Disclaimer: I do not own TSL! If I did, I would be gloating over it and rubbing it in your face. Oh, and I'd also be living in Hawaii and have servants write this story for me.
Chapter 1:
He's Dead
"5-4-3-2-1!" The class counted down and burst out the door just as the bell rang to signal the end of the day. Over 500 shoes were once again pounding the tiled floor as the students of Boston Middle School left for Christmas vacation.
"Zack!" a small voice called from somewhere in the middle of the swarm of students.
"So," Zack Martin continued, ignoring the voice, "anytime you need somebody to talk to, you just call Z-"
"Zack," Cody Martin panted catching up with his twin brother, "Mom is waiting for us outside and she says even though you deny it, you need a hat and mittens-oh," he stopped, seeing who Zack was talking to, "hi Sarah."
"I'll see you around Zack," Sarah said, smiling, and left.
"Nice job, geek," Zack said, turning to face his brother, "I was this close," he held up his forefinger and thumb an inch apart, "to getting the hottest girl in school to go out with me."
"I thought you didn't believe in Christmas miracles," Cody joked, then, after getting a threatening look from Zack, ran as fast as his legs could take him. Once he was outside, he dipped his hand into the snow and threw a freshly-made snowball at Zack as he came out of the building.
"Boys!" Carey Martin shouted, approaching the now wrestling twins, "it's Christmas. At least try to be nice to each other!"
The car ride back to The Tipton seemed to relax Zack and Cody a little bit and the instant Carey had pulled into the employee parking lot, they jumped out and ran into the lobby, heading for the candy counter.
"Hit us with some sugar!" Zack demanded to Maddie, and then added in his most romantic voice, "Sweet thang." Cody rolled his eyes.
"Just came in today," Maddie responded, "whatcha want?"
"You, along with dinner and a movie," Zack answered as Maddie gave him the in-your-dreams look, "Fine, fine, fine. Geez, Maddie, have some Christmas spirit. Two chocolate Charleston Chews, please."
"Here ya go," Maddie handed over the candy and then added, "$1.50 please."
"Keep the change," Zack claimed, giving Maddie two dollars, and winked.
As the two boys got into the elevator, Zack thought he saw Maddie return his wink, but he couldn't be sure.
…..
"Boys," Carey said, trying to draw their eyes away from the TV, "let's eat."
They didn't budge.
"C'mon, guys," Carey repeated, now a little annoyed, "I said let's-"
She was interrupted by the phone ringing. Knowing Mr. Moseby was the only one that ever called; she picked it up, "Hello?"
The line went dead. That's odd, she thought.
"Okay," Carey now went over and physically turned off the TV. In return she got groans from mostly Zack, but she wouldn't stand for it. She had givin them more than enough time to watch television today.
"But Mom," Cody pleaded, "that was really interesting. A Mom and two kids were stabbed to death at a hotel not too far from here. They say that the killer escaped and they have a lead that he is now in Texas."
"That's not interesting," Carey disagreed, "that's the most awful thing that could happen to anyone. Just imagine how their father must feel."
"You're right," the twins said, and then Zack added, "Mom, can we eat? I'm starving."
"Now you want to eat!" Carey just couldn't win tonight, "Well, we're having spaghetti and meatballs. C'mon guys." They all sat down at the table while Cody started talking about a science fair he wanted to enter and Zack started to snore.
…..
Cody was worried. What his mom had said had really triggered something in his mind, just imagine how their father must feel. What if it was some family they knew? Or, even worse, what if it was them? Dad would be here in the morning so they could go on a Christmas vacation together, but what if he had arrived and him, Mom, and Zack were all dead? He shuttered. No, he thought, that could never happen. Our room is locked and…and… The reporter had said that the family was murdered in their room. He suddenly felt very cold. He buried deeper under his blankets and slowly drifted off to an uneasy sleep.
…..
Carey awoke with a start, thinking she was going to be late. Then, realizing it was Saturday; she smiled and was just about fall asleep when the phone rang.
"Who the heck would call at 7:30 on a Saturday morning?" Carey said to the empty living room. She picked up the phone and managed to croak, "Hello?"
The line went dead. They should really get caller I.D. here, she thought and made to get back in bedwhen Zack came out of his room.
"Mom?" he asked, giving Carey a look that was way too sweet for Zack, "it's Saturday, the twenty-second of December."
"Yes, I know," Carey replied, puzzled, "are you telling me that you just learned the days of the week?"
"No," Zack said, still being too sweet for Carey to take him seriously, "I was just telling you that Dad should be here now," then he added in a much more Zack-ish tone, "Where is he?!?"
"Sorry honey," Carey admitted, "he called last night. His band had a last minute benefit Christmas concert," then, seeing Zack's look of disappointment, added, "But don't worry, he'll be here this afternoon. What some pancakes?"
"Sure," Zack responded, looking much happier, and he turned on the TV.
"Is Mom actually cooking?" Cody said, coming out of his room and rubbing his eyes.
"Don't worry," Zack reassured Cody, "we shouldn't have to call the fire department. It's just pancakes."
"Thanks guys," Carey chirped in, stirring chocolate chips into the pancake batter, "just for that, you get the honor of setting the table."
Just as they were putting plates on the table, the phone rang for the second time that morning.
"Don't-" Carey started to say as Zack picked up the phone, "pick that up," she finished kind of lamely.
"Hello?" Zack answered, "Oh, hi Arwin."
Carey let out a nice long breath, whoever was prank-calling before had stopped.
Cody turned his attention to Zack who had just gasped and said "Cool! We'll be right down."
Zack then hung up the phone and turned to Carey, "Mom, hold breakfast, Arwin wants to show us something cool."
The two boys hurried out of the room leaving Carey, still mixing pancake batter, looking disappointed.
Zack and Cody rushed down the hallway. They knew this was going to be pretty awesome because Arwin never called; he always just came up to the room. Cody pressed the elevator button to go down and waited for it to reach the 23rd floor.
As soon as they entered the elevator, they saw it. At first, Cody thought it was Arwin fixing the elevator and Zack thought it was Esteban praying, but Zack turned out to be closer (although he was only half correct). Esteban was leaning against the wall of the elevator with a look of terror frozen on his face.
"Esteban?" Cody asked poking at him slightly.
They got no reply. Esteban appeared to loose his balance and landed lying face up. Both of the twins gasped in pure horror. Esteban wasn't praying, nor was he fixing the elevator. There was a knife stabbed into his chest right where his heart was. There was a steady trail of blood lightly gushing from the wound and a pool of blood now saturating his shirt. He also had a black eye and many bruises on his face and neck. He had been dead for a while.
Zack suddenly saw something. There was a note taped to Esteban's shirt. It smelt rather bad and it took Cody a minute to realize it was written in Esteban's blood.
This is just the stArt. I'm not done yet. This game has just Begun.
I hope you like it so far. Please review. I'll only update if I get at least 5 reviews!
