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and there.
    â€œHello,” she answered.
    The line hissed and crackled with static. No one answered.
    â€œRyan?” Jennie spoke in a loud whisper, not wanting to wake the others.
    â€œJennie McGrady,” the distorted voice broke through the noise on the line. “Shame on you for calling the cops on me. Too bad for you I got away.”
    Threads of fear laced through Jennie’s stomach and tightened their hold. “Who is this?” Jennie closed her eyes and swallowed back the panic rising in her chest.
    â€œAsk Allison.” He chuckled. “And tell her she can’t escape. Wherever she goes, whatever she does. I’ll be there. And if you and that snoopy cousin of yours try to stop me, I’ll get you too.”

6
    â€œCome on, Jennie, wake up,” Lisa insisted. “Allison and B.J. have already gone. They said to tell you thanks. Allison had to go shopping for the party.”
    Somewhere between two and three in the morning, Jennie had managed to fall asleep. That meant, according to her fuzzy calculations, she’d only slept about four hours.
    â€œGood,” she groaned. “You leave too so I can go back to sleep.”
    â€œYou don’t have time for that. We have to develop a game plan for how we’re going to catch the guy who’s been stalking Allison.”
    Memories of the gunman and the early morning phone call zapped into Jennie’s mind, ridding her of all desire for sleep. She bolted out of bed. Sometime during the night, whether it was the call itself or the realization that the caller knew her name and had held a gun on her and Lisa, Jennie had made a decision. Like it or not, she was involved and intended to solve the mystery of Allison Beaumont’s stalker and put him behind bars.
    She told Lisa about the one a.m. phone call.
    â€œSo it was him.” Lisa looked pleased with herself. “I knew it. I guess that blows your theory about Bethany.”
    â€œB.J.,” Jennie corrected. “And no, it doesn’t. It just means she could be working with someone.”
    â€œWhy are you so sure she’s involved? Just because she’s had a rough life doesn’t mean she’s a criminal.”
    â€œI know that. But Gram says in an investigation you have to suspect everyone—even Allison. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has set things up to make themselves look like a victim. Look at all the publicity this has gotten her.”
    â€œYou really think that’s all this is…a publicity stunt?” Lisa frowned. “Now that I think about it, Allison has gotten a lot of attention. You think she hired someone?”
    â€œIt’s possible. What we need to look for is motive and opportunity. Allison has always wanted to sing. This could get her the attention she needs to launch her career.” Pleased with the direction her thoughts had taken, Jennie pursued the idea. “If Allison is guilty she has to be working with someone. Who’s she dating now?”
    â€œI’m not sure. With all the Rose Festival activities I don’t think she’s had much time for guys.”
    â€œWell, we’d better start our investigation with Allison and B.J. We need to ask questions and keep our eyes open.” Jennie picked up a hairbrush and began working out the snarls in her hair. “Let’s start with B.J. What do you know about her? She made any close friends here?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Lisa pushed one of the chairs back into its corner and plopped into it. “She’s only been around for about three weeks. And she’s not exactly winning any points with people.”
    Jennie nodded, then sighed. “Okay. Call Allison. Tell her we’ll help. See if we can stay at her house tonight. We’ll help her get ready for her party tomorrow and have a look around.”
    â€œI thought you weren’t going.”
    Jennie grimaced. “Much as I hate the