Read Online Gone in a Flash by Susan Rogers Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

neither sister looked up, she plopped herself down between them, thus stopping any gamesmanship that might have been going on.
    ‘Get your fat ass up!’ Bess said, shoving Megan.
    ‘Say what you want, but my ass ain’t moving!’
    ‘Why must you use improper grammar, Megan? You know it makes my ears bleed!’ Alicia said.
    ‘Do y’all want to hear what is going to happen to us in the very near future?’
    ‘What?’ Bess said, as she stopped shoving her sister.
    ‘The police chief of Black Cat Ridge is coming to interview us,’ Megan said in as dramatic a voice as she could conjure up.
    ‘Why?’ Bess demanded.
    Alicia rolled her eyes. ‘About the white car, dumbass,’ she said.
    ‘I’m not sure, Alicia, dear, but is “dumbass” actually proper English?’ Megan said.
    ‘Bite me,’ Alicia said.
    ‘Oh, you mean because of those guys. Well, good,’ said Bess. ‘We need the police on this and there’s not much Mrs Luna can do since she works for the Codderville force.’
    ‘You would think her living in BCR, she’d take a job here,’ Megan said.
    ‘I’d venture a guess that BCR doesn’t pay nearly as much as she’s making in Codderville, especially now she’s been promoted to lieutenant,’ Alicia said.
    Megan shrugged. ‘Yeah. That’s probably right.’
    ‘So when is this interview going to happen?’ Bess asked.
    Megan shrugged. ‘All I heard was “he’s coming by later.” I have no idea what constitutes later.’ She turned to Alicia and grinned. ‘How’d you like that one? Constitutes. Good word usage, huh?’
    ‘Piss off,’ Alicia said. ‘Even better word usage.’ She hopped off the bed and headed for the door. ‘I hope he doesn’t come too late. We have school tomorrow, remember?’
    ‘Oh, Lord,’ Megan said. ‘I’ve been trying to forget. What are you wearing?’
    ‘That new black-and-white-striped tee with black leggings and that new red mini,’ Alicia said.
    ‘Oh, that’ll look good,’ Bess said. ‘I’m thinking about that tie-dye maxi with the blue shrug.’
    ‘I’m going old skool,’ Megan said. ‘Jeans and a tee. Probably the one from that Taylor Swift concert.’
    ‘Can’t,’ said Alicia, heading out the door. ‘New rule: no tees that advertise anything, even bands, etc.’
    ‘Well, that sucks!’ Megan said.
    ‘Tell me about it,’ Alicia said as she headed down the stairs, followed by her sisters.
    The girls found their parents in the kitchen: Willis at the stove stirring a pot and E.J. at the bar, cutting veggies for a salad.
    ‘What do you have there, Dad?’ Alicia asked. She still felt a little uncomfortable calling him that, after the drama of the summer when Willis had left E.J. and Alicia had found out it was partially her fault, but now he seemed to preen every time she called him dad, so she figured it was all good.
    ‘My two-alarm chili, without beans, of course, and a small batch of no alarm for the ladies,’ Willis said.
    ‘I guess I’m no lady,’ Megan said. ‘Bring on the two-alarm for me!’
    ‘You know, Dad,’ Bess said, taking the plates from Alicia, who had pulled them down from a cupboard that was too high for Bess to reach, ‘it’s now three against two, what with Graham off at college. The small batch should be the two-alarm, not the no alarm.’
    ‘She’s got a point, Willis,’ E.J. said.
    ‘Who eats seconds around here? AND takes leftovers to work for lunch? Me, that’s who!’ Willis said. ‘The big batch will, as always, remain two-alarm. Thank you very much,’ he finished with a bow.
    Megan applauded.
    ‘Megan, use your hands for something more useful – like setting the table,’ her mother suggested.
    ‘They’ve got it taken care of,’ she said, head-pointing at her sisters.
    ‘We need napkins, or really a whole roll of paper towels. This is going to get messy,’ Alicia said. ‘And pour drinks, please.’
    ‘Jeez, you’re needy! And bossy!’ Megan said, but set about doing her chores.
    By the