Amos's Killer Concert Caper Read Online Free PDF

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• 11
    â€œHow do I look?” Amos stepped out of the civic center bathroom carrying an armful of flowers and a large box of candy.
    Dunc walked around him. “Where did you get the tuxedo?”
    â€œAce’s Rent-A-Tux. It took almost everything I made from cleaning this place. Why? Is something wrong?”
    â€œIt looks like it would fit your dad. The tails almost drag on the ground.”
    â€œAce told me they were having a big dance at the college, and this was the best he could do on short notice. He even helpedme roll up the sleeves. Do you think anyone will notice?”
    Dunc crossed his fingers behind his back and shook his head. “No. You look fine.”
    â€œWhat about these?” Amos held out the flowers he had picked from Mrs. McGillis’s garden. “Aren’t they great?”
    â€œReal nice. But next time, you might try cutting them instead of pulling them up by the roots.”
    â€œSo that’s how they do it! Oh well, if she doesn’t go for them, there’s always the candy.” Amos took the box from under his arm.
    â€œGee, Amos. Now I’m impressed. Those chocolates must have set you back a few bucks.”
    â€œNot really.” Amos took off the lid. “I borrowed the empty box from my mom’s closet and filled the holes with jelly beans from our candy dish downstairs. Want some?”
    â€œI’ll pass. We better get back out front if we’re going to keep an eye on Mange. So far he hasn’t been able to make a move.”
    â€œDo you think he knows we’re watching him?”
    â€œI can’t tell. But it doesn’t matter as long as it keeps him from trying anything.”
    It was still forty-five minutes until showtime. The lighting and sound crew were making last-minute adjustments onstage. So far, nothing unusual had happened. Mange had come out of his office twice to check on things. Each time, he gave some orders and then went back in the office and slammed the door.
    The office door opened again. Mange stomped past the stage and headed for the exit.
    â€œNow’s our chance.” Dunc motioned for Amos to follow him.
    â€œOur chance for what?”
    â€œTo get those insurance papers. If we can show them to Roy, he’ll have to believe us. You guard the door while I look for them. If Mange comes back, signal me.”
    Amos grabbed his flowers and candy and positioned himself in front of the door. “Hey, Dunc.”
    â€œWhat? Is he coming?”
    â€œNo. I just wondered if you knew what to do for wilting flowers? These are starting to look pretty sad.”
    â€œThrow them away and give her the candy.”
    â€œI can’t. You made me miss my dinner and I was starving. I just ate all the candy.”
    Dunc was searching through Mange’s briefcase. He found an envelope with the name
Grenfield
on it. “I think this is it. Keep watching while I make sure.”
    Amos was trying to prop up his sagging roses. He stuck them under the drinking fountain and turned it on. It didn’t help, and now he had wet, sagging roses. He was about to shake the water off when he looked up. Mange had come back and was standing in front of the stage talking to one of the hands. Amos ducked inside the office and pulled the door shut behind him. “Quick, hide. Mange is right outside.”
    Dunc stuffed the policy in his shirt and searched for a place to hide. There wasn’t any. The office was too small.
    The boys looked at each other in panic. They could hear Mange’s heavy footsteps coming toward them. He was talking to someone. “Give me a minute, Fred. I forgot to lock the office.”
    Dunc held his breath. He watched the doorknob turn. Then he heard a click and the sound of footsteps walking away.
    â€œWhew!” Amos wiped the perspiration off his forehead. “That was a close one.”
    Dunc slumped down in the armchair. “Don’t look now. But I