All-Night Party by R.L. Stine Page A

there’s a murderer out there? How can—”
    Gretchen gasped as the front door burst open. It slammed hard into the wall.
    She spun around.
    â€œWho’s there?” she cried.

Chapter
21

    N o one there.
    â€œThe wind,” Jackson murmured. “The wind blew the door open.”
    Gretchen sighed. She had expected to see the killer standing in the doorway, waving a bloody knife, threatening to kill them all.
    Jackson strode to the door and shut it. “I guess I didn’t close it all the way.”
    Hannah sniffed. She sat back on the couch, drawing her knees up to her chest.
    â€œThe next time the door slams open, it could be the killer, getting ready to finish what he started with Cindy,” she choked out.
    â€œWhy would the killer come back? Why would he come after any of us?” Patrick asked.
    â€œWhy did he go after Cindy?” Hannah demanded. She huddled in a corner of the couch. “All I know is that I’m scared. I want to go home.”
    â€œWe can’t go home,” Patrick said. “Not until the police get here.”
    â€œBy the time the police get here, we could all be dead!” Hannah cried.
    Marco turned from the fireplace. “That’s not very likely. We have a slight advantage. I mean, there are six of us and one of him.”
    â€œNot if he kills us off one by one,” Hannah reasoned, wiping tearstains from her face.
    â€œHannah is right,” Gretchen agreed. “I think we all need to stick close together. I don’t think any of us should go off by ourselves. It’s too risky.”
    Gretchen pictured Cindy’s body sprawled in the flour.
    What were Cindy’s last thoughts before she died?
    Gretchen gazed around the cabin at her friends. She felt as if she were seeing them for the first time.
    She thought she knew them—but did she?
    Could one of them have murdered Cindy?
    Was that why Cindy’s eyes were filled with such terror?
    Had she been unable to believe that someone she trusted had killed her?
    No, Gretchen thought. It can’t be.
    It had to be that escaped prisoner.
    If he had been hiding in the Fear Street Woods, he could easily row over to the island.
    It was the prisoner, she told herself. It had to be.
    Because if it’s not the prisoner, one of my best friends is a murderer .
    Gretchen shuddered. “We’re safer if we all stick together,” she said.
    â€œYes,” Jackson said. “We stay together at all times. Starting now. Follow me. We all have to go back to the kitchen.”
    â€œHuh?” Hannah gripped her stomach. “I can’t even think of going in there again.”
    Jackson sighed. “It’s important. I want to check out Cindy’s body one more time.”
    â€œWhy?” Gretchen asked. She couldn’t help feeling suspicious.
    â€œMaybe it will help us figure out what happened,” Jackson replied.
    Hannah shook her head furiously. “I can’t go back into the kitchen. I can’t!”
    â€œCome on, Hannah,” Gretchen coaxed, pulling her by the arm. “You know we’re right. We have to stick together. You can’t stay out here alone.”
    As soon as Gretchen led Hannah into the kitchen, Hannah raced to the other side of the room. As far away from Cindy’s body as possible.
    Gretchen saw her turn to the wall with her eyes squeezed closed.
    Gil and Marco hopped up on a kitchen counter while Patrick leaned against the refrigerator. Ignoring the others, Jackson began walking around Cindy’s body.
    Gretchen stood in the center of the kitchen, inches away from the corpse. She stared down at the floor. She was standing so close to the body, her foot was practically touching Cindy’s hand.
    She noticed red nail polish on Cindy’s fingernails, some of it chipped away. A gold charm bracelet dangled around her wrist.
    But that wasn’t all.
    Gretchen’s eyes widened.
    How had she missed it