Confessions: The Private School Murders by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page B

room?”
    “No. My office. It’s past my room on the other side of the hall. I’ll open the door.”
    “TandyTandyTandyTandyTandy.”
My fearless little brother was keening in terror.
    “Hugo, I’m right
here
. Just stay still.”
    I dropped to all fours, keeping my eyes on the snake. It was only four feet from Hugo’s right foot. He was wearing shoes, but his naked ankle was within striking distance. I knew the snake wouldn’t attack unless it felt threatened, but that inch of bare skin still looked like a bull’s-eye.
    “Don’t move, Hugo. Don’t even blink. I’m going to drag you out of here,” I said in a wobbly voice.
    I moved toward Hugo, directly into the snake’s sight line. My plan was to pull Hugo around the fallen computer stand and put that between us and the snake. As if the cobra could read my mind, it flattened and started to slither against the wall in my direction.
    I heard Jacob coming along the hallway.
    “Tandy!” he shouted, pounding the wall with his fist. “Tandy! Where are you?”
    I glanced at the snake, terrified. All that noise couldn’t be good. “Jacob!” Hugo screeched. “We’re in here.”
    The door frame in the hallway was so well concealed, you could miss it even when you knew where to look. I crawled to Hugo and got right behind him, then rose to a crouch.
    “Very slowly raise your hands up,” I told him.
    He reached back and I clasped his hands.
    “It’s looking right at me,” Hugo whimpered. “Look at its
tongue
.”
    “Just don’t look at it,” I told him. “Pretend it’s not there. We’re just playing a game.”
    “Yeah, right.”
    I had begun backing up slowly, sliding Hugo with me toward the doorway, when suddenly it jerked open. Jacobhovered over us, and he was holding a very heavy-duty handgun.
    “Where is it?” Jacob asked.
    I pried one hand loose from Hugo’s and pointed to the snake.
    “You two get out of here,” he said. “I’ll handle this.”
    “You’re going to shoot it?” Hugo shouted, scrambling to his feet. “Cool! There’s no way I’m leaving now.”

14
    Jacob scowled.
Yep. There was the commando I’d read about. Hugo’s mouth snapped shut instantly.
    “Go.” Jacob directed his fierce gaze at us and said, “And, Tandy, call Pest Control. Now.”
    “Don’t have to ask me twice,” I replied.
    Then I yanked Hugo into the hall.
    “When I’m an adult, you can expect payback,” Hugo said to Jacob. “And believe me, karma is a
peach
.”
    Jacob cracked a smile at Hugo, checked his gun, and slammed the door on us. I found the number for the New York City Department of Health and Pest Control, and after numerous rings, a woman with a languid voice answered.
    “This is Officer Blum. How may I help you?”
    “There’s a venomous snake loose in our apartment.”
    I jumped at the sound of gunfire followed by breaking glass.
    “Oh,
man
!” Hugo pouted, disappointed. I ran a hand over his hair in what I hoped was a conciliatory gesture. Crazy kid.
    “Where should we send the unit?” the woman asked.
    I gave our address. “How fast can you get here?”
    “Say again?” said Officer Blum, alarmed. “You’re in the Dakota?”
    “Yes, we’re in the Dakota.” I gripped the phone and said, “I’ve ID’d the snake. It’s a cobra. Maybe a forest cobra. Definitely deadly.”
    “I hope you’ve got nerves of steel, then, young lady. Don’t make any sudden movements. You don’t want to make that snake angry.”
    My office door opened, and Jacob came out holding four and a half feet of inky-black cobra. Its head was gone, but its body still twisted in Jacob’s hand. My throat pretty much closed up.
    Jacob brought the snake over to Hugo.
    “Here’s your snake, young man. Take a good look. I hope you never see one of these again. Now, bring me a bag, a broom, some rags, and the vacuum cleaner, please.”
    “Hello?” Officer Blum said. “Are you still there? Was this
your
snake? Was it your pet?”
    “No way. Why