Murder House Read online

I shot a fast glance at Frank. His face was carefully blank. But I knew we both had the same question James did. What secrets did Veronica know? She couldn’t know the real reason Frank and I were here. Could she?

  If she outed us, our mission was over. We wouldn’t be able to protect anyone in the house if our cover was blown.

  George glanced around the group, taking his time, enjoying making the rest of us sweat. What a guy. “I pick . . .” He did a dramatic pause. He’d learned something from Veronica. “Ripley.”

  Olivia snorted. “Don’t we know all her secrets already?” she asked. “She’s in the paper practically every day. Even though all she’s famous for is going to parties and spending her parents’ money.”

  Olivia really had a thing against rich people. It wasn’t Ripley’s fault that her dad was the drummer for Tubskull and her mom ran a cosmetics company and that they had a zillion dollars. I guess it was her fault that she’d been pretty obnoxious before she came to the house—stomping on paparazzi cameras, getting waiters fired for pretty much nothing, and other brat stuff like that. But she’d been cool since we’d met her.

  “She saved my life,” I reminded Olivia. “And Bobby T’s.” Bobby T was a contestant who had already been booted from the show.

  “She saved your life and Bobby’s so she wouldn’t get her platinum American Express cut up by her parents,” Olivia corrected me. “We all know that Ripley’s mom and dad got sick of all the bad publicity she was getting, and that they told her she had to start proving she could be nice—and getting the good PR to prove it—or they wouldn’t give her any more money. She’d have to wait until she was thirty, when she got her inheritance, before she saw another dollar.”

  “What if they did?” Ripley asked. The muscles in her neck tensed, but she forced a smile. I have to say, she was working pretty hard at the nice. “Is it so wrong for them to want me to be a better person? Isn’t that what your parents are supposed to do?” She looked from George to Georgina. “It’s what your dad was trying to do by getting you on the show, right?”

  “Yeah, what a great guy,” George answered with a sneer. “I really respect him.”

  “We’re getting off the subject of Ripley’s secret,” said Veronica.

  “Is the secret that Ripley is the one who put Joe and Bobby T in danger in the first place?” Olivia jumped in. “Because I think it’s way too convenient that she was right on the spot when two people needed rescuing.”

  “Frank was the one who took a chainsaw to the sauna when people got trapped in there,” Ripley protested. “Why aren’t you accusing him of setting things up to look like a hero?”

  “It was Mitch who rigged the sauna. It was Mitch who put peanut oil in Bobby T’s toothpaste to give him the allergic reaction. He’s the one who fed jimsonweed to the dog who attacked Joe too,” I reminded everyone. Mitch was a bank robber who’d hidden cash in the house before he’d gone to prison. He was trying to get us all out of there so he could collect it.

  “Do you really know that for sure?” asked Olivia. “Stuff kept happening.”

  “Mary is the one who was sabotaging us. You know that,” Joe said. Mary was a former fellow contestant who’d confessed to most of the sabotage before the police took her away.

  “She said she didn’t put the glass shards in the ice,” Olivia continued. “And she also denied setting that fire in Bobby’s room, and putting the knives in Brynn’s makeup bag. Why wouldn’t she admit to those when she admitted to everything else? And there was that writing in the—”

  “And somebody messed with my dirt bike,” Georgina interrupted. “I was completely sabotaged.”

  “Yeah, right,” said George. “She always has an excuse when she loses,” he explained.

  “I only lose when—” Georgina began.

  “Enough!” Veronica ordered. “I can see that having to go without your usual luxuries is making some of you distrustful and unusually angry. That’s something the other judges and I will have to look at when we review the tapes to decide who must leave this week.”

  Olivia’s mouth dropped open. Then she snapped it shut.

  “All right, this is the secret about Ripley.” Veronica’s tongue flicked across her lower lip. “It’s something Ripley herself doesn’t even know, since she has been deprived of TV and the Internet along with the rest of you.” Veronica did another one of her pauses, then she turned toward Ripley. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your mother entered a rehab clinic in Malibu yesterday morning.”

