Read Online The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs by Cynthia DeFelice - Free Book Online Page B

find out about it. To get, you know, background information for the interview.”
    Chief Rasmussen nodded and said carefully, “I think we’d better talk about this with your parents, Allie.”
    â€œMy
parents
? But
why
? If you’d just let me explain—”
    â€œAre they at home?”
    Allie felt like screaming. This was crazy, all of it: the fire at school, the fire in the library, and especially the idea that
she
had started them! Chief Rasmussen and Mrs. Harris were both looking at her warily.
    She sighed and said, “My mom’s at work. But Dad’s home.”
    â€œGood,” said the chief. “Let’s go have a little chatwith him. Why don’t you come on and ride with me?”
    â€œI’ve got my bike.” Allie pointed to the rack.
    â€œOkay,” the chief answered. “You go ahead and ride home, and I’ll follow along after you. Where do you live?”
    Allie gave him her address, and Chief Rasmussen snapped his fingers in recognition. “Allie Nichols! I thought you looked familiar. You’re the girl who got rescued in Fossil Glen a few weeks ago, aren’t you?”
    Allie nodded.
    The chief looked at her appraisingly. “And here you are again, right in the middle of the action.”
    Allie shrugged, thinking, You don’t know the half of it.
    As she mounted her bike, she heard the chief and Mrs. Harris talking in low tones. She couldn’t quite catch the words, but she was sure they were talking about her, which made her nervous. She rode home in a daze, unable to believe what a mess the day was turning out to be.
    When she pulled in the driveway, Michael was in the yard playing with his Galactic Warriors action figures. He looked up and saw her, and a cloud passed over his face. Standing up, hands on his hips, he shouted, “Liar!”
    â€œWh-what?”
    â€œLiar, liar, big fat liar!”
    â€œMike,” she said with exasperation, “what in the world are you talking about?”
    Michael’s face got the crumply look that meant he was trying not to cry. “You said she wouldn’t come here, but she
did
. You said she’s not really scary, but she
is
.”
    â€œShe? Who?” Allie was so upset about Chief Rasmussen’s imminent arrival that she was having a hard time making sense of what she was hearing. Suddenly her jaw dropped open. “You mean—?”
    â€œThe Snapping Turtle!” Michael cried, his chin wobbling. Then, bursting into tears, he wailed, “The Snapping Turtle came here, and she
is
scary, she
is
, she
is
, she
is
!”

Thirteen
    It was obvious to Allie that her father was more than a little surprised when she walked into the house with Chief Rasmussen. Mr. Nichols appeared completely bewildered by the chief’s questions. No, there had never been a fire at their house. No, he’d never seen Allie playing with matches. No, as far as he knew, Allie had never started a fire; she even refused to light the gas grill, claiming she didn’t like the sudden
whoosh
it made when it ignited. No, Allie had never shown any unusual interest whatsoever in fires of any kind.
    â€œWould you mind telling me what this is all about?” he asked the chief at last.
    Chief Rasmussen sighed. “I’m sorry to have bothered you,” he said, including Allie in his apologetic glance. “It’s my job to take note of any suspicious activity concerning fires, and I needed to satisfy myselfthat Allie here wasn’t one of those kids whose fascination with fire leads them into trouble. If it’s any consolation, I’m satisfied.”
    Whew
, thought Allie.
    â€œWell, that’s a relief,” said Mr. Nichols. “And there’s no need to apologize. I’m grateful you’re so conscientious.”
    â€œYou know, I was new on the squad back when the Hobbs fire happened,” the chief said, turning to Allie.
    â€œReally?” she