Hiss Me Deadly by Bruce Hale Read Free Book Online

find Luz?"
    "Nope. Looks like the squirrel has gone to ground."
    "Or to tree," said Natalie.
    "Huh?"
    She waved a wing at the trees by the playground. "Why don't I fly around and see if I can spot her from above?"
    "Want a passenger?" I asked.
    "Nothing doing," she said. "This is a solo job."
    "Fair enough." I pushed back my hat. "But what can I do?"
    Natalie winked. "Doesn't Mr. Mauler have a desk somewhere?"
    "Yeah, I think so, in that room where they store the—" I caught her meaning and grinned. "But what kind of low-down character would break into a room and search a teacher's desk?"
    Natalie gave me a look. "What kind, indeed?"

    While she flew the friendly skies, I hustled over to the storage room where the musical instruments were kept. Recess was slipping away like a cheetah on ice skates. We needed to nail down a suspect, and fast.
    Mauler was our best bet.
    I tried the door. Locked. I looked up.
    One of the high windows was ajar.
    Glancing both ways, I scrambled up the wall. With a push and a
creeeeak,
the window swung inward. I poked my head into the darkened room.
    Mr. Mauler's desk lay below and to the right. Bingo!
    I wedged my body through the narrow opening, getting stuck only once. (So sue me—I'm a gecko who likes his moth milk shakes.) Minus a button, I climbed down the wall on the other side.
    All manