The Third Horror (4 page)

Kody buried her face in Rob's shoulder. "Is she—? Rob, is Joanna—?"

Rob didn't reply.

Shrill, panicky cries rang out over the yard.

"Call an ambulance!"

"Don't move her!"

"Is she conscious?"

"Where's the phone? Who's calling for help?"

"Try to stop the bleeding!"

"Her eyes! Did it smash her eyes?"

Kody pictured the camera sliding again, sliding down so hard into Joanna's face. And again Kody heard the sickening sound of the collision. The crack that had to be the splitting of Joanna's skull.

"Let's go to my trailer," Rob suggested quietly, his arms around Kody. "We can't be of any use here."

As he guided her toward the house, Kody heard Ernie, the camera operator, shouting to Bo. "The bolts on the catch were all loosened," Ernie called, his voice choked with alarm. "Bo—the catch was totally loose!"

Kody stopped to watch.

Bo hurried toward the camera boom. But a man in a gray uniform stepped forward to block his way.

The security guard! Kody recognized the security guard from the night before. He was talking rapidly to Bo—and pointing at Kody.

Bo turned and his eyes narrowed as they locked on Kody. "Could you come here for a second?" he called.

A crowd had huddled around the fallen standin. Over the excited, horrified voices of the crew, Kody could hear the wail of sirens growing louder. The ambulance was on its way.

"Should I wait for you?" Rob asked.

Kody shook her head. She hurried over to Bo.

"Kody, were you here last night after everyone left?" Bo demanded, his eyes studying her.

"Well—yes, but..." Kody mumbled, confused.

Why is he asking me that? she wondered, her heart starting to pound.

"That guard said he found you here last night," Bo continued, staring at her through his blue glasses.

"Yeah. Well—I was here," Kody said. "I was in the house, but—"

"You weren't out here in the back?" Bo demanded.

Kody suddenly realized why he was questioning her. He thinks I stayed late to loosen the thing that catches the camera!

"Bo—you don't think—" Her voice caught in her throat.

Bo uttered an unhappy sigh. "I don't know what to think, Kody. I just can't believe this happened. I—"

He stopped as uniformed paramedics ran across the yard, carrying metal cases of equipment. Three crew members were leading them to Joanna.

Several feet behind Bo, Kody saw the security guard staring accusingly at her.

This is crazy! Kody thought. Totally crazy!

Why would I mess with the camera?

Why?

"We'll talk later," Bo said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

"They're looking at a heavy-duty lawsuit," Kody heard someone say behind her.

"Let's just hope the girl lives," another voice added.

Her mind spinning, Kody turned and started to make her way toward the house.

But Bo came running up beside her. "Just one more question," he asked breathlessly. "Did you know that Persia was supposed to be on camera first this morning?"

"Huh?" Kody's mouth dropped open. "I don't understand."

"Well, you and Persia had that fight yesterday

evening," Bo replied, his cheeks pink. "And then the guard caught you hanging around late. I don't want to believe that you—well. . ." His voice trailed off.

"Then don't believe it!" Kody cried. "It*s so horrible, Bo! I couldn't do anything like that. I wouldn't even know how! I—I don't know anything about cameras!"

"Okay, okay." Bo patted her shoulder. "I'm out of line. I apologize. I'm just totally whacked by this. I mean, I'm out of my head. I'm sorry. Really."

A crew member called frantically to Bo. Bo gave Kody a fretful wave, then hurried away.

Feeling dazed, Kody walked slowly toward the house.

I've got to get away from here, she thought.

Again she saw the camera sliding down, heard the horrifying crack as it slammed into Joanna's face.

How could Bo accuse me? Kody asked herself, feeling her anger rise.

So what if Persia and I have had some problems? Does that make me a murderer?

How could he think I'd loosen the bolts on the camera catch so it would smash into Persia?

How could he accuse me of anything like that?

Without realizing it, Kody had entered the house through the back door and was in the kitchen. She shook her head hard, as if trying to shake away her angry thoughts, and glanced around.

She half expected to see Mrs. Nordstrom bending over the sink, scrubbing away. But the kitchen was empty.

Through the window Kody watched medics hurry toward the street. They had Joanna on a stretcher, covered in a heavy blanket despite the morning heat. Joanna's arms were crossed over the blanket. Her face covered in blood-soaked bandages.

Is she alive? Kody wondered with a shudder.

Is she going to live?

She quickly turned away from the window, swallowing hard, trying to force down her nausea. Her throat felt achingly dry.

She shut her eyes and gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, struggling to steady herself, to calm her racing heart.

"Did you know Persia was going to be first?"

Bo's question repeated itself in her ears.

Kody opened her eyes. Where is Persia anyway? she wondered. How could Persia ignore all the screams and cries that followed the horrible accident?

Accident.

The word clung to Kody's mind.

Accident. It could have been an accident—couldn't it?

And then she had the horrifying answer. No. There are no accidents at 99 Fear Street. No accidents in this house.

Only evil. Deliberate evil.

Letting out a choked sob, Kody spun away from the counter. She took a few shaky steps across the kitchen, and then noticed the narrow streak of light across the linoleum.

Raising her eyes from the floor, she saw that the

refrigerator door was half open. A long rectangle of yellow light poured out from inside.

Weird, Kody thought.

The appliances in the kitchen are all props. Why is the refrigerator plugged in?

Crossing the room, she grabbed the door handle and started to push it closed. But her curiosity made her stop to peek inside.

Peering into the golden glow, Kody saw empty shelves.

Except for the object in the back of the top shelf that made her gasp.

A human head.

Blond hair. A green mouth, green as moldy bread, set in a twisted smile. Blue eyes staring blankly out at Kody.

Kody recognized the face at once.

Cally.

Cally's head!

Kody's terrified screams brought several people running.

She heard the back door swing open. Heard heavy footsteps clambering over the floor. Heard muffled cries of surprise.

And then Kody felt Bo's gentle but firm hand pulling her away from the open refrigerator, out of the harsh yellow light.

"Kody—what?" he demanded softly. "What frightened you?"

A young red-haired woman—one of Bo's assistants —lifted the head out of the refrigerator. Holding it carefully in both hands, she held it up in front of her. "Is this what frightened you?"

Kody nodded, turning her head so that she wouldn't have to stare into the blue eyes.

"We put it in there to harden,'* Bo told her, still holding on to her trembling shoulders. "It's a model, Kody. The prop department brought it in this morn-mg.

"What is her problem?" Kody heard someone whisper near the door.

"Did she think it was a real head?" someone else asked in a hushed voice.

"You've had a very upsetting morning," Bo told Kody. He signaled for the others to leave. The assistant replaced the head on the shelf and closed the refrigerator.

When everyone had left the room. Bo turned back to Kody. "We're all totally freaked by—by what happened. We all feel edgy. We all feel terrible about this morning. But we can't go over the edge," he said, eyeing her sternly. "I have a movie to make, and I'm going to make it, Kody. No matter what, I'm going to get this picture made."

"But it—it just looked so real," Kody murmured weakly. "I came back here to see my sister. And— there she was. And—"

Bo studied Kody for a moment. "Kody, I want you to go lie down in your trailer."

"But, Bo—!" Kody started to protest.

He raised a hand to silence her. "I'm afraid that coming back to this house has shaken you badly," he said, continuing to speak in a low, soothing tone. "That and the accident this morning . . ."

He turned and opened the refrigerator door. He reached onto the shelf and pulled out the head, smoothing the blond hair behind the face.

Kody stared once again at the sickening green lips, the lifeless blue eyes.

"It's not a real head. It's a model, Kody," Bo said, speaking very slowly, as if instructing a two-year-old. He raised it higher. "See?"

Kody nodded.

"Please," Bo said, sliding the head back into the refrigerator. "Go to your trailer. Okay? Rest. You'll be fine. Really."

"Okay," Kody replied uncertainly.

"We need you on this picture," Bo said, his eyes still studying her. "I need you. And I need you alert and in good shape. So, try real hard to get it together— okay?"

"I'll try," Kody told him.

She followed him out the kitchen door. Bo headed toward the crew members, who were working intently on the boom camera. Kody began to follow the driveway down to the street.

