Dance of Death Read online

  DANCE OF DEATH

  Written by

  Kate William

  Created by

  FRANCINE PASCAL

  Copyright © 2015, Francine Pascal

  To Chris Kaller, Johnny's friend

  "I hear there's a party this weekend at my house," Jonathan said, with a slightly wry tone to his voice.

  "Yeah, isn't that cool?" Bruce replied.

  "No, it's not cool. It's stupid," Jonathan said firmly. "Because there isn't going to be a party at my house."

  "Unfortunately, I think it's too late to cancel now," Bruce said, meeting Jonathan's gaze evenly. "Half the school is already planning to come."

  "What exactly do you think you're doing?" Jonathan asked. "What gives you the right to use my house?"

  "Don't you want to fit in, Cain?" Bruce challenged him. "Any normal guy would be psyched to have the bash of the season."

  Jonathan's eyes glittered, but Bruce's words seemed to have hit home. "Fine, have it your way," he relented. "The party's on."

  "Cool! I knew you'd come around!" Bruce enthused.

  But Jonathan wasn't smiling. "Just one thing," he added ominously. "Don't blame me for anything that happens on Friday night." Then he turned around and pushed his way out of the cafeteria.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 1

  Sixteen-year-old Jessica Wakefield stared into Jonathan Cain's eyes. She and Jonathan were standing in the shadowy foyer of his crumbling mansion on Saturday night, and she was still reeling from the intensity of his kiss. His whispered words were echoing in her mind. You shouldn't have come here, he'd said. It may have been the biggest mistake of your life.

  A mixture of pain and confusion stabbed at Jessica's heart. Just when she'd been sure Jonathan would confess his love, he had frozen up again. She studied the contours of Jonathan's beautiful pale face, searching for a clue to his behavior. But his features were shrouded in darkness, and the light from three long red candles in a wall sconce cast eerie, flickering shadows across his cheek. "Jessica, I'm telling you," Jonathan repeated. "You shouldn't have come."

  "But aren't you glad I'm here?" Jessica asked in a low voice. "Don't you like being with me?" She flipped her long blond hair over her shoulders and stared at him directly, a challenge in her blue-green eyes.

  Jonathan's gaze traveled down her face, lingering on the rounded neckline of her blue silk dress. "It's not that," he said, putting out a hand and caressing the soft curve of her neck. Jessica shivered at the featherlight touch of his fingers. He pulled away from her suddenly. His fingers trembling slightly, he grabbed a glass of red wine from the side table. Closing his eyes, he lifted the crystal goblet and drank from it greedily.

  Jessica's eyes widened as he downed the glass in one gulp. It was as if he were trying to quench an unquenchable thirst. A thirst for me, she thought in satisfaction.

  Jonathan turned to face her with dark, smoldering eyes. "Jessica, I'm telling you, leave before it's too late," he insisted, his voice low and urgent. The wine had stained his already deep red lips, and his fathomless blue eyes glowed with a strange luminescence. Jessica felt as though his gaze were burning a hole into her, as though he were trying to send her an unspoken message.

  A strangely exhilarating chill traveled up her spine. Every nerve ending in her body was alive and tingling. She'd had this giddy feeling ever since Jonathan Cain moved to Sweet Valley a short time before. He was a senior transfer with a cool, distant air and an almost magnetic aura. With his reserved manner and haunted-looking eyes, he seemed like a tortured soul—and Jessica had found herself irresistibly drawn to him. Jonathan was tall and lanky, with smooth white skin and a gorgeous face that looked as though it had been chiseled from marble. His face was framed by long, wavy black hair, and his piercing blue eyes stood out in the paleness of his face, giving him a stark, dramatic look.

  "Too late for what?" Jessica returned in a low, husky voice.

  Jonathan's eyes narrowed, and a look of torment passed over his features. He twisted his fingers, causing the ring he wore on his middle finger to glint in the light of the flickering candles. Jessica eyed the solid ring with curiosity. It was an ornate wooden band with an onyx-and-silver inlay. What does it mean? she wondered. Where did he get it, and why does he wear it all the time?

