Heiress Heist by C.K. Brooke

Author:C.K. Brooke [Brooke, C.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: k'12
Publisher: Elphame Press
Published: 2016-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

A CANARY YELLOW AUTO BUMPED past, exhaust spewing behind it. Belva fanned her nose. The concrete sidewalk burned her bare feet and she grimaced, tiptoeing behind Officer Woodmere. “I look like a ragamuffin,” she grumbled. “I never should’ve chucked my shoes.”

He gave her an even glance over his shoulder. “To the contrary, getting rid of those gaudy heels was perhaps the first intelligent decision I’ve seen you make.” He clearly thought he hid it, but Belva was becoming all too familiar with the little hook in his lip that indicated he concealed a smile.

“You’re a comedian.” She pressed ahead, determined to match his pace. “Maybe someone around here knows my aunt. I’m sure she’d let us stay with her, until we can book a pair of train tickets outta this joint.” She glimpsed up at the rows of quaint, shabby shops lining the street. Apart from the occasional cheap auto or two, Delltowne felt like a waltz back in time. Hardly anything was modern about it, and she had yet to count more than half-a-dozen passersby. “I don’t even know what day of the week it is,” she complained. “I’m all balled up.”

“Sunday,” replied Woodmere.

Well, that explained the quietude. Most of the shops would be closed.

Faint music carried around the corner, and Belva was drawn in its direction. She knew that voice; it was Donny Donahue and the Crooners. At least someone in the outmoded little village owned a radio.

They came upon the source: a soda fountain with its door propped open in welcome. Belva peeked in. A man wearing an apron and white cap unstacked a pair of wooden stools and dragged a wet rag across a table. She’d been wrong about the radio, though. It was merely an old coin-in-the-slot phonograph projecting out the popular tune.

“Um. Excuse me?”

The soda jerk turned. “Well, good afternoon to you!”

“Hello.” Belva smiled. “You wouldn’t happen to know of a Francisca Rodger around here, would you?”

The man bit his lip, thinking.

“She goes by Fan,” she offered.

“Oh, Fannie!” He laughed. “Yeah, she lives ‘round here.”

Belva sighed with hopeful relief. “Do you know where, exactly? I’m her niece.”

The soda jerk scratched his neck. “Take Main Street up to Second, and somewhere from there’s a private driveway with a ‘No Trespassing’ sign. I believe that’s her.”

“Thank you so much!” Belva made to turn away, but the man called after her, “Hey kid, want a sundae?”

Belva giggled. “For lunch?”

Woodmere asserted himself in the doorframe. “Thanks, but we’d best be going.”

The gentleman glanced up. “Gee, sorry, Officer. Didn’t see you there. How d’you do?”

“I’m well.” Woodmere hardly looked at him before placing a hand on Belva’s shoulder and steering her away.

She glared up at him. “Hey, what if I wanted a sundae?”

“We don’t have time to waste in soda bars,” replied Woodmere stiffly, eyes trained on the road.

“But that man was being friendly! You don’t know how to socialize with people, do you?”

“Miss Rodger, you and I have been missing for two days. Meanwhile, thanks to you, Calloway Haven is on the loose doing God only knows what.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.