“Aneta!” Vee said.
“Me!” Aneta said.
Sunny flung her arms wide. “Did I not think of everything?”
“So it’s tonight we set the trap.” Esther smacked one fist into the other.
“Catch a bad man,” Aneta said.
“Return the jewels to the rightful owner.” Vee stood and brushed off her pants.
“Be heroes,” Sunny said. And show everyone I can finish big stuff. Maybe after this she’d be a detective. She could make up business cards: SUNNY’S DETECTIVE AGENCY.
“Sunny!”
“Huh? What?”
“We’re going in for supper now,” Esther said, choking a little on her chuckle.
The girls trooped into the house where Ms. Jasper and Uncle Dave were sitting at the kitchen table eating peanut butter cookies.
Aneta’s mom looked more beautiful than ever. She was laughing at something Uncle Dave had said—Sunny knew it had to be pretty funny—with her head thrown back and her long blond hair cascading down her back. Hmmm. She wasn’t wearing it in the ponytail or the hair clip like she usually did when she was a lawyer.
“Hi, girls.” She turned to smile at them. Aneta came up to her and slid an arm around her mother’s shoulder. “Hi, sweetie.” She hugged her daughter sideways. “I ordered pizza for all of us so nobody has to cook. Not that you, Sunny, haven’t been taking stellar care of your uncle!” She turned her smile on Sunny.
Pizza? Pizza was terrible news.
“You are staying for dinner?” Aneta asked, her brow furrowing. Her mom, who had responded to a question from Uncle Dave, gave her a nod and another hug and went back to talking with Uncle Dave about how they might help the guy who needed a job so he could take his son’s cutting horse back home.
“That’s—um, great,” Esther said from her place next to Uncle Dave, but her voice didn’t sound like it was great. She looked over at Sunny.
Vee looked like someone had slapped her. Her mouth opened and closed, minus words.
Sunny reviewed the options while conversation about Starbright swirled around her.
They could quit.
Nope. That wasn’t an option.
They could—she was thinking wildly now—start a fight among the four of them and break up dinner together.
No. Bad idea. Then everyone would go home. Or the adults would make them discuss the issue and take even more time.
She could insist they cancel pizza because what the Squad really wanted was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and to go to bed early.
Yeah. Like Uncle Dave and Aneta’s mom would believe that.
How late would Aneta’s mother stay? What if she came out to the barn and asked questions while they were setting up the trap? A shiver zinged down Sunny’s spine. She tuned in to the conversation, the special—friendly—tones her uncle and Ms. Jasper used with each other.
When her Greatest Idea had first come to her, she planned it would be done tonight. Uncle Dave and her family would have proof that Sunny was good for something and could finish. Could they get Aneta’s mom to leave early? Sunny didn’t see any way to do that. Uncle Dave was already talking about the John Wayne movie he wanted Aneta’s mom to watch with him.
Great. That meant there was only one thing to do. The Squad would have to set the trap after Ms. Jasper went home. The best they could hope for was no conversation after the movie ended.
But what if The Shirt came to the barn for the wagon—and what he thought was still in the wagon—while everyone was chomping down pizza?
Chapter 24
Setting the Trap
Shhh!”
“Be quiet.”
Clunk!
“Be careful, you guys.” Sunny pulled off her sweatshirt and placed it under the wheels of the wagon so it muffled the sounds of it going through the bedroom window.
“Okay.” Vee stood inside the bedroom. “I’ve got the front.”
“I’m glad Esther figured out how to remove the poles,” Aneta said from her position next to Sunny outside. The two girls lifted up the back wheels, spitting at the dislodged dust and dirt. “We have to finish before the pizza guy gets here.”
“I hope that’s dirt we’re spitting out,” Sunny said.
Aneta’s face contorted into a total ick expression. “Oh, Sunny.”
Through the closed door of the bedroom, Sunny heard Uncle Dave’s maniacal laugh and Ms. Jasper’s softer, full-throated chuckle. “For pizza sake, what can be so funny all the time?”
“Be glad,” Esther said. “At least they won’t hear us clunking and banging.” She and Vee leaned out of the window to guide in the back end of the wagon. “There!”
