Chapter 7. Everything is getting worse
'Are you serious?' Elmo was the first to speak.
'Yes,' I nodded.
'How?' Tom demanded.
'Mrs Drywood found them.'
Liz put her hand on my arm. 'Richelle, how did the dolls get there?' she asked softly.
'I'm telling you! Mum said that Mrs Drywood was sweeping floor beside the front door,' I answered impatiently. 'She was thinking deeply about something.'
'I guess she was thinking about actress' difficult destiny,' Nick sneered.
'Suddenly the phone in the principal's office rang,' I went on, ignoring him. 'She went to answer. But whoever called, he or she had hung up before she reached the office. Mrs Drywood returned to the front door and saw a big sack there. At first she wanted to open it, but then she thought that it might have been a bomb. She called the police. They came and opened the sack. It was full of aunt's dolls.'
'All of them?' the others chorused.
'At least most of them,' I said. 'Aunt Janet will go to identify them tomorrow in the morning. Then we'll know it exactly.'
'Okay, let's go home then and get some sleep,' Sunny stood up. 'It's very late.'
We paid for our drinks, went outside and trudged along the street.
'It's a very strange crime, if you ask me,' Elmo kept saying. 'Why did they steal the dolls and then returned them? What for?'
'Maybe they sold the most expensive dolls and decided that they didn't need the rest of them anymore,' I suggested.
'They would have discarded them then,' Sunny objected.
'Listen, Richelle,' Tom looked at me attentively. 'Doesn't your aunt owe money to someone?'
'Why do you ask?' I didn't get it.
'Well, if she has fortune in debt, and didn't return it on time, they could frighten her in this way,' Tom started to develop his theory. 'They steal her dolls and then return them, meaning that if she doesn't pay money, they'll do something worse.'
'How can you?' I stared at him in disbelief. 'Aunt Janet is so honest! She never deceives anyone!'
'Take it easy, Richelle,' Liz said softly. 'We just want to understand. And no one doubts in her honesty. Sometimes people can't redeem their debts for some reason. It might happen even with honest and respectful people. But Tom's theory at least explains something.'
'I'll try to find out,' I said thoughtfully. 'But I don't think that's the reason. Aunt Janet is very careful. She hates shady business.'
'I reckon it's not a coincidence that the dolls were dumped into the theater after Eagle and Owl had met someone,' Nick cut in.
'It could be,' Sunny objected calmly. 'We don't know exactly what they discussed in the men's room.'
'We won't understand anything before Aunt Janet identifies these dolls,' I shrugged.
We reached the place where we had to split up. Elmo and Tom went ahead, Sunny and Liz turned to the left. Nick offered to walk me home and I agreed. I was still cross with him, but I was afraid to go home alone.
We walked in silence for a while. Then he started speaking about something. I answered briefly and flatly, showing him how much I was insulted. At last we came up to my house. I said goodbye and walked towards the door, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him.
'Honestly, Richelle, you don't think that I had a good time with that Snake, do you?' he said quietly.
'I don't care,' I snapped.
'Really?'
'You think too much of yourself,' I muttered. 'Let me go.'
I tried to jerk my hand from his, but his grip was firm.
'I'm sorry if I hurt you,' he whispered. His arms came around me. 'I didn't mean to hurt you. I just tried to act casually to find out something. And now we know who one of the robbers is. And I know one more thing. I thought about you all the time. Honestly.'
'It's your funeral. I don't care,' I said flatly. But my heart started to thud faster when I heard this. I glanced into his dark, clever eyes. For a moment or two we looked at one another in silence. Then he leaned forward and kissed me. Slightly. I trembled all over when his lips touched mine. But it didn't last long.
He leaned back and looked at me.
'You're the best, Rich,' he whispered softly. 'I'm so sorry for my behaviour today. I know I went too far.'
