Free The Case That Time Forgot by Tracy Barrett Page A

of juice, and stood up. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything else from the SPFD. See you later.”
    Â 
    The rest of the day dragged. Xena and Xander didn’t even have the prospect of going back to The Cat and Crown to look forward to, since Xena had to study for a test and their parents wouldn’t let Xander travel around the city on his own. Karim would be tied up at a piano recital.
    So Xena’s mood was no better when she stood next to Xander as he dug around in his locker to get out everything he would need that evening.
    â€œHurry
up
,” she said again. The corridor was deserted; everyone had either gone home or to homework hall.
    â€œWhy don’t you just go without me?”
    â€œOh, sure. Dad would kill me if I left you.” But it was tempting.
    At last Xander wrestled his backpack out of the locker. He knew it was crazy, but he couldn’t help leaning in and checking just once more for the casebook. Something prickly moved up hisarm. “What in the world—?” He dropped his pack and pulled up his sleeve.
    Clinging to his arm, its little claws straight up and its wicked-looking tail curved high in the air, was a pale brown scorpion.

CHAPTER TEN
    F or an instant Xena crazily thought that the scorpion must be the amulet, because she could have sworn that time stood still. Then time unstuck and she ripped a poster off the wall and used it to knock the creature off Xander’s arm. She leaped forward and upended a trash can over the scorpion, trapping it.
    She grabbed Xander, forgetting for the moment about the casebook and the amulet, thinking only of her brother and the danger he’d been in. “Did it sting you?” Xander was trembling but managed to shake his head. She released her bear hug and stepped back, still keeping hold of his shoulders. “Are you sure?”
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” It was Dr. Holloway, the science teacher.
    Xena explained about Xander finding a scorpion in his locker.
    â€œI’m going to call your parents,” the teachersaid, his face grim. “Where did it go?” Xena pointed at the upside-down trash can. “Good thinking,” the teacher said approvingly. He slid the poster under the trash can, and then carried the whole thing into the science room.
    By the time their mother arrived, Dr. Holloway had deposited the furious-looking scorpion (along with rolled-up papers, tissues, and candy wrappers) into the terrarium. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Holmes,” he kept saying. “I can’t think how it could have happened. I know the scorpion couldn’t have escaped on its own.” He showed her the latch, which was securely closed.
    Their mother nodded. “I see. No, I agree that it couldn’t have escaped without help. Has anything else been interfered with?”
    Dr. Holloway swept his eyes around the classroom. “Nothing that I can see right now. Xander assures me he wasn’t stung, but if you want to run him by the hospital—”
    â€œNo,” Xander said. “Please, Mom.” He pulled his sleeve up and his mother inspected it for what felt like the hundredth time.
    â€œA scorpion sting isn’t deadly,” Dr. Holloway went on, “but it’s very unpleasant. I understand that in Mexico one name for a scorpion is ‘three bee stings,’ because that’s what it feels like.”
    â€œThere’s no need for the hospital,” Mrs. Holmes said. “It was clearly a prank—not a very nice one, but a prank nonetheless.”
    The teacher promised to call the principal and launch an investigation the next day, and their mother took them home.
    Their father was waiting for them in the kitchen. He gave Xander a hug. “I hear you had a close call. You okay, son?”
    â€œI’m fine.” Xander was becoming uncomfortable at all the attention.
    â€œDidn’t you get a harassing phone call the other