Free The Doctor Dines in Prague by Robin Hathaway

arms, she said, ‘Shit.’”
    Horatio clapped a hand over his mouth, feigning shock.
    â€œIt’s bad enough when you say it, but when it comes out of a little girl’s mouth … And what will her parents think, if we send her home spouting street talk?”
    â€œHey, man, can I help it if she’s a parrot?”
    â€œYou can help by watching your mouth.”
    â€œAll right, already. Can I go now?”
    Mrs. Doyle stepped aside.
    â€œHi, Rat!” Marie greeted him with a big smile.
    â€œI brought you something.” He tossed a small, red object at her.
    She caught it.
    â€œWay to go!” He was impressed.
    â€œWhat is it?” Marie turned the object over in her hand.
    â€œAin’t you ever seen one?” He took it from her and began to demonstrate yo-yo technique. He made it “rock,” he made it “loop,” he swung it up and out and around his head, pulled it down, and made it “sleep.”
    Marie’s eyes were wide. “Teach me.”
    â€œNow, just a minute.” Mrs. Doyle did her best to maintain discipline in her day care center. “No yo-yoing until you’ve finished your breakfast.”
    Marie gobbled down the remains of her toast and egg, her eyes fixed on Horatio as he performed “Rock the Baby” and “Over the Falls” with great skill.
    â€œBefore you came, we were trying to decide what to do today. Do you have any ideas?” Mrs. Doyle began putting the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher.
    The boy let his yo-yo dangle. “How ’bout the Franklin Institute?”
    â€œThat’s an idea.”
    â€œWhat’s an in-sti-tute?” asked Marie.

    â€œUh …” Horatio scratched his head.
    â€œIn this case it’s like a museum,” said the nurse. “A science museum.”
    Marie wrinkled her nose.
    â€œThere’s the ‘Please Touch’ Museum,” offered Horatio.
    â€œWhat about the Poe House?” Jennifer appeared in the kitchen doorway. She had her own key.
    They looked at her skeptically.
    â€œWhat’s the Poe House?” asked Horatio.
    â€œEdgar Allan Poe was one of our first mystery writers and he lived on Spring Garden Street.” Jennifer disappeared into the combination living/dining room, where a huge bookcase dominated one wall. She came back with a small black volume in her hand. Sitting down, she flipped it open. “‘The Tell-Tale Heart,’ ‘The Pit and the Pendulum,’ ‘The Black Cat’ …” she read from the table of contents. “Which one shall I read?”
    â€œâ€˜The Black Cat’” cried Marie.
    Horatio shrugged.
    Mrs. Doyle continued putting the kitchen in order, and wondered why Jennifer had come by so early.
    â€œFor the most wild yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief … .” Jennifer paused. “Is Sal around?”
    â€œNo,” Marie said, with a sorrowful expression.
    â€œGood,” said Jennifer. “I don’t think she’d approve of this story.” She continued to read.
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    While the others got ready to go to the Poe House, Jennifer stood on a chair and pulled the shoebox from the top of the hall closet. She had it under her arm and the chair replaced by the time the little group began to congregate in the hall.
    â€œWhat’s that?” asked the ever-observant Horatio.
    â€œSome letters Dr. Fenimore asked me to mail to him.”
    â€œLetters? What letters?” Mrs. Doyle was not to be caught napping.

    â€œFrom his cousins. He …” She stopped as Marie came running down the hall.
    â€œAll set?” Jennifer asked.
    They nodded.
    â€œUnfortunately, I can’t come with you. I have an important errand to run.”
    They looked disappointed.
    â€œGive my love to ‘The Raven,’” she called as they trooped out the front door. Jennifer had offered to give