A sickening scenario. When a group of friends fall sick after preparing a birthday dinner, Jeri McKane suspects that the illnesses are linked. Is it simply an unfortunate event or have the friends been intentionally poisoned? Jeri’s detective instinct says something isn’t right, and the girls follow a trail that leads to some not-so-sweet evidence. Will the girls discover God’s goodness and grace in the midst of unfair and sinister events, or will they be left with a permanently bad taste in their mouths? A sickening scenario. When a group of friends fall sick after preparing a birthday dinner, Jeri McKane suspects that the illnesses are linked. Is it simply an unfortunate event or have the friends been intentionally poisoned? Jeri's detective instinct says something isn't right, and the girls follow a trail that leads to some not-so-sweet evidence. Will the girls discover God's goodness and grace in the midst of unfair and sinister events, or will they be left with a permanently bad taste in their mouths? Kristi Holl is an award-winning author of dozens of middle-grade novels and six devotionals for girls. As a writing instructor with a background in elementary education, Kristi's books are on many recommended reading lists and have been nominated for numerous Children's Choice Awards. Kristi is married and has three grown daughters. She lives in San Antonio, TX. Visit wwwkristiholl.com to learn more. Poisoned Faithgirlz/Boarding School Mysteries By Kristi Holl Zondervan Copyright © 2011 Kristi Holl All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-310-72095-9 Contents 1 Sneak Attack.................................72 Poisoning....................................213 Storm Warning................................294 Danger, Warning, Caution.....................415 Poison Potatoes..............................536 Creepy Crawlies..............................637 Caught in the Act............................778 Setting a Trap...............................899 Backfired....................................9910 Safe at Last................................113 Chapter One sneak attack Birthday parties were supposed to be fun, but that warm Saturday evening, nothing went as Jeri McKane expected. Illness was the last thing on her mind as a cardinal whistled outside her open window. She had no clue that in two short hours her friends would be poisoned. Jeri twisted from side to side in front of the mirror. "What's wrong with how I look?" she asked her roommate. Her dark blue shirt complemented both her jeans and the denim flats with red bows. "What's wrong with it?" Rosa Sanchez peered over her shoulder. "It looks like something your mom would wear." Rosa always looked cool — like now, in her short denim skirt and tee with a fuzzy pink scarf. Her black waist-length hair made any outfit look awesome. "Want to borrow something?" she asked with a wink. "Don't forget, Dallas is coming tonight. What if he brings some cutie with him and you look like that?" Dallas. Jeri's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her back to Rosa to hide the blush that flooded her face. Dallas Chandler, a boy from their church, attended the Patterson School for Boys on the other side of Landmark Hills. So far, Jeri had done a good job of hiding her crush on him. She refused to risk Rosa telling Dallas about her feelings. Before Christmas, Rosa had done that to a boy Abby liked, and Abby had nearly died of shame. "How about this?" Rosa held up a lavender top with a lace edge. Then she grabbed a short black skirt from her closet. "Or this?" "Hmm." It was tempting, even if it was awfully short. "I suppose I could wear tights with it." "No way, José!" Rosa shook her head. "Show off those legs!" She frowned. "You're awfully white though. You have any of that bronze gel stuff?" "No." Jeri glanced at her watch. "Anyway, I gotta get downstairs. I'm setting tables for Abby." Tonight, Abby Wright, the girl from England who lived in the dorm room next to theirs, was fixing a meal for eight people. It was her home ec project, and it included a birthday cake for another sixth grader who lived there in Hampton House. Since part of her grade was based on proper boy/girl etiquette at a dinner, Dallas and a friend had agreed to show up and lend a hand. Just then, heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs, and Jeri whipped around as their door burst open. Nikki Brown's face was beaded with sweat. "Come quick! Both of you." "What's the matter?" Jeri asked. "You know Abby's tuna turnovers? A tube of biscuits exploded!" Jeri gasped. "No way!" "It was sitting on the stove while the oven preheated." "I saw something like that on TV," Rosa said. "Groceries were left in a car parked in the sun. It got so hot the cans of biscuits exploded all over the car." "Exactly." Nikki rolled her eyes. "The grocery store's delivery guy is busy, so Ms. Carter's driving Abby there for more biscuits." Nikki flicked some lettuce off her fring