Without thinking I pulled his head to mine and kissed him instead of answering. He pressed me against the wall beside the door. We merged in a passionate kiss. I could feel his hands on my back, which were gradually descending to my bottom. His body was pressed against mine. I stroked his hair, his back, his ass. I tried to press him to me as tightly as possible. His body, pressed against mine made me tingle. Butterflies fluttered in the bottom of my stomach. His hands squeezed my ass. Honestly I wanted him to go further than just kissing. Of course, I realized that we were standing near the door, which could be thrown open any moment. But my excitement was stronger than the common sense.
I completely forgot my offence, I forgot about Fox and about everything. At that moment there was only Nick in the whole world. Sometimes I saw him kissing and hugging me in my daydreams. I wished it would last eternity. Nick also seemed to want me. He squeezed me tightly in his arms and I liked it. I felt that he was extremely turned on. So was I.
I don't know how long we stood there, kissing and hugging each other. Finally Nick pulled away. I closed my eyes. He stroked my hair and I put my arms around him. We both were panting, but I was happy.
'You're so cute when you're jealous,' he grinned suddenly.
I nudged him and pretended to be insulted. He pressed me tightly against his chest.
'I have to go,' he whispered.
'Yeah,' I sighed.
He let go of me. I whipped my lipstick from his lips. God, he's so cute, I thought. I could easily understand why Snake had a crash on him.
'You have to go. It's very late,' I whispered, stroking his black hair.
He sighed and kissed me again. I didn't mind. Finally he whispered "see you tomorrow" and walked away. I watched him going till he slid out of sight. Then I made myself tidy and came into the house.
Tiffany and Jason were watching TV in the lounge-room.
'Richelle, is that you?' Mum called from the kitchen. 'Where have you been? I was worrying about you.'
'I was with the gang. Sorry!' I mumbled and raced upstairs and into my room.
I locked the door, flung myself on my bed and closed my eyes. I was still shaking with excitement. The faint smell of Nick's perfume was still lingering on me.
I didn't sleep a wink that night. Thoughts were running round and round in my head. I thought about Nick, and about our friendship, and about the whole gang. I had relationships with others guys, of course. I'd been dating with Sam for a long time and with Fox and with others. But other guys were one thing. I just had a good time with them, letting them spend their money and time on me. But these kisses with Nick… that was another matter. We've been friends for years and I know him very well. When we started our Teen Power Inc job agency, Nick and I began being more than just friends, but it looked as though our relationship was over before it had begun. Maybe he'd decided to stop because I was too indifferent. I should be more attentive to Nick. Now I really want him to be my boyfriend and I can't let him go again. I really want him, more than anything in the world.
###
In the morning I forced myself to open my eyes. I felt as though I hadn't slept at all. Reluctantly I crawled out of bed and wandered to the bathroom to have a quick shower. That morning I spent more time than usual in front of the mirror, trying to hide the results of sleepless night, but when I finally looked at my reflection I was pleased. I really did look good.
During breakfast Mum said that she would go to the police together with Aunt Janet to identify the dolls. Aunt Janet must have returned home from the hospital already and Mum was going to meet her there and drive to the police.
I decided to go with Mum. Of course I was eager to see Nick, but I loved my aunt and wanted to see her. I decided that I'd go to school from her place.
When Mum and I drove to aunt's house, there were two police cars, parked on the road beside her house. Greta Vortek also was there. We carefully came inside and my heart sank down into my shoes. There was a great mess. Furniture had been moved and ripped open. Everything had been taken out of drawers, wardrobes and shelves and scattered on the floor. Aunt Janet blankly wandered around this mess, smoking. Mum rushed to her. I listened to them for a while, but soon I realized that I couldn't stand it anymore and sneaked away, mumbling something about school.
I trudged absent-mindedly along the street. I really felt sorry for my aunt. At first they robbed her shop, now her house was turned upside down. What did they want? I came up to еру school gate, and realized that I didn't want to go there at all.
