The Creek by Jennifer L. Holm

Author:Jennifer L. Holm [Holm, Jennifer L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-06-202832-7
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2003-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

The next evening a police cruiser drove down the block, interrupting the kids’ Softball game in the cul-de-sac. The cruiser parked in front of the Devlins’ house, causing the watching parents to raise their eyebrows.

“Looks like trouble,” Mr. Schuyler said, with a low whistle.

Penny nodded silently, her eyes fixed on Officer Cox.

Officer Cox stepped out of the cruiser and hiked up his pants, looking around as if suddenly noticing how everyone was watching him.

Mrs. Bukvic, who had been gossiping with the other mothers, stood up and walked over to Officer Cox, her features set in a determined expression.

Penny couldn’t hear what Mrs. Bukvic was saying to Officer Cox, but she did catch “Buster” several times. Mrs. Bukvic’s voice went up a pitch whenever she said her missing pet’s name.

Finally Officer Cox shrugged off the angry Mrs. Bukvic, walked up to the Devlins’ front door, and knocked. Mr. Devlin answered on the second knock. The front door was out of earshot, but they could see Officer Cox speaking to Mr. Devlin, and after a moment Mr. Devlin nodded and stepped aside to let Officer Cox into the house.

Nearly an hour later, the game over, the kids went into a huddle at the curb, where Mr. Schuyler was sitting, drinking a beer. Most of the parents had drifted away.

“He’s been in there a long time,” Penny said in a worried voice.

Mac banged a metal bat against the curb. “I’m sure he hid it pretty well.”

Penny stared hard at the house. “I wonder which room is his?” What did it look like? she thought. Did he bring girls up there?

“It’s gonna work,” Benji said. “I can feel it.”

“Anyone want a piece of gum?” Zachary asked, all nervous excitement.

The screen door suddenly opened, and Officer Cox stepped out onto the porch.

“Hey,” Mac said. “Where’s Caleb? Why isn’t he hauling out Caleb?”

“There he is!” Penny said urgently.

Caleb stepped out with his father. Mr. Devlin gave Officer Cox a short handshake, and then put his arm around Caleb’s shoulders.

“Sorry about that,” Officer Cox said loudly, walking toward his patrol car.

Mr. Devlin just nodded. “No problem.”

“You folks have a good evening, okay?” Officer Cox said.

“We’ll try,” Caleb said, shooting a hard, knowing look at the kids huddled at the curb. His eyes flicked over the group, settling on Penny’s shocked face.

And then he winked.

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