The Girl from Felony Bay by J. E. Thompson

Author:J. E. Thompson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

It was almost five o’clock, and I was in a black mood as I caught the bus back toward Leadenwah. I felt utterly defeated, because every single place I’d gone seemed to be a dead end. The city turned to suburbs, and the suburbs turned to country, but my eyes didn’t register anything, and when I got off I used the pay phone to call Ruth to ask if she would pick me up.

“What are you doing at the bus stop?” she demanded. I could hear the television in the background.

“I went to see Daddy,” I said, leaving out the other meetings.

“Well, I’m very busy.”

“I know. I’m sorry to ask you.”

She muttered something under her breath, then said, “Okay, I’ll be there when I can get free. It’s going to be a while.”

I knew it meant that she’d come when her show was over, but having no other choice, I thanked her and sat down to wait.

As I was watching the early-evening traffic roll by, I was surprised to see Grandma Em’s car go past. Instinctively I raised my hand to wave. I saw Grandma Em turn her head in my direction, and a second later her brake lights went on as she pulled over to the shoulder. Bee climbed out of the passenger seat with a big smile. “Want a ride?” she called.

I was already on my feet heading in her direction. “Please,” I shouted back.

When I climbed into the backseat, I asked, “What are y’all doing home so quickly?”

Grandma Em turned. “Bee’s doctors’ appointments went so smoothly that we had no reason to stay. She told me we had to get back right away, so I changed our flight.”

“You want to have dinner with us?” Bee asked. “Grandma got flank steak and fresh corn on the cob, and she’s going to make tomato-and-mozzarella salad.”

I hadn’t had lunch, and my stomach growled at the mere mention of Grandma Em’s food. “Thanks,” I said. “I’d love to.”

I was dying for Bee’s company and her help with all my jumbled-up ideas, but I also knew I wouldn’t be being a good friend unless I found a way to tell her that I needed to go after the mystery of Felony Bay on my own. I had no idea how I was going to do that, but every time I thought about my dream, I became more convinced there was something dangerous going on. I was increasingly certain it had to do with both Daddy and Mrs. Middleton, and I knew I had no choice but to keep digging. I had to find a way to explain all that to Bee, and a good meal might help me think.

On the way back I borrowed Grandma Em’s cell phone and called Ruth to tell her I didn’t need a ride after all. She sounded relieved and didn’t even ask how I was getting home.

When we drove into Reward, I got out of the car at the foot of Uncle Charlie’s drive and walked up to the house.

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