The Stranger Next Door Read Online Free Page A

“What about Clifford’s name?”
    “I am not changing my name,” Clifford said. “You guys can be Mr. and Mrs. Morris and I’ll be your son, Clifford Lexton, just as I’ve always been.”
    “The last name has to be Morris,” Mr. Valdez said.
    “Why?” Clifford said. “My last name hasn’t been the same as theirs ever since Mother and Tim—”
    “Blake,” corrected Mr. Valdez.
    “—ever since Mother and Blake got married. Why does it have to be the same now?”
    “Please don’t argue,” Mother said. “This is hard enough for all of us without arguing.”
    “Your name is Gerald Morris,” Mr. Valdez said.
    Clifford glared at the back of the man’s head. Who didhe think he was, coming here and bossing them around, even picking out new names without giving them any say in the matter?
    “We have to do this, honey,” Mother said. “All of us. You have to use a different name, too.”
    “Why can’t I pick a name I like?” Clifford said. “I hate the name Gerald. I won’t answer if anyone calls me Gerald.”
    “I think you’d better explain to your son what your situation is,” Mr. Valdez said to Blake. “When he realizes how much danger you’re in, he’ll be more cooperative.”
    Danger. The word seemed to hang in the air next to Clifford, even though the adults kept talking.
    “I’d rather tell Clif—uh, Gerald—when we aren’t in the car. I’d like to be able to look him in the eye.”
    Mr. Valdez shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he said.
    “If I can’t be Clifford Lexton,” Clifford said, “then I’ll be Rocky.”
    “Oh, honey, no,” Mother said. “Not the dog’s name.”
    “Rocky,” Clifford repeated. “You can name me anything you want, but I’m going by Rocky. It will be my nickname.”
    “He can use a nickname if he wants,” Mr. Valdez said.
    “But Rocky was our dog,” Mother protested.
    “This way we’ll never forget her,” Clifford said.
    “Be glad the dog wasn’t called Fluffy,” Mr. Valdez said.
    Blake chuckled.
    Clifford refused to laugh’. How could they make jokes at a time like this?
    “Do you want to know your middle name?” asked Mr. Valdez, looking at Clifford in the rearview mirror.
    Clifford glared back at him.
    Mr. Valdez answered his own question. “It’s Michael,” he said. “Gerald Michael Morris.”
    Clifford did not answer.
    “I’ll have the new documents for all of you late next week,” Mr. Valdez said.
    “What documents?” Clifford asked.
    “New birth certificates, driver’s licenses for your parents, a marriage certificate—all of the things you’ll need for identification when you get to your new home.”
    “What about Social Security cards?” Mother asked.
    “We need to get the birth certificates first. Then you’ll apply for new Social Security numbers.”
    Clifford’s parents nodded as if that were perfectly logical, but none of it made sense to Clifford.
    He leaned his head against the seat and decided to save his questions until they reached their destination.
    He closed his eyes, inhaled the new-car smell, and practiced saying his new name to himself: Rocky Morris.
    He crossed his arms and pressed his lips together.Rocky Morris, juvenile delinquent. Rocky Morris, troublemaker.
    If I have to change my name, he thought, I’ll change my personality, too. I’ll teach them to keep secrets and make me give my dog away.
    I’ll become Rocky Morris, bad kid.

3
    A lex! Are you awake?”
    Alex forced his eyes open. Benjie stood beside the bed, with his red jacket on over his pajamas and his blue Seattle Mariners baseball cap on his head. The binoculars that he used when he pretended to be a spy dangled around his neck.
    Pete, who had been curled up beside Alex, stood and stretched, watching Benjie warily. For once, Benjie wasn’t shouting, but Pete didn’t trust him. He waited, ready to leap down and hide under the bed if Benjie got loud.
    “Hi, Petey,” Benjie said.
    “What time is it?” Alex reached for his