Read Online Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble by Chris Grabenstein - Free Book Online

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    Mongo sniffed the air. “This stinks.”
    â€œYou can say that again,” said Briana.
    â€œNo, I mean it really stinks,” said Mongo.
    Mongo was right: the whole forest smelled like something dead had just farted.

13
    â€œIT SMELLS LIKE WHEN MY cat brings home a dead mouse,” said Briana.
    â€œOr the Dumpster behind Red Lobster during Lobsterfest,” said Jake.
    The rest of the gang stared at him for a second.
    â€œHang on,” said Jamal. “This lock here is serious, folks. I should’ve brought my lock-picking tools.”
    Riley gripped the chain links. Gave one section of fence a good shake. “It’s solid. Won’t come down easy.”
    â€œMy father has wire cutters back in the garage,” said Mongo.
    â€œWe can’t cut a hole in the fence, Mongo,” gasped Briana. “That’s vandalism. We could go to jail! And, if we did, it would go on our permanent records and none of us would ever be able to go to college except maybe that one they advertise on TV that teaches you how to drive big-rig trucks.”
    â€œWho would put up a fence in the middle of the forest?” wondered Jake.
    â€œProbably whoever owns the property,” said Briana.
    â€œDo you think Schuyler put it up?” said Mongo. “Do you think he wants his pond back?”
    â€œUm, Mongo?” said Jamal.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œI did a little research. Schuyler’s Pond has been on the maps since 1826.”
    Mongo threw up both his arms. “And now , all of a sudden, he wants to fence it in?”
    While his friends jabbered, Riley peered through the fence.
    On the other side, the dirt path curved slightly and continued along the bank of the brook that fed Schuyler’s Pond one hundred yards farther downstream
    â€œUh-oh, hold your noses,” said Briana. “Wind shift.”
    â€œP.U.,” said Mongo.
    â€œDag,” said Jamal. “That is foul and malodorous.”
    â€œYeah,” said Mongo. “And it stinks, too.”
    â€œLike the Dumpster behind Bubba Gump Shrimp,” said Jake. “That one’s bad, too.”
    A sunbeam hit the rippling creek.
    â€œJake’s right,” said Riley.
    â€œWhat?” said Jamal. “Somebody put a Bubba Gump Shrimp back here?”
    â€œNo. But what we’re smelling is fish. Check it out.”
    The whole crew grabbed hold of the fence and looked where Riley was looking.
    â€œK’nasty!” said Briana. “That is so totally disgusting.”
    They could see a dead, bloated fish drifting down the glistening creek on the other side of the fence.
    â€œThis is bad,” mumbled Jake.
    Because there were at least six more fish, all belly up, floating right behind the first one.
    â€œWe need to investigate,” said Riley. “I’ll climb over, take a closer look.”
    â€œUm, Riley?” said Briana.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œIn case you hadn’t noticed, there’s barbed wire at the top of this fence.”
    â€œSo it’s a good thing we’re here at the gate. See how this panel is about a foot shorter than the adjoining side panel?”
    The others looked up to check out what Riley had already observed.
    â€œThe difference in heights makes it much easier to maneuver your legs up and over without getting scratched.”
    â€œRiley Mack,” said Jamal, full of admiration, “you are one uncommonly clever individual.”
    â€œThanks. You guys wait here. If there’s a fence to keep us out, it means somebody doesn’t want us getting in.”
    Briana stomped her feet. “Wait. One. Minute. Why do you need to climb over there? To give the dead fish mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?”
    â€œWell, technically, that would be a waste of time,” said Jamal. “First, they’re dead. Second, a fish breathes through a complex process involving water, its mouth, and its gills, whereby it extracts oxygen