  Everything about Jonathan was a mystery. He had seemed to appear out of nowhere. Mr. Cooper, the principal, had introduced Jonathan to the student body at an assembly and had provided almost all the information Jessica knew. Apparently Jonathan had been living abroad before he moved to Sweet Valley. According to Mr. Cooper, he'd attended schools all over Europe—in Sweden, England, and even Greece. Now he was living all alone in Sweet Valley in this desolate old mansion. Jessica's eyes narrowed. He didn't seem to have a real home or parents. Who is Jonathan Cain? she wondered.

  But there was nothing Jessica liked better than a mystery. The moment she'd caught sight of Jonathan in the auditorium, she knew instinctively that he was the one for her. And the more she saw of him, the surer she became. Everything about him appealed to her. Jonathan wore black jeans and a black leather jacket. And he drove a big Harley, a beautiful black motorcycle with silver stripes. Jonathan was definitely her kind of guy—dark, dangerous, and mysterious.

  Jessica had turned on the charm full force, but up until a few moments ago, Jonathan had resisted all her advances. She had deliberately parked next to him at school, and she had slipped him notes in French class. She had even jumped on the back of his motorcycle one afternoon at the mall, forcing him to give her a ride home. Most boys turned to jelly the minute Jessica turned her blue-green eyes on them, but Jonathan had remained as cold and unyielding as a boulder. In fact, he'd pushed her away at every turn.

  Jessica couldn't understand why he'd been resisting her. She was sure he shared her feelings. And she was sure he felt the electric current that sizzled between them.

  Jonathan looked at her with pleading eyes. "Jessica, please don't make me do something I'll regret." His words were barely a whisper.

  Jessica responded in the same low tone. "Don't worry, you won't regret it."

  Jonathan's jaw clenched. "Jessica, what did I tell you in my note in French class?" he asked.

  Jessica smiled. "You said you ate little girls like me for breakfast."

  "And what did I tell you last night?" Jonathan demanded.

  Jessica recalled the experience vividly. She had gotten home late to discover that her new kitten, Jasmine, had disappeared. Terrified that something had happened to her pet, Jessica had run out to hunt for her. She had finally found the kitten stuck in a neighbor's tree, mewling in fear. Then Jonathan had suddenly appeared out of the darkness. Jasmine had reacted as if she had seen a ghost. Yowling and hissing, she had clawed wildly at the tree bark. After Jessica retrieved her, Jasmine had even tried to scratch Jonathan's face. But even stranger than Jasmine's behavior had been Jonathan's words, which seemed to be engraved in her mind. "You said, 'Beware of predators,' " Jessica recalled. " 'They come in all shapes and sizes.' "

  Jonathan looked anguished. "Isn't that enough for you?"

  Jessica smiled coyly. "I like a challenge," she said softly. "And I like predators."

  "Jessica, this isn't a game," Jonathan told her. He pulled the front door open, and a gust of wind shot through the opening. "Please go before it's too late."

  Jessica shivere
d as the blast of cold air hit her bare neck and whipped through her thin silk dress. She wrapped her arms around her body, hesitating. She couldn't bear to give up now—she was so close. Jonathan was clearly interested in her. Jessica didn't know why he'd been fighting his feelings for her, but she intended to find out. Standing on her tiptoes, she captured his lips with hers. His kiss was salty and sweet at the same time and tasted faintly of red wine. She felt him resist for a moment, but then he returned the kiss with a strength that left her breathless.

  Jonathan pulled back abruptly and looked at her with fire in his eyes. "Fine, have it your way," he muttered. Jessica's heart pounded as he slammed the door shut and blew out the candles, roughly pulling her toward him in the darkness.

  "Todd!" Elizabeth gasped, pulling abruptly out of Joey Mason's embrace in the foyer of the Wakefield house. Elizabeth could feel the blood rush to her cheeks as she faced her boyfriend. Todd Wilkins was standing squarely in the doorway, his hands on his hips.

  "Elizabeth," Todd answered wryly.

  Elizabeth studied his expression, her heart sounding a drumroll in her chest. Her boyfriend's face was a calm mask, but hurt and anger were flickering in his deep brown eyes.

