Free 3 Kill Me Over the Garden Gate by Gale Borger

 
    Chapter 1
     
     
    "This is not what I had in mind when I said I'd help find a murderer."
    Bean squeezed under a potting bench in a greenhouse owned by Franklin B. Hunnicut IV. He knew Pone and Shroom ran like heck for the garden gate. The security guards were after them when Bean ducked into the greenhouse. His friends hoped to make it to the gate they'd broken to get in. Bean dove under the potting bench to hide. The security guards ran past him. They chased Shroom and Pone. Last seen, Shroom had almost made it to the gate. Bean sure hoped they made it.
    He waited. His leg cramped. Musta been about a half hour ago, and he still didn't hear screaming. I wonder if they got away . He peeked out from under the bench. He listened. No sound. Where are those guys? Bean slowly crawled into the aisle. He sat on the floor. "So do I wait for those guys to come back or what?"
    Bean got to his knees and looked out a dirty window. No one in sight. He saw some plants sitting in plug trays on top of the bench behind him. He peeked out the window one more time. Nothing. Bean stood and grabbed a tray of four-pack flower pots. "Why not? Might as well plant. Pone will come for me when it's clear."
    Bean poked the bottom of the plug tray. The tiny plant popped up. "Petunias. I like Petunias." Bean filled the four-pack from the pile of soil mix on the counter. He scraped off the tops of the trays with a wooden ruler. The extra planting mix fell to the table, the tops of the pots now even. He then took a pencil and poked a hole in the middle of each pot. Popping each plug out of its tray, he dropped one in each pencil hole. He pressed the dirt around each plant and watered it in. He set aside the first tray and picked up the next.
    Several trays later, Bean ran short of compost for the plant mix. He poked his head out the door. No one was coming. Where are those guys? I hope Pone comes soon.
    No noise could be heard in the yard. Bean grabbed a bucket and snuck around the corner of the green house. He lifted the tarp that covered the compost pile. He scooped the compost with his hands. The bucket was almost full when Bean's hand caught on something. He shoved the bucket into the pile and hit something hard.
    Digging in the pile, he found a piece of cloth. He began to dig like a dog for a bone. Dirt flew between Bean's legs. It landed about ten feet behind him. He stopped suddenly. He heard moaning sounds and didn't realize he'd made it.
    Finally, dripping sweat and out of breath, he fell back. A shoulder and arm hung out of the compost pile. Bean stared. His mouth hung open. He blinked, and waited for breakfast to creep up his throat. Nothing happened. He reached out and poked the arm. It moved but did not bend. Bean scrambled backward. He shoved the arm with a foot. Compost dribbled down the pile, but the body didn't move.
    "Oh crap… Hah , Crap, compost. You kill me, Beaner. Knock it off now. No compost jokes." He touched the arm again. " Hmm , been dead awhile." Bean leaned forward and knocked more compost off the body. He grabbed an arm and pulled. It didn't budge. He emptied his bucket and used it as a scoop. When he'd cleared the compost off the upper body, he pulled the body out of the pile.
    " Hoo-whee , another dead chick. I gotta call Pone's dad." He dug out his cell phone. He went through his contacts, but didn't find Big Mike's number. "Damn. Now what?"
    Bean texted Pone to get his dad out to the Hunnicut place, there was a body in the crap pile behind the greenhouse. As he pushed send he heard a noise. He almost wet his pants, but sucked it up and grabbed the tarp. He yanked it over the dead chick. Crawling on his hands and knees, he scrambled around the corner and slipped inside the greenhouse. Since it had worked the first time, Bean crammed himself onto a lower shelf and held his breath.
    At the sound of footsteps, he wished he'd gone to the bathroom earlier. The steps slowed. Bean squeezed his eyes shut. Like that's gonna make