She had taken only a few steps when she heard Persia's scornful words, deliberately spoken loudly enough for Kody to hear. "I guess Kody just can't take all the stress," Persia was gloating to one of her assistants. "She isn't a pro, after all."

Well, well, Kody—so freaked out?

Did that little head frighten you, poor thing?

From the living room window, Cally's ghost

watched Kody trudge down the driveway to the long, tan trailer parked across the street.

My poor sister is terribly upset, Cally thought gleefully.

Kody, did it really upset you to see my head in the fridge?

I should be dead, right? Dead and gone. I shouldn't be popping up in the kitchen like that—should I!

Cally tilted her head back in a scornful laugh.

You said you came back to find me, Kody. You said you came back to keep your promise.

But when you did find me, what happened?

You totally freaked—didn't you, kid!

That's because you're a liar, Kody. That's because you didn't really come back to find your dead, dead sister.

You came back to become a movie star.

Only things aren't off to a good start, are they?

Someone got her pretty face bashed in, and—guess what, Kody? A lot of people out there think you were responsible.

That's because no one would suspect a ghost could loosen a few bolts. Am I right? No one would ever suspect a ghost.

Well, dear sister, the bad news is that this morning was just the beginning.

I'm afraid things aren't going to go right on your movie, Kody. I'm afraid there might be a lot of tragic accidents.

A lot.

What choice do I have, after all?

I mean, I can't really let you become a big movie star, can I? You made a promise to come back, to find me.

Well, maybe it's time, Kody.

Maybe it's time right now. No time like the present. Isn't that the old expression?

Well, okay. You can keep your promise now, Kody.

Here I come.

The morning sun beamed down on the metal trailer top, heating it like an oven. Desperate for some fresh air, Kody rolled a window open, but there was little breeze.

She squeezed behind the small Formica table and stared down at the fruit plate and blueberry muffin she had picked up at the caterers' table.

Why did I take this stuJ0P? she asked herself I have no appetite.

Kody's stomach felt as if it were tied in a knot. Her throat still throbbed, dry and achy. She took a sip from a bottle of water she had also picked up from the table.

She carried the water with her as she slumped onto the low couch. The leather felt warm and sticky under her. A fly buzzed noisily, banging its body against the windowpane.

Maybe I should quit, she thought sadly, raising her legs onto the couch cushion and stretching out. She rubbed the cool water bottle over her burning forehead.

Maybe I should quit before I go crazy, Kody thought.

Maybe everyone already thinks I'm crazy.

Maybe everyone already thinks I'm some kind of murderer!

She sighed and shut her eyes, covering them with one arm.

I thought so long and hard about doing this movie. I talked to Mom and Dad about it for months and months.

I was so sure I'd made the right decision.

But now . . .

She heard the tapping at the trailer door, but ignored it.

At first she thought it was just the creaking of the trailer.

But then she recognized the rhythm of the soft knocking.

Tap tap tap.

Silence.

Then: tap tap tap.

This time Kody didn't delay.

The grip of terror tightening every muscle, she forced herself to her feet.

And as the final tap sounded, she dove to the door and pushed it open.

"Rob!" Kody cried, her voice revealing her shock.

"Hi." He stood on the bottom step, one hand resting on the slender railing. The bright sunlight made his auburn hair glow. He peered up at her, his expression serious.

"Rob—I thought—"

What did I think? Kody asked herself. That it was my dead sister knocking on the door?

Maybe I really am crazy!

"Just wondered how you were doing," Rob said.

"Okay, I guess." She backed up, motioning for him to come in.

He climbed the steps quickly and lowered his head

as he stepped into the narrow trailer. "Bad morning, huh?" he muttered. "Did you hear anything about Joanna? Is she—?"

Before Rob could finish, Kody threw her arms around him and pressed her mouth against his. "Hold me," she whispered. "I need you to hold me." Then she kissed him again.

Kody had never done anything like that in her life.

Cally had always been the bold one, the aggressive one, the one who took action. Kody had always stood back enviously and watched Cally as Cally made sure she got everything she wanted.

But now Kody had acted on impulse, had acted because she felt so strange, so frightened, so—needy.

