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Silent Night 3(40)

By:R.L. Stine


She and Willow had been at Dalby’s all day, making more scarves. Usually Pam enjoyed it, even in the small, airless room Reva gave them. She loved working with the material, seeing her very own designs come alive.

Why wasn’t she enjoying it now?

On the other side of the table, Willow tossed down a cherry-red scarf and clicked her tongue in disgust. “That’s the third time I messed up the stitching! I’m a total klutz today. I don’t feel like working at all.”

“Me, either,” Pam told her. “I keep thinking about Traci and Liza. I mean, Grace strangled them with our scarves. I know it’s not our fault. But it’s all so sick. I just can’t seem to get excited about the show.”

“Yeah,” Willow agreed, fingering her gold nose hoop. “Two people are dead. It’s just so awful.”

Pam nodded. “I should be glad about the show, I suppose. Reva says it’s good business.”

“Reva would,” Willow declared with a snort. Then she shrugged. “I guess I shouldn’t complain. Somebody has to think about business. And maybe we’ll make some money, at least.”

“Right.” Pam inspected the green scarf. “Speaking of Reva, I’m going to check with her and see if she wants to use this scarf tonight or save it for the next show. She should be here by now.”

Picking up the scarf, Pam left Willow and went down the hall to the showroom.

The big room was dim and shadowy. The only light came from a weak bulb somewhere behind the revolving doors.

Pam stepped in and waited for her eyes to adjust.

What was that noise?

It sounded like breathing. But not normal breathing. Gasping, almost.

Was someone there?

Pam moved cautiously down the center aisle, peering through the darkness.

The raspy breathing continued.

Pam took a few more steps. Then she stopped suddenly.

Reva!

Pam’s cousin lay in front of the revolving doors, sprawled on her stomach, her red hair shining in the weak light.

Someone knelt next to her, bending over her. A guy, Pam saw. She heard Reva gasp again, a choking, guttural sound that sent a chill down Pam’s spine.

The guy stayed on his knees, bending over Reva.

Pulling at something.

At what?

Hurrying forward, Pam saw a flash of red around Reva’s neck.

And more red in the guy’s hands.

A scarf!

A red scarf!

He’s killing her! Pulling the scarf tighter and tighter!

Strangling her!

With a shriek, Pam flew onto the stage. She threw herself at the guy, knocking him off-balance. He fell with a thud. But Pam barely glanced at him. Terrified, she bent over her cousin.

Reva lay still.

The horrible choking sounds had stopped completely.

“She’s dead! You murdered her!” Pam cried, dropping to her knees beside Reva’s still body. “You murdered Reva!”





Chapter 26





A BAD MISTAKE


“She’s dead, she’s dead!” Pam shrieked. “You killed her! You killed Reva!”

Tears blurred her eyes. Sobbing, she reached out to touch Reva’s shoulder.

With a wild cry, the guy knocked Pam’s hand away. Then he grabbed her shoulders and hauled her roughly to her feet, shoving her away from her cousin’s body.

“Why?” Pam cried, staggering backward. “Why?”

“You shouldn’t have come in here!” he shouted. “You shouldn’t have seen!” His eyes burned with fury. “Now I have to kill you, too!”

Pam backed away, her heart pounding. Terrified, she twisted her green scarf around her sweaty hands. “Why did you kill Reva?” she repeated in a shaky whisper.

“Because . . .” The guy clenched his fists and glared down at the still figure on the stage floor. “Because she . . .”

Pam’s eyes darted around the dimly lit showroom. She had to get out of here and get help. “Because she what?” she asked, taking another step backward.

The guy stared at her.

Pam froze.

He turned back to Reva. “Because . . .” He stopped again.

Pam saw his expression change. The anger faded, and a look of total horror swept over his face.

What’s going on? she wondered.

“Oh, nooo!” Uttering a long wail, the guy sank to his knees beside Reva’s body. He took hold of her shoulder and turned her onto her back.

As Reva’s red hair fell away from her face, Pam gasped in shock.

It’s not Reva! she realized.

It’s Ellie!

As Pam stared down at the lifeless form of Reva’s look-alike model, the guy uttered another horrified wail.

“Nooo! What have I done? What have I done?” he cried. “I killed the wrong one!”

• • •

Running a little late, Reva hurried down the hall toward the side door of the showroom. She was eager to check the place out and make sure Ellie had everything ready.