Read Online The Dark Stairs R/I by Betsy Byars - Free Book Online Page B

of Dead Oaks.”
    â€œHe really needs to know that his father’s dead.”
    Herculeah touched her glasses on top of her head. “Mom, when you go in the house, be sure to check the staircase. ”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œSomebody wrote an anonymous letter to the police. It said there was a body in Dead Oaks, ‘down the dark stairs.’”
    She broke off. “Mom, please take me with you. You could be in danger. I haven’t told you everything I know about this man.”
    â€œThen we’re even. I haven’t told you everything I know either.”

18
    THE KEY TO DEAD OAKS
    â€œHas your mom gone?” Meat asked.
    Herculeah relaxed and shifted the phone to a more comfortable position. “Yes, she’s gone, Meat.”
    â€œWas she still mad?”
    â€œNot really, but she wasn’t happy about us listening to that tape.”
    â€œThat was obvious.”
    â€œShe gave me a long, long lecture about it.”
    â€œYour mom sort of reminds me of you when she gets mad.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œOh, nothing. Just the way she said, ‘How many people named Meat are there in this house? In this world?’ through her teeth.”
    â€œI never speak through my teeth.”
    It sounded to Meat as if Herculeah was getting ready to do it right now. He wanted to add, “But you don’t spit on me the way your mom does.” However, in her present mood, Herculeah would probably not take that as a compliment. He decided to change the subject.
    â€œOh, did you get a chance to listen to the rest of the tape?”
    â€œHow could I? Mom took it with her. She does not trust me. Oh, I did find out one other thing. She doesn’t trust the Moloch either—or Mr. Crewell, as I now have to call him.”
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    â€œJust that the first time he escaped from the asylum was ten years ago, right about the time Hamilton Crewell disappeared, and the second time was seven years later when they went in to find the body. That was when we saw his picture in the paper. He’s either incredibly slow or—”
    â€œDid you happen to see those papers your mom dropped on the floor?” Meat interrupted. “Remember, when she saw us listening to the tape, she dropped some papers?”
    â€œI didn’t see them.”
    â€œThey were blueprints, very old blueprints.” He paused to let that sink in and then he added, “Probably of Dead Oaks.”
    â€œIt figures.”
    â€œDid she take them with her?”
    â€œYeah, she wouldn’t trust me with anything. Now I’m never going to be able to find out things. She’s probably going to get locks.”
    â€œI wish I could have seen those blueprints, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, because I think the reason she has those blueprints is to see if there are any hidden places, any passages where Hamilton Crewell could have been when the police came in the house.”
    â€œThat’s what I was thinking.”
    â€œMy mom’s probably on her way to the house right now—with the blueprints—going from room to room. I can’t stand it!” She broke off, overcome by the desire to be inside the house with her mother. “You want to walk over there?”
    â€œI can’t. I promised my mom I wouldn’t go near the place. Also, I really do want to stay away from the Moloch.”
    â€œHe called, did I tell you that?”
    â€œYou spoke to him?”
    â€œYes, it was just for a minute. He left a message for Mom and—”
    Herculeah froze.
    â€œWhat was the message? Herculeah are you still there? Answer me!”
    â€œOh, it was nothing important. I’ve got to go, Meat. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
    Herculeah continued to sit at the desk for a moment, thinking. Idly she folded her glasses and laid them in front of her on the desk. Then she straightened.
    The key, she thought. She leaned forward intently,