Carol Tanzman - Circle of Silence

THE BIGGEST STORY OF MY LIFE COULD BE HOW IT ENDS

It’s my turn to run a Campus News crew, and I’ve put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead.

A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets—until a student lands in the hospital under strange circumstances.

I will blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt…or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don’t trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is not important to this story.)

But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera, or a victim in the top story of the newscast…be sure to watch Campus News at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.

Henry points to the glass-enclosed case that everyone, including Mr. Wilkins, passes by every day.

“I don’t know how long it’s been there. I just noticed it,” Henry tells us.

At first, all I see are the usual trophies: WiHi’s 1994 Sectional Wrestling Trophy, 1953 City-Wide Baseball win, 2011 Girls’ Varsity Basketball champs, Debate Team Champions of 1966.

At last, though, the fakes become apparent. Once I notice them, it’s impossible not to stare at the two “added” to the case. They’re the type of trophies a little kid gets after soccer season, but the first one is more menacing than anything from a recreational center league. A thin rope loops around the girl’s neck. The other end is attached to the shelf above so that the trophy hangs. The original nameplate has been replaced with “Roving Reporter.”

The second fake is scarier. The player’s head is chopped off.

* * *

Praise for Carol M. Tanzman’s

dancergirl

“This addicting, thrilling mystery hits upon many of our worst fears.”

—Booklist

“An explosive read that will grab you from the very beginning and not let go until you’ve read the last page. I read this in one sitting.”

—Starry Sky Books blog

“A fantastic read that I could not put down.”

—The Book Barbies blog

“A page turner…. Had me hooked from the beginning straight through until the final sentence. Dancergirl had me twisted round its proverbial finger.”

—The Little Munchkin Reader blog

“The creepy atmosphere [was] really well-done…this is a great read.”

—Paperback Treasures blog

“Tanzman [has] created realistic, likable characters…kept me on the edge of my seat.”

—Nicole’s YA Book Haven blog

“I loved this book so much….extremely entertaining…I highly recommend this book.”

—jj iReads blog

Circle of Silence

Carol M. Tanzman

www.miraink.co.uk

For Jack, Liana and Dylan

with love and gratitude

Contents

Prologue PROLOGUE Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea… The words keep time with my pounding heart. Dashing, darting…hurtling forward. It’s like a nightmare. Chasing after the school bus, the train, a minivan. No matter how fast I run, I can’t get there in time. I’m left stranded, alone, surrounded by abandoned warehouses, darkened streets and smelly drunks…. This isn’t a dream. I know where I’m going. I just can’t move fast enough. Jagger. Jags! I asked you not to do this. Begged you… My cheeks feel wet. How did I not see the approaching storm? But the streets aren’t slick and the pitter-patter of rain does not mingle with the sound of my feet slapping against rough cobblestones. I touch my face. Taste the droplet. Salty… That’s when I know I’ll be too late. Instinct, ESP or maybe just plain terror breaks through. Because it’s my fault. I pushed too hard; it went too far. Whatever terrible thing I am about to see, I could have stopped. No matter what anyone tells me, no matter who insists, “You can’t blame yourself,” I will always know, deep down, that it’s a lie.

Part One PART ONE SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

What We Need Is Hatred

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Power and Liberty

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Anarchism Is the Great Liberator

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Part Two

Chapter 12

You Have Kindled a Fire

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Power Is Pleasure

Chapter 15

Fear Is Maintained

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Power Is Not a Means

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Part 3

Chapter 26

The Blood-Dimmed Tide

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Yet Understand

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

PROLOGUE

Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea…

The words keep time with my pounding heart. Dashing, darting…hurtling forward. It’s like a nightmare. Chasing after the school bus, the train, a minivan. No matter how fast I run, I can’t get there in time. I’m left stranded, alone, surrounded by abandoned warehouses, darkened streets and smelly drunks….

This isn’t a dream. I know where I’m going. I just can’t move fast enough.

Jagger. Jags! I asked you not to do this. Begged you…

My cheeks feel wet. How did I not see the approaching storm? But the streets aren’t slick and the pitter-patter of rain does not mingle with the sound of my feet slapping against rough cobblestones.

I touch my face. Taste the droplet. Salty…

That’s when I know I’ll be too late. Instinct, ESP or maybe just plain terror breaks through. Because it’s my fault. I pushed too hard; it went too far.

Whatever terrible thing I am about to see, I could have stopped. No matter what anyone tells me, no matter who insists, “You can’t blame yourself,” I will always know, deep down, that it’s a lie.

PART ONE

SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER

1

My sweaty palm pushes the Media Center door open on the second day of senior year. The single most important class of my life is about to begin.

“Don’t look so worried, Val,” Marci tells me. “We got this covered.”

I give my best friend since eighth grade a pained look. Sunny Marci. Always seeing the bright side. Except this time, she’s especially naive. There’s no way it’s a sure thing.

Together, we move to the table Mr. Carleton assigned to us. Yesterday, he divided the class into two permanent Campus News teams. First order of business today: each crew votes for producer. The job I covet. The position I worked really hard, during both sophomore and junior years at Washington Irving High School, to get. If mine, it could propel me straight into the college of my dreams.

I steal a glance at my competition. Raul Ortega. His dark chocolate eyes take everything in. Taller by about three inches than me, he wears his hair in a brush cut that tops a solid body. Raul’s definitely the guy you want on your side in a fight. Not that he’s a hothead. On the contrary, the dude’s cool. He knows his way around TV Production almost as well as I do. Exactly the reason he might get more votes than me.

He feels my look, turns. Grins nervously. Oh yeah, Raul wants it, too. The real question is: which of us does the group want? Besides Marci Lee, the team consists of Omar Bryant and Henry Dillon. With five votes, there won’t be a tie.