about Frankenstein, I’m sure of it. If she knows he’s going to be in danger Monday night, maybe she can help me figure out who is behind FRANKENSTEIN MUST DIE. It will probably cost me whatever’s left of my relationship with Nathan, but he lied to me. I can’t think about him right now. I’ve got to stop whoever is after Frankenstein.
33
THE WATER BEARER, WHICH IS THE SIGN OF AQUARIUS, SHOWS A MAN POURING WATER FROM A JUG, WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF THE DIVINE SPIRIT WATERING THE EARTH. ALTHOUGH LATER DEPICTED AS A WOMAN, THE FIGURE IS MALE, AND, ALONG WITH THE OTHER FIRE AND AIR SIGNS, AQUARIUS IS MASCULINE. THOSE BORN UNDER MASCULINE SIGNS ARE MORE PRONE TO BLUNTNESS. THEY ALSO LEAN TOWARD BEING DETACHED AND UN INVOLVED BUT ARE, AT HEART, TRUE HUMANITARIANS. WHEN MOST AQUARIANS ARE CAUGHT IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, THEY WILL USUALLY PUT SELF ASIDE AND DO WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHT.
—Fearless Astrology
That’s where I was right now, trying to do the right thing. Although I got to Snider’s room early that morning, a bunch of kids were already huddled around her desk. When I told her I needed to talk to her and would be back that afternoon, I got only a stony look in response. I still had to try. It was the twenty-fifth, and she was my only hope to stop whatever might happen to Frankenstein.
It’s amazing how when one influential kid decides you’re not cool, everyone else in school gets the message. Talk about viral. This must be what Charles Bellamy had to live with every day. He and Sol sat by me in journalism as the other kids moved as far away as possible. Through the window, I could see Paige waiting outside, but I needed to talk to Charles first.
“Got a minute?” I asked. He gave me an uncertain nod, and I said, “Thank you for not turning against me.”
His face flushed deeper. “I have to go to auto shop now.”
“I know who you were with that night the Gears destroyed my column.”
He stopped as if I’d punched him.
“She said she liked me. I wouldn’t have believed it, only she knew about my dad, and we talked about him a lot.” I could see him try to swallow. “She said I was interesting. I’m sorry about your column, Logan.”
“While you two were in the back room, her brother and J.T. came in and destroyed my layout,” I said. “I’m going to Ms. Snider after school. Charles, please help me.”
“I can’t.” He chewed on his lower lip. “You don’t understand.” His face grew even redder. “I can’t,” he repeated, then bolted from the room before I could try to convince him.
I met up with Paige, and we began walking to our next class.
“What’s up with Charles?” she asked.
“He’s really upset,” I told her. “Geneva used him to give her brother and J.T. a chance to mess up my column that Friday we went to San Francisco. He refuses to tell anyone, though.”
“He looked in bad shape.”
“I guess he’s embarrassed that he believed Geneva liked him. He’s still willing to lie for her. I’ve got to change his mind about that.”
“He had tears in his eyes when he ran past me,” Paige said. “I’d be surprised if he makes it through the rest of the day.”
“He’s got to. I need him to come with me when I talk to Snider.”
Paige was right. No one saw Charles after journalism, and Chili said he checked into auto shop later but left before class was over.
Paige and Chili must have agreed to take turns waiting for me after my classes. One of them was always at my side, as if to dare the rest of the kids to confront me. I loved them more than ever.
“Want us to meet you in Snider’s room?” Chili asked.
“Better not,” I said. “It would look as if I can’t speak for myself.”
“All right, then, if you’re sure. We’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”
After my last class, I returned to Snider’s room. She was cool and more reserved than usual. Her white shirt looked as if she’d just ironed it.
“Have a seat, Logan,” she said without moving from her desk.
I pulled up a chair and forced myself to sit. “Ms. Snider, I know who the Gears are.”
She nodded, no surprise showing in her expression. “Do you?”
“Yes,” I said. “Jared Hamilton and J.T. Malone. Geneva’s in charge.” I just couldn’t do it to Nathan. Let the Gears take care of that.
“Geneva’s already come to see me.” She studied my face as if watching for my reaction. “I understand you two had a conversation about Geneva substituting her column for yours, and about Nathan Sullivan as well.”
“We had a conversation, all right,” I said. “I asked Geneva how she could allow her brother and J.T. to post such awf
ul stuff after you were so kind to her. Do you know what she said? ‘All’s fair.’ That’s really what she believes about what she’s done.”
