Blood Bath

Chapter 3

Colton moved over to his seat next to Connie Jackson.

"Why were you late?" she asked.

"The roads were bad and my newspapers were late. At least I didn't run over a deer, slide into a deep ditch, or get into trouble with Mr. Dinger."

"So, you could say it's a good day, right?" she laughed and then saw Mr. Dinger looking at her. She smiled and opened her history book.

"Yes, it's a good day, Connie," Colton whispered. He thought about the coming events; the seventh hour pep assembly, the game tonight in Sebewaing, and the after game party in the family garage. Colton and his dad set the garage up as a work area and a man cave, furnishing it with items found along the side of the road. The garage featured overstuffed chairs and a huge flat screen TV.

The game in Sebewaing will be the district finals, and if the Loons win, they could become regional or even state champions. If they lose, they will end up as district runner-ups. That would be better than last year, but this year the Loons' team is the best team in many years, and Coach Talbert believes they could be State Champions.

Connie poked Colton in the arm with her ink pen.

"Ouch! What's that for?" he asked.

"You were sleeping again. I thought you solved that problem since you got into so much trouble with your last job," she said.

"I wasn't sleeping. I was thinking. And you need to stop poking people with your ink pen. I still have marks from the last time you poked me," Colton insisted.

Connie smiled, as the bell rang. "Sorry, but I like poking people. It's just my thing, I guess."

Colton walked to his locker while looking for Lacie. He hadn't talked to her since last night and was eager to tell her about his route. She disappeared, so he checked his phone to see if there was a message. None.

"Hey, Colton. I understand you got to school late again. What happened?"

Without turning around, Colton recognized the voice of his best friend, Seth

"It's all true. But my Jeep survived undamaged and Mr. Dinger let me off without a slip from the office," he said. "So, have you seen Lacie this morning? I always talk to her after first hour, but she isn't around and she never sent me a message."

"Wow! You have it bad for her, don't you? Can't be without her for a few minutes without knowing her every move. Seems a little over possessive," Seth said. "Perhaps you need a detective to follow her. I'm available, you know."

Seth looked at Colton from his feet to his messy hair and smiled. "Is there a reason you're dressed in your pajamas?"

Colton checked himself and remembered that he hadn't changed. Still wearing his old lounge pants and a worn out sweatshirt, he replied, "Yes, and when I think of it, you'll be the first one to know."

As they walked toward their class, Colton's phone buzzed. It was a message from Lacie. "See U in art."

"The mystery is solved, Seth. Perhaps something else will come up that requires your detective skills."

"Sure hope so. It's been boring since our last caper. And besides, all those spy toys are still in my car. We need to use them again, soon." Seth said as Colton turned into his classroom.

A few weeks ago, Colton and Seth spent quality time looking for drug dealers and killers. Seth used some of his dad's money to pick up security cameras and listening devices. It seemed like fun until they almost got themselves killed.