Once Vee had rolled the wagon to the other side of the room, Aneta and Sunny each jumped up, dove in headfirst, and rolled to standing. The girls returned to the living room to, as Vee said, “establish their alibis.”
Forever.
That’s how long it seemed to the girls for Aneta’s mom to leave.
They ate pizza.
They watched the cowboy movie.
The zoo stomped on the front porch halfway through. The girls had to return them to the barn, closing the door securely.
“As soon as I get around on these crutches, I’ve got to find out how they escape from the corrals,” Uncle Dave said. “I’ve never had animals so nosy.”
Did that mean her uncle was thinking the zoo might stay?
No sign of The Shirt as the girls led the zoo back to the barn.
“But how would you know if he was around?” Aneta whispered into Sunny’s ear on the return trip to the house.
“I would feel his creepiness,” Sunny whispered back. Do not look over your shoulder. She hoped The Shirt would show up tonight, get caught, and finish her Greatest Idea.
Aneta shivered and ran for the front door.
Finally, after ten, as the girls yawned jaw-cracking yawns and talked about how tired they were, Aneta’s mom kissed her daughter good night, said good-bye to the other three and to Uncle Dave—that took a little longer—and left.
Vee and Sunny shared another look. Esther grinned knowingly. Aneta looked at the three. “What is funny?”
“Adults are weird,” Sunny said, linking her arm with her blond, taller friend and walking toward the girls’ bedroom. “And they think eleven-year-olds are weird.”
They made noise going back and forth to the hall bathroom, chattering about good tooth hygiene and smothering honks of laughter. Shortly after that, Uncle Dave called good night. Soon the house was dark.
But not quiet and still. At least not in the girls’ bedroom.
Sunny threw herself on the bed. “I can’t believe I just ate pizza with millions of dollars of jewels in my cargo capri leg pocket.”
“We are nuts,” Vee said. “Your Great Idea—”
“Greatest,” Sunny interrupted.
“—is borderline insane.”
“Borderline?” Esther pulled out the heavy, big-nosed flashlight from her backpack. “Please. We are insane.” She gestured. “My dad’s emergency flashlight. I figure this is an emergency.”
Vee pulled out a tiny narrow one and shone it on the wall. Half the wall exploded into bright white light. “Bill gave me this after I cleaned his garage. I told him he should have given it to me before. I could have found stuff easier. He’s a pack rat.”
“What are you doing, Sunny?” Aneta asked, looking over at Sunny who was rummaging through the drawers of the small dresser.
“Looking for something dark to wear so when we hide, The Shirt won’t see us. There!” With a triumphant yip, she pulled a dark navy hoodie out of the bottom drawer. Pulling it over her head, she spoke through the material. “Now, everyone knows what they’re supposed to do?”
The girls assured her they did, but Vee wanted to go through it again anyway, which made Esther frown and stick her hands on her hips, but Aneta made everything right by saying that it was okay because lots of times someone did that very th
ing in books.
“Not necessarily,” Esther began then removed her fists from her hips and shrugged. Sunny breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing they needed right now was a bossy contest between Vee and Esther.
Vee and Aneta swung their legs out the window, dropped the distance to the ground, and held up their arms for the wagon. Sunny and Esther grunted a little—it was so awkward to hold it up—but this time managed to without banging the house and waking up Uncle Dave—or the zoo. So far: yayness one, ughness zero.
Vee did a quick check-dash around the corner to make sure Uncle Dave’s light was off and the window closed, reported they were, and the foursome, each holding some part of the wagon off the ground, tiptoed along the driveway.
“Sunny, you’re scuffing your feet! You’ll wake up your uncle.” Esther’s supposed-to-be-whisper boomed out like a cannon in the darkness.
“Shhh!” everyone said.
Esther’s voice dropped to a growl. “Well, you are.”
They arrived at the barn door, set down the wagon, and waited while Aneta opened the door. It didn’t make a sound. Sunny patted herself on the back for oiling the hinges. Then she patted the pocket on the leg of her capris. The bag was still there. She was getting good at this following-through stuff. Just wait until Uncle Dave found out they had caught The Shirt and the stolen jewels. Sunny blinked furiously, trying to adjust her eyes as she pushed the door closed.
