Lou Lou and Pea and the Mural Mystery

by Jill Diamond

  Jeremy turned around in his chair. Lou Lou was standing directly behind him. “Yeah, you weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye? That’s not very neighborly.” He blinked at Lou Lou.

  “Goodbye!” she said curtly. Then she noticed Jeremy’s sugar skull. Lou Lou stepped back in surprise, nearly crashing into Pea.

  Jeremy had decorated the skull almost entirely in white, using short white downy feathers to give it a furry look. Whiskers were made from white pipe cleaners. But it was the skull’s eyes, amber-colored glass gems, that really caught Lou Lou’s attention. The resemblance was unmistakable—Helado. From the look on Pea’s face, Lou Lou knew she was thinking the same thing.

  “Cool sugar skull, Jeremy. What gave you the idea for that?” Lou Lou tried to copy Jeremy’s casual tone despite her shock.

  “I guess I’ve always wanted a pet rabbit.” Jeremy grinned.

  “Okay, we really have to go now!” Lou Lou pulled the hood of her rain jacket over her head, turned on her heel, and was out the door before Pea even managed her first step.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Seeing Stars and Finding Flowers

  Outside the studio, Lou Lou and Pea huddled together to escape the rain and talk in secret as they walked.

  “See! He knows about Helado!” Lou Lou said. “I’d bet you five cupcakes something bad happened to that bunny. That’s why Helado is in a mural, just like Magdalena’s dress!”

  “You’re right, he probably does know,” said Pea. “White bunnies with amber eyes are not exactly popping up around the neighborhood every day like tabby cats and black Labradors.”

  “This stuff has to be related, and Jeremy must be behind it all!” replied Lou Lou. “He did something to Helado, ruined Magdalena’s dress, and killed Pinky. I just know it! He probably stole Danielle’s necklace, too.”

  “But there’s no connection between Jeremy and Danielle or Magdalena—”

  “No connection that we know of yet,” Lou Lou interrupted. “We need to put all the pieces together and stop these crimes so no one else gets hurt!”

  They continued walking the short distance to the SS Lucky Alley in the rain. The sky was dark with clouds and the street lamps came on early, bathing sections of their route in pools of light. Halloween decorations were up all over the neighborhood and witches on broomsticks cackled silently, while plastic-bag ghosts swayed in trees. Lou Lou watched flickers of orange through the eyes of a spooky jack-o’-lantern. If it could speak, she thought, it would be saying, Trouble is a-brewing, Lou Lou Bombay.

  Suddenly, Pea gasped and stopped.

  “What is it?” asked Lou Lou. She followed Pea’s gaze to the last house on their left. A mural, partially illuminated by a streetlight, covered the doorway and the front wall. A Lovely Day for a Parade showed a festive spectacle of children prancing with balloons and women carrying baskets of fruit. People leaned out of windows waving blue-and-yellow flags. Lou Lou scanned the mural to see what had caught Pea’s eye.

  “Look,” said Pea. “That woman’s basket had peaches in it before.” Here was Lou Lou’s turn to gasp. The peaches were gone and the basket was now painted full of brownish-green leaves, branches, and shriveling flowers. Not just any flowers, but magenta autumn queen camellia blooms.

  “Pinky!” Lou Lou cried. “Pinky is in the mural!”

  “There’s something else!” Pea exclaimed. She was looking at another mural on the next building. Lou Lou and Pea called this one Dancing in Space because rings of dancers frolicked on different planets in the solar system. A circle of people twirled and kicked up their legs on Earth, a group of white-and-black dogs danced paw to paw on Mars, turtles sashayed around Saturn’s rings, and kangaroos pranced on Venus. The space above the dancers had been a blank expanse of black. But now there were four huge rose-gold stars in a row linked with a painted chain. It only took Lou Lou a second to tie the stars to the day’s events.

  “Danielle Desserts! That’s her best-friends shining-star necklace,” Lou Lou said. “I knew it! Helado, Magdalena, Pinky, and even Danielle Desserts are for sure connected. It’s mural mischief. No, it’s a Mural Mystery. And Jeremy must be the culprit!”

  “But other people know about Pinky’s planticide and could have changed the mural, right?” Pea asked. “I’m not saying it’s not Jeremy, just that we should keep an open mind. Who else did you tell about the planticide? And who knows about Danielle’s necklace? We need a complete list of suspects before we can be certain about anything.”