Rob didn't seem to mind. As she lowered herself to the couch, he dropped down beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kissed her, kissed her . . .

They were still wrapped in each other's arms as the door swung open and a figure stepped quickly into the trailer, clearing her throat loudly.

"I guess you didn't hear me knocking," Persia said.

Kody pulled back from Rob with a start. Rob leaped to his feet, his mouth wide open.

Persia laughed. "Well, Kody," she said coldly, "you're certainly learning how to succeed in the movies."

Rob glared at her angrily. "What's your problem, Persia? What do you want?"

"Bo says we're breaking for the day. The girl died,"

Persia told them matter-of-factly. "The pohce are all over the place. Investigating."

"You mean Joanna?" Kody asked, swallowing hard.

"I didn't know her name," Persia replied. "Anyway, your car is waiting if you want it. Ciao." She backed out of the trailer and closed the door.

Kody turned back to Rob. "That's horrible news," she whispered, feeling a chill down her back as she shut her eyes and saw the camera ramming into Joanna's face again. "I—I can't believe it."

Rob wrapped his arms around Kody's waist and hugged her tight.

When Kody arrived at 99 Fear Street the next morning, she knew immediately that things were not back to normal. Two black and white police cars were parked at the bottom of the driveway where the caterers' truck usually stood. There were no production workers scurrying around, preparing for a morning shoot.

Warily, Kody entered the house and stepped into the living room. To her surprise, the room was filled with people.

"There you are," Bo called to her. Dressed in his usual gray sweatshirt and baggy chinos, he stood in front of the mantel. He didn't smile. He motioned with his clipboard for Kody to join the others.

Kody found Rob leaning against the back wall. She walked over to stand beside him. He gave her a solemn nod. "Bo called a meeting," he whispered.

The room was quiet. People whispered to one another or sat staring at Bo. No one smiled or laughed.

After a few more crew members found places on the floor in front of the couch, Bo cleared his throat loudly and stepped forward to speak.

"As you all know, we have had a tragic accident," he began.

Is he staring at me? Kody wondered, leaning close to Rob. It was hard to see Bo's eyes through the blue glasses.

"Because of the strange nature of Joanna's death," Rob continued, "the local police—"

He stopped and raised his eyes to the doorway. Kody turned to see a young man with long, dark hair and a dark mustache poke his head into the room. The man carried a red metal toolbox.

"I'm going down to the basement now, Mr. Montgomery," the man told Bo.

"Thank you," Bo replied, frowning at the interruption.

Kody gasped loudly.

She recognized the man. "Mr. Hankers!" she cried.

He had already disappeared from the doorway.

"That man is here to help us with our rat problem," Bo announced.

"You mean my agent is down there?" Persia joked.

A few people chuckled. Others murmured unhappily about the rats.

"Mr. Hankers has assured me the problem will be dealt with quickly," Bo said. "But until he finishes his

work, I'd advise all crew members to take care when going down there."

"Are you okay?" Rob whispered to Kody, his features tight with concern.

Kody nodded. "I—I recognized that man," she explained. "He worked for us. We had a rat problem too."

Rob nodded. "No way I'm going down in the basement," he whispered. "I hate rats."

Bo continued talking, holding his clipboard down at his side, gesturing with his free hand.

But Kody didn't hear his words. She was thinking about Mr. Hankers. He had been the man her father had hired to deal with the rat problem two years earlier. How strange to see him again.

How strange to see Mr. Hankers and Mrs. Nordstrom still working in the house two years later. It was as if time had stood still.

Aren't they afraid to come here? Kody wondered.

After all that happened in this house, aren't they afraid to step inside?

Is Cally still here too?

Will I find her?

Kody believed in ghosts. The rest of her family had always teased her about it. But after Cally's death, Kody wanted to believe even more than before.

She wanted Cally's ghost to be in the house.

She wanted to find Cally, to have one last talk with her. Kody wanted Cally to know that she had kept her promise.

Are you here, Cally? Kody thought, gazing around the crowded, somber living room.

Are you here watching us?

If you are, please let me know.

Please . . .

The gentle hand on Kody's shoulder made her jump.