She straightened up in her prim little shirt. “What you’re saying is very difficult to believe, especially since Geneva told me that you threatened to do something like this.”
“There’s one person who can back me up,” I said. “Charles Bellamy. He was with her in the copy room the night my column was trashed.”
She grimaced. “Charles and Geneva?”
“I know that sounds unlikely,” I said, “but it was the only way the Gears could ruin my column.”
“Logan.” She stood. “This has to stop. If you’re going to make such outrageous accusations, you need proof. Charles confides in me, and he’s never mentioned anything like that. If he really experienced what you’re suggesting, I want to hear it from him. Both of you be here before class tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s too late.” I got up and tried to ignore her distrustful expression. “Something’s going to happen to Mr. Franklin tonight. We have to stop it now.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she said. “Nothing is going to happen to Mr. Franklin.”
“But the ephemeris . . . How can you be so sure I’m wrong? The poster was real enough, and whoever put that up is going to cause more trouble tonight.”
“Is she?” Ms. Snider asked. “Geneva and I discussed that too. I can assure you Mr. Franklin is safe. Now, I want you to go home. If you insist on continuing this talk tomorrow, you and Charles can meet with me then.”
She? Was Snider suggesting that I was responsible for the poster? The Capricorn had made up her mind. Geneva had lied just as she’d said she would, and now Snider actually believed my accusations were based on jealousy.
“Fine,” I said, and left the room without another word.
Chili and Paige were waiting as they’d promised. I climbed in beside Chili.
“Well?” she asked.
“Snider didn’t believe me,” I said, and burst into tears.
“It’s okay.” Chili hugged me, and Paige rubbed my shoulders. “Geneva’s bragging that you’re spreading lies about her because you’re jealous that she’s writing a column and you aren’t.”
“What am I going to do? If Snider won’t listen to me, I have to find someone who will.”
“My mom?” Chili asked.
“But what would she do? She’d just call my dad, and they’d make me stay home tonight.”
“You aren’t going to try to stop them by yourself again, are you?”
“I’ve got to.” I wiped my eyes. “There’s no other way.”
Chili reached over and blotted my lashes with a tissue. “Then I’m going with you.”
“You can’t.”
“Me too,” Paige said. “And, yes, we can. We’re going to do this together, Logan, or not at all.”
NOTES TO SELF
I did the right thing just the way most Aquarians would in times of trouble, and instead my situation is worse than before. Snider thinks I’m a liar. Frankenstein probably agrees. I have as big a chance of getting the fellowship as Charles has of taking Geneva to the prom. But I have two friends who aren’t going to let me do what I have to do alone. Whoever is behind FRANKENSTEIN MUST DIE is going to have to deal with the three of us tonight.
34
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF VENUS. NEXT TO THE SUN AND MOON, SHE IS THE BRIGHTEST OBJECT IN OUR SKY. YOU WILL FEEL HER POWER WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE DEEP AND OFTEN SUDDEN ATTRACTION TO ANOTHER PERSON. YOU ALSO FEEL IT WHEN YOUR LOVE FOR ANOTHER GROWS, SOMETIMES OUT OF CONTROL. THOSE WITH VENUS IN CANCER MAY WANT LOVE BUT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. YET IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST THE GODDESS.
—Fearless Astrology
We came up with a plan on the way home. We would take my dad’s paint van, because it was less obvious than Chili’s car. In the meantime, I worked on the chart for Charles. If I could figure out a little more about him, maybe I could get him to tell the truth to Ms. Snider.
“His Venus is in Cancer,” I said. “That sure fits. He’s probably built Geneva into a goddess of love, and he’s not about to rat her out.”
We were in Paige’s bedroom with Calypso. Paige was arranging a low-slung belt around the mannequin’s hips. “Where are we going to start looking?” she said. “Who are our suspects?”
“Geneva, of course, in spite of what she says about it being someone outside the Gears.” Chili got up and rearranged the belt. “You’re making Calypso look too top-heavy, Paige.”
“Geneva isn’t about to risk getting caught,” I told her. “If the Gears are involved, she’ll make her brother and J.T. do it. Whatever it is.”
“What about Nathan?” Paige asked in a soft voice.
“He says he’s finished. He’s too scared to see me again, let alone come forward about the Gears. Besides, I really think he believes the Frankenstein Must Die thing isn’t the work of the Gears.”