  Lou Lou counted off the people she’d told about Pinky’s death. Besides Jeremy, there were her parents and Pea, but naturally they could be eliminated as suspects. Then there was Juan at Green Thumb, everyone who worked at Cupcake Cabana, Elmira, Magdalena, the mail lady, Lou Lou’s English class, the old man who fed the ducks in Limonero Park, Lou Lou’s bus driver … The list was long, and Lou Lou was sure she was forgetting people. As for Danielle’s best-friends shining-star necklace, everyone at school knew it had gone missing. Danielle had complained and cried about it all afternoon.

  “I guess it could have been someone else,” Lou Lou said. Pea was right—she couldn’t completely rule out other people. “What do you think the murals mean and why is Jeremy—I mean, someone from our list of suspects—changing them? Is the villain just bragging about his own crimes?” She looked at Pinky’s withered painted image again and felt a pang of sadness.

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. Most criminals would want to keep their crimes a secret,” Pea replied. They thought about this silently for a moment. “We better get going, Lou Lou. It’s almost five o’clock,” added Pea.

  “Okay,” said Lou Lou reluctantly. She wanted to examine the murals more carefully, but Henry Pearl was due at the SS Lucky Alley and Lou Lou couldn’t miss her dad’s famous landlubber lasagna. She took one last look at the painted camellia and vowed to herself that they would solve the Mural Mystery. They’d find the person who had killed poor Pinky and stolen Lou Lou’s blue-ribbon dreams.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  A Surprise Encounter at the Candle Shop

  After the incident in Miss Mash’s class, Lou Lou knew she had to avoid any more trouble at school that week. She had a lot to do before Día de los Muertos and she couldn’t risk detention. Lou Lou worked extra hard on her deadly nightshade Halloween story for English, aced her History test, and even volunteered to stay late to help first graders make paper jack-o’-lanterns.

  On Thursday after school, Lou Lou planned to go to A Lovely Day for a Parade and Dancing in Space to take a closer look at the mural changes. But when she was rushing to her bus someone blocked her way.

  “Let me by, Kyle,” Lou Lou huffed.

  “Stop running in the halls, Lou Lou Bombay,” Kyle commanded. His voice came out squeaky. “It’s against the rules. I’ll arrest you and take you to see Principal Garcia.”

  “You wish,” replied Lou Lou. “Now move, please.”

  “Watch it or I’ll get you in trouble and then you’ll be painted into a detention mural.”

  Lou Lou stopped pushing and looked hard at Kyle.

  “There is no detention mural, Kyle. And what do you know about the murals, anyway? Have you seen the changes? Are you the one changing them?”

  “No, not me,” Kyle said, taking a step back.

  “Do you know who is?”

  “No,” Kyle said again. “I just know they’re changing in a funny way. Most people don’t pay attention to the details, but I have laser-beam eyes like Comet Cop.” Kyle pointed to his face with two fingers to illustrate his point.

  Lou Lou relaxed a little. “Pea and I think the murals are connected to crimes that have been happening around here.” Lou Lou was certain that the mention of crimes would make Comet Cop Kyle interested.

  “Criminal activity, huh? Well, if it’s important to Peacock—I mean, to the earthlings I am sworn to protect—then I will keep my laser-beam eyes and supersonic ears open.” Kyle patted his pocket. “Now wh
ere did I put my force-field penetrator?”

  Lou Lou, seeing her chance, finally managed to pass Kyle as he searched for his missing space gear. “See you later, Kyle!”

  “I’m feeling generous today so I will let you off with a warning!” Kyle called after her.

  Lou Lou narrowly avoided missing her bus and, after a brief stop at the SS Lucky Alley to drop off her bag and get her parents’ permission to go for a walk, she finally made it to A Lovely Day for a Parade and Dancing in Space. Pinky and Danielle Desserts’s necklace were still there. Lou Lou looked closely at the details, but found nothing else to help her with the Mural Mystery and left frustrated. She had a little time before she needed to be home so she decided to go to Cupcake Cabana, thinking that vanilla buttercream would lift her spirits.

  Halfway to the bakery, Lou Lou changed her mind and turned toward the candle shop instead. She needed answers, not frosting. And she hoped Elmira could give her guidance.

  When Lou Lou arrived at the candle shop, Elmira saw her through the window. The Candle Lady flashed a smile and waved Lou Lou inside.

  “Buenas tardes, Lou Lou Bombay.”

