“No time,” I say as I hop on my bike. “Besides, walking dogs has worked for us before. It’s a good cover.”
“Not as good a cover as the disguises Frankie would have created for us. If only we’d been able to implement our plan,” Leo says with a disappointed sigh. He slips his phone into his pocket and draws out a few sticky GPF balls. “These are the only devices I have with me.”
While a GPF ball once helped me out of a bad situation, I’d rather have Leo’s spy drones. My favorite is the dragon drone. It could fly into Delainey’s house like a nearly invisible spy.
“Lead the way, Leo,” Becca says. She hands one leash to me.
I balance on my bike, gripping Handsome’s leash in one hand. The dogs should be tired after romping at the park, but they seem to be made of endless energy. Handsome tugs on my leash, pulling me to go faster. And I can tell Becca is having to work hard to control Major too. When we near a crosswalk where the light is red, Major speeds up instead of slowing down.
“Stop, Major,” Becca commands. “Stop!”
Major tugs on the leash as if he didn’t hear Becca.
Leo glances back with a flash of alarm. He spins on his gyro-board and commands firmly, “Steh.”
Instantly Major stops.
“Oh, I forgot he only obeys German words.” Becca pats the dog’s brown head. The light turns to green, and we continue in our doggy parade.
Peggy Lane is a quiet street. The houses are spread apart with grassy front yards and trees that cast shadows, perfect for concealing spies. We slow to a stop in the shade of a tall fence and huddle to talk strategy.
“Delainey’s house is the blue one with the hedge,” Leo whispers.
“There’s a car in the driveway but none in front of the house,” I say. “So I don’t think Merry Lee is here yet.”
Becca squints into the distance. “Is that Delainey peeking out from the door?”
I follow her gaze just in time to see black hair and a blur of someone wearing red go back into the house.
“I don’t know what Delainey looks like, but if she sees us staring at her house, she’ll get suspicious,” I warn. “We can’t stand on the sidewalk much longer.”
“We can walk the dogs to the end of the block, then come back,” Becca suggests.
I nod. “And when we’re across from Delainey’s house again, we’ll make up a reason to stop that doesn’t look suspicious.”
Becca points to the loopy purple laces on her purple sneakers. “We can pretend to tie our shoes.”
“Or pick up dog poop,” I say as I pull out the plastic bag I’d tucked in my pocket before we left my grandmother’s house.
“Poop tactics.” Becca giggles. “It could work.”
“While you walk the canines, I’ll skate around the street very subtly.” Leo spins a wheelie in front of us. “When the puppy sellers show up, I’ll take a photo of the car’s license plate and the occupants.”
After Leo whirls away in a fancy spin, Becca and I walk slowly, pausing to talk like we’re two ordinary girls walking our dogs after a long day at school. We talk about school and friends in case the breeze carries our words. But our gazes keep sliding to the blue house in the middle of the block.
“Look!” Becca whispers, grabbing my arm. “The girl with the black hair is peeking out the door again!”
“Must be Delainey,” I whisper back.
I bend over and pet Handsome while I covertly study the girl. She’s taller than me (which isn’t saying much) and wears gold heels, a flowing cherry-red skirt, and a lacy white blouse with gold hoop earrings like she’s dressed up for a date.
A puppy date, I think wryly. I feel sorry for Delainey, though, and wish I could warn her that Mrs. Vandameer is probably a phony. But warning Delainey could ruin everything.
I glance at my watch. Four minutes till delivery.
“Let’s walk to the end of the street, then turn around and come back,” I say.
“We should call Sheriff Fischer and let him take over,” Becca suggests again.
Determination burns in me, and I shake my head. “We’ll call him—but not until we have proof.”
We walk to the end of the block and back. When we’re across from Delainey’s house again, there’s still no sign of a visitor.
A whooshing noise startles me, and I turn to see Leo rolling down the sidewalk. He tilts up on two wheels, then jumps high and springs back on his gyro-board. Anyone watching would think he’s a typical show-off skater, but I know it’s all a ruse and he’s studying the blue house. Instead of passing us, he slows to a stop.
