"Without knowing or caring where I'd wind up, I sneaked out of the house and took off running." Wendy Robichaud is on schedule to have everything she wants in high school: two loyal best friends, a complete and happy family, and a hunky boyfriend she's had a crush on since eighth grade-until she and Mrs. Villaturo look at old photo albums together. That's when Mrs. V sees her dead husband and hints at a scandal down in Cajun country. Faster than you can say "crawdad," Wendy digs into the scandal. She risks losing boyfriend David by befriending Mrs. V's cute grandson, alienates stepsister...

When Wendy's family faces financial hardship, she must find a way to see Mrs. V and Sam again-but will she lose David forever in the process? For her mom's birthday, Wendy finds an old jewelry box at a flea market-the perfect gift for someone who loves salvaged junk. But inside the box is a cryptic note that appears to have been written recently. Wendy's curiosity leads her on a search with boyfriend David at her side, eager to help. Who wrote the note, and did the intended recipient ever see it? But when Wendy's stepfather loses his job, she needs more personal and urgent help-the financial...