Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Lizzie McGuire characters.

Please read and review, I don't care if you're flaming, I just love hearing
from you all!

Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I was in the Poconos for two days, then I was really busy. Anyway, R/R, hope you like it! This was the chapter most fun to write so far.

Same Scene, Lizzie's House

"Lizzie, we know you're scared, but you can't isolate yourself!" Jo responded.
"Yes, Lizzie. You have to be with your friends…"
"Ah well, when I'm dead, don't say I didn't tell you."
"Don't say that…" Her mom looked tired, so Lizzie stopped.
"Matt, turn the telivision off and get ready for school!" Sam yelled as he heard the click of the TV.
"School might be closed, Dad." Matt yelled back.
Lizzie looked confused.
"What are you talking about, Matt?" Jo said as they all walked into the family room to see Matt.
"Right there," Matt pointed to the TV.
The woman on the screen looked down at her papers and started saying,
"The following schools are closed due to the killings in Hilldridge: West Valley Elementary, Kennedy Elementary, Stoneway High, Blue Land Middle School, Hilldridge Elementary, Junior High, and High School. . ."
Matt turned it off.
"No school! Woohoo, woohoo," He smiled.
"Matt!" Lizzie yelled, "This is NOT a good thing! They closed down the schools, WHY? Maybe it's because a maniac is running around town killing teenagers!"
Sam turned the TV back on.
The woman continued: "Hilldridge Police Officials have also set a curfew for youth. Curfews have been installed as following for weekends:
High School students: 10 o'clock PM.
Junior High Students: 9 o'clock PM
Elementary Students: 8 o'clock PM

On weekdays,
High School students: 9 o'clock PM
Junior High students: 8 o'clock PM
Elementary students: 7 o'clock PM

Police also suggest that everyone carry a cell phone and/or switchblade. Switchblades are to be used only in case of emergency. Pepper Spray was also suggested for students old enough to know how to use it."

He turned it back off.
The doorbell rang.
Lizzie answered.

It was Gordo and Miranda, and they looked a bit scared.
"They, uh. . .they closed down school." Miranda fingered her red blouse.
"I know. Come in. . ." Lizzie opened the door wide, and Miranda and Gordo waved at her parents.

Lizzie's Room
Lizzie picked up a small, red box lying on her desk, opened it, and poured the contents onto her bed as Miranda shut the door behind her and Gordo. They'd all been pretty quiet until the scraps of paper flowed onto the baby blue comforter of her bed.
"What are those?" Gordo asked, pointing to the pieces of notebook paper.
"Notes…I've come up with clues to who the murder could be." Lizzie picked one up as she kept talking. "I didn't tell my parents anything because thay would make me call the police. They'd probably want a 24 hour FBI watch around Matt and me until the killer was found." All three of them tried to smile. She continued, reading off the paper. "So far, I've picked up tads from the news and radio, and some uncertain guesses. I think, that if we know the killer, the following people could be on the list of suspects. I know it's hard to believe any of these people would do this, but the officers have picked up clues that whoever it is is young, about our age, goes to our school, and has dark hair. Larry Tudgeman is a possibility, although it's weird to think of him as dangerous. . . though it's weird to think of any of these people as killers. . .
Parker is also a possibilty.
Claire could be it, but I really do doubt she's the one.
Kate could be it since she died those three strands of brown in the sides of her hair. . .although she has nothing to complain about.
Danny Kesler left our school in seventh grade, but he still lives nearby, and could be a suspect if he'd lied on the letter."
She paused, and picked up another piece of paper, sitting down on her bed next to her friends.
"Let's see," she continued, "This card is about safety measures. . .I think I'm going to buy a small blade or a steel knuckle band if my mom lets me. . .my dad thought it'd be better to just lay low and stay by adults. . ."
Gordo interrupted, "Lizzie! Get a hold of yourself! As much as I want to believe you are, you aren't exactly Sherlock Holmes. Maybe we really should just call the cops."
Lizzie frowned. "Why, Gordo? Why must you always play it safe? I'm tired of playing it safe! Let's say we actually caught the killer in action. Don't you want to be free to protect yourself once in a while? I did do pretty good at the detective party! So maybe I'm crazy. . .kill me for trying to be. . .out of lines for once. I know it sounds weird that I want to protect myself from an armed lunatic instead of calling professional help, but. . .I really don't know, I just have this strange feeling that I'll be able to catch whoever it is earlier that the cops."
Miranda looked out the window.
"Well, you've been awefully quiet, Miranda." Gordo looked at her.
"Yup. . .just. . .thinking. Lizzie, I called the cops. . .yesterday night. I told myself it was fine over and over again, but I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about how I might just save one of us if I dialed those. . .those three numbers. . . just that simple phone call could save our lives, Lizzie. . .I was scared." Miranda croaked the words out, twisting the bed sheets into circles nervously.
"Miranda! How could you? I told you I could find out who. . ." Lizzie sighed, and calmed down. "Okay. . .it's okay. . .maybe the cops really can do a better job."

Lizzie's backyard, 8:00 pm.
Lizzie looked at the stars as they started coming up. Tomorrow would have been the last day of school before summer vacation. The cops had arrived about ten minutes ago; Lizzie heard them introducing themselves, but she hadn't gone in to meet them.
Sam and Jo came out with two officers.
"Elizabeth McGuire," The short, dark haired officer smiled as the taller, blonde one spoke. "I'm Officer Jacob, and this is Lieutenant Reyes."
Lizzie stood up and shook their outstretched hands.
"We understand you got a call from the killer." He continued.
Jo interrupted. "Excuse me, Officer. Lizzie, why didn't you tell us?"
Lizzie sat back down. "I. . .I don't know, Mom. I'm sorry."
Officer Jacob went on, "We're glad your friend contacted us and explained. We're going to have to put you under a curfew of 8 o'clock PM, and either Lieutenant Reyes or I will visit every morning and evening to make sure you're all right. The state has authorized giving switchblades and pepper spray to threatened students in the area under the condition that you are mature and aware enough to use them properly, and only in case of emergencies. If anyone is to attack you, the pepper spray should be the first thing you reach for. Always direct AWAY from your face, and spray only once or twice. Since pepper spray can only temporarily blind and sting, it should be the first thing you even think of using in case the person is not really an attacker. If you were to use the blade first, someone innocent could be harmed. The switch blade opens with this button, and is to be used only in case of emergency. Purposely using any of these items on someone innocent will land you in a juvenile correctional facility."
He handed her the small, black bottle with the spray head, and a brown switchblade, closed in position.

***Will Lizzie still try to find out on her own who it is? Ah,
she's forbidden to come out of the house without a gaurdian or parent!
How will she ever find out who it is? Or will she play it safe? Review
And tell me your opinions and guesses of what will happen next!***