He glances around furtively. “Anything to report?”
“We had a fake conversation,” Becca says.
I love spying, but surveillance is like having an itch I can’t scratch. I want to take action, not ride around like a carefree kid who doesn’t have a missing mother. I glance at my watch again. “It’s almost puppy time. I’m done waiting,” I tell my club mates. “I’m going in.”
“In?” Becca blinks at me.
I point across the street. “Delainey’s house.”
Becca frowns. “You can’t be serious!”
“Excellent strategy,” Leo says, which surprises me. “But take these with you.” He holds out two GPF balls. They look like something you’d get out of a gum ball machine. “I had planned to shoot these at the suspect to track her locations, but this is a better plan. All you need to do is toss a GPF on Mrs. Vandameer’s clothes or hair.”
“Easy peasy,” I say, pocketing the GPF balls. I pass Handsome’s leash over to Becca.
My heart thuds loudly, and I breathe in and out in the deep, calming way Gran Nola has taught me. I smooth back my tousled hair with my hand and stride up to the front door. Before I lose my courage, I press the doorbell.
Delainey opens it. She’s pretty, with high cheekbones and a sweet smile. Her long dark lashes flutter in surprise as she looks at me. “But you’re not—”
“You were expecting my sister or Mrs. Vandameer,” I finish for her with an apologetic grin. “I’m Kelsey.”
“Kenya’s little sister.” She nods but seems puzzled. “What are you doing here? Where’s Kenya?”
“She loaned me her phone and I saw your text, but I don’t know where she is so I couldn’t give her your message. Since I’m dying to see your puppy, I came over instead. I hope you don’t mind.”
Delainey grins. “Not at all! I’m glad you’re here. This change of plans happened so fast that my parents are still at work and I’m here alone. I’m glad to have someone with me to share this amazing moment. I can’t wait to meet little Luna!”
“Me too!” I wear a smile like camouflage. Spies must blend in and never show their true feelings.
“Mrs. Vandameer will be here soon,” Delainey goes on as she ushers me into her house. “When you meet her, you can ask about a pug for your friend.”
Friend? Oh yeah, the fake-friend who wants to buy a pug. “My friend will be excited.”
“And if she gets a pug too, our puppies can have play dates. What’s her name?”
The most convincing lie is one that contains some truth so I answer, “Becca. She really loves dogs.” Before Delainey can ask anything else, I change the subject and point down the hallway. At the end, there’s a bench covered in dog toys, a plush bed, a leash, puppy food, and a sparkling pink collar. “Are those for Luna?”
“Yes. Mom teases that I’m spoiling my puppy before I even have her. But I wanted to be ready for her. I also have this.” She pulls out an envelope from her pocket and waves it. “Exactly two thousand dollars.”
“Wow,” I say, surprised. I’ve never seen that much money in cash.
She shrugs. “Merry Lee insisted on cash. She told me, ‘You’re buying a beloved family member, not a car.’”
I press my lips together, even more suspicious. Cash can’t be traced.
“I hear a car!” Delainey squeals and rushes to the door. “My Luna is finally here! I c
an’t wait to meet her!”
And I can’t wait to meet the mysterious Merry Lee Vandameer.
I follow Delainey outside.
- Chapter 19 -
Pursuit!
It’s like the world has stopped in a freeze-frame. I take everything in with a sweeping glance. A middle-aged woman wearing a long, flowered skirt and a floppy sun hat steps out of an SUV with shaded windows. In the SUV, a shadowy figure sits waiting. Across the street, Becca and Leo wait—one pretending to check a tire on her bike and the other on his gyro-board.
Delainey rushes over to Mrs. Vandameer and scoops up a tiny black puppy. Luna is even smaller than Buggy, which hardly seems possible. Her bark is more of a squeak, and her curly tail wiggles excitedly.
“My little Luna,” Delainey croons lovingly. When she finds out the pedigree papers are fake, she’s going to be disappointed.
I go over to Delainey. “She’s so cute,” I say, petting Luna’s velvety puppy fur.
