California Schemin': Book One in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

asked.
    “Some phones have electronic voice changers on them,” George explained. “You press a button and”the voice is disguised to sound just like that one.”
    Again I played the message, writing down every word. “The caller said not to mess with ‘us,’” I pointed out.
    “Us as in more than one,” George said, narrowing her eyes. “The sisters.”
    “But why would Mandy and Mallory threaten us?” Bess wanted to know. “ We’re the ones who should be mad that they messed up our beach.”
    “Those spoiled brats are probably not used to being told off,” George said.
    “Do you still want to call Stacey, George?” Bess asked. “Or the police?”
    George stared at the phone, then shook her head. “If it is those ditzy sisters, we can handle them,” she said. “I don’t want to disturb Stacey unless it’s totally necessary.”
    “I’m pretty sure the message was left by Mandy and Mallory too,” I agreed. “But until we have more proof, we can’t be absolutely sure.”
    “Just like the needle, huh?” George said, glancing down at her wrapped ankle.
    “What if Mandy and Mallory are out to get us?” Bess asked slowly. “I mean, what if their show is going in a whole new sinister direction?”
    “Sinister direction?” I asked.
    “You know.” Bess shrugged. “From Chillin’ with the Casabians to Killin’ with the Casabians ?”
    “Come on, Bess, that’s ridiculous,” I said, but didn’t delete the message, in case we did decide to go to the police.
    “So, where should we go tonight? My foot is feeling much better,” George asked.
    As Bess opened her mouth to speak, George added, “Other than Rodeo Drive.”
    “For your information, I was going to suggest Santa Monica Pier,” Bess answered. “We can grab dinner and go to that amusement park on the pier. I think it’s called Pacific Park.”
    “Sounds neat,” I said.
    “Yeah,” George said. “There are some wild rides there.”
    I smiled at the thought of wild rides. So far Malachite Beach had been one wild ride for us—and it was only our second day.
    We found the perfect place to eat, with an incredible view of the ocean. We stuffed ourselves with crispy coconut shrimp, root beer, and hush puppies and then strolled through the amusement park.
    Colorful lights from the rides glowed brightly against the purple-gray sky. Carnival-style music filled the warm, salty air. So did the smell of cotton candy and roasted peanuts.
    “I did a search on Pacific Park before we left the house,” George said, pointing to an illuminated Ferriswheel in the distance. “That ride over there is solar powered.”
    “Even the rides in L.A. are green,” I said. “How cool is that?”
    Bess turned away from the rides. She nodded at the coin-operated telescopes along the long part of the pier. “Let’s try out one of those before the rides,” she suggested.
    “What are you looking for?” I asked. “Exotic California seabirds?”
    “Exotic California celebrities.” Bess smiled as she slipped a quarter into the telescope. “From here you can see a long stretch of Malachite Beach. Maybe I’ll see private beaches and celebrity mansions all lit up.”
    “Spy,” George accused.
    “I prefer the word voyeur, thank you,” Bess said as she adjusted the telescope and peered through.
    A gull landed on the rail a few inches away from me. After checking us out, it flapped its wings and took off.
    “What do you see?” I asked Bess.
    “Oh, wow,” she said, her eyes pressed against the telescope. “There’s our beach and Villa Fabuloso. And I can see the beach behind Roland’s Renewal Retreat and Spa. The one right next to ours.”
    “We came all the way to Santa Monica to look at our own beach?” George complained. “Let’s just go on the rides.”
    “No, really!” Bess said. She tilted the telescope to the left ever so slightly. “There are three small rowboats heading in the direction of the yacht. The big one we saw the other