Free Weeding Out Trouble by Heather Webber Page A

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    I was getting good at sneaking out.
    It was all about distraction.
    I'd waited until my mother was changing Kevin's gauze, then announced that I'd be taking BeBe for a walk, maybe go check on Gregory Peck, and see if Miss Maisie had contacted the CDC yet.
    It was ten in the morning and all was quiet in the Mill. Snow reached mid-calf on my galoshes, but the sun peeped through fluffy clouds, promising a beautiful day. BeBe pranced around the yard, taking a moment to visit her snowman. She'd been having a blast until she saw the turkeys lurking near the woods at the back of my property.
    One turkey sighting and she was cowering behind my legs, shaking like a bad Elvis impersonator. Namely, my dad. I wondered if he'd give a performance of "Don't Be Cruel" if my Thanksgiving dinner needed livening up.
    As I dragged BeBe toward Mr. Cabrera's, I thought about my father. Was he lonely? I guessed not. I could practi cally see him lounging in his recliner, watching the History Channel, coffee in one hand, bag of Cheetos in the other.
    My mom never let Dad have Cheetos.
    I had to know. Pulling out my cell phone, I called him. "Are you eating Cheetos?"
    Crunch, crunch . "What? No. Never! Did you know on this day in 1835 the horseshoe manufacturing machine was patented?"
    "No. And I'd wipe the cheesy fingerprints off the phone before Mom gets home." To the dog, I said, "C'mon, BeBe!"
    She'd planted all four paws in the snow.
    "She's not coming home, is she?" Dad didn't have to specify the "she." I could tell by the fear in his voice.
    "I don't know," I lied, tugging on BeBe. It wasn't easy budging 150 pounds of turkey-fearing canine.
    "What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you see your mother this morning?"
    My breath puffed out in front of me like little evil cumulous clouds. "Actually, I didn't."
    Lying again. I suppose it was bad enough to lie, but to lie and enjoy it? Maybe I had a sadistic streak.
    If I did, it was easily explained by the fact that he'd gone and left my mother with me. I was going to need to see a chiropractor if I had to sleep on the floor again.
    His voice tinged in panic, he said, "I've got to go, Nina."
    "'Bye, Dad."
    I flipped my phone closed, tucked it into my pocket. A light coat of snow had covered BeBe.
    "Come on, Beebs." I yanked, I tugged, I begged, I cajoled. Finally, I said, "Gobble, gobble!"
    She leaped forward, nearly knocking me down in the process. Barking, she wound her way around me, wrapping me like a mummy.
    "BeBe, stop!"
    She was having fun now, the little devil.
    Just when I was wondering how I was going to get out of that mess, I heard, "Ach. There's a good schnitzel."
    Great. Just great.
    BeBe lunged for Brickhouse.
    "Timber!" she yelled, cackling.
    As I fell, I suddenly remembered why I didn't like that woman.
    She laughed and laughed. "I wish I had a camera. What a great Christmas picture this would be for my cards this year."
    Ugh. I didn't want to think Mrs. Krauss and I were alike at all, but there were times . . .
    I shoved those thoughts into the Never Be Thought About Again, Ever corner.
    BeBe easily pulled me across the snow, as though I was some bound-up Christmas tree she was delivering.
    I looked up at Brickhouse. "You're not going to leave me like this, are you?"
    She clucked. "Depends."
    "On?"
    "Are you sneaking off?"
    "Ha. Ha. Who says I snuck off?"
    She held up her hand. One chubby finger shot into the air. "The detectives." Another finger. "Your mother." Another finger. "Tam."
    Tam! She'd ratted me out?
    Another finger. "Kevin."
    "All right! All right. I snuck off." My backside was starting to freeze.
    She planted meaty hands on her hips. "I want to go with you today."
    I wiggled, trying to free myself. It wasn't pretty. "I don't think so."
    "Suit yourself, Nina Ceceri."
    She turned and started walking away. BeBe followed, dragging me along.
    I caved. "All right! You can come."
    She clucked happily as she unleashed BeBe and unwound me. "Where are we