Foal Play: A Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

falling embers hit the trees and Myrtle go up in flames. Colleen picked her way into the grove of trees. Sparky whimpered, excited to be exploring new territory.
    “To your left,” Myrtle said in a whisper.
    Pinecones crunched underfoot as Colleen walked in the direction of Myrtle’s voice. Sparky tugged on his leash, impatient at the slow progress. Finally, Colleen reached her former teacher. “What are you doing in here?”
    “Not so loud. You want someone to hear us?” Myrtle said, grabbing Colleen’s arm and yanking her deeper into the wood.
    “I’m busy and the mosquitoes are biting, so what is it?” Colleen asked and pulled her arm away.
    Myrtle checked to be sure they were alone. “The men who brought the fireworks? They’re friends of Antonio Salvatore.”
    “Oh, for crying out loud, Myrtle. I don’t have time to hear about Pinky right now,” Colleen said in disgust and turned to go.
    “Colleen Elizabeth McCabe,” Myrtle said in a tone Colleen hadn’t heard since she was nine years old. “You will listen to me when I’m speaking.”
    Colleen reluctantly faced Myrtle. “You’ve got ten seconds. Go.”
    Myrtle took a deep breath. “Earlier this evening, when I was patrolling the herds near the lighthouse, I saw three men unloading fireworks. I didn’t think too much about them until one of them pulled out a gun. Then I got worried they’d shoot one of the horses grazing on the grounds.”
    “They went after the horses?” Colleen asked, now concerned.
    “No. The gunmen didn’t even seem to notice the horses, but if they had I bet they would’ve shot them. What kind of people have guns in Corolla? I’ll tell you what kind—gangsters. Mr. Salvatore is setting up Mafia headquarters here. I just know it.”
    Colleen highly doubted Pinky was making Corolla Mob headquarters. She wondered if Myrtle had really seen a gun. After all, Myrtle had witnessed the event at a distance with a sixty-five-year-old’s eyesight. “When was the last time you had your eyes checked?”
    “I don’t need glasses!” Myrtle said, raising her voice. “I know what I saw. I watch the news. I read the Outer Banks Sentinel . If I say I saw a gun, then I saw a gun.”
    Before Colleen could reply Sparky started growling. It was a low growl like the one he used when delivery persons came to the door at home. Colleen scanned the trees and saw the outline of a man advancing toward them … and he had a gun. She jerked Myrtle to the ground and quietly ordered Sparky to be silent. He, too, lay down. Colleen, Myrtle, and Sparky spied as the man drew closer and peered into the thicket in their direction.
    “Hey, it’s Sweet Boy.… That you?” the man asked in a gruff whisper.
    Sparky snarled; Colleen pulled him closer. The man stared into the brush that enveloped them. Colleen studied as much of his profile as she could in the dim light but all she could make out was a strong nose. The man paused a moment, then tucked the gun in the small of his back and disappeared the way he had come. Colleen, Myrtle, and Sparky waited until they were sure the coast was clear, then let out a collective sigh. Colleen found that she had been squeezing Myrtle’s arm and released her.
    “That’s some grip you’ve got there,” Myrtle said and rubbed her forearm.
    “Sorry,” Colleen said with sincerity. She had been told more than once that she had a viselike grip. She hoped Myrtle didn’t bruise easily.
    “Now do you believe me?” Myrtle asked.
    “Did you tell anyone else about what you saw?”
    “Of course not. What do you take me for?” Myrtle asked, back to her usual, crabby self.
    “You should tell Sheriff Dorman. This is really his department.”
    “I can’t. A man saw me. They’ve probably got me under surveillance. You tell him.”
    Colleen thought about her disagreement with Bill on the beach and how he had accused her of meddling. “Trust me, the sheriff will prefer talking to you.”
    “But if I go to the sheriff