Read Online Vanishing Acts by Leslie Margolis - Free Book Online Page A

Saint Bernard, a Yorkie, and a beagle, all near the Ninth Street entrance to the park. I felt like I was missing something obvious, like the answer was out there in the universe and I just wasn’t seeing it.
    Sometimes when I solve a mystery, the answer will just come to me from nowhere. One second my mind is a blank slate, and in the next, the answer appears, lit up like a neon sign.
    But tonight my brain felt more like murky alphabet soup.
    Details of the attacks swirled through my brain, making no sense. I didn’t even know where to look next.
    By the time we got to the Pizza Den, Lucy was waiting outside, standing by the entrance and knitting a tiny dog sweater.
    â€œYou can stand and knit at the same time?” asked Finn. “Impressive.”
    â€œCassie ordered three new outfits for Bean and I’m way behind,” she said without even looking up from her needles. “Rats! I just lost count of my stitches.”
    â€œSorry,” said Finn.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” I asked.
    â€œHaving dinner with you,” said Lucy, tucking the sweater into her bag.
    â€œHow did you know I’d be here?”
    â€œFinn told me,” said Lucy.
    â€œReally?” I raised my eyebrows at Finn.
    He shrugged. “It’s no big deal,” he said.
    They both gave me blank stares, like I was crazy for questioning this development.
    â€œBut you don’t even like pizza,” I said to Lucy.
    â€œI like garlic knots and soda,” she replied.
    I couldn’t argue with her logic, and I didn’t even have a chance to, because before I opened my mouth, Finn said, “I invited Milo, too.”
    â€œWait, what?” I asked.
    â€œHe asked what we were doing tonight, which seemedlike kind of an obvious hint, so I asked him to come out for pizza, and then I invited Lucy, too.”
    â€œSo it’s like a double date,” said Lucy.
    â€œExcept none of us is dating,” I said.
    â€œRight,” said Lucy, with a quick glance to Finn. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that . . .”
    â€œI know you think that I should just ask Milo on a real date, but it’s not that easy. And at this point, do I even need to? It’s not like we never hang out. We do all the time. And I like how it’s really casual—like we just sort of accidentally do something together that might otherwise be classified as a date, but we don’t have the pressure because it’s not. Except I wish I’d known he was coming tonight because I would’ve worn something nicer.”
    â€œYou look great,” said Lucy. “And I still don’t get why you won’t just ask him out.”
    â€œWhy doesn’t he ask me?” I replied.
    â€œHe did,” said Lucy. “I promise you there is no dog named ‘Call me.’”
    â€œI was kidding about that,” I told her.
    Lucy looked at me with suspicion. “Are you sure?”
    â€œOkay, I was ninety-five percent kidding, but there’s always that five percent of risk left over.”
    Now she rolled her eyes. “This is not a math equation situation. This is your life! And your not calling Milo probably makes him think you’re not interested.”
    â€œKeep it down!” I said, suddenly worried about who might overhear.
    â€œAnd how come it’s always the guy’s responsibility?” asked Finn. “You’re the one who’s always going on and on about how Mom and Dad have to treat us equally and not fall into gender stereotypes when they ask us to do stuff around the house and that just because you’re a girl and I’m a guy does not mean you’ll do the dishes while I take out the trash, even though I know for a fact that you hate taking out the trash.”
    â€œThat’s not because I’m a girl,” I said. “It’s because I hate mice, and ever since I saw that giant one scramble across the street on garbage