Vee and Esther had yet to flash their lights to illuminate the nearly pitch blackness of the shed.
Wait.
She sniffed.
What was that?
Dark air thickened around her, robbing her of her bearings. It stunk like … BO—big-time.
Where were the girls?
Where was the wagon?
She moved her foot ahead of her cautiously.
Something is wrong.
The creepy feeling that night with Esther slid over her like a wave at a wave park. “Hurry, Vee—Esther—turn on those flashlights!”
A split second before light revealed the familiar tractor shed, a rough voice grunted, “I’ve been waiting for you girls.”
Chapter 25
Operation Shirt
Squinting in the flashlights, a man wearing a red-striped, long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up held a length of chain Sunny remembered putting in the WHO KNOWS? pile. A triangular patch of the shirt was missing.
“It is you?” Aneta said, disbelief stringing her voice out to a hoarse whisper.
“The Shirt!” Sunny said then attempted to hold her breath and talk. “Eww. You’re still wearing it?”
“Not you!” Vee’s mouth hung open.
“Creepy carnival guy!” Esther gasped. She backed toward the door behind them, but quicker than Sunny had seen Which Way capture a bug, The Shirt had sidestepped them and blocked their only exit. His grin of victory looked even more frightening in the glare of the flashlight.
The only way they could finish the Greatest Idea was if the other three girls got out of the shed. She had to get him away from the door.
“Get those flashlights outta my eyes! Gimme those!” he snarled. He started forward, fists clenched in the chain, toward Esther, who now stood motionless. “Gimme that, fat girl!”
For pizza sake, could he have said something worse?
Now that her own eyes had somewhat adjusted, Sunny saw Esther’s eyes bug out. Her chest swelled. “Sure,” Esther said, pulling back her arm. “Here’s mine!” Emitting a scream that curled Sunny’s hair tighter, she hurled a perfect hatchet throw, just like in the movies. The flashlight tumbled end over end toward The Shirt. With the light dipping and flipping in and out of his vision, his head waggled from side to side, trying to dodge the light and keep his eye on the girls. So when the top-heavy flashlight slammed into his throat, he was a bit unprepared.
“Gahhh!” he clutched his throat. “Gahhh!”
“And here’s mine!” Vee ran four tiny steps forward in the semi-darkness, jerking her tiny ultrabright up and down. It flickered the light much like Esther’s had. The Shirt was gagging and swinging the chain toward them. Sunny sidestepped one swing. Vee drew him away from the door. Aneta was edging behind The Shirt and nearly to the door latch.
It was time.
“Operation Shirt! Operation Shirt!” Sunny whooped. She clapped her hand on the side pocket, felt the bulky velvet bag, turned, and bolted toward the stairs.
“Hey!” The raspy choked voice didn’t sound quite so smug. “Get back here. I know you got them jewels!”
“Catch me!” Sunny sang out, suddenly brave, her foot on the bottom rung of the stairs. The other three had vanished from the shed. The Shirt seemed undecided on whether to follow them or Sunny. Sunny dashed up the stairs, praying that the Greatest Idea would work.
A rumble grated a few steps behind her. She couldn’t call it laughter. It was too evil. “Ha-ha, stupid kid, there’s no way to get down from there.”
He stumbled his way across the floor, knocking over an old milk can and wooden boxes. “I got you good. You been in my way since that crummy carnival.”
Oh, dear Lord, I hope this is the Greatest Idea and that You gave it to me, ‘cause if it isn’t, that guy is really mad at me.
He was halfway up the steps, his breath wheezing in great gasps. “Gonna—get—pant, pant—you, stupid kid.” That flashlight had to have hurt. Esther had some muscle behind that arm. But Sunny didn’t feel sorry for him. He treated the zoo badly and stole jewels. Now he had called her stupid. Maybe he would fall down the stairs from a heart attack and she wouldn’t have to do what she had to do.
Oh dear.
What if he did?
What would she do then?
