Partners in Crime (9780545463119) by Kim Harrington Page A

pressed a button to mute the music. “I’ll call him back later,” she explained.
    â€œWho?” Darcy asked, taking a peek over Fiona’s shoulder.
    â€œOh, it’s just Slade,” Fiona said. “He probably wanted to pick a day for our movie thing.”
    â€œWait,” Darcy said. “Slade Durkin? You’re going on a date with Slade Durkin?”
    Fiona slid her phone back into her bag. “We’re going to meet at the movies sometime, that’s all. It’s no biggie.”
    Darcy looked so disgusted, it was as if Fiona told her she was planning to eat a bowl of live bugs for dinner. “What could you possibly see in him?” Darcy said.
    Fiona examined her manicure. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe that he’s popular. And the best in sports. And he’s the tallest kid in our class and kind of cute.”
    â€œI think I’m going to throw up,” Darcy said, clutching her stomach.
    I tried to be a little less dramatic. “Fiona, he’s kind of a … bully.”
    â€œWhat?” Fiona’s eyes widened. “No, he’s not. He’s just a jokester.”
    I couldn’t believe she didn’t realize how much of a jerk Slade was. Yeah, he was never mean to her , but she had to have noticed how he treated the unpopularkids. I said, “You saw him hit Darcy in the face with a volleyball in gym.”
    â€œThat was an accident,” Fiona said.
    â€œNo, it wasn’t.” Darcy’s voice was serious.
    I nodded. “He told Darcy, ‘That’s for Hunter,’ after he did it.”
    Fiona opened her mouth wide. “Well, um,” she stuttered. “People are loyal to their friends. Darcy probably did something bad to Hunter and deserved it.” After a quick look at Darcy’s enraged face, she added, “No offense.”
    Though she needed no help from me, I felt the need to jump to Darcy’s defense. “Darcy only did what she did because Hunter was torturing Zane.”
    â€œYes,” Darcy said teasingly. “Norah’s true love.”
    â€œDarcy!” I snapped. I could feel my face getting all hot and red. I didn’t need Fiona gossiping to everyone that I liked Zane. I turned to Fiona. “That’s not true.”
    Thankfully, Fiona’s phone started ringing again. I didn’t care if it was Slade asking for her hand in marriage. Anything to get the conversation off Zane was fine with me.
    â€œHey, Mom,” Fiona said. “I’m at Norah’s.” Pause. “Yes, the girl you met the other day.” Pause. “I wasjust planning on walking —” Fiona rolled her eyes. “Fine!”
    She stood and started repacking her things into her backpack. “Sorry to cut this short, but my mom’s coming to pick me up.”
    â€œRemember to search your house for more clues about Bailey,” Darcy said.
    â€œI will,” Fiona promised, heading out my bedroom door.
    I could only hope she’d forget what she might have heard about me liking Zane Munro.

The next morning, Darcy and I headed to our lockers together. I kept an eye out for Fiona, in case she might have any updates about what she’d found in her house.
    The hallway was thick with kids, and everyone was walking so slowly. Like if we moved like snails, it would postpone the school day.
    Darcy and I finally got to our lockers. I reached out to start the combination on my lock … and froze.
    â€œUm,” I said, pointing. My locker door was half open.
    â€œDid you forget to lock it when we left school yesterday?” Darcy asked.
    I shook my head. My locker locks automatically when you close it, and I’d never once forgotten to close it all the way. I ran my finger down some scratches on the edge of the door. I’d never noticed those before.
    â€œNorah,” Darcy said worriedly, “it kind of looks like someone broke into your locker with a