Read Online The Scariest Tail (A Wonder Cats Mystery Book 4) by Harper Lin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Harper Lin
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Stress Disorder.
I looked at Aunt Astrid. She was the oldest of us with the most experience. She had seen it all and been around the block a few times. She had to have some memory of that type of creature or had maybe seen it skating through the dimensions as she studied them. But the studious look on her face told me she had no answer for Jake.
“I’ve only heard of these things, Jake,” she finally said, knowing we were all looking to her for guidance. “And I’ve only just heard of them. I’m sure if we did some digging, there might be stories of them, but I don’t know how much help that would be to us.”
I felt a chill go across my shoulders. “Yeah. If some butter-churner in the eighteenth century saw one of these things, I don’t know how much that would help us out. Maybe there is something going on at this time of year that attracts them. Like a mating season or foraging season or something.” I shrugged. Everyone turned and looked at me at once. “What?” I asked. “It’s just a suggestion.”
“No. You might be on to something, Cath,” Aunt Astrid said. “If we do a little research, we might find a pattern as to when these sightings took place, if nothing else. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s worth a try.”
“But you are not invited,” Bea said to Jake.
“What? Why? I can research a book as well as the next guy,” he said, almost pouting.
“You need to rest,” Bea said. “And then you need to get back on your feet and act as if nothing happened. For all we know, those things were after Blake and got you instead. Who knows what would have happened if they had hit their target.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Jake sat back in his seat. “You’re right.”
I hadn’t thought of that either. But I successfully hid my concern behind an awkward grimace.
Bea helped Jake get back to bed. He had worn himself out with all the talking about such a strenuous topic. When Bea came back into the kitchen, we all looked at each other.
“You know what that means?” Aunt Astrid asked Bea.
“You mean the fact that Jake heard the breaking glass?” Bea asked.
Both Aunt Astrid and I nodded.
The poor guy had already been shaken enough. Telling him that he had heard something breaking through to another dimension would have been too much for the big brute. Telling him to get used to it because he obviously had a sixth sense… well, none of us thought it was the right time at all.
But there was no doubt among us that the breaking glass sound meant those creatures were high-tailing it out of Dodge for the time being.
The real questions were: Where were they coming from? and Who was going to see them next?
Gone Fishing
W e had posted a sign on the door at the Brew-Ha-Ha that we had all gone fishing for the day. Life was a little too hectic for any of us to focus on work. When we returned the following day, our steady stream of regulars, and some irregulars, showed up and asked if everything was okay.
That was one of the great things about living in Wonder Falls. It wasn’t a huge metropolis, but it wasn’t just a hayseed town either. It was a mix of good-hearted people who got along relatively well and just a sprinkling of weirdos. My family could easily slip into the latter category.
In between saying howdy-do to the regular patrons and serving up the pastries and special dishes of the day, I was able to get a few words in to Bea.
“How’s Jake feeling?” I asked.
“He’s feeling a lot better. I couldn’t stop him from going to work last night. He’s as stubborn as a mule. And he didn’t want to talk about, you know, what he told us.” She looked around to make sure there weren’t any prying ears.
“But,” she continued, turning to me with wildly excited eyes, “there’s news about the Roy case.” She brought her hand up to cover her mouth so no one would see her mouth the word “Roy.”
“Really?” Aunt Astrid said from behind me. “What’s
I looked at Aunt Astrid. She was the oldest of us with the most experience. She had seen it all and been around the block a few times. She had to have some memory of that type of creature or had maybe seen it skating through the dimensions as she studied them. But the studious look on her face told me she had no answer for Jake.
“I’ve only heard of these things, Jake,” she finally said, knowing we were all looking to her for guidance. “And I’ve only just heard of them. I’m sure if we did some digging, there might be stories of them, but I don’t know how much help that would be to us.”
I felt a chill go across my shoulders. “Yeah. If some butter-churner in the eighteenth century saw one of these things, I don’t know how much that would help us out. Maybe there is something going on at this time of year that attracts them. Like a mating season or foraging season or something.” I shrugged. Everyone turned and looked at me at once. “What?” I asked. “It’s just a suggestion.”
“No. You might be on to something, Cath,” Aunt Astrid said. “If we do a little research, we might find a pattern as to when these sightings took place, if nothing else. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s worth a try.”
“But you are not invited,” Bea said to Jake.
“What? Why? I can research a book as well as the next guy,” he said, almost pouting.
“You need to rest,” Bea said. “And then you need to get back on your feet and act as if nothing happened. For all we know, those things were after Blake and got you instead. Who knows what would have happened if they had hit their target.”
“I didn’t think of that.” Jake sat back in his seat. “You’re right.”
I hadn’t thought of that either. But I successfully hid my concern behind an awkward grimace.
Bea helped Jake get back to bed. He had worn himself out with all the talking about such a strenuous topic. When Bea came back into the kitchen, we all looked at each other.
“You know what that means?” Aunt Astrid asked Bea.
“You mean the fact that Jake heard the breaking glass?” Bea asked.
Both Aunt Astrid and I nodded.
The poor guy had already been shaken enough. Telling him that he had heard something breaking through to another dimension would have been too much for the big brute. Telling him to get used to it because he obviously had a sixth sense… well, none of us thought it was the right time at all.
But there was no doubt among us that the breaking glass sound meant those creatures were high-tailing it out of Dodge for the time being.
The real questions were: Where were they coming from? and Who was going to see them next?
Gone Fishing
W e had posted a sign on the door at the Brew-Ha-Ha that we had all gone fishing for the day. Life was a little too hectic for any of us to focus on work. When we returned the following day, our steady stream of regulars, and some irregulars, showed up and asked if everything was okay.
That was one of the great things about living in Wonder Falls. It wasn’t a huge metropolis, but it wasn’t just a hayseed town either. It was a mix of good-hearted people who got along relatively well and just a sprinkling of weirdos. My family could easily slip into the latter category.
In between saying howdy-do to the regular patrons and serving up the pastries and special dishes of the day, I was able to get a few words in to Bea.
“How’s Jake feeling?” I asked.
“He’s feeling a lot better. I couldn’t stop him from going to work last night. He’s as stubborn as a mule. And he didn’t want to talk about, you know, what he told us.” She looked around to make sure there weren’t any prying ears.
“But,” she continued, turning to me with wildly excited eyes, “there’s news about the Roy case.” She brought her hand up to cover her mouth so no one would see her mouth the word “Roy.”
“Really?” Aunt Astrid said from behind me. “What’s
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