Fabulous Five 008 - The Runaway Crisis Read Online Free Page B

hurried to the
door. Katie had been watching for her for ten minutes and wondering what kind
of situation it was that Shawnie had called an emergency. Willie had suggested
that Katie talk to Shawnie about it and then call her in if it was necessary. "There's
no use making this thing any bigger than it is," Willie had commented, and
Katie had agreed.
    "Come on in," said Katie as she opened the door
for Shawnie.
    "Thanks," said Shawnie. Taking a deep breath and
then letting it out slowly, she leaned back against the closed door as if she
had just made it to safety. "I really appreciate this."
    "Put your books down and take off your jacket, and I'll
introduce you to my mom," said Katie. A moment later in Willie's office
Katie made the introductions.
    "It's nice to meet you, Shawnie. I'm glad you could
come over," said Willie, standing up from her desk and extending her hand
to Shawnie.
    "Thanks, Mrs. Shannon. It's nice to meet you, too. I
really appreciate your calling my mom."
    "Anytime, Shawnie. I know it can be a big help to study
together."
    Katie was thinking what a good actress her mother was, not
letting on that she knew Shawnie had problems at home, when she noticed a
flicker of concern in Willie's eyes. She followed her mother's gaze and saw a
large, dark bruise on Shawnie's right arm just above her elbow.
    Shawnie must have noticed Willie's gaze, too, because she
shrugged and pulled the sleeve of her sweater over the bruise. "You wouldn't
believe how clumsy I am," she said with an embarrassed little laugh. "I
walked right into my closet door."
    Katie felt a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. There
was no way she could believe that Shawnie had walked into her closet door. Had
one of her parents hit her? Was that what her emergency had been? Katie blinked
and looked at Shawnie again as if she were seeing her for the very first time.
Tall, pretty Shawnie with the long blond hair and the gorgeous wardrobe who had
seemed at first to have everything going for her. Was it possible that things
were as bad for her at home as they looked?
    Libber chose that moment to unwind herself from around the
back of Willie's computer. She walked across the manuscript pages straight
toward Shawnie, stopping only to yawn and stretch before reaching out a paw and
looking pleadingly at Katie's friend.
    "Look! She likes me," cried Shawnie. "Is it
okay if I pick her up?"
    Katie nodded and chuckled. "You'd better or she'll
pester you all evening. Her name is Libber because she's a totally liberated
woman."
    Shawnie picked up Libber and held her close, nuzzling her
soft, yellow hair. "She sounds like a jet plane on takeoff," remarked
Shawnie as she gently placed Libber on the floor. "I wish I could have a
cat. One just like Libber. But we have a rule at our house. No pets ."
    "We'd better get started on our homework," said
Katie, feeling uneasy again. "But first, let's see what we can dig up to
snack on."
    "See you later, girls," said Willie as the two
left her office with Libber padding along behind them.
    "We have another rule at our house," said Shawnie,
watching Katie fill a large bowl with chips and pop two cans of soda. " No
snacks in between meals. It's grim."
    "Why are your parents so strict?" asked Katie. "I
mean, do they tell you any reasons?"
    "Sure. They tell me their reasons all the time. They're
doing what's best for me." She said the last words slowly and deliberately
as if echoing the way her parents spoke.
    Katie took a deep breath. There was one more question she
had to ask. It took all her effort to keep her eyes away from the bruise on
Shawnie's arm as she said, "You haven't told me yet what your emergency
was."
    Shawnie's eyes clouded, and she chewed her bottom lip as she
considered her response. "I'd rather not talk about it right now. Okay?"
    "Are you sure?" Katie insisted. "You know I
want to help, and sometimes just talking about something can make you feel
better."
    "Thanks," said Shawnie. "You're a super
friend, but