Secret of the Sevens Read Online Free Page A

“I spent the day in detention.” I read from the slip: “ ‘For a profane outburst during an assembly.’ ”
    I walk around the chair and try to hand the slip to Mom, but she doesn’t take it. I fidget with the paper. Now what do I do?
    â€œMarcus, could you please finish your dinner in the kitchen?” Dad Shanahan growls. “And close the door behind you.”
    Marcus carries his plate into the next room. The door clicks shut but the Shanahans still don’t say anything. I can’t remember it ever being this quiet in here. My eyes dart around the room. Mom slowly sips her tea as Dad takes another bite of garlic bread.
    The skin on the back of my neck grows clammy. I rock back and forth, shifting my weight from foot to foot, waiting for the Shanahans to make the next move. It’s like being locked in solitary confinement with your executioners.
    I clear my throat and mumble, “Headmaster Boyle couldn’t suspend me since classes haven’t technically started, but I lost privileges until school begins next Monday.”
    Nothing. Not even a nod.
    My heart speeds up. “I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “But it sucked the way they screwed your daughter. Laney deserved to be a Pillar more than anyone.” I slide the detention slip onto the table next to Mom Shanahan’s plate. “I’ll make myself a sandwich and take it to my room.”
    I try to circle past her, but she pulls out Laney’s empty chair to block my path. When she stands up, I cower at what’s coming. Mom Shanahan can give a real earful. But she doesn’t. She puts her hand on my shoulder, presses me into Laney’s seat, and cuts me a massive piece of lasagna.
    â€œWhat Principal Boyle doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” she whispers.
    I blink a few times. When I finally look over at Dad, he breaks out into this huge grin and winks at me. My shoulders relax and I let out a breath.
    It’s then I realize I’m eating off of Delaney’s clean plate. “So where is Laney? Didn’t she eat?”
    Mom nods toward the doorway. “She hasn’t left her room since she got home this afternoon. Maybe you could talk to her when you’re done with chores.”
    I practically choke on my mouthful. “Man, she must be pretty bad off if you’re sending me to her room. You’re such a Nazi about boys in there. You’re going to disengage all the booby-traps, aren’t you?”
    Dad Shanahan smiles. “We can turn off the electric fence for one night.”

    After dinner and chores, I wash up and knock on Laney’s door.
    No answer.
    I knock again.
    A shaky voice says, “I told you, I’m not hungry.”
    â€œIt’s Talan. Open up.”
    The door creaks open and two bloodshot eyes appear. “I don’t feel like seeing anybody right now.”
    I put my hand on the doorframe and lean in. “Your mom and dad sent me to check on you.”
    Shock waves appear above her eyebrows. “Without a chaperone?” She peeks into the hall and looks around. “No guard dog? Not even pepper spray? They must really be worried about me. Tell them to call off the suicide watch. I’m fine.”
    â€œI know. But let me in anyway.” I squeeze past her and wander around. “I want to see what your room looks like with the lights on.”
    I lift an empty pint of cookie-dough ice cream off her desk. “I thought you weren’t hungry.”
    She forces a half-smile. “That was medicinal.”
    â€œWell anyhow, I’m sorry about the Pillars.” I sit on her bed. “That whole thing was bullshit.”
    â€œSo I heard.” Her half-smile blooms to a full one. “The whole school heard, actually.” She slides next to me on the mattress. “What was that about anyway? Were you defending me or something?”
    â€œNo! I … I just hate Cameron Moore.” I rub my neck.