Read Online Madhattan Mystery by John J. Bonk - Free Book Online

Whispering Gallerytalking about some missing jewelry or something. It was probably nothing.”
    â€œAre your curls wound too tight?” Kim Ling said. “That’s not what you said two seconds ago.”
    â€œThat’s it. We’re outta here.” Lexi grabbed Kevin by the hand and hurried away through a flurry of pigeons.
    â€œHey,” Kim Ling called out after them. “Where’re you going?”
    â€œAway from you!” Lexi shot back.
    â€œBut—what just happened here? Did I miss something?”
    Lexi turned abruptly. “Think about it, genius.” She looked pointedly to Kevin, then back at Kim Ling, who stood with arms crossed, tapping her heel. “I guess you just don’t get the
contingency
of the situation, huh?”
    â€œExigency,” Kim Ling said. “And that’s east, dude. You want west if you’re going to your aunt’s.”
    Lexi did an awkward about-face, whipping Kevin around like a confused puppy on a leash. She flew past Kim Ling and headed toward the jagged skyline jetting up over the treetops.
How could someone be so smart and stupid at the same time?
    Kevin immediately bombarded Lexi with questions and she considering flat-out lying for his sake. But no—she would fill him in on what she had witnessed in the Whispering Gallery as truthfully as possible without making his head explode.
    â€œOkay, it’s true, Kev. I did overhear two men talkingabout jewels or something in Grand Central. I tried reporting the details to the police just now but they weren’t buying it. That’s it. End of story.”
    It was her second recount that day, third if you considered her conversation with Sergeant Capaletti, and her story had changed slightly with each retelling. Was it really as frightening as the version she had told Kim Ling or as tame as the version she had painted for her brother?
    â€œThese robbers—did they see you see them?”
    Lexi shook her head no and shrugged, which was meant to be as murky an answer as it seemed.
    Kevin was eerily silent after that, all the way from Central Park West to West End Avenue. Lexi guessed he was either doing Dr. Lucy’s self-calming exercises or quietly coming unglued like she was. When they arrived at the brownstone and Lexi was digging in her backpack for the extra set of keys her aunt had given her that morning, she had a sudden thought. “Whatever you do,” she told Kevin, “don’t tell Aunt Roz about any of this when she gets home, okay? She’d totally wig out. That goes for my stolen wallet too. And don’t be blabbing to Dad either, ‘cause you know you’ll want to. Or his wife.”
    â€œClare. She has a name.”
    â€œWhatever. Nobody has to know.”
    She had a funny feeling her last four words were going to be the mantra for the summer.

7
DANGER OR OPPORTUNITY
    â€œI got the part!” Aunt Roz announced, bursting through the door. “Can you believe it? Oh, you kids must’ve brought me good luck.”
    It was as if everything went from gloom-and-doom to party central the instant she crossed the threshold of Apartment 5F. At least someone would be in a good mood.
    â€œIt’s another scorcher out there. The statue of Whoopi Goldberg on display outside of Madame Tussauds wax museum was actually starting to melt.” She dropped her shopping bags on the coffee table, then trotted over to the air conditioner, cranked it up, and let the air blow down the top of her dress. “You know, guys, when I got your message to meet you back here, I kept calling and calling—no answer. What happened?”
    â€œThat’s ‘cause I left my phone on your bathroom sink,” Lexi said, which was true.
    Kevin dug his out of his pocket and checked it. “No juice. No wonder.”
    â€œWell, let’s not have that happen again, okay? Thank goodness you had Kimmy—and that City Camp bus.”
    Lexi