  "Uh—I—I—" Elizabeth stammered, searching desperately for an explanation. She had spent a month the summer before as a counselor at Camp Echo Mountain, a performing-arts camp in the mountains of Montana. Todd had been away at basketball camp outside of Los Angeles. Despite her best intentions, she had found herself irresistibly drawn to Joey Mason, the drama counselor, and they'd had a secret fling.

  Her affair with Joey had thrown her into confusion, but when Elizabeth came back to Sweet Valley, she'd made a firm decision. Her summer romance was just that—a summer romance. She was still in love with Todd, and there was no reason for him to know anything about her little fling with Joey. Joey had been planning to go to Yale in the fall, and she had thought she would never see him again. But things had gotten unexpectedly complicated. Joey had sent her a letter with the news that he had decided to go to UCLA instead and wanted to resume his relationship with her.

  Elizabeth drew a ragged breath and composed herself. "Todd, this is Joey. He's a friend from—"

  "Save it, Elizabeth," Todd interrupted. Then he wheeled around and slammed the door behind him.

  Elizabeth stared at the door, her mouth gaping.

  "I guess you're still with Todd," Joey said dryly.

  Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. She had almost forgotten he was there. "I'll be right back," she told Joey. Flinging the door open, she raced out and sprinted down the driveway after Todd.

  "Todd!" Elizabeth called.

  "What do you want?" Todd barked. He was standing at the edge of the driveway, his face contorted in rage.

  "Would you just talk to me?" Elizabeth called, running toward him. But Todd backed away and jumped into his black BMW.

  Elizabeth pounded on the driver's-side window. Todd waved her away and revved the engine. Undaunted, Elizabeth pounded harder. "Just hear me out!" she yelled. Giving her a dirty look, Todd rolled down the window,

  "Would you mind letting me leave?" he snarled at her.

  "I just want to explain," Elizabeth said.

  "Well, I don't want an explanation," Todd said angrily. "I've heard enough lies from you."

  Elizabeth winced, but she didn't back down. "Fine, we'll talk later! But right now we've got to help Jessica!" she implored desperately.

  Todd gunned the engine. "Get your other boyfriend to help," he said.

  Then he screeched off into the night, leaving a wake of dust in his trail.

  Elizabeth stared at the retreating taillights of Todd's BMW, blinking back tears. Now she'd really blown it. Even if she told him that she and Joey were just friends, he'd never believe her. Winston Egbert and Aaron Dallas had also been counselors at Camp Echo Mountain. They were two of Todd's best friends, and she was sure they were suspicious of her and Joey's relationship at camp. Elizabeth sighed. Was a summer fling worth it? she wondered. Is Joey important enough to me to be worth losing Todd?

  Then Elizabeth shook her head. She couldn't think about that now. There were more pressing matters at hand. She had just heard a broadcast on the radio with the news that a young blond woman had been murdered that evening near Secca Lake. And her twin sister, Jessica, had disappeared. Elizabeth was terrified that the murdered girl might be Jessica.

  Frantic after hearing the news, Elizabeth had run to the phone and called Todd, begging him to come help her look for her sister. He had assured her he would be right over to pick her up. But before Todd had arrived, Joey had shown up on her doorstep. And now they were losing time. Even if Jessica was OK, she was still out there somewhere. And so was the murderer.

  Hit again with a feeling of panic, Elizabeth raced up the driveway and charged through the front door. Joey was pacing around the foyer.

  He turned to face her as she came flying in. "What did you tell him?" Joey asked.

  "Nothing," Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "But it doesn't matter now," She yanked her coat from the closet and grabbed Joey's hand. "Come on," she said urgently. "We've got to go!"

  "Where?" Joey asked as she led him out the front door.

  "We've got to find out who the dead girl is," Elizabeth explained, pulling Joey down the driveway.

  "What?" Joey asked, baffled. "The dead girl?"

  Elizabeth pulled open the passenger-side door of Joey's Land Rover. "Get in," she said. "I'll explain on the way."

  Joey jumped into the driver's seat and started the car.

  "A girl was murdered earlier this evening at Secca Lake," Elizabeth explained as they sped down Calico Drive. "Take a right at the stop sign and go straight till you get to the light. And hurry!"

  Joey looked at her with concern in his green eyes. "Did you know the girl?"

