Who Killed the Homecoming Queen? by R.L. Stine, Bill Schmidt Page B

glanced at Jeremy. He had stopped resisting the police. But he stood tensely, breathing hard, clenching and unclenching his hands.
    â€œJeremy, we understand you’re upset,” the officer told him. “But you have to get ahold of yourself and listen.” He put his hand on Jeremy’s shoulder and pushed firmly.
    Jeremy sat down, still looking tense.
    â€œWe think your sister walked away,” the officer declared. “We don’t think she’s dead.”
    â€œWhat?” Jeremy shook his head. “I don’t believe it. You didn’t see her lying there. Besides, didn’t you hear what Sandy said? He isn’t sure if she was breathing!”
    â€œWe heard it all,” the policewoman assured him. “Now listen—bodies don’t just disappear. This whole thing started out as a joke, remember?”
    Jeremy nodded.
    â€œAnd that’s probably what this disappearance is,” the policewoman went on. “Some kind of joke.”
    â€œBut what if it’s not?” Keith asked.
    â€œIf it’s not, we’ll get to the bottom of it,” the policewoman assured him. “But we think it is.”
    Can she be right? Eva wondered.
    The policewoman patted Jeremy’s back. “When a prank gets out of hand like this, people getupset,” she told him. “The important thing is for everyone to stay calm.”
    Eva raised her eyes to look at Sandy. He stood with Leslie. She had her arm through his and was murmuring softly to him. But Sandy didn’t seem to notice. He kept rubbing his throat, a stunned expression in his eyes.
    Eva walked over to Jeremy. He sat with his shoulders slumped, staring at his feet.
    Poor Jeremy, Eva thought. He was so happy a couple of days ago, talking about how he finally got a family.
    And now he may have lost Tania.
    Eva took Jeremy’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
    â€œAll right, I think we’re finished here,” the policewoman announced. She patted Jeremy on the back again. “Why don’t we give you a ride home?” she suggested. “Your sister is probably there right now, enjoying a good laugh.”
    Can that be true? Eva wondered again as she and Jeremy stood up. Is Tania really okay?
    Fifteen minutes later, the police car dropped Eva off at her house. Eva thanked the driver, then raced up the walk and hurried inside.
    No one home.
    Eva dropped her book bag on the floor and pulled off her muddy sneakers. Then she crossed the hall and ran upstairs to her bedroom.
    The police had dropped her off before takingJeremy home. She was desperate to call the Darmans’ house and see if Tania really was there.
    Wouldn’t it be great if Tania were at home, laughing it up? she thought as she snatched up the bedside phone. Of course, I’ll be totally furious with her. But I’ll be so happy.
    Eva quickly punched in the numbers and waited.
    A steady
beep-beep-beep
sounded in her ear.
    Busy.
    Eva cut the connection, then dialed again.
    Still busy.
    What does that mean? she wondered. Is Tania trying to call me to let me know she’s okay?
    Hoping the phone would ring if she left it alone, Eva changed into dry jeans and a thick cotton sweater.
    The phone stayed silent.
    She brushed out her thick dark hair, then twisted it into a single braid that hung down her back.
    Still no call from Tania.
    Frustrated and impatient, she grabbed the phone and dialed again. Still busy.
    What’s going on? What
went
on? Did Tania play a joke or did she really disappear?
    Did she really die?
    As Eva paced her bedroom, she pictured Tania lying so still in front of the camera.
    â€œThe camera!” Eva gasped. Maybe the camcorder had stayed on the whole time. Keith left it on the tripod when we all ran off. Did he leave it running?
    If he did, the whole thing would be on the video. We might be able to see what happened to Tania’s body!
    Eva grabbed the phone again and called Keith’s house. He picked