The screen came on to the sound of the “Special Bulletin” music. But it wasn’t Mayor Saunders whose face filled the screen. Instead, Frank Pandini Jr. was holding a press conference.
“Turn it up, would you, buddy?” O’Malley asked Jonathan. Jonathan ran over to the remote control and turned up the volume. Everyone crowded around to watch.
Pandini stood behind a podium emblazoned with the Kalamazoo City skyline. The magnate was dressed in his signature white tuxedo. He was clearly in command of the crowd as he stood powerfully and confidently, waiting for them to be silent.
Probably just getting ready to take credit for the mayor stepping down and everything that happened at the Dome tonight, thought Zengo.
Pandini cleared his throat and adjusted the microphone. “Thank you all for joining me here on this historic evening,” he began.
Zengo and O’Malley shared a look. O’Malley’s cocked eyebrow signaled what Zengo was already thinking.
“I, along with everyone in Kalamazoo City, am completely shocked and dismayed by Mayor Saunders’s sudden resignation. We will all read the exposé in tomorrow’s newspaper, but it’s clear to the former mayor now that he can’t pull the wool over this fair city’s eyes and expect to get away with it. It got too hot in the kitchen for Saunders, and he made some mistakes. I, however, am used to being in some very hot kitchens. You may have stopped in to one of my many fine establishments across the city, like Black and White, or Bamboo. I’ve spent many hours in the back of those hot kitchens perfecting the cuisine and coaching my staff to make sure their service to our customers is second to none. And I do believe that my reputation for excellence speaks for itself. I care very much for this city, and I would like to bring my own unique brand of service to every single citizen of Kalamazoo City, even those who have yet to stop by Roar, or the newly renovated Kalamazoo Coliseum.
“To that end, tonight I am officially announcing my candidacy for mayor of Kalamazoo City in the special election to replace our outgoing leader.”
The cameras flashed and the reporters immediately began to hammer Pandini with questions. But the mogul just flashed his winning smile and waved to the cameras before stepping off the stage.
“The mayor called it quits?” exclaimed Karen.
“I suppose it was inevitable,” O’Malley observed. “Derek had dug up some pretty damaging dirt about him and the Dream Team.”
“It’s not the mayor’s resignation that worries me,” said Zengo, leaning back in his chair. “It’s Pandini. Saunders hasn’t even left the mayor’s mansion and Frank is already measuring for drapes.”
“Dad, do you think he has a chance of winning?” asked Declan.
“This is Kalamazoo City, son,” said O’Malley, though the look he gave Zengo was anything but reassuring. “Everybody has a chance of winning here.”
BACK AD
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to everyone at Walden Pond Press and HarperCollins Children’s Books who, once again, hit the streets of Kalamazoo City with me: Jordan Brown, Kellie Celia, Debbie Kovacs, Tom Forget, Jenna Lisanti, Mrs. de la Sun, and the many others working behind the scenes. Thanks to Rebecca Sherman, Eddie Gamarra, and Deb Shapiro for being a part of my Squad. Thanks to Joey Weiser and Michele Chidester, who blocked the graytones into my illustrations for this book. Thank you to officers Chris Zengo and Corey McGrath, who continue to inspire me with their bravery and service. And above all, thank you to my girls, Gina, Zoe, and Lucy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JARRETT J. KROSOCZKA is the author and illustrator of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, a two-time winner of the Children’s Choice Book Award, as well as many picture books. He can be heard on “The Book Report with JJK,” his radio segment on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live. Jarrett lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wife, two daughters, and their pug, Ralph Macchio. You can visit him online at www.studiojjk.com.
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CREDITS
Cover art © 2014 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Cover design by Tom Forget
COPYRIGHT
Walden Pond Press is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Walden Pond Press and the skipping stone logo are trademarks and registered trademarks of Walden Media, LLC.
PLATYPUS POLICE SQUAD: THE OSTRICH CONSPIRACY
Copyright © 2014 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
* * *
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Krosoczka, Jarrett.
The ostrich conspiracy / Jarrett J. Krosoczka. — First edition.
pages cm. — (Platypus Police Squad; [2])
Summary: “Detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O’Malley investigate foul play at the opening of the Kalamazoo City Dome, the world’s largest indoor amusement complex”— Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-06-207166-8 (hardback)
[1. Platypus—Fiction. 2. Amusement parks—Fiction. 3. Mystery and detective stories.] I. Title.
PZ7.K935Ost 2014 2013047721
[Fic]—dc23 CIP
AC
* * *
EPub Edition © APRIL 2014 ISBN: 9780062071675
14 15 16 17 18 CG/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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Platypus Police Squad : The Ostrich Conspiracy (9780062071675) Page 10