Delainey gestures to me. “This is my friend Kelsey.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet y’all,” the woman says. Her southern accent is so thick that I’m sure it’s phony.
“Thank you for bringing Luna to me. She’s the most darling puppy in the world!” Delainey kisses the puppy’s black nose.
“I only care about finding the perfect home for my tiny treasures,” Mrs. Vandameer says. “And it’s obvious that this puppy was meant to be yours.”
“She’s adorable! It was so kind of you to make such a long trip to bring her to me. I’ve made some sweet tea and pecan cookies,” Delainey adds graciously. “Please come inside, and your friend can come too.” She points to the shadowed figure in the car.
“Thank you kindly, but he’s just my driver. I always hire a car when I travel.” Mrs. Vandameer waves her red-painted nails. “I’m on a tight schedule and need to hurry back to the airport. Sorry I can’t stay, although tea and cookies sound delicious.” She unclasps a briefcase and takes out a manila envelope. “Here are all of Luna’s documents. I assume you have my payment in cash?”
“Right here,” Delainey says and holds out the envelope.
I want to scream, “No! Don’t give her the money!”
Instead I grasp a GPF ball and move closer to Mrs. Vandameer. I’m aware of the shadowy watcher in the car so I wait until her back is turned toward me, then fling the GPF ball.
And I miss.
Drats. I only have one more GPF.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come inside?” Delainey asks, then giggles when the puppy licks her face.
“No. You’ve been kind enough,” the woman says with a satisfied smile. She opens the envelope and counts the cash. “I have all I need.”
But I don’t, I think, grasping the GPF. When she turns to leave, I move beside her and touch her shoulder. “Wait a minute, Mrs. Vandameer. I have a question.”
She pushes back a silvery strand of hair that curls so perfectly I suspect she’s wearing a wig. “How can I help you, my dear?”
“A friend of mine would like a purebred pug. Delainey said you might consider giving her a discount.”
“I certainly would.” Her smile curves wide, and I can almost see dollar signs dancing in her eyes. “You just tell your friend to call me.” She rattles off the same number Delainey gave me, and I nod like this is the first time I’m hearing it.
When Mrs. Vandameer turns to leave, I spot a shiny glint on the back of her jacket. I grin. Score one GPF ball!
She steps into her “hired” car and speaks to the driver—a thirtysomething man with a dark-blond beard and camo cap. I can’t hear what she says, but she calls him Burl.
Burl? As in the puppy mill crooks Burl and Merle Midgley? A wild thought hits me. Could Merry Lee Vandameer be their mother?
The SUV engine rumbles as the car backs out of the driveway.
I turn around. “I have to go!” I tell Delainey. “I just remembered an appointment I’m late for.”
“But you haven’t even held Luna, and I have cookies and sweet tea. Stay just a little longer.”
Across the street, my club mates gesture for me to hurry.
“Sorry, but this is important,” I say, rushing down the porch steps. “Luna really is sweet. I’m happy for you.”
But I’m worried too. What will happen to Luna when the puppy mill crooks are caught? Will Delainey have to give up her puppy? Could justice be crueler than the crime?
“Hurry!” Becca says as I hop on my bike.
Leo rolls up beside me. His phone’s screen shows a map with a blue dot moving across it.
“Good job placing the GPF,” Leo says. “But we have to move quickly. They’re already turning the corner.”
How can Leo expect two bikes and a gyro-board to catch up with a car? As long as the car stays on residential streets, we have a chance. But if they head for the airport, we’ll lose them. Leo leads the way, crouching low as he gains speed, and I sail around the corner behind my friends.
We pass the high school, where only a few kids and teachers are around this late in the afternoon. We’re a block behind our target, but we should be able to catch up at the stop sign ahead. Except that the SUV doesn’t slow; it runs the stop sign.
“Go faster!” Leo shouts, then shoots off ahead of us.
“I can’t go any faster,” Becca tells me. “Besides, Major is getting tired.”
“Handsome too.” He’s panting hard, and I slow down. Chasing after bad guys with dogs is a bad idea.
“The dogs need a rest and water,” Becca says, rolling up beside me. “I think we should text the sheriff.”
