10

The next morning

"Wait a minute," said Cody, holding up a finger. "In our last chapter, everyone just established the UN Owen was one of them."

"So?" shrugged Zack.

"So," said Cody in a voice that suggested what he was about to say should be obvious, "don't you think it would make more sense logically to have it take place immediately after everyone has already figured out what's going on and discuss their suspicions?"

"First of all," said Zack, "I'm sure our teacher only wants a basic re-write, not an epic piece of art. Second, it took us nine chapters to kill off the first three characters and I for sure do not want to drag it out further than it already has been. And third, since when does logic apply to our lives?"

"Point taken," sighed Cody, lowering his finger.

The next morning, everyone woke up and met in the dining room.

"Good morning, Patrick," said Judge Moseby courteously.

"Humph," was Patrick's reply.

"What did I do?" asked Judge Moseby.

"It's what you did," snapped Patrick. "Or more specifically, what that nincompoop, Esteban, didn't do."

"What did he do?" asked Zack.

"I'm not talking about what he did do, I'm talking about what he didn't do," snapped Patrick.

"And what was it he did?" asked Zack. "Are you sure he didn't do whatever it was he did, even though he was supposed to have done what he did and may or not have done what it was he was supposed to do or not do?"

"Huh?" asked Patrick.

Cody decided to make it simple: "What was it Esteban didn't do?"

"He didn't prepare breakfast," snapped Patrick.

"Or apple juice," moaned Carey.

"Perhaps he's chopping up firewood for the stove," suggested Maddie.

"I think so, too," said Zack.

"Shall I go check?" suggested Judge Moseby.

"By all means," said Cody.

Judge Moseby straightened himself up and marched straight into the pantry.

"Why is checking the pantry?" asked Cody.

"Because everything essential to life can be found in any kitchen pantry," replied Zack. "Duh."

Cody decided not to argue with this logic.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"

Cody winced. "Okay, Zack, the next time you choose to scream to express that a character is screaming, please don't deafen me."

Everyone ran into the pantry. Judge Moseby was standing there with a look of pure horror on his face. Everyone took one look around the pantry and saw why: There was Esteban with an ax buried deep into his neck...but that wasn't disgusting. No, what made the sight really disgusting was what Esteban was holding in his hands. And he was holding...a Paris Hilton CD.