Not a Trace When Chloe finds a body, everyone assumes that David Mitchell is the killer — he was the one who vowed to defend his people’s land by any means necessary. And two witnesses spotted Mitchell near the crime scene. So why isn’t Chloe convinced? The trouble is, there’s no evidence that points to anyone else. Not even a trace.
Scholastic Canada Ltd.
ISBN 0-439-95760-5 PBK
256 pages
Ages 12+
4 3/16" x 6 ¾"
Jessie was in bed and I was dozing off when Mrs. Blake and Matt Solnicki got home, around midnight. Mr. Solnicki said he’d drive me home. Just like the last time, he put my bike in the trunk and took the lookout road. And just like the last time, he was silent. By the time we had reached the lookout, he still hadn’t said a word. I wondered whether Mrs. Blake had given him an answer to his proposal yet, and glanced at him to see if I could tell by the expression on his face. He did not look happy. We had just started down the other side when he finally spoke. He squinted into the rearview mirror and said, “Do you see something back there?”
“What?”
“Behind us. Do you see something?”
I turned and looked out the rear window.
“No,” I said, puzzled by the question. Then, “Wait a minute. Is that a car?” Where had it come from? “It doesn’t have its lights on. Not even running lights.”
Mr. Solnicki’s frown deepened. Then — boom! — something hit the back of the car and we lurched forward. Mr. Solnicki gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
Boom! The car was struck again, and again we lurched.
Boom!
Boom!
“What’s happening?” I said. I already knew, but I couldn’t believe it. We were being rammed.
Mr. Solnicki said nothing. We sped forward. I think he was trying to get away from the car behind us. His mouth was set in a grim expression, and that scared me. I twisted around in my seat to try to get a look at whoever was ramming us.
Boom!
This time we lurched sideways. The other car must have hit us from the side. This time I screamed.
“Hold on,” Mr. Solnicki said. He must have pushed the gas pedal to the floor because we were racing now. I glanced out the window, but all I could see was darkness.
Boom!
Boom!
Mr. Solnicki swore.
Boom!
Then everything turned upside down.
From Not a Trace. Copyright © 2005 by Norah McClintock. All rights reserved.
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