She had reached the window where, it seemed like a year ago, she’d scared the Squad and caused Uncle Dave’s accident. Looking down, she caught the glimmer of the silver edges of the tramp. She heard whispering, and she heard Bob.
Good.
The Shirt stopped two steps from the top, leaning over and blowing hard. He was probably two Uncle Dave–lengths away. “Ha-ha,” he gasped. “Joke’s on you.” It took him another few breaths to continue. “You got nowhere to go. Gimme the bag and I won’t slap you around too much.”
Sunny felt an odd sort of power. He was so out of breath. What she was going to do in the next moment would be brilliant, and The Shirt would be toast. “It’s wrong to steal, and you didn’t treat the zoo very well. They don’t like you.”
Part of that power whoosh was exciting—the jump-off-the-swings-at-the-very-top exciting when your guts kind of flop up and hang there until the moment you plunge down. The feeling that followed wasn’t so nice. She felt, well, yucky. Just because he called Esther fat and her stupid didn’t mean she should be like him.
She was not stupid.
He would soon see that.
With a roar, he lunged for her in midgasp. Sunny screamed and for the second time sprang out the window.
Vee, Aneta, and Esther were holding the tramp’s wobbly legs steady—from underneath. She couldn’t resist her tramp pattern: Bounce, bounce, drop, slap, clap! and, she was off.
“Thanks, guys,” she whispered. Bob the goat sounded like he was chewing. Aneta had done her part. Brought the goat and would keep him quiet until the right moment. Sunny stepped away from the tramp and looked up.
Above, The Shirt clung to the sides of the shed window. “Stupid! That’s what you are. I’m gonna get a running start and land on you like a ton of bricks.”
“Now,” Sunny muttered out of the corner of her mouth.
Before he could disappear into the duskiness of the loft, the tramp began to move back and forth. And then an eerie voice began to bleat.
“Bahhhhhb! Bahhhhb!” Bob had run out of treats at just the right time.
“What?” The moon reflected off a sweaty face so contorted with fear he looked like a gargoyle out of a history book.
“Baahhhhhb!” said Bob. “Bahhhhhb!” The little goa
t was politely requesting more treats.
The tramp swayed back and forth in a wild dance. The Shirt jumped back as though at the next moment it would float up and bite him in the nose. Kind of funny in a scary sort of way, although Sunny wished he’d get moving so they could complete the next part. “C–can’t be. There ain’t no such things as ghosts. That tramp ain’t really moving!” He yelled, backing away. A crash followed. Had he run into something? She smiled. The Squad had never found the time to clean that loft. Sometimes not finishing worked out.
Feet pounded down the wooden stairs.
“Now, Vee! Pour it on!” Sunny shouted.
Her speedy friend scrambled out from under the tramp and streaked around the corner. According to the Greatest Idea, Vee would get to the door and bolt it from the outside, effectively trapping The Shirt in until Uncle Dave called the sheriff. Finished. No way would he dare jump out the window onto the “haunted” tramp while Bob was there. Just why he was so afraid of Bob she didn’t know, but it sure was a fun part of the idea.
A crash interrupted her thoughts of victory and how proud everyone would be of her. The Shirt must have tripped on the stairs. Aneta and Esther, who had crab-walked out from under the tramp as well with Bob the goat in tow, winced.
“I think he took the fast way down,” Aneta said, shaking her head and petting Bob. “Good goat.”
Near the front of the shed, Vee let out a “Whoa!” that morphed into a brittle cry of pain, a muffled shriek, and a thud.
The door to the shed banged.
Not banged closed and bolted.
Banged open.
Chapter 26
The Chase
With Bob bouncing behind, the three girls beat feeted it around the corner, along the side of the shed, and skidded to the front. Vee lay sprawled on the cement ramp in front of the shed door, struggling to get up.
The shed door was open.
No sign of the creepy carnival guy.
“What happened, Vee?” Aneta bent over her friend.
“Where is he?” Sunny asked, assisting Esther and Aneta with getting Vee upright. Their quickly moving friend had sailed into the stuff Sunny had been hosing since the zoo arrived. Goose droppings. Green, worse than anything you’ve ever smelled, and, as Vee found out—slippery.
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