Read Online Hide and Snake Murder by Jessie Chandler. - Free Book Online

The Twin’s logo is huge. Fills up the entire back.”
    â€œShouldn’t be too hard to find someone in a blue plaid aviator hat and Minnesota Twins jacket around here who goes by the name Rocky. I’ll hit the network.” Houdini shucked his cape and tossed it on the table.
    â€œHang on a second,” Coop said. Houdini stopped. “He’s … ” Coop looked at me with his eyebrows raised. I knew exactly where he was going.
    â€œSpecial,” I said.
    Coop said, “He’s not crazy, but he is challenged. Don’t know what his disability is exactly. He lives on his own back home. What else? He’s not too great with strangers. Has some communication quirks.”
    Gabby chuckled, and her laugh was very reminiscent of JT’s, low and appealing. She tapped a knuckle against her lip thoughtfully. “He reminds me of … what’s the name of the lass who always works Royal? ’Dini, you remember, the little clown who does the balloon wallabies?”
    April said, “Gab, how many times do we have to tell you it’s animals , not wallabies ?”
    â€œHey, they’re all round and chubby.” A good-natured smile tugged up the corners of Gabby’s mouth.
    Houdini strode to the doors, the heels of his tall black boots clicking sharply against the cement floor. “I’m on it.” He let himself out and slid the door shut.
    Baz asked, “What’s the network?”
    â€œIt’s the performer’s network,” Mary answered. “We—even the performers who aren’t part of our cozy little association here—are comrades in arms, so to speak. We watch out for each other’s backs.”
    I looked at my watch. Almost 7:15 p.m. It was later than I realized. Eddy still hadn’t called. I was hungry, wired, tired, and rattled. If we could get some answers, and pretty freaking soon, I’d feel a lot better.
    I opened my mouth to speak when my cell rang. Eddy’s smiling face filled the screen.
    Eddy said without preamble, “We’re at the Jardin Royal. They’re still figuring out a room. And that boy has still not shown up. The front desk at the other joint is keeping an eye out. I gave them this number in case he does.”
    â€œOkay. We’ll see you soon.”
    I hung up and looked at April. “It’s been great catching up, but we really need to get to the hotel.”
    Gabby asked, “Where are they staying?”
    â€œThe Jardin Royal,” I said.
    â€œNot far. Would you like another lift? I’ve time if you’d like.”
    Baz looked over at the ice cream cart. “I really don’t—”
    â€œYou will if you don’t want us breathing down your neck.” Coop told Baz.
    â€œOkay. Fine.” Baz crossed his arms, trying and failing to appear belligerent. “I’d love to ride in your cart again, Gabby.”
    We bid our farewells after swapping cell phone numbers with the McNichis and Gabby. Gabby grabbed a towel and swabbed the bottom of the ice cream cart as dry as she could. I was glad she was good about thawing out her freezer on a regular basis, or we’d have been stuck in way more melted ice and frost than the few drops my pants and shirt soaked up. This time we much more carefully settled ourselves inside the freezer, and Mary handed us our bags.
    The cart bounced and jounced along the street for ten or fifteen minutes, and finally came to a stop. The moped engine stilled, and then the latches clicked open. Gabby’s face appeared as she lifted the top off the cooler and set it to the side.
    â€œHere you are, mates. Hurry now.”
    As I shook my legs out to restore circulation, I realized Gabby had gone around to the rear of the hotel and parked in the alley next to a big green dumpster. The aroma coming from it suggested the hotel restaurant recently had fish on its menu.
    â€œOkay, my new friends, I hope things work out.