The Case of the Bad Twin

by Shannon Greenland

  “Yes.” I don’t feel bad about the lie since Maura Alva made Old Lady Henrietta break her ankle.

  “It’s exactly what I would’ve done. But it looks like Julian tipped off Maura. Maybe he didn’t believe your lie.”

  “Maybe.” I check the time on my phone. We have about an hour before Aunt Grace gets out of bingo. By then I need to be back home. Given that Diamond is spending the night with me, we both need to be back at my home.

  “We could circle back around to Maura Alva’s house,” Diamond says and we both cringe. If Maura is creepy, her house is even creepier. It’s not a house you approach in the night.

  We fall silent as a bicycle approaches. In the dark and with no reflectors or lights I can’t make out who is riding. The bike comes to a stop. The person gets off and leaving the wheels propped against the house, cuts off down the side yard.

  “You think that’s Maura?” Diamond whispers.

  I can’t tell. Maura is one of the tallest girls in our 8th grade class. She has short dark hair, is skinny, and tends to wear jeans and tees. This person matches that description but from this angle and in the dark, I can’t see her face.

  The side entry to the house opens, a shadow fills the doorway that could be Julian, the boyfriend. The unknown bicycle rider that could be Maura, disappears inside. The door shuts.

  I stand. “I say we go knock.”

  Diamond stands, too. She adjusts her black utility vest. Mine doesn’t need adjusting, but I do anyway. I also double-check my supplies are strapped in: mini binoculars, slingshot, handcuffs, lock picks, cable ties, key chain sized pepper spray (that I’m not entirely sure has anymore spray), and my newest thing—a pea shooter. A month ago I didn’t have this vest. I carried my supplies in a messenger bag. Diamond surprised me with it when we opened Piper Investigations. But where hers is black, mine is dark purple—my favorite color.

  With it strapped on over my navy sundress, a black ball cap wedged over my two blonde braids, and high-top purple converse in place of my usual flip-flops, I’m feeling pretty confident. I lead the way across the lawn and down the stone walkway to the side entry.

  From her vest, Diamond slides out an oversized flashlight.

  I eye it. “Isn’t that a little big?”

  She slaps it against her palm. “Great light, sure, but an even better weapon.”

  A month ago she accidentally got pepper spray in her eyes (from my can), and I nearly passed out from how she looked—all red and puffy. Let’s just say I don’t have a strong stomach. I can’t even watch a good horror movie without feeling ill. If she has to use the flashlight as a weapon, I’ll close my eyes.

  I knock on the door. We wait. When no one answers, I step to the side and unholster my slingshot. Standard practice for back up. In my case, it’s also an empty gesture. Though I’ve practiced, I’ve only hit my target on one occasion and that was really just dumb luck.

  Raising the flashlight, Diamond knocks on the door with an authoritative thump. “Open up.”

  This draws a response. The door opens and Diamond shines the flashlight beam straight into Rocco Garcia’s face.

  Rocco Garcia?

  We all stand silent for a moment, surprised to see each other. Rocco Garcia was the number one suspect in the missing time capsule case. Later he joined forces with me and Diamond to track down the real thief. The last time I saw him was a month ago when we buried the time capsule at a town event.

  Rocco lives with his grandmother, Mama Garcia, while his parents surf the world. He took off to join them on a summer tour through South America. I had no idea he was back.

  Squinting into the beam, Rocco holds up his hand and Diamond lowers the light.

  “Did you just ride up on a bike?” she asks.

  “Yeah,” he says.

  “That’s not your bike,” I say.

  “It belongs to my dad. What’s with all the questions?”

  How is it that Rocco has his normal BMX bike, an electric step scooter, and now his dad’s road bike when I still ride Lolli—my one-gear red, beach-cruiser? Life isn’t fair.

  Julian steps up beside Rocco and my eyes narrow in. “Where’s Maura? You said she was supposed to be here tonight?”

  “Don’t know what to tell you.” He shrugs. “Maybe she’s ‘making out’ with that boy.”

