Christmas Break

Jamie's fingers hovered over his phone. He had sent Elliot five texts already today. Was that too much? He didn't want to seem needy, but he missed them.

The house felt empty without his parents. They had left for their ski trip three days ago, right after school let out for winter break.

"You sure you don't want to come?" his mom had asked, looking worried.

"I'm sure," Jamie had told her. "I have... stuff to do."

That "stuff" was mostly hanging out with Elliot. And trying to figure out who had tied up Ms. Chen and was threatening them.

His phone buzzed.

Elliot: Want to come over? My mom made hot cocoa.

Jamie smiled and typed back: Be there in 10.

He grabbed his camera and the pictures he'd printed. The ones of Ms. Chen in Coach Wilson's office. The ones of Principal Garcia watching them. Jamie had spent hours staring at these pictures, trying to find hints.

Detective Rivera had saved Ms. Chen from the art room that day. But whoever tied her up was long gone. And Ms. Chen couldn't remember anything. She said someone had grabbed her from behind and put something over her mouth that made her fall asleep.

Jamie pulled on his coat and headed out into the cold December air. Snow crunched under his boots as he walked the six blocks to Elliot's house.

When he got there, Elliot was waiting on the porch, wrapped in a blanket.

"You didn't have to wait outside," Jamie said. "It's freezing."

"I wanted to," Elliot said with a smile. "Besides, I have news."

They went inside, where Elliot's mom had indeed made hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows floating on top. After saying hello, she left them alone in the living room.

"What's the news?" Jamie asked, taking a sip of his drink.

Elliot pulled out their phone. "I got a text from an unknown number. Look."

Jamie read the message: The answers are in the stars. Meet me at the field tonight at 8. Come alone.

"You can't go," Jamie said right away.

"I have to," Elliot argued. "This might be our only chance to find out who's behind all this."

"It's too dangerous. What if it's a trap?"

"That's why I showed you," Elliot said. "I'm not going alone. We'll go together."

Jamie thought for a moment. "Let's tell Rivera."

"No!" Elliot looked scared. "Remember what the message said before? If we tell anyone, Ms. Chen gets hurt."

"But Rivera saved Ms. Chen. She's safe now."

"We don't know that for sure," Elliot said. "What if the person who sent this is watching her? Or watching us?"

Jamie sighed. He knew Elliot was right. They couldn't risk it.

"Fine," he said. "But we need a plan."

They spent the next few hours planning. They would go to the field together, but Jamie would hide nearby with his camera. If anything went wrong, he would take shots and then call Rivera.

At 7:30, they left Elliot's house. The night was clear and cold, with stars twinkling overhead. The field where they'd first become friends was empty and still.

"I'll be right behind those trees," Jamie said, pointing. "If anything seems off, just run."

Elliot nodded, looking brave but nervous.

Jamie squeezed their hand. "Be careful."

He hid behind the trees, camera ready. From here, he could see the whole field. As 8 o'clock arrived, Elliot stood in the middle, alone.

Then a figure appeared from the other side of the field. It was walking slowly, wearing a dark coat. Jamie zoomed in with his camera but couldn't see the person's face.

The figure stopped about ten feet from Elliot. Jamie could hear their voices, but couldn't make out the words. He crept closer, staying hidden.

"...don't understand why you're doing this," Elliot was saying.

"You and your friend are getting too close," the figure responded. It was a woman's voice. Familiar, but Jamie couldn't place it.

"Too close to what?" Elliot asked.

"The truth," the woman said. "About what really happened at this school."

Jamie moved closer, stepping on a twig. It snapped loudly in the quiet night.

The woman spun around. "Who's there?"

Jamie froze, but it was too late. The woman pulled something from her pocket. A gun.

"I know you're there, Jamie," she called out. "Come out now, or I'll shoot your friend."

Heart beating, Jamie stepped out from behind the trees.

"I told you to come alone," the woman said to Elliot.

"I couldn't," Elliot answered. "We're in this together."

The woman sighed. "I was hoping to spare you both. But now I have no choice."

She lifted her hand, and the moon caught her face. Jamie gasped.

It was Principal Garcia's wife, Mrs. Garcia. The school nurse.

"Mrs. Garcia?" Elliot said, sounding shocked. "Why?"

"My husband is innocent," she said. "Coach Wilson framed him. I've been trying to find proof, but you two keep getting in the way."

"We can help you," Jamie said quickly. "If Coach Wilson framed Mr. Garcia, we want to know the truth too."

Mrs. Garcia looked unsure. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because we've been framed too," Elliot said. "Someone is trying to scare us. They tied up Ms. Chen."

Mrs. Garcia dropped the gun slightly. "That wasn't me. I've been watching you two because I thought you were working with Coach Wilson."

"We're not," Jamie said. "We just want to know what's going on."

Mrs. Garcia seemed to think for a moment. Then she put the gun away.

"Okay. I'll tell you what I know. Coach Wilson and my husband were working together at first. They found something valuable hidden in the school from years ago. But then Wilson got greedy. He wanted it all for himself."

"What did they find?" Elliot asked.

Before Mrs. Garcia could answer, a bright light flashed across the field. Car headlights. Someone was coming.

"We have to go," Mrs. Garcia said quickly. "That's them."

"Who?" Jamie asked.

"The real danger," she said. "Meet me tomorrow at the old bridge. 3 o'clock. I'll bring proof."

She ran off into the darkness. Jamie and Elliot ducked behind the trees as a black car slowly drove by the field.

They couldn't see who was driving, but in the backseat, they saw a familiar face.

Ms. Chen.

She wasn't tied up this time. She was sitting quietly, talking to someone they couldn't see.

"What is happening?" Elliot whispered.

The car drove away, leaving them alone in the dark.

"I don't know," Jamie said. "But I think we're in even more danger than we thought."

His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:

You should have stayed home for Christmas break. Now you'll never see the New Year.

Attached was a shot of them right now, hiding behind the trees, taken from somewhere very close by.

Someone was watching them. Right now.