The Chupacabra Catastrophe by Amanda M. Lee

Author:Amanda M. Lee [Lee, Amanda M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications
Published: 2017-11-12T06:00:00+00:00

16

Sixteen

Jack met Millie and me outside, keys in hand. I was certain he was about to invite himself along for the ride. I was torn on the issue – he was smart and always asked the right questions when it came to an investigation – but ultimately I wanted a break from him and his overbearing attitude.

“You’re coming with us?” I did my best to cover my disappointment, but it wasn’t a stellar effort.

Jack stared at me for a beat. “Maybe. How would you feel about that?”

“Like you’re suddenly asking questions a television therapist would,” I muttered.

Jack’s lips curved as he shook his head. “You need to develop a poker face, Charlie. Other people might not take the fact that you don’t want them tagging along so well.”

“That’s not the issue,” I lied.

“Whatever.” Jack shook his head. “The zoo is about an hour away. I programmed the directions into the GPS.”

I blinked slowly, absorbing the news. I didn’t know whether to be happy he wasn’t coming or annoyed that he thought I couldn’t find my way. “So … you’re not coming?”

“I have other things to check on, including Sully’s supposed alibi. I also want to do some research on that silver legend. I’m suspicious that we haven’t heard mention of it until now.”

“Oh, well … .” I held out my hand to take the keys. “I guess I’m the captain for a change. That’s exciting.”

Jack pressed his lips together and moved the keys toward my hand, veering at the last second and handing them to Millie. “You’re not the captain.”

“Oh, come on,” I complained. “I want to be the captain.”

“You can be the co-pilot,” Jack countered. “Think of yourself as Spock … or Chewbacca.”

“Ugh. You’re a geek. I didn’t see that coming.”

Jack’s eyes went dark. “I’m fine with being a geek.”

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it,” I argued. “I’m a geek, too. I like it.”

“You’re … something,” Jack muttered, making a tsking sound with his tongue before focusing on Millie. “The footprint casts are in the hatchback area. You’re looking for Desmond Sharper. He’s a zoologist who has agreed to look at the casts to see if he can identify what made them. He’s expecting you. Just tell the woman at the ticket window why you’re there and she’ll call him to collect you.”

“No problem.” Millie’s reaction was flat. She clearly didn’t care either way about our excursion. “I’ll have my phone if you want to check in.”

Jack tilted his head to the side, confused. “Why would I want to check in?”

Millie slid me a sidelong look, amused. “I thought you might want to make sure Charlie wasn’t finding trouble at the zoo. You know, climbing into the lion habitat or swimming with the otters.”

Well, that was insulting. “I wouldn’t do that,” I argued. “I might hang out with a kangaroo or something, but that’s only after I finished my work for the day.” I offered up a smirk to let them both know I wouldn’t forget this slight.

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