  “Hola, Elmira.” As Lou Lou’s eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight, she realized they were not alone. Danielle Desserts was at the counter, putting her sparkly wallet into her pink purse. Lou Lou scowled. She didn’t want Danielle to intrude on her Candle Lady time.

  “Danielle dropped in for some assistance,” Elmira explained, clearly seeing the sour look on Lou Lou’s face. “She seems to be experiencing a nagging necklace nightmare and needs a ‘find’ candle to ensure that she gets her missing jewelry back.”

  Danielle glanced at Lou Lou, rolled her eyes once, and half stuck out her tongue. But Lou Lou sensed that Danielle’s heart wasn’t in it. Danielle had been ignoring Lou Lou at school since Monday’s events, which was a big step up from her usual taunting. If Danielle appreciated Lou Lou’s help with the necklace search, she clearly wasn’t about to admit it.

  Danielle Desserts flounced toward the door, holding an orange candle with a picture of a magnifying glass and the word Encontrar on the glass holder. She pushed by Lou Lou, tossing her hair. “Move it, Bombay,” she said. Then quietly, “Please.”

  Lou Lou was shocked. She had never heard Danielle say please before. When the bell on the door signaled Danielle’s exit, Lou Lou turned to Elmira.

  “Does Danielle come here often?” she asked. Despite Danielle’s slightly improved attitude, Lou Lou didn’t want Danielle around during her future candle shop visits.

  “A veces,” Elmira replied. “She was just here the other day to buy a Victoria candle so she could win tickets to the Sugar Mountain movie premiere.”

  “I see,” said Lou Lou, trying not to giggle.

  “Esa niña only visits when she needs help. She is not una buena amiga like you.” Elmira smiled at Lou Lou. “How is your garden?” she asked. “Is the Crecer candle working to remedy your catastrophic camellia calamity?”

  “It’s not,” said Lou Lou sadly. “But my toad lilies are doing great, and I have more basil than ever. I guess maybe it’s working, just not for Pinky.”

  “I know you wanted to win that competition. But you are a skilled gardener who grows flores fabulosas. I’m sure there will be a blue ribbon in your future.” Elmira reached across the counter and squeezed Lou Lou’s hand.

  “Thanks, Elmira!” Lou Lou felt a glimmer of hope. Elmira had cheered Lou Lou on during the third-grade writing contest and recommended a Creativo candle to get her literary juices flowing. And Lou Lou had won! So if Elmira said Lou Lou would win a horticulture blue ribbon someday, it must be true! Just not for Pinky. Thinking of her camellia, Lou Lou remembered the purpose of her visit.

  “Elmira, do you know anything about the murals? Someone is adding things to them that weren’t there before. Real-life bad things, too.”

  The Candle Lady raised her eyebrows. “I wasn’t aware of any changes, but ya entiendo. Mysterious mural mayhem is your problem.”

  “Exactly, Elmira! It’s a Mural Mystery! Danielle’s missing necklace was in a mural. Magdalena’s quinceañera dress was painted, too. And there’s a bunny! A white bunny with amber eyes. I’m not sure what that means since I don’t know any white bunnies in the neighborhood. But I think the same person is behind all these crimes and he is—I mean, he or she—is using the murals to brag. I have to put a stop to it!” Lou Lou was building up steam. “And Pinky! Pinky is in A Lovely Day for a Parade!”

  “Oh my,” said Elmira. “It does sound like a puzzling painted picture. Let me see if I have something that can help you.” She reached toward one of the shelves.

  “I can’t buy any candles today,” Lou Lou said. “I don’t get my allowance until tomorrow.” Lou Lou only had one dollar and four quarters (“one cupcake”) in her pocket. “But I thought you might know something useful.”

  “It pains me that so much misfortune has befallen our community recently.” Elmira echoed Lou Lou and Pea’s thoughts. “But it’s possible that these murals are just meaningless paintings of sad events. Still, I will consider this confounding conundrum. Why don’t you come back another time? I may have a better answer and, if not, you can get the right candle to illuminate the issue.”

  “Okay.” Lou Lou was a little disappointed. But she knew that the Candle Lady cared about the people of El Corazón and would do her best to help with the Mural Mystery. “See you soon, Elmira.”

  “I hope so,” replied Elmira. “I do enjoy your visits, Lou Lou Bombay.”

  “¡Adiós!” Lou Lou said to the Candle Lady, and left the shop.