The others must be on the lessons, I thought, so I wasn't able to speak to them. I decided to go to the Glen. Usually I avoid being there alone. This place gives me the creeps when I'm on my own there. But for this time the last what I wanted was to be seen and sent to school. No one will think to look for me in the Glen.
I turned round and went away from school. Suddenly I saw the others. They crowded on a side street, looking anxious. I walked towards them, but they started going forward. I had to run to catch them up.
'Hey! Stop!' I called them. They looked back.
'Richelle! Thank heavens!' Liz exclaimed, looking relieved.
Nick gave me a tight hug. Gratefully I cuddled up to him, feeling much better now, when he was with me.
'Where have you been?' Nick asked.
'We were worrying about you!' Tom muttered. 'We thought something happened to you.'
'It did,' I sniffled. 'Aunt Janet's house was robbed.'
'What? How? When?' they chorused.
'How would I know how and when,' I shrugged. 'Someone got inside and strewed everything from every single drawer on the floor and ripped open all furniture.'
Liz clapped her hand to her mouth.
'Are you going to school?' I looked at them.
'No school for today,' Tom shook his head vigorously. 'We've run away from there because of you. We were worrying about you and couldn't stay there.'
'Thank you,' I almost burst into tears when I heard this. It was really nice of them. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat and squeezed Nick's hand more tightly.
'Let's go to the Glen,' Elmo commanded. 'I don't feel like returning to the school now. But if we wander along the streets, a teacher or our parents or someone else will see us for sure.'
We jogged down to the Glen and onto our clearing. I sat down on the grass, leaning against a tree. Nick sat down beside me.
'So, tell us what happened,' Liz said when everyone settled down.
'Oh, it's so awful,' I sniffled and told them about the robbery.
'I hope your Aunt Janet won't have a heart attack,' Liz said anxiously. 'It wouldn't be surprising after all these events.'
'No way!' I yelled, suddenly losing my temper. 'Quite the opposite! Aunt Janet says that her nerves are as hard as steel now. And whatever happens, she won't give a shit. Even if the ceiling crashed onto her head.'
'She's just in shock now,' Elmo said in an old experienced man's voice.
'What did they steal?' Sunny asked.
'Nothing,' I said in a low voice.
'Nothing?' they gasped.
'Nothing,' I nodded. 'At least all electronic stuff and jewellery weren't stolen. They were just lying everywhere or broken. The robbers turned the whole house upside down, but didn't take even money from her bed table. '
'It's…weird,' Tom shook his head in disbelief.
'What about the dolls?' Nick asked.
'I don't know,' I shrugged. 'The dolls are in the police. Greta is still in Aunt Janet's house. As soon as they finish there, they'll go to identify the dolls.'
'I think it's gone too far,' Sunny looked at us thoughtfully.
'What do you mean?' I demanded.
'I mean that it's getting too dangerous,' she replied slowly.
'I agree,' Liz nodded slowly. 'I'm sure that these two robberies are linked. But to tell the truth, it looks as if a loony is playing a stupid game. I reckon we should tell Greta everything we know and forget about it.'
'And we should recommend her to check madhouses,' Tom added seriously. 'Maybe an insane, who is mad about dolls, ran away from there.'
'No, we'll better send you to a madhouse to check this version,' Nick sneered. 'You'll be our secret agent.'
Tom opened his mouth to reply, but Sunny got in ahead of him.
'Greta must be still in Miss Brinkley's house,' she stood up quickly. 'Let's go there and tell her everything.'
We went out of the Glen and strode quickly along the street to Aunt Janet's place. My own house was on the way there. Walking past it I saw a police car, parked beside our driveway.
'What… what are they doing here?' I stammered.
'Maybe they arrived to take your parent's testimonies,' Elmo suggested.
Without saying a word I turned to the door. The others followed me. I came up to my mum, who was standing beside the opened door.
'Richelle,' she glanced at me with a strange expression on her face. 'Please don't worry, dear. We'd also been burgled.'
I felt the hair on the back of my neck stood up.