  "I'm scared it might be—" Elizabeth got choked up as she tried to get out the words. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to speak. "I'm scared it might be Jessica," she whispered.

  Joey's eyes filled with alarm. "Jessica! What makes you think it could be Jessica?" The light turned green, and Joey hit the gas pedal, flying down the road.

  Elizabeth started to cry. "Because she found the body in the trash when Jasmine was in the tree. She's the one who could have witnessed the murder! And she has blond hair and blue eyes!"

  "Whoa! Slow down," Joey said, laying a comforting hand over hers. "Now start at the beginning."

  Elizabeth pulled a tissue out of her purse and wiped her eyes. Drawing a shaky breath, she tried to compose herself. "A week ago a boy named Dean Maddingly from Big Mesa High was murdered at the Dairi Burger. They found him in the Dumpster behind the restaurant. His body was drained of blood." A chill traveled down Elizabeth's spine at the thought of it.

  Joey nodded. "Go on," he said.

  "Jessica found the body," Elizabeth said.

  "In the Dumpster?" Joey interrupted.

  Elizabeth nodded. "She lost one of a pair of diamond earrings that our grandmother gave her, and she and Lila were sifting through the trash looking for it. But instead she found the . . . the body. And there was a kitten in a tree as well. The police think the kitten witnessed the murder, because she was yowling her lungs out. Jessica adopted her. Her name's Jasmine." Elizabeth peered into the steady evening traffic. "Here, take this ramp onto the highway."

  Joey took the ramp and whizzed onto the freeway. The stormy ocean came into view. The waves crashed wildly against the shore, echoing the turbulence in Elizabeth's heart. Cutting smoothly across the four lanes of traffic, Joey moved into the left lane and put his foot hard on the accelerator.

  Elizabeth took a deep breath and continued her story. "Tonight Jessica and I were supposed to hang out and watch movies, but she disappeared. Then I heard this report on the radio that a girl was killed this evening—a young blond girl." Elizabeth's lips quivered as she forced out the words.

  Joey squeezed her hand. "Elizabeth, I'm
sure it's not your sister, but I'm going to take you there as fast as I can to find out."

  Elizabeth squeezed his hand in return. Leaning back into the seat, she watched the ocean in the distance. A cold knot of fear seized her stomach at the thought of what lay ahead. Jessica, she whispered in her mind. Jessica, please be OK.

  Enid Rollins shut off the car's headlights and cut her speed as she turned the corner. "Forrest Lane," she whispered to herself. Forrest Lane was Jonathan's block. It was a long, winding street in a desolate area on the outskirts of Sweet Valley.

  I can't believe people actually live here, Enid thought as she took in the run-down houses and overgrown lots. A tremor of fear made her catch her breath. The street was completely deserted, and she could barely see in the dim light of the streetlamp.

  Suddenly a big, ugly rat poked its head out of a storm drain and slithered across the road.

  "Huh?" Enid slammed on the brakes. A rat! The rodent scampered into an open field on her left. Enid squinted as she watched the rat disappear in the high weeds. What else is in there? she wondered. Poisonous spiders? Rattlesnakes? Then her mind flashed to the radio broadcast she had heard earlier. The body of a girl had been found at Secca Lake—drained of all her blood. Enid shuddered. What if the murderer was out there?

  I've got to get out of here! Enid flipped on the lights and shifted the car into reverse. Her heart beating wildly, she backed down the street and turned the corner onto Maple Lane. Enid shifted back into first gear and drove rapidly down the street. She heaved a sigh of relief as she reached the crowded intersection.

  The light turned green, but Enid hesitated. After all, she had come all this way to see Jonathan. She had gotten so close. Did she really want to back out now? A car honked loudly behind her, and Enid crossed the intersection, turning into a side street. She pulled to a stop and considered her course of action.

  You're overreacting, she told herself. You let yourself get spooked by a dark street and a little rodent. After all, Jonathan lived on Forrest Lane. It couldn't be that dangerous. There was no reason to think the murderer would be there. He could be anywhere in Sweet Valley. The important thing was to be inside. Enid was sure that Jonathan would calm her fears when she told him about the murder. He would be impressed that she had risked her life to come see him, and he would take her in his arms and comfort her. . . .