Ann Martin: Mystery At Claudia's House

Todd and I left Derek and the Pike boys alone for the rest of the morning, and by lunchtime they seemed to have forgotten the Kissing Expert episode. Nicky and the triplets went home looking happy; they had figured out a foolproof plan for getting their money back from Vanessa.

"They're going to find some really ugly baby

pictures of her," explained Derek as I made the boys tuna fish sandwiches. "And they'll threaten to bring them to school and show them to everybody unless she gives the money back."

"That should work," I said, smiling. "So, is everything okay now?" I asked.

"Yup," said Derek. "I really learned a good lesson. You know, I think sometimes I lie when I feel nervous or upset about things. Remember when I first came back to school and I made up that story about a mean kid?"

I nodded.

"Well, that was just because I was nervous. But you know what? It didn't do any good to lie. Not that time, and not this time. I'm never going to lie again, I swear." Derek looked very, very serious.

"Boy, you reallyhavelearned a lesson," I said. "I'm proud of you. It must have been hard to tell the truth today, but you did it." I knelt down and gave Derek a hug.

"You helped me," he said. "You and Janine."

Chapter 13.

"Janine?"I repeated. I couldn't believe my ears. Janine was the biggest liar in Stoneybrook these days. How could she teach Derek about telling the truth?

"Sure," said Derek. "She was so nice to me the other day. You know, when I began to cry during our pretend courtroom?"

"That's true," I admitted. I remembered the way Janine had hugged Derek.

"She made me feel like it wasgoodto tell the truth. That's why I was brave enough to do it today." He smiled. "And it worked out really, really well. I can't believe how I lucked out. I thought the guys were going to be mad at me, but instead now they feel sorry for me because I have to kiss a girl!"

"Well, I suppose Janine does know that telling the truth is a good idea," I said. And then I remembered something I learned in school last week. I learned about this thing called irony. Irony's kind of like when something

happens that is the opposite of what you would expect. I'm certainly not explaining this well, but take it from me, it was veryironicthat Janine would be the one to teach Derek about the benefits of telling the truth!

"You and Janine are the greatest," said Derek, interrupting my train of thought. "Will you tell her I said thanks?" Then he jumped up from the kitchen table. "Never mind, I'm going to do it myself, right this minute." He ran to the phone before I could stop him.

"Hey, Todd," I said. "Why don't you get your bulldozer and we'll go outside."

A few minutes later. Todd was pushing his Tonka bulldozer around in a pile of dirt near the driveway. Luckily, he's the kind of kid who enjoys playing by himself, because lately he hasn't been getting much attention. I'd been 'too busy with Derek and his kissing problems and Janine and her secret. Todd just tags along. But he seems happy, so I decided I shouldn't worry.

"I'm making an airport," he explained. "So me and Derek can land our jet planes here." He made some bulldozer noises.

"Cool," I said, as Derek ran outside! "Hey, did you talk to Janine?" I asked!

"No, the line was busy," he said. "I tried three times!"

"That's funny," I said. "I'm the only one at our house who stays on the phone that long. Maybe you called the wrong number. What number were you dialing?"

Derek rattled off a number, and my mouth dropped open.

"That'smyline!" I said. "That one shouldn't be busy. Nobody uses that phone but me and the members of the BSC."

"Well, somebody is using it right now," said Derek. "I'm sure that's the number I called."

"This is weird," I said. "Who — " Suddenly I realized who was using the phone. "Janine. It must be Janine!" I shook my head. What was she doing using my phone without permission? It made me mad — and very curious. I just had to find out who she was talking to. But then I remembered my resolution to forget about Janine while I was sitting for Derek and Todd. I could talk to her when I got home.

"Should we put a tap on the line?" asked Derek. He was standing next to me, looking as curious as I felt.

"No," I said, smiling. "This is my sister we're talking about, not a criminal, remember? Hey!" I cried, changing the subject. "Check out Masters International Airport over here!" I led Derek to where Todd was playing. "Look

at this runway,"-I said., "This is going to be great."

That was all it took to distract Derek. After all, he's a kid first, even if heisalso a TV star and a great detective. He knelt down in the dirt with Todd and spent the rest of the afternoon playing with his little brother.

It wasn't so easy to distract myself. As I watched the boys play, all I could think about was The Mystery Of Janine. What was she up to? Why was she lying to my parents? Who was that guy she had met? And why was she tying up my phone? Maybe it was time to confront her after all. I was going to tell her everything I knew, and I wasn't going to let her put me off or ignore my questions. I was going to get some answers.

I was all psyched up by-the time I arrived home that afternoon. I ran right upstairs and knocked on Janine's closed door. "Yes?" she called.

"It's me, Claud," I said.

"What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you," I replied, staring at the closed door. This was so unlike Janine. Usually she leaves her door wide open. Usually she is glad to see me, and happy to talk. Usually she has nothing to hide.

"So talk," she said.

"Janine!Come on, open up. What is it with you lately?"

"What do you mean?"

"Imean,Janine, why are you being so secretive? Why are you hiding behind closed doors? Why are you lying to Mom and Dad? And why are you using my phone without permission?"

Suddenly Janine threw the door open. She was dressed, once again, in my red sweater — and she was wearing plenty of makeup. "And why areyougiving me the third degree?" she asked. "Can't a person have her own life around here? Why does everything I do have to be everybody else's business?" She stomped past me, down the hall and down the stairs.

"Janine," I called. "Wait! Where are you going?"

"Out!" she yelled. And then I heard the front door slain. Janine was gone. I stood in the hallway, amazed. My plan to confront her had backfired. Obviously, talking things out with Janine was not going to get me anywhere. I thought for about two and a half seconds, and realized what I was going to have to do. I was going to have to tail Janine again

I ran downstairs and out the door. By the time I reached the sidewalk, Janine was nowhere in sight, so I had to guess which way she'd gone. I turned right, figuring she'd gone

the same way she wentlasttime I followed her. I jogged along, keeping my eyes peeled for that red sweater. There it was! Janine was in front of me, about to take a left off Bradford Court. I ducked behind a bush.

Janine waited until it was safe to cross, then walked quickly across the road. She turned again, onto Rosedale Road, following the route she'd taken the last time. I hurried along, making sure to keep myself hidden. My sister never glanced back, though. She just walked fast, checking her watch once in a while.