Read Online Over the Edge by Gloria Skurzynski - Free Book Online Page B

Morgan were behind her. Morgan, peering over Olivia’s shoulder, bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut tightly as Jack and Ashley crowded around. On the pale green, high-resolution computer screen, the message stood out in large, bold, capital letters:
    DR LANDON YOU THINK VARMITS DESERV TO LIVE.
YOUR WRONG. DEAD WRONG.
VARMITS DESERV TO DIE.
AND SO DO YOU.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    O livia stared at the screen, her eyes seemingly transfixed by the words. “Well,” she said at last, “I guess someone out there objects to my idea about banning the varmint hunt.”
    â€œWho wrote that?” Steven asked hotly. “Is there a return address? No, I suppose a coward who would e-mail something like that would prefer to hide. Just a gutless thug who won’t even sign his name.”
    Peering more closely at the screen, Olivia said, “You’re right—there’s no return address. I never knew a message could be sent with no return address. How is that even possible?”
    â€œActually, it’s fairly easy to send an e-mail anonymously,” Morgan said quietly.
    â€œYes. I’m sure you would know,” Olivia answered. The comment wasn’t meant to sting, but Jack could tell it hurt Morgan. Color flushed his cheeks and spread all the way to the tips of his ears, like a creeping burn. A part of Jack felt bad, but knowing that Morgan had set up a nasty Web page of his own and had used his knowledge of the Internet to post his message of scorn—well, better than anyone, Morgan knew how to hit and run. Olivia kept her eyes on the screen. She seemed strangely calm as she read and reread the message. “On the bright side, whoever sent it isn’t too awfully sharp. He can’t spell.”
    â€œDon’t take this lightly, Olivia,” Steven told her. “This is a threat. This maniac says ‘varmits—meaning varmints—deserve to die and so do you. ’ That sounds dangerous. The best thing we can do is call the police.”
    â€œThat won’t do any good—” Morgan began, but Steven cut him off.
    â€œWe’ll let them decide how to handle it,” he snapped. “I’m not going to just sit here and let some wacko threaten my wife! At least the police can properly advise us.” He made a move toward the phone, but stopped abruptly when he realized that the phone wouldn’t work because the computer was still connected to the phone line.
    By then Olivia was at his side, taking his hands in hers. Steven was as fair as Olivia was dark, and her tanned hands looked small, almost childlike in his. “No, Steven, let me do it. I should be the one to call.”
    â€œMom, is someone going to hurt you?” Ashley asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
    â€œOf course not.” She flashed Ashley a smile that didn’t fool Jack for a second.
    â€œNone of you get it—this is just some guy flaming Olivia,” Morgan stated matter-of-factly. “People on the Net do it all the time. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Like I told you, the Internet is a different world, run with different rules.” He waved his hand dismissively and said, “Forget the police. They’ll never be able to trace a good hacker.”
    â€œHow do you know?” Ashley demanded, turning on Morgan with an indignation that might have had more to do with fear than anger.
    Morgan clenched his fists. “All I’m saying is the police can’t help!”
    â€œDid your friend Snipe write it?”
    â€œSnipe wouldn’t write garbage like that. And I wouldn’t protect him if he did. All I’m telling you is that whoever sent this didn’t break the law!”
    â€œYou sent it, didn’t you?” Ashley looked startled, as though the idea itself surprised her, even though it had come from her own lips. “You were mad at my mom because she was going to send you back to Dry Creek!”
    â€œAshley,