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

customers. What would Star Tours say? Look at the way he gave in about Stavros’s carry-on. On the raft.”
    â€œSo it’s up to us. I’ll make the decisions,” I told her. “George and his assistant will slay their own dragon.”
    She didn’t look at me. She didn’t seem to even hear me. “It’s important then that we get the bag immediately,” she said. “We could try to defuse the bomb ourselves. I bet I could. I programmed my mom’s cell phone for her when nobody else could make it work. I’m pretty good with complicated stuff. So, after lunch, you fill your carry-on with heavy things, books, if you have any. Hey! There’s a phone directory in my room, I can give you that.”
    â€œI probably have one,” I said. “All this is fine. But how do we make the switcheroo?”
    Geneva sat back with a satisfied smile. “You pack the bag. Bring it with you whatever we do this afternoon and I’ll take care of the rest.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI know how. But I have a few details to work out. Like exactly when and where. That depends on him. I’ll fill you in later.”
    Oh, brother, I thought. Did Sherlock Holmes ever have this kind of a problem with Watson?

CHAPTER 8
    B efore we left the bus that had brought us back to Jackson Lake Lodge, Declan came around to each of our seats.
    I’d moved next to Grandma again, but Geneva had stayed in back.
    â€œThe schedule says you are at leisure this afternoon,” Declan said. He had a clipboard and a pen. “But there are lots of things you can do here. I have a few suggestions, and I’m taking names. Or you may want to just hang out down by the lake, or up on the patio.”
    He glanced at his clipboard, which already had three short columns of names on it. “There’s a boat ride on Jackson Lake. There’s a nature walk, not difficult at all. And then there’s an energetic hike, partway around the lake, that I’ll be leading. This time of year we’ll see lots of wildflowers.”
    â€œThat last one sounds great,” Grandma said.
    â€œGood,” Declan said. We watched him print “Mrs. Saunders” on his list.
    While he was writing I squinted at the upside-down names in the three columns. I’m very good at upside-down reading, a trick I picked up from my best friend, Justin. It is a very useful skill when a teacher invites you to her desk to talk about your test paper or your homework that she has all marked up in front of her. It gives you breathing space to prepare your excuse.
    Declan had been to Charles Stavros’s seat before he came to ours. But I could upside-down see that Stavros’s name wasn’t on any of the lists. That meant he was hanging out at the lodge, which was dangerous.
    â€œI think I’ll just stay in the hotel,” I told Grandma.
    â€œWell…” Grandma sounded doubtful. “I don’tlike you being here on your own, Kevin.”
    â€œOh, Grandma,” I protested. “There are tons of people. How could I be alone?”
    Declan smiled. “Midge is staying. She wants to do some sketching, down by the lake. You could mention to her that Kevin’s going to be around, too. He’ll be fine.”
    â€œOkay, then.” Grandma looked up at Declan. “What time?”
    â€œTwo-thirty. On the patio.”
    I turned to look at Geneva, who was still sitting alone in the back seat. She was twirling her rodeo cap on one finger, like a Frisbee.
    â€œExcuse me,” I said to Declan. “I’m just going to speak to Geneva.”
    I didn’t appreciate at all the way he raised his eyebrows and gave me a sly little smile. What was he insinuating? He’d better not be insinuating what I thought he was insinuating.
    I scowled at him as I pushed past.
    â€œGeneva,” I said, when I got to her seat, “Charles Stavros isn’t going on any of the trips. We