Read Online Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath - Free Book Online

Bunny—” Madeline began.
    â€œYes? For so we are called,” interrupted Mr. Bunny.
    â€œJust out of curiosity, how much detecting have you, um, done?”
    â€œOh, lots. Tons. Oodles,” lied Mr. Bunny enthusiastically. “Some pro bono, some anti.”
    â€œWe solved the Case of the Large Amount of Smoke in a trice,” said Mrs. Bunny.
    â€œHave you ever looked for, um, say, something living?” asked Madeline.
    â€œOf course, we
could
branch out to people,” said Mrs. Bunny.
    They looked at Madeline inquiringly.
    Madeline thought about this. They seemed very silly, and they were bunnies, but they were the only detectives she was apt to come across any time soon. “Okay, you’re hired. Well, it all started on the day of Luminara. I had just found out Prince Charles was coming to our school, and I went home to tell Flo and Mildred—”
    â€œAre we going to find Prince Charles?” the Bunnys shouted together.
    â€œNo, no, but he’s coming to our school, Comox Elementary, and I wanted to go to the ceremony because he will be giving out awards and I won some but I don’t have white shoes.…”
    The Bunnys nodded sagaciously, as if she were making any sense.
    â€œOf course you must go to the graduation! Prince Charles! My, my!” said Mrs. Bunny.
    â€œThen you know who he is?” asked Madeline. She somehow was surprised that rabbits knew such things.
    â€œOh yes. After all, we’re Commonwealth rabbits,” said Mrs. Bunny. “But you must get some white shoes.”
    â€œYes, I know, but I couldn’t because Flo and Mildred—”
    â€œWho are Flo and Mildred?” interrupted Mr. Bunny.
    â€œOh. My parents. Flo and Mildred—”
    â€œFor so they are called,” said Mr. Bunny serenely.
    â€œDidn’t want me to get white shoes. That is, there was no money for them. So I waitressed and I had the money and then, well, they didn’t want me to anyway, of course … but that’s neither here nor there and not important now and not why I hired you.”
    â€œNo indeed, but it could be a case in itself. The Case of the White Shoes. You say you needed some for the ceremony—”
    â€œYes,” said Madeline, feeling silly because Flo had pointed out how superficial the whole thing was. “You see, my teacher—”
    â€œOh, no need to explain, dear,” said Mrs. Bunny hurriedly. “My goodness, I had twelve bunnies of my own. Your teacherwanted everyone dressed alike for the prince. Well, that’s only natural. Oh, how I miss these events now that the bunnies are grown and gone. Christmas concerts, graduations, fun fairs.”
    â€œSince time is short, let’s not waste any more of it. We’ll worry about the shoes later. Tell us about the case,” said Mr. Bunny, leaning forward.
    â€œWell,” said Madeline. “This is probably going to sound ridiculous, but it looks as if my parents were kidnapped by f—”
    â€œFIENDS!” Mrs. Bunny had the unfortunate habit of finishing people’s sentences.
    â€œFillains!” said Mr. Bunny, who couldn’t think of an
f
word but wanted to join in the game.
    â€œFairies!” said Mrs. Bunny.
    Madeline was beginning to regret hiring them. “Foxes,” she said.
    The effect of this word was far more dramatic than she expected. The Bunnys’ playful expressions vanished. Under their fur she could see them turning pale. Their very ears quivered.
    Madeline passed them the kidnappers’ note and the file card.
    â€œThis is grave,” said Mr. Bunny.
    â€œVery grave,” said Mrs. Bunny after she had read both. “Oh, Mr. Bunny! Rabbit by-products!”
    â€œThis is evil. It’s impossible to know if such a factory exists yet. I hardly think it does, because there would be far more rabbits disappearing. But whether it is a factory that is just being built or