Read Online The Man with the Red Bag by Eve Bunting - Free Book Online

“I’m not exactly sure yet.”
    Midge nodded. “Let me know. I’m available.”
    I moved on back and slumped in the seat next to Geneva.
    â€œSo, what’s this big idea you’ve got?” I asked her, trying not to sound miffed, which I have to admit I was. If the idea was good, I wanted to have been the one to think of it. In mystery stories there’s a saying, “George must slay his own dragon,” which actually means, the hero must do all the important stuff himself. And have the brilliant ideas himself. And solve the mystery. Still, I was a big enough person to at least listen. After all, tillI fired her, she was still my assistant.
    â€œWell…” Geneva drew out the word. “Well, it’s simple. You’ll switch your bag with his.”
    I sighed. “Yeah? And how am I going to do that? You heard what he said on the raft?”
    â€œWhat? What did he say?
    â€œYou didn’t hear?”
    She shook her head. “No. What was it?”
    â€œHe said, ‘I will never let you go again.’” The words and the memory of the way he’d said them creeped me out all over again.
    â€œHow weird!” Geneva took off her cap and scratched her head. “Well, we’re going to take it and he’ll have to let it go. First, you will start carrying your bag everywhere. You’ll put heavy stuff in it.” She paused. “You did say his bag was heavy when you picked it up that time, in the bathroom?”
    â€œYep. And now I’ve seen into it. What’s in there is definitely heavy.”
    Her mouth dropped open and that made me feel great.
    â€œYou’ve seen into it? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œNo time.”
    â€œAnd? And?” She pushed her face so close to mine I had to jerk my head back.
    â€œIt’s something big and black and shiny.” I paused. “And there’s a string. I’ll tell you this for sure. It isn’t his puppy. And that string is not a leash.”
    â€œWhy would he have a string?”
    â€œIt might be a fuse.”
    â€œOh my gosh!” She was breathing through her nose, like a horse snorting. “A fuse? It’s definitely a bomb, then. For inside the circle.”
    â€œWell, I don’t know for sure. The big, black thing I saw didn’t seem like—”
    â€œLook, we’ve got to tell somebody! We can’t wait any longer. This is too freaky—”
    I interrupted. “First, let him read my letter. We’ll see what he answers. You know, he might just say, ‘I didn’t mean to make a mystery of this. Here’s my bag. Take a look inside.’” I sounded feeble, but I pushed on. “And I think we should examine Millie’s picture before we do anything drastic. We’ll see it tomorrowwhen we get to Yellowstone.”
    â€œWe have no time to waste if we’re acting alone,” Geneva said. “We should tell your grandma. She’s old. I bet she’s wise.”
    â€œI don’t want to worry her. And besides, she would be horrified that we’re accusing him just because of the way he looks. She’s so not into doing that.”
    â€œIt’s not only how he looks,” Geneva said. “He has a bomb. He talks to his bag. How strange is that?”
    I was getting irritated with her again. Miss Take-over, Run-the-show!
    â€œWe don’t know for certain that it is a bomb,” I said. “And I guess he can talk to his bag if he wants. It makes him a bit nutty, but nobody’s going to arrest him for that. If you like, we could tell your dad,” I added craftily.
    Geneva gave me her murderous stare. “No way. I don’t tell my dad anything, period. That way he would win.”
    â€œWin what?”
    â€œNever mind,” she said. “And I can’t imagine telling Declan. He calls us ‘kids.’ Anyway, he’d never want to offend one of his