Free Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble by Chris Grabenstein Page B

dogs.”
    â€œWe were framed. Set up.”
    â€œI’m certain you were. My goodness, something smells fetid.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œSomething stinks.”
    â€œHey,” said Brown, “don’t look at me. I took a bath last night. It’s the fish. All that rain Sunday must’ve stirred things up.”
    â€œWe should hire a crew to cart away the carcasses,” said Mr. Paxton. “Before someone complains about the odor!”
    â€œDon’t worry. My son’s all over it. He and a few of his high school buddies will swing by and eliminate all the evidence.”
    â€œYou hired high school students?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œDon’t worry, Prescott. I handpicked the kids. These boys won’t squeal about this to anybody. They wouldn’t dare. I have outstanding warrants on all of them.”
    â€œThey’re criminals?”
    â€œI prefer the term juvenile delinquents .”
    Riley crawled a few inches forward. Through a break in the brush, he could clearly see Mr. Paxton and Chief Brown.
    â€œSo,” said the chief, “what about Kleinman?”
    â€œWhat about him?” said Paxton.
    â€œPeople might’ve reported this stench to him . There’s a whole tract of houses just beyond that treeline.”
    â€œI’ll take care of Kleinman,” said Mr. Paxton. “He’s swinging by the club at four. I’ve invited him to be a celebrity judge at the talent show this coming Saturday.”
    â€œCelebrity? Kleinman? He’s bald.”
    â€œLook, John—you take care of the little fish, I’ll deal with the bigger ones.”
    The two men quit talking.
    Riley heard someone jiggle the lock.
    â€œJohn,” said Mr. Paxton, “why is this gate unlocked?”
    Riley’s heart leaped up into his throat.
    â€œGavin,” muttered Chief Brown. “He hung the extra signs for me last night. Forgot to lock up. That boy fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.”
    The chief snapped the lock shut.
    â€œWhat if somebody else went in after Gavin?” asked Mr. Paxton. “What if it was Kleinman or some of his people?”
    â€œThen I would’ve heard something by now. Relax, Prescott. You’re fine. Now let’s get out of here. I hate the woods. Too many bugs.”
    The two men walked out of view. Car doors opened and closed. An engine roared to life. Wheels rumbled down the dirt road.
    Riley, Mongo, and Jamal remained frozen until they heard the car accelerate onto the paved roadway a quarter mile away.
    â€œCan we breathe yet?” Mongo finally whispered.
    â€œYeah,” said Riley. “They’re gone.”
    â€œBrown and Paxton?” said Jamal. “They’re both mixed up in this thing?”
    â€œSo it seems,” said Riley, standing up and brushing dirt off his jeans.
    â€œMight I say, Riley Mack, that you were wise not to report this matter to the proper authorities because, if you ask me, the authorities around here aren’t all that proper.”
    Riley nodded. His mind was racing a mile a minute. What could Brown and Paxton be working on together? And who was this Kleinman guy they both seemed to be so worried about? Why did they need to bribe him into silence?
    â€œI need to be at the country club at four p.m. to check out this Kleinman character.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” said Jamal. “Do they let black people into this country club?”
    Riley shook his head.
    â€œThey don’t? What is this, 1952 or something?”
    â€œNo, I mean I don’t want you coming along. You’re too young. This is too risky.”
    â€œRisky? Risky is my middle name.”
    â€œReally?” said Mongo. “Mine is Horatio.”
    â€œHubert Horatio Montgomery?”
    Mongo nodded.
    â€œMan, what is wrong with your parents?”
    Before Mongo could answer, Riley interrupted.