“Who, then?” Chili asked.
Paige stopped fussing with Calypso. “Hunter doesn’t like Frankenstein,” she said slowly. “He said they fought all through his senior year.”
I sat on the bunk bed. “Geneva told me they think it’s Hunter.”
“No,” Paige said in disbelief. “Hunter did say that Frankenstein deserved all the harassment he was getting. Do you think he could be behind this?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “He’s an Aries, fire sign, but so are lots of decent people. Do you know where he is tonight?”
“He’s supposed to be working at Java & Jazz.”
“Want to find out?”
Before she could answer, Chili was out the door, heading for the garage.
I took Paige’s arm. “Are you all right with this? Because if you aren’t, you can stay here.”
“I’m with you guys,” she said. “I want to know too.”
Java & Jazz was in the mall. We pulled into the parking lot behind it. “That’s Hunter’s truck,” Paige whispered from the back. “Thank goodness. I was so afraid it was him.”
So my astrology skills had failed me one more time. “We’re going to have to think of something else.”
“Maybe we can just go to wherever Frankenstein is and hang out,” Chili said.
“But how do we know where Frankenstein is?”
She giggled. “Where do you think?”
“Snider?” She had sounded pretty smug today when I told her he was in danger. “We could just drive by her place and see if his car’s there.”
“It won’t be,” Chili said. “He left it in auto shop for detailing right after school today. You know how obsessed he is with it. He could buy a new car for what he spends on Armor All alone.”
“It’s his baby, that’s for sure.” The moment the words were out, my flesh tingled. It’s his baby. “Who all was around when he brought it in?” I asked, my voice trembling and my mind racing ahead. “Who knows it’s there?”
“Just Charles and me. He’s the only one good enough to detail for Frankenstein.” She glanced over at me. “What is it?”
“The school,” I said. “Hurry.”
She swung out of the parking lot, and we were off. By the dim light of the glove box, I paged through the book, trying to prove myself wrong about Charles. “Mars in Scorpio,” I said. “A risk taker. Oh, no. What if Geneva’s telling the truth for once, and the Gears didn’t leave that poster? What if it was Charles?”
“Why would he do that?” Paige shouted. It was the only way to be heard in the van.
“Venus. I mean, love. Oh, my god, it’s not Geneva he’s crushing on. It’s Snider. Have you ever seen how he looks at her? Now, thanks to the Gears, everyone knows she’s with Frankenstein. Charles was there the night that we were painting sets too.”
“But Charles is a wimp,” Paige said. “He wouldn’t kill Frankenstein.”
“No.” Chili screeched to a stop at a red light and turned to me. “But he’d kill his car, wouldn’t he?”
&
nbsp; She took off again, and I was slammed back against my seat.
“What if Charles has flipped out? We’ve got to call a teacher, anyone who can help us.”
“There’s no one who will believe us,” Chili said.
“No one,” Paige echoed. “Geneva has tried to turn practically everyone against you.”
Just then I closed my eyes and saw frizzy red curls, penetrating eyes.
“Jillian Berry,” I shouted.
“You’re crazy,” Chili said. “What makes you think that weirdo would believe you?”
“Because she is a weirdo. Because she doesn’t care what people think about her. And because she likes me.”
Berry did like me, I knew. I still had her card in my book bag. On our way to the school, I phoned her. She answered on the first ring.
“Ms. Berry, this is Logan McRae,” I said. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but please listen to me. I found the Gears, but no one will believe me. And now, I’m pretty sure that Charles Bellamy is at the high school auto shop. I think he’s going to destroy Mr. Franklin’s Corvette.”
She paused for a moment, then said, “I believe you, Logan. Now listen to me, honey. I’ll handle it from here. Don’t go near the shop.”
Just then the line went dead, which was just as well.
“What’d she say?” Chili asked.
“She believes me.” My voice broke. “Now hurry. We can’t let this happen.”
I wasn’t sure just then what I was trying to prevent. Charles ruining Frankenstein’s car or Charles ruining Charles. I only knew that we couldn’t stop now.
The overhead lights were off, but I could see a glow inside. We pulled around in back. Charles’s car was the only one in the lot.
Paige gasped. My skin crawled.
“Let me out here,” I said.
Chili shook her head. “We’re coming with you.”
“If I go alone, I might have a chance,” I told her. “It’s the only way.”
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