  “Ooooh,” James called out. Like we were in school and someone had just gotten called to the principal’s office. Dillweed.

  Ripley’s face paled, but she just gave a short nod.

  “You should really see this as a positive thing,” said Veronica. She reached out and touched Ripley’s arm. “I just hope your mother won’t try to leave too soon. You know what happened in this house.” She gave a delicate shudder. “I’m sure it could have been prevented if Katrina Decter had only stayed in rehab long enough to make a complete recovery.”

  “What is she talking about?” Georgina asked Brynn.

  Brynn didn’t seem to hear her. It didn’t matter. Veronica was more than happy to answer. What had happened in this house ten years ago made good television.

  “Katrina Decter was an actress on her way to superstardom when her husband killed her. Right in the great room upstairs,” Veronica explained. “She was just out of rehab herself, and she had had a relapse. She actually attacked her little daughter, Nina, who was only four. Her husband killed her to save Nina’s life.”

  “I don’t think I have to worry about my mom trying to off me, if that’s what you’re saying,” Ripley said sharply.

  Veronica better back off, I thought. She was about to face off with Bad Ripley. And I had a feeling that if you put Veronica and Bad Rip into the cage together, Ripley might just walk out with Veronica’s head in her hand.

  “Aren’t you sensitive,” Veronica cooed. “That must be one of your deep fears coming out. It wasn’t my implication at all.”

  Uh, yeah it was. It so was.

  “Whatever,” muttered Ripley.

  “Let’s move on. Georgina, now it’s your turn to choose a contestant, and we’ll hear one more secret,” Veronica said. Her eyes flicked around the group. “I see some nervous faces,” she commented. “It makes me wonder if I know what each of you is hiding.”

  Veronica strolled among us. “Who will it be, hmmm?” She tapped Brynn on the shoulder, and Brynn flinched. “Twitchy. I bet she’s got something good.”

  She moved on and stopped next to me. I used my ATAC training to keep my body relaxed and a pleasant expression on my face. “And what about this all-American teen? He looks like his big secret is getting away with breaking curfew. But I know better.”

  I didn’t allow myself to look at Frank. She’s just trying to build up the intrigue, I told myself. It’s her job to make a good show. Make sure nobody gets busy with the remote during Deprivation House.

  “It’s true. I’m really a girl,” I joked. Lame, I know. But it was all I could come up with in the moment.

  Veronica continued to walk from person to person. It was like some demented game of duck, duck, goose. “So, who will it be, Georgina?” she finally asked.

  Georgina didn’t hesitate. “Frank.”

  Accusations

  She can’t know, I told myself. ATAC security is way too good. She can’t have gotten past it. I completely believed that. In my head. In my stomach, I wasn’t quite as sure.

  Veronica raised her eyebrows. “Interesting choice,” she told Georgina. “And something of a bargain, because Frank’s secret gives away something about Joe as well.”

  My palms began to sweat. A secret that was about me and Joe? How many things could that be?

  Strategy. I needed strategy. What should Joe and I do if we were outed right here and now?

  Deny it? Say it was some ratings stunt of Veronica’s? Or something she and t
he other producers had come up with to create tension in the house? I don’t watch a lot—or actually any—reality TV, but Joe says they all end up having lots of fights among the contestants. That was definitely turning out to be true on our show.

  Or should we admit to the truth and warn everybody that they were in danger? Just explain that Joe and I had been placed undercover as contestants because the death threats they’d received were being taken very seriously—and for good reason, since two people in this house had already been victims of murder!

  Veronica smiled at me. “Here’s a secret about Frank and Joe,” she said, breaking her long pause. “Joe’s father makes twenty-eight times the salary Frank’s does.” She pretended to do the math on her fingers, her red nails flashing. “Let’s just say there are quite a few dollars’ difference.”

  Relief washed through me. I struggled to prevent it from showing on my face. Frank Dooley wouldn’t be relieved to hear Veronica blabbing about how little money his family had in front of everybody. He’d be outraged. But he’d also probably be trying not to show that Veronica had gotten to him.