  Diamond’s lips press together to hide her smile.

  I clear my throat. “Maybe.”

  Rocco’s been watching me this whole time and I look at him. “What?”

  He takes in my ball cap, braids, utility vest, sneakers. “Cute.”

  I roll my eyes. Did I mention Rocco is a flirt? Heck, he’s probably even flirted with Maura Alva.

  “It’s late,” Julian says. “I’m not supposed to have people over past nine.”

  It’s eight-thirty. “Fine, you’ve got my number. Text if Maura contacts you.”

  “Mm, hm.”

  Rocco follows me and Diamond out. We walk to his dad’s road bike.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  “Looking for Maura,” he says.

  Diamond and I exchange a surprised glance. “Why?”

  “She’s my cousin.”

  My jaw drops. “You’re telling me that you’re related to Maura Alva, the creepiest girl in town?”

  Rocco sighs. “Yes. Her dad and Mama Garcia are first cousins twice removed. Or something like that.”

  “That makes you second cousins, three times removed?” Diamond asks.

  Rocco shrugs. “No clue. When Mama Garcia found out what Maura did, she asked me to find her. Everyone likes Old Lady Henrietta. My grandmother wants to give Maura a good talking to.”

  I think that’s probably something Maura’s dad should do, but I keep that to myself. Because no one challenges Mama Garcia.

  Rocco’s grandmother doesn’t like me. Though I think I’m wearing on her. Still, I give her a wide berth just like I do Maura Alva. I would have a panic attack if I heard Mama Garcia was looking for me.

  He looks at the door he just came from. “Other than Julian, what leads do you have?”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Are we working together and I missed it?”

  “When did you get back?” Diamond asks.

  Good question.

  “This morning.” He picks his dad’s bike up. “I thought we made a good team.”

  If you call him locking me in a shed, me stealing his BMX bike, him breaking into my house, and me bugging his bedroom good teamwork, then yeah. Truth is after we worked through our differences we did settle into a co-working groove.

  I do consider Rocco a friend. I think.

  As I chew on that, I give him a good long study. He looks different in the month he’s been gone. Taller. Definitely more tan. Older, too. Yet I’m not sure how that is given we’re both thirteen. Diamond’s the elder at fourteen.

  He grins, his dimple flashes, and my stupid stomach goes all squishy.

  Diamond says, “We set up shop in Penny-Ann’s playhouse.”

  “I love that thing.” Rocco swings his leg over the road bike. “Well, I don’t suppose Maura is showing up this late.”

  “Not likely,” I agree and with a nod and wave, Rocco peddles off.

  Diamond and I walk across the lawn and diagonally through the historic downtown area where we left her black and white moped parked. Surprisingly, Aunt Grace doesn’t mind if I double on the moped. Her two stipulations are helmet required and don’t go over fifteen miles per hour. Considering Lolli will never see fifteen in her lifetime, I don’t complain.

  Rocco’s probably right about Maura not showing, still I say, “How about we backtrack before heading home?”

  “You read my mind.” Diamond fastens her black helmet and I fasten my white one. I plant my converse on the foot pegs reserved for the second passenger and hold her waist as she putters off.

  We circle the downtown area, following the one-way streets. As we turn onto Julian’s road, we slowly crawl by, eyeing his hous
e. All appears the same.

  It’s as I’m looking away to focus on the ride home that I see them—Maura Alva and Julian Eades—holding hands and racing away from his house. Diamond comes to a stop at a red light, and I don’t think twice as I swing my leg over and take off in a full sprint.

  “Where are you going?” Diamond yells.

  I ignore her.

  On second thought I circle my index finger in the air, hoping she understands that means to follow me. I’m not exactly anxious to do a single-handed capture of a girl who gets her kicks out of preserving animals.

  Slinking from shadow to shadow, I trail their wake. They move through the night, crossing yards, rounding houses, and heading away from the historic downtown area.

  Where are they going?