  * * *

  When she arrived at the SS Lucky Alley, Lou Lou went straight to her garden. She winced at the sight of Pinky’s remains. The pile of brown leaves, dried-up flower petals, and branches had been further destroyed by that week’s rain. Lou Lou’s mom had promised to clean up the mess tomorrow to spare Lou Lou the painful task. Then, on Saturday, which had been Lou Lou’s favorite time to visit Pinky (and which she liked to think was Pinky’s favorite time to visit Lou Lou), she would have a proper funeral befitting a would-have-been Hello Horticulture! Society Flowering Bushes and Shrubs blue-ribbon contender.

  As she had done every day since Pinky’s planticide, Lou Lou inspected her garden to make sure that there had been no more foul play. She saw no visible mischief so she knelt down to sniff the ground for poisons of the Pinky-killing variety. It was when she had her nose in the dirt that she heard a voice from the other side of the fence.

  “Try not to worry,” the voice said.

  Jeremy! When Lou Lou opened her mouth to hiss his name, she got a mouthful of soil.

  “Phhtt!” Lou Lou spit it out and Jeremy was quiet for a few long seconds. She froze, certain he would look over the fence any moment. Miraculously, he didn’t.

  “Of course I’m keeping it quiet. C’mon, you know me!” Jeremy said. Lou Lou couldn’t hear another person so she assumed Jeremy was on the phone. “No, I don’t think she’s at all suspicious.” Who? Me? Lou Lou almost laughed. Oh, I’m suspicious, she thought.

  “¡Jeremy, es la hora de la cena!” Lou Lou heard a woman’s voice call.

  “Listen, I have to go. My mom is calling me for dinner. But I promise I’m handling it, okay?” Jeremy said.

  He’s probably working with another criminal! Lou Lou thought. Otherwise, why would he be talking to someone about being quiet and avoiding suspicion?

  “Sí. ¡Mañana te llamo!” Jeremy said. Lou Lou heard her neighbor’s door slam and she knew it was safe to stop kissing the dirt. She stood up, brushed herself off, and peeked over the fence. But all she saw were blue spikes in the window.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Rosa’s Mascota

  On Friday, Lou Lou could hardly wait to get back to the SS Lucky Alley after school. It was almost PSPP and she and Pea had big weekend plans. At home, Lou Lou went to her garden to wait for Pea. Of course Lou Lou felt sad about Pinky’s absence, but she tried
to focus on her toad lilies.

  “You’re looking lovely in polka dots today,” she said to the flowers. Lou Lou peeked over the fence into her neighbor’s yard but it was empty.

  It wasn’t long before Pea arrived with an overnight duffel slung over her shoulder. They quickly recited their traditional PSPP pleasantries so Lou Lou could tell Pea about Jeremy’s phone conversation with his likely accomplice. Pea listened as she cut a perfect square of butter for her scone.

  “It’s unfortunate that we don’t know the other half of that conversation,” she said.

  “I know,” Lou Lou replied, dropping little strawberry spots on the table as she slathered jam on her scone. Pea wiped up the spots with a paper towel before Lou Lou had even noticed them.

  “I brought my father’s binoculars.” Pea patted her duffel. “We can keep a close eye on your garden from the crow’s nest window.”

  When she’d finished her scone, Pea began to take items from her duffel. She’d brought treasures for two of their weekend projects—making Pinky’s altar and their procession outfits.

  Pea pulled out the wooden frame with painted flowers they’d used for Bisabuela Nellie’s altar. “Mmm, that will work for Pinky,” said Lou Lou between mouthfuls of scone.

  Then Pea held up a patchwork dress for her procession outfit. Lou Lou crinkled her nose as she considered it. “It’s not my favorite but…” Pea chose something different.

  “That one’s perfect!” Lou Lou liked a long skirt that Pea had embroidered with multicolored butterflies.

  “I like this better, too,” Pea said.

  “This is good for the top.” Lou Lou sprayed scone crumbs as she pointed to a sapphire-blue sweater trimmed with black lace. After Pea finished her presentation and brushed off every last crumb, they went to retrieve Lou Lou’s allowance. Her dad hid it in the pirate’s treasure chest in a corner of the front hall. She rooted around in a mound of fake gold coins and jewels until she found it. The money was rolled up into a scroll tied with twine and wrapped in a note that read, You’re Greaty, Matey! Love, Dad. Lou Lou giggled at his silliness.