  I jammed my hands in my pockets and locked eyes with Veronica. “It’s not exactly a secret that his family is richer than mine.” I jerked my chin toward Joe.

  “True,” Veronica answered. “But did either of you know there was that much of a difference? Every single year?”

  I glanced over at Joe. He smirked at me and fingered the Diesel sunglasses he had stuck in his shirt pocket. He was enjoying himself a little too much. He’d better know he wasn’t keeping those sunglasses after the mission was over. There would be no way to explain to Mom and Aunt Trudy how he’d gotten them.

  “Dude!” James gave my brother a congratulatory smack on the back. “Guess it won’t hurt you too bad when I win,” he added.

  “Joe drives a Corvette. Frank gets to borrow the family Toyota Corolla. When it’s not in use. Or in need of repair,” Veronica continued. “Last year Joe went on three vacations—Switzerland, the south of France, and Florida. Frank and his family went to visit his aunt Sharon in Boise, Idaho. For those of you who don’t know it, and I imagine that’s most of you, Boise’s biggest attraction is, I believe, an extremely large potato.”

  “I think seeing a Super Spud sounds cool,” said Olivia. I wasn’t surprised that Olivia jumped in to take my side. Basically, Olivia thinks that if you’re rich, you’re a spoiled snob, and that if you’re poor, you’re a basically decent person. It was that black and white with her.

  Veronica clapped her hands. “I’m off. The secrets should give you all something to talk about. Gossip is about the only type of entertainment you lambs have left, am I right?”

  She didn’t wait for an answer, just turned and strode back into the mansion.

  “What a complete witch,” Gail said, staring after her.

  “Cameras,” Hal reminded her.

  “Right. They can’t film twenty-four/seven because of the union rules about minors working on TV shows, but you know they had to have been filming when Veronica laid out all those secrets. And I’m sure they still are. They’d want our reactions.”

  Joe snorted. “I don’t think you really have to worry about it, Gail. Veronica would probably consider being called a witch a compliment.”

  “At least you two didn’t give her what she wanted,” Gail told me and Joe. “You didn’t start throwing punches.”

  “I don’t have anything to be mad about,” Joe commented, shrugging. “Am I supposed to be upset that my family has a lot more money than his?”

  “He’s your brother,” Olivia snapped.

  “We just met each other,” Joe shot back. “I know him as well as I know you.” He raked his hands through his hair. “It’s not like I took something from him.”

  “The situation is what it is,” I said. “I’m fine with the family I have.”

  “What about you, Ripley? Are you okay?” asked Brynn. “It must have been so hard hearing that about your mom, especially because we don’t have our cells anymore. You can’t even e-mail anyone to see if she’s okay.”

  “You could drop out,” James reminded her. “There are still cash rewards left for the next two people who do. You could scoop up the thirty thou dropout bonus, go see your mom. You’ve already done what you came here to do, right? Proved how nice you are.”

  “You just think you know why I’m here,” Ripley said.

  Huh. Interesting.

  “And anyway, my mom will want her privacy,” Ripley continued. “She won’t want to see me until she’s through the program.”

  “Sounds like you’re familiar with the drill,” Olivia observed. “I don’t get how people with everything even get substance abuse problems. They have everything. If I had half of what your mom has, I’d be the happiest person on the planet.”

  Did she even hear herself? Her prejudice against rich people made Olivia as much of a witch as Veronica sometimes.

  “Tell that to the little girl whose mother tried to kill her,” Brynn muttered. “Both of her parents were pretty rich. Famous actor. Famous director. Living in this fancy house.”

  “You know what?” said Gail. “I’m starting to think this place really has been cursed since that director killed his wife here. Think about it: We had another accident during the competition today. Georgina’s crash could have been a lot worse.”