  I keep pace, staying far enough away that they won’t spot me or hear me running. They hang a right into the bad part of town (which is really just one street) and disappear into an abandoned house.

  Of course.

  Breathing heavy, I ease up against the side of the house, feeling the weathered wood prick my shoulders and bare arms. I better not get a splinter.

  From my purple utility vest, I fish out my phone and fire off a text to Diamond so she’ll know where I am. While I wait, I peek through the broken window and into pitch black. I don’t care how nosy I am, I’m not going in there alone.

  “Hey.”

  With a muffled shriek I nearly leap from my skin as I whip around to see Rocco leaning up against the side of the deserted house. By the smirk on his face, he knows he just scared me.

  “I thought you went home,” I grumble.

  “You need night vision goggles.”

  “Do I look like I’m a Navy SEAL?” I sarcastically reply, even though night vision goggles sound way cool. “What are you doing here?”

  “I followed you. You’re like a hyena with a bone. I knew you wouldn’t let up tonight until you found Maura.”

  He’s said that before. It’s not a flattering assessment but an accurate one. “Speaking of, you and Maura are cousins. How well do you know her?”

  “If you’re asking if we attend the same family barbeques, then no. I know her as well as you do.”

  I nod toward the broken window. “So you don’t want to go in and say hi?”

  Rocco checks out the dark interior. “Nope.”

  The sound of a door slamming shut echoes around from the backyard. I hustle past Rocco. They’re getting away!

  He grabs my arm. “It’s too dark. Where’s that big light Diamond had?”

  “If we use a light, they’ll know we’re following them.” I tug from his hold, trying to run, but end up slowing to a creep. He’s right. It’s dark.

  Rocco pokes me in the back. “Go! They’re getting away.”

  I take another step, squinting into the darkness. He makes a chicken noise, and I pick up the pace. If he’s so confident, why doesn’t he lead?

  My toe catches on something and my body judders to a stop, which would be okay except Rocco runs right into me. Whatever my toe is caught on gives way and I trip and roll through the dirt and leaves. Rocco lands hard on top of me and my face grinds into the ground.

  With a sputter, I thrash around. “Get off of me!”

  He plants a hand right in the middle of my back and my cheek drudges through the dirt, finding a clump of loan gravel.

  Ugh!

  Finally, Rocco crawls off and I sit upright as a spotlight blinds me. Dots dance through the air and I squeeze my eyes shut.

  The light leaves my eyes and I look up to see Rocco and Diamond staring down at me. I scrunch up my face and wince. I don’t know how bad it is, but my right cheek does not feel good.

  “Yikes, that’s going to hurt,” Rocco says.

  I glare at him. “So glad to see you’re not injured.”

  He holds up his hands. “Don’t blame me. You’re the one who made the bad decision to follow them.”

  My glare gets even glarier.

  As Diamond helps me up, Rocco backs away. “Now I really am going home.” With a grin and a wave, he turns around and disappears into the night.

  “Thanks for nothing!” I yell after him.

  ORDER THE GATOR IN A TUX NOW!

  From the Author

  Things you should know about me: I write novels! Some have won awards. Others have been bestsellers. I’m on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I also have a website and a very non-annoying newsletter where you can keep up to date with new releases, free stuff, and follow along with my travels. I live in a small Florida beach town much like Penny-Ann, but I’m most often found exploring the world. I eat entirely too many chips. I also love math!

  Turn the page for a complete list of books!

  Books by Shannon Greenland

  PIPER INVESTIGATIONS

  The Case of the Bad Twin

  The Gator in a Tux

  The Island Mafia

  Or you can purchase the entire set!

  * * *

  THE SPECIALISTS SERIES

  Can a team of misfit teens save the world?

  Model Spy

  Down to the Wire

  The Winning Element

  Native Tongue

  Fight to the Finish

  Or you can purchase the entire box set!

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  Copyright © Shannon Greenland 2020

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  The right of Shannon Greenland to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1976.

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  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  Cover design by Steven Novak

  Edited by Kate Brauning