Hit Squad Read Online Free PDF Page A

jumped in with a whole bunch of questions.
    Mickey looked across at her while she and Larry carried on with their discussion. Candy was no Birgit Neilsen, but she was okay. She was an ordinary girl, skinny, all sharp angles, brown eyes and mop of dark hair. He tried to tune them all out as they chattered together like birds. He thought about the secret meeting. Heck helped himself to more salad from the bowl. Annie sat smiling and watching. Candy was saying something, trying to catch Mickey’s attention, but he didn’t notice. He was too busy thinking about Birgit Neilsen.

Chapter Seven
    He thought about her all weekend.
    Candy noticed. “Have you got something on your mind, Mickey?” she asked him on Sunday morning.
    Heck was out front, shooting baskets with Sammy and Jimmy.
    Mickey shook his head.
    â€œDo you want to come with me and Heck to church?”
    â€œNo thanks.”
    â€œHeck would like it if you did. You know how much he loves being in church. With the singing and all. And everyone dressed up. It’s the only time he gets to wear his jacket and tie and his good black shoes.”
    â€œNo thanks.”
    â€œHe thinks an awful lot of you, Mickey. You know that, don’t you? He looks up to you.”
    â€œI hear Joey Washington’s out of hospital. I thought I’d go see how he is.”
    â€œYou could see Joey after church.”
    â€œNo thanks.”
    Candy looked at him. Those brown eyes of hers had a way of looking at him sometimes like she was reading his mind. She smiled. She had a nice smile. The corner of her mouth tilted up on one side slightly more than the other. It was a tilted kind of smile. But it made sense because she was a tilted kind of girl. “Suit yourself,” she said.
    He biked over to Joey’s Creekside house where he lived with three brothers and two sisters. His mom and dad had taken the other kids to church. Joey was home alone. He was wearing dark glasses. His face was swollen and discolored below the glasses. He let Mickey in, moving slowly as if he was in pain. He switched off the TV and then lay on the couch, moving carefully. His right arm was in a sling.
    â€œSo how are you feeling, Joey?” said Mickey. “What’s with the sling?”
    Talking was difficult for Joey. He spoke slowly. “Broken collarbone. Broken rib. Black eyes. Split lip.”
    â€œSchool washroom, right?”
    â€œRight. Two big guys. They jumped me soon as I came through the door.”
    â€œThey take anything? Money?”
    â€œNothing. Didn’t even go through my pockets. Just kicked the crap out of me and told me to go back to Creekside.”
    Mickey didn’t stay long. Joey was finding it hard to talk.
    On Monday the secret society met again. Birgit sat on the desk, same as before. She said, “We need a name for our secret society. Any suggestions?”
    â€œHit Squad,” Whisper whispered.
    â€œOkay,” said Birgit. “But it sounds a bit much, don’t you think? A bit heavy? How about Grandview Clean-up Committee?” She looked around. “Any other suggestions? Peter? Michael?”
    Peter said, “I like your suggestion, Birgit. Clean-up Committee sounds good.” Today he sat on the sofa beside Whisper. Mickey was beginning to dislike Peter, the way he always sucked up to Birgit. Mickey sat in the overstuffed chair.
    Birgit looked amazing in skirt and knee-socks. Whisper wore good stuff too. Mickey hadn’t noticed on Friday. Today he had on a plain white cotton T-shirt, a lambskin leather jacket and fitted jeans that molded to his big thighs. Mickey was the odd man out: same old jeans, wearing thin at the knees; gray Value Village nylon jacket; blue Army &Navy sports shirt, one of three he rotated; collapsed no-name runners.
    â€œLet’s take a vote,” said Birgit. “Who’s for Grandview Clean-up Committee?” She put up her own hand. Peter’s followed.
    Birgit