“Yeah, go ahead,” I say. “But if we stop, we’ll lose Leo.”
“You catch up with Leo, and I’ll take both dogs,” she says, holding out her hand for Handsome’s leash. “I’ll text to find out where you are. Do you still have your sisters’ phone?”
I nod, glancing down the street. I can barely see Leo, who has zoomed ahead on his robotic board.
“After the dogs are rested, I’ll find you,” Becca says, tucking both leashes into one hand.
“Okay.” I look ahead just as Leo makes a right and disappears around a corner. I wave to Becca. “Got to go!”
I pedal away, following Leo onto Main Street, which leads into downtown. Usually red lights are annoying, but right now I’m thrilled to see a traffic jam. When Leo stops on the sidewalk a few cars behind the SUV, I finally catch up with him.
I bend over to look at the map on Leo’s phone. The flashing dot has momentarily stopped. “Where do you think they’re headed?”
“According to my calculations, there are two likely routes,” Leo says. “If they go straight, they’ll be in a busy neighborhood with lots of stop signs, which will make them easier to follow. But if they turn left, they’ll leave town.”
“Mrs. Vandameer said she was going to the airport,” I tell him.
“If she’s being honest, then we’re out of luck. My GPF range is only five miles. But I’ve taken photos and have the license plate memorized.” He glances around curiously. “Where are Becca and the dogs?”
I explain quickly before the light turns green.
As we near the next intersection, I hold my breath. Don’t turn left. Go straight! I cross my fingers. And the SUV turns right.
Drats! That’s not even a street!
“Down the alley!” Leo shouts as he skids around the corner.
I follow, dodging around broken glass and trash until we reach a quiet country road.
“Where did they go?” I shade my eyes from the glinting sun as I stare down the narrow road bordered with orchards of fruits and nut trees.
“Of all the confounded complications,” Leo utters in what I guess is the closest he comes to swearing. “The GPF indicator went out.”
“It’s not working?” I look at his phone for the flashing dot and only see a blank gray screen.
“Signal is lost and…It’s returned! But that’s odd.” He wrinkles his brow.
“How can the car be on the other side of Sun River? The map doesn’t show a bridge.”
“Maybe the car floated down the river,” I joke.
“Not that model of vehicle. Although Tesla has a car with a wheel rotation that can propel the car through a body of water without damaging the battery.” Leo shakes his blond head. “There has to be a bridge. If we keep going on this road, we should find it.”
I pause to send a quick text to Becca, then pedal fast to catch up with Leo. The road becomes hilly, sweeping up, then down like I’m riding a roller coaster. A wind picks up, whooshing my hair behind me.
The road curves to the left and abruptly ends at a bramble of berry bushes that sweep down to Sun River.
“The app shows we need to be on the other side of the river.” Leo points. “But no bridge.”
“Don’t even think about asking me to swim,” I say with a shiver. Sun River looks inviting with rippling waves sparkling like diamonds, but it’s actually freezing with treacherous undercurrents.
“We must have missed the turn.” Leo frowns. “Let’s go back.”
I nod and turn my bike around. We ride slowly, peering in through bushes and trees for a road. But there isn’t any. We’ve gone halfway when I notice a faded square of wood nailed to a sprawling oak tree. A street sign? I pull my bike off the road and try to read the faint writing.
“‘Down the…something…hole…Bob’?” I murmur.
“Down the rabbit hole,” Leo says as he comes up behind me.
“But what does it mean? And who is Bob?”
“Look!” Leo gestures to a tangle of fruit trees. “A dirt road!”
“With fresh tire tracks.” I point. “This must be where Mrs. Vandameer’s driver turned off.”
Leo’s screen shows we’re closing in on the flashing dot. We decide it’s safer to continue by foot so we hide my bike and his gyro-board in the bushes.
Trees drape over us like thick curtains blocking out the sun. The road rises, dips, and plunges toward Sun River. Tire ruts deepen, crisscrossing with different treads as if several vehicles have come this way recently. When the trees open to a clearing with a wooden covered bridge, I gasp. “There is a bridge.”
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