"We should go to the police," Martha suggested.

"You know they won't help," Jared snapped.

"But we can't just keep this to ourselves!" Martha argued.

"We have to!" Jared shot back.

"He's right," Michael sighed. Martha turned to him, gaping.

"But-then, what will we do?" Martha asked. "We're not detectives, and assuming we are will just put ourselves and other people in trouble. We need to tell someone, anyone!"

"What, you want to tell our parents?!" Jared scoffed.

Michael looked like he wanted to say something, but he closed his mouth. A little bit later, he asked "What about Ms Wormwood? She would probably help."

Jared shook his head quickly. "No, she'd tell the police."

"Probably," Jenna agreed, absentmindedly. She seemed to be a little on edge.

"Is there another teacher we know of?" Martha asked.

Michael shrugged, and Jared shook his head. Jenna looked like she hadn't even heard the question. Martha sighed.

The four were in Michael's room, supplied by snacks by his mom's. They were peanut butter cups, and usually Martha loved peanut butter cups, but right now she didn't think she could eat a single thing without it coming back up. She was too worried about Veronica.

The group had retreated there after they found the sweater, not bothering to look anymore. Martha hoped Veronica wouldn't mind.

"Do you think that the murderer will be after us?" Michael suddenly asked. "If they find out we found their sweater?"

The group shuddered at that suggestion. Martha lanced quickly out of the single window in Michael's basement. Nothing was there, but now Martha couldn't stop imagining a face suddenly popping up.

"I hope not," she muttered. She couldn't stop glancing anxiously out the window.

"Maybe we can find a private detective?" Jenna suggested, snapping her fingers. "Like Sherlock Holmes!"

The other three stared at her, both surprised and confused by the sudden suggestion.

"You-You mean the one in London?" Jared asked skeptically.

"I-yeah, him," Jenna admitted, suddenly realizing the flaw in her plan. "I forgot about that."

"But it's a good idea," Michael said, scratching the back of his neck. Martha realized he was getting just as skittish as Jenna. "We should find a private detective."

"And how, exactly, are we supposed to pay for one?" Jared snorted. Michael shrugged.

"I think that's the least of our problems right now," Martha argued. "But we can figure that out later. Jenna, do you know any private detectives? Preferably in America? And around New Jersey?"

"Do I?" Jenna asked, grinning. Then she shook her head. "No, I don't. But I know where to find one!"

"Where?" Michael asked, looking interested. Jenna took out Veronica's phone.

"The internet!"

November 17

4:15

Some Café in New Jersey

The Detective hadn't seen this much incompetency since the death of Mr Boddy, and that mystery took a lot of incompetency.

But, she thought as she sipped her latte, she didn't think she could count the mistakes of these kids on two hands!

It was lucky they called her. If there was anyone who could solve this mystery and save these people, it was the Detective.

Now she just needed to wait for them to arrive. When she checked her watch, she realized they were twelve minutes late.

Add that to the list of mistakes. The Detective didn't like to wait.