Wild Rescue (3 page)

Chapter 8

I stopped by the art room
to ask Mr. Cheplosa’s advice on my investigation. He told me there were pawnshops all over Denver and Colorado Springs, even one in Red Rock.

“What’s a pawnshop, and what’s that got to do with house burglary?”

“Pawnshops are where people take jewelry or other valuables to trade or sell. The pawnshop owner pays as little as possible so he can make a profit by reselling these things, so people are usually pretty desperate when they sell there.”

“Desperate, like thieves?”

He nodded. “Pawnshop owners aren’t supposed to buy stolen items, but it happens.”

He gave me the name of the one in Red Rock: Johnny’s Pawn and Deli.

It sounded weird and reminded me of a place in Fairplay called Video and Feed. I wondered if people could sell their old food.

At lunch I called the place on my cell phone.

“Yeah?”

“Is this Johnny?”

“You got him.”

“I was wondering if you had any jewelry—especially a wedding ring and—”

“Kid, I got a case full. You gettin’ married?”

“No, but—”

He laughed. “Just come on in and I’ll show you.”

“But have you gotten anything in the last few days? Any old stuff?”

“I get stuff all the time. Look, I’m with a customer. Come in and you can look all you want.”

I imagined Johnny making a pastrami sandwich and his greasy fingers all over Mrs. Watson’s brooch. “One more thing. Mr. Krenshaw, the paper delivery guy. Does he sell you stuff?”

There was a pause. “Why?”

“Oh, I was just wondering about the scanner he got.”

“Tell ya about that beauty, did he? I could get another of those if you want. Now I gotta go.”

I would have bet my life that Mrs. Watson’s brooch was at Johnny’s. I called and told her that, but I didn’t say anything about Mr. Krenshaw.

Chapter 9

Mom knows how to listen
and not say too much, like she has antennae that tell her exactly when to talk and when not to.

“How’d you feel when Liz and Denise treated you that way?” she said, sitting on my bed.

“Like I’d done something wrong. They don’t care about me as long as I’m behind them, but when I do better, they hate me.”

“You said you prayed?”

“Yes, that God would give them cavities in their teeth and holes in their underwear.”

Mom shook her head, smiling. Of course she knew better.

Later I let slip that I had feelings for Duncan. “Mom, you can never tell anybody I said that.”

“Don’t worry. What do you like so much about him?”

“He’s cute, he’s smart, and he has nice eyes. He comes to youth group, so I guess he’s a Christian.” I sat forward on the bed. “What did you like about Sam? At first, I mean.”

She ran a hand through her hair. “His eyes and his smile were the first things I noticed. Then he really seemed to care a lot about us. I wasn’t a Christian at the time, but I think I sensed something about his heart. He’s a good man, Ash. That’s more than I could hope to find.”

“Do you think he’ll ever become a believer?”

“I pray for that every day. And for Leigh.”

“Any tips with Duncan?”

She put a hand on my cheek. “Just be yourself, kiddo. If Duncan is as smart as you say, he’ll notice you’re different.”

Chapter 10

Mrs. Watson called during dinner
and said she didn’t find her brooch or jewelry at the pawnshop, “but they did have a tasty turkey-and-ham sub.” She said Johnny told her the police had been by his store but that he never bought stolen goods. Mrs. Watson sounded as sad as I’d ever heard her, and it made me want to solve the crime even more. I had to get her things back.

Sam came in from flying someone to a convention and sat down to dinner. He pursed his lips at Ashley and me.

“What?” Ashley said.

“A guy I flew today might have a job for the two of you next week.”

“Doing what?” I said.

“Do you know what an alpaca is?”

“I’ve seen them,” Ashley said. “Like little llamas. Long necks, big eyes.”

“This guy and his family are going away for a week. I told him how good you are with animals, and he said he’d like you to watch their herd. They live just behind the mountains.”

Ashley looked at me like we had won the lottery. “What do we have to do?”

“Feed them and make sure they’re okay. He has a dog that protects them from bears and coyotes and mountain lions.”

Mom dropped her fork. “Sam!”

“They’ll love it,” he said.

“How much?” Ashley said.

“You can negotiate with him Saturday.”

“They’ll be sleeping in after the band trip,” Mom said.

Sam stood and picked up a couple of plates. “Not all day.”

Mom followed him to the kitchen. I sure hoped Sam won this battle.

Chapter 11

Tuesday night we took our seats
in the left side of the auditorium and listened to the sixth graders’ performance. They’d come a long way in the past few months, but they still sounded like tennis shoes squeaking on a gym floor.

When we took the stage, the curtains closed. I put my music on the stand and was about to sit when someone called me from the hallway. I turned, but the doorway was empty. I went to the hall, but Liz was the only one there, and I didn’t think she would be calling me.

I returned to my seat and the curtain opened. I saw Sam holding Dylan on his lap. Mom sat beside them, clapping. Then she pointed behind me, and I turned to see Bryce waving and pointing at my music stand.

Mr. Scarberry tapped his baton, and the flutists’ instruments went to their mouths. Everyone’s but mine. The music in front of me was spread out to our second song. Beside me Denise fought a smile.

The auditorium fell silent, and Mr. Scarberry stared at me. I held up a hand and tried to rearrange my music. Pages floated to the floor.

Mr. Scarberry stepped toward our section. “You ready?” he said, squinting.

“I’m sorry,” I said, hands shaking. “Somebody rearranged my music.”

He looked at Denise and Liz. “Who would have done something like that?”

“Beats me,” Liz said, and I almost believed her.

Mr. Scarberry checked my music and whispered to Liz and Denise, “See me after the concert.”

Our performance stunk. I could hardly hold the flute to my lips, my hands trembled so much. After the first song, when all the parents and siblings clapped, I looked out at Mom and rolled my eyes.
See what I mean?

Bryce caught my eye and held his chin up, as if to signal me to keep mine up too, I guess. It felt good to have someone on my side.