Free The Case of the Disappearing Corpse by June Whyte Page B

anything.
    Which is why I tied the micro-film inside the pink handkerchief then tied both to a hunk of string around my neck. That way both clues were with me 24/7.
    I was half way through reading chapter 4 of an Emily Rodda’s Teen-Power mystery when the phone rang. Of course Sarah, who was home from the mall by this time, came barreling out of her room. The thumping beat of one of her rap idols followed her.
    “It’s mine!” she screamed, both hands outstretched. Her wet purple colored nails reminded me of vampire claws. “Let me have it!”
    Let her have it? Ooooh, I was so tempted…
    Instead, I grabbed the phone and accidentally smudged one of Miss Pre-Teen’s painted nails in the struggle.
    “Hello. Chiana Ryan speaking.”
    “Hi, Cha. It’s me, Tayla.” There was a pause. “What’s with the noise? Sounds like a bulldozer is knocking down the house.”
    “Just Sarah.”
    I scowled get lost at Miss Pre-Teen, who was stamping her feet and giving me an, I’ll get you back glare. Geez. Anyone would think I’d chopped her finger off at the last knuckle instead of smudging her nail polish.
    “Hey, Tayla,” I said. “Are you home from your Gran’s yet?”
    I had to stick a finger in my other ear. All the better to hear Tayla’s voice over thumping music, stamping stepsister and Mum yelling up the stairs to turn that blasted music down.
    “I came home this afternoon. It’s peaceful with Gran and Poppa, but deadly boring.”
    “Are you okay? I’ve been worried about you since—you know—the other night.”
    I watched Sarah stamp off in the direction of her room then slam the door so hard the floor boards quivered under my feet.
    “Creeped me out big time, like, I keep thinking of—you know—the ants eating his face and stuff.” I could hear the shudder in her voice.
    “Yeah. And what about how stiff he was?”
    “Wonder if they broke an arm off when they tried to get him out through the shed door.”
    “ Yuk !”
    “Anyway, what’s happening? Did you give you-know-what to the police?”
    “Not yet. It’s on a string around my neck. And guess what? I found another clue.”
    “Are you crazy?” Tayla’s voice rose to a squeal. “There’s a killer out there looking for the you-know-what, and you’re talking another clue. Cha, you are totally freaking me out here.”
    I changed the phone to my other ear, slid to the floor then stretched both legs out in front of me.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll take the microfilm to the police as soon as I’ve checked out this latest clue. Hands-on stuff helps me to write my story.” Excitement bubbled inside at the thought of my story. “I’m three-quarter way through now, Tay, but need the mystery solved before I can finish.”
    “I dunno, Cha. I’m scared. Like, why can’t you write about a true-life crime that’s already been solved, like everyone else?”
    “But that’s the point,” I twisted a strand of my hair around my finger. “That’s exactly why my story will stand out from the others.”
    “Still say you’re crazy.”
    “Maybe.” I sniffed and blanked the cold shiver that invaded my body. “Hey, guess who I saw today?”
    “Leonardo De Caprio?”
    “I wish.”
    “That cute guy from Port Power who sometimes plays at full forward?”
    “ Cute? Tayla, he’s a gorilla .”
    “Is not!”
    “Have it your way. I saw Constable Nick Roberts today.”
    “The cop with the dimple?”
    “Yeah. He said Frank Skinner used to work at the Weapons Research Station.”
    “So?”
    “Don’t you get it? The microfilm must have something to do with a new weapon they’re researching.”
    “All the more reason to toss it at the police and run for cover.”
    “Come on, Tay. I just want to ask around at the Research Station. Find someone who knew Frank. If I can land one more lead, I promise I’ll spill everything I know to the police.” I paused to let that sink in. “Are you with me?”
    “I dunno…”
    “Pretty please. If I can win