  “The curse is something Veronica and the producers want us to believe in,” Joe said. “They’re trying to make the show more dramatic. Like that message we found in the Deprivation Chamber. A curse doesn’t write ‘Death House’ on a wall. A person does that. Or am I wrong?”

  “Did you forget the part about the demon?” asked Hal. “Nina’s mother was supposed to have been possessed by a demon when she attacked Nina. That’s why Nina’s father had to kill her mother. A demonic spirit could write on a wall.”

  “I thought you were more into the science part of science fiction,” I told him. Usually the only thing he talked about—or seemed to think about—was creating the specifications for L-62, the planet he was going to base a computer game on. He wanted to win the million-dollar Deprivation House prize to get the start-up money he needed for the game.

  “There is scientific evidence that spirits exist. The energy they produce can be measured,” Hal answered.

  Brynn turned around and headed inside. “Where are you going, Brynn?” Ripley called after her.

  “We’ve had this conversation a million times already,” Brynn answered without stopping. I wanted to follow her. I pretty much wanted to be with Brynn every minute I could. I wouldn’t be able to see her after the mission was over and I was back to being Frank Hardy.

  But I couldn’t leave now. I was afraid I’d miss something key. Our suspects were all gathered in one place.

  “She was just out of rehab,” Georgina reminded the group. “Duh. That’s the only demon in the story. Her mom started using drugs again and went out of her head and attacked Nina. There’s no demon and no curse.”

  “You don’t know the number of bad things that have happened here,” said Gail. “Two people died before you got here.” She was referring to two of the production assistants. Leo had been killed by Mitch, and Sylvia had died of an aneurysm after Mary hit her over the head with a piece of wood.

  “We know that Mitch and Mary were the ones behind everything that happened,” Hal told her.

  “‘House of Death’ was written in the Deprivation Chamber after Mary was taken away,” Olivia pointed out.

  “That’s not the same as trying to kill people,” I replied. “It’s just a stupid prank.” I wasn’t at all sure that was true, but I wanted to chill everyone out.

  “Disabling my brakes wasn’t a stupid prank,” Georgina said.

  Silent Girl’s eyes widened. Her name was Ann, but we called her Silent Girl because she hardly ever talked. It was part of her strategy. She didn’t want to give away anything about herself, in case it could be used against her somehow.
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  “If I find out who it is, they are going to be in a world of pain,” James threatened.

  “You’re the most likely candidate,” Joe told him. “You’re always bragging about how great you are and how you’re going to trample the rest of us. But how many competitions have you won? And how loud did you whine when exercise equipment got taken away?”

  “Yeah, you have to be running scared,” said George. “I can see you giving yourself a little help.”

  “You don’t know anything!” James yelled. “You just got here. You’re never going to last. The rest of us have had things taken away little by little. You and your sister have to deal with tons of things being gone from day one. No hot food. No Internet. No TV. No hot water. No books or magazines. You’re never going to make it. Just drop out now. Take the consolation money and go.”

  “It would give you fewer people to sabotage,” George shot back.

  “If the reason you think I’m sabotaging people is because I want to win, then everybody should be a suspect,” James growled. “You all want to win as bad as I do. You just aren’t as honest about it.” He strode into the mansion.

  “Touchy,” Olivia muttered.

  “He’s right, though,” said Ripley. “If someone is still sabotaging us now that Mary’s gone, it could be any of us. And I’m voting for you.”

  “Me? Why me?” Olivia protested.

  “You’ve made it very clear you don’t think any rich kids should be allowed to compete for the money,” Ripley answered. “Why not try to knock Georgina out of the competition? She doesn’t deserve to win—that’s what you think, isn’t it?”

  Olivia blinked rapidly. She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t find words quickly enough.

  “Don’t bother. We all know it is. You’ve pretty much said so every day since you got here,” Ripley continued. She turned to Gail. “And I know how much you need money. I almost wouldn’t blame you if you were willing to cheat—I mean murder—to get it.”

  “I would never hurt anyone to win,” Gail said, her voice low and hard. “Never.”

  Ripley shrugged. “I’m just saying, I can see it.”