Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah Pepper

Author:Sarah Pepper [Pepper, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

(Ryley: Present Time)

Sneve Street was like every other street in town. Yet, the Maude house was different than most, even if it did have a single apple tree in the front yard and a vegetable garden in the back. The once manicured yard was torn up with an array of rabbit holes. There was just something different about the house. The Victorian house was painted with bright colors, but the sun had faded them over the years, giving it an eerie vibe. I could have sworn that it was painted a dull brown before.

I walked up to the front door. Instead of a doorbell, there was a lion head knocker. The door knob was molded to look like a person’s face when I swore that it looked like every other round doorknob before. Just as I raised my hand to knock on the door, it opened. Alice Mae’s bald aunt barricaded herself within the doorframe.

“The young Mr. Edgar,” Zola Maude said. “It’s poor form to show up without an invitation.”

“Is Alice Mae home? I found something that belongs to her,” I said, digging Mr. Ruth out of my backpack. Alice Mae knew I had it, but I needed an excuse to get past her overprotective aunt.

“She lost the white rabbit?” Zola Maude said, reaching for it.

I held it above my head—out of arm’s reach for the old woman. “Alice Mae papered the school with missing posters. I’ve come to give it back to her for a reward that was mentioned.”

“That stupid girl would pay a pretty penny to get her precious little One-Eyed Hare back. There is a heavy price on his head in Wonderland—in this realm it’s just another stuffed animal.”

Vida Maude walked down the hall and opened the door enough to give me the once over. Sugar coated her hands, and she smelled of spice. She rolled her eyes upon noticing Mr. Ruth. “My niece is upstairs in her bedroom. Boys are not allowed there.”

“I’m not a boy.” I said, tossing the rabbit in my hands just to make sure they didn’t forget about the leverage. Since they were rather interested in the rabbit, I knew it was my ticket in the door.

“Oh, I wouldn’t have said that, young Mr. Edgar,” Vida Maude said. “If you are not a child, then you can be beheaded. The Rightdoing Laws protect the behaving children, and govern the adults. Break one Wrongdoing Law and your head is as good as hers.”

They must have been talking about the Laws of Wonderland. Beheading isn’t a form of punishment—well, not anymore. Lethal injection or prison sentences were the accepted penalties here. Pointing out law differences wouldn’t get me anywhere so I said nothing.

“Keep the door open. Alice Mae’s room is the third on the left,” Zola Maude said and then nudged her sister. “He sure does look like Robby.”

“Attractiveness doesn’t run in the family,” Vida Maude said, turning toward the kitchen. Purple smoke was coming from it, followed by the distinct scent of burnt chocolate.

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