How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
It occurred to all of them, though, that the rumors had been frightening enough to make Mrs. Ross cancel her after-school remedial reading class—which she almost never did—and come home early. And Melanie noticed a strangeness in her voice and that her hand shook as she put milk and cookies on the table. (8.9)
The fact that Mrs. Ross won't tell the kids what has happened makes this whole situation even scarier. What could have possibly happened to frighten all the adults in the neighborhood?
Quote #5
As the days passed and no arrests were made, fear and suspicion grew and spread in all directions; and a great silence began to settle over Orchard Avenue and the streets and alleys on either side. (8.12)
The news is pretty grim: someone has kidnapped and murdered a young girl in the neighborhood. Worse yet, the murderer hasn't been caught, which (rightly) puts everyone in the neighborhood on high alert.
Quote #6
Later, when Melanie began to think about it in private, she began to have some doubts. Even though the Egypt gang had decided that the Professor was innocent, what if they just might be wrong? Or what if the Professor was innocent, but the somebody else who wasn't really did live right in the neighborhood, as so many people seemed to think? (9.6)
Although Melanie initially agrees with April's plan to sneak into Egypt on Halloween, the anxieties starting creeping up later on. After all, there is a murderer on the loose in the neighborhood.