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12:00 AM

SLUMBER PARTY

Noises ca

"Jesus, Flyboy," Dess yelled in through the"It&039;s good you&039;re not a real burglar"

"Never said I was," he shouted back Another crash erupted

Even though it was the blue time, Jessica flinched a little at all the ruckus It felt like they should at least try to be quiet, given that they were breaking and entering

Again

"Found them!" Jonathan&039;s voice came

She and Dess walked around the corner to the front of the store Through the glass doors she saw Jonathan trying the keys froh the ," Dess muttered as the process stretched out

"Some of the stuff on your list is too heavy," Jessica said, stifling a yawn and happy to be going in through the door She could hardly keep her eyes open, and she still had to get back to Constanza&039;s tonight

Since Rex&039;s demonstration out in Jenks, the five of the theinvasion to a halt Mostly thatinto every store in town that sold fireworks and laries in the blue tiister had run a story about the unknown vandals collecting a dangerous cache of fireworks According to the article, the sheriff&039;s office had actually figured out it was a bunch of kids planning so for Halloween

Of course, no one had a clue how big

Tonight Rex and Melissa were knocking over the last fireworks stall in tohile the other three picked up a few items from Bixby Hardware and Keys, after which, hopefully, Rex would let thehts&039; rest Halloas only six days away

Jessica scowled at the big paper skeleton taped to the glass door, swinging lightly from Jonathan&039;s attempts with the keys There were decorations up everywhere in school, orange and black bunting running down the hallways, pu at Jessica from the cafeteria walls Every time she saitch or black cat on a classroo

"Come on!" Dess said, just as the lock clicked

"Ladies," Jonathan said, opening the door with a bow

"Good, let&039;s hurry," Jessica said, walking in a the rows of tools and appliances and paint cans "Constanza thinks I&039;m in the bathroom"

Jonathan snorted "That would psych her out, wouldn&039;t it? If you just disappeared in there?"

"Yeah, very funny," Jessica said tiredly as Jonathan began to gather up a big plastic tarp

On Mondayto LA Supposedly it was only for a week But as she ht never set foot in Bixby High again

Tonight could be the last tihter, wondering how many more people she would lose in the next week

"Hey, check this out," Dess said

Jessica turned "An e it by its wire handle "But in its new incarnation, it will be a major explosive device"

Jessica sed Soe of crazy But there was no backing out now

She pulled Dess&039;s list fro the blue-lit shelves, searching for nails and wires and metal tools - sufficient fresh, clean steel to make a hundred weapons

Jessica wondered if it would be enough

A half hour later Jonathan tapped her on the back

"Come on" He offered his hand "We should leave soon if I&039;ht you said it would be funny if I just disappeared"

"Sorry" He touched her hand softly, h her body for a moment "You could have stayed there Dess and I could have done this on our own"

"Glad to help" She shrugged "Slumber parties aren&039;t much fun when your host is a stiff" Jessica looked into his eyes "Plus I hate et to fly"

He held out his hand, s the connection take hold, her body light as the air "See you tomorrow, Dess"

Dess looked up fro the stolen et back beforeall this stuff in your car with a big note to the sheriff"

"Don&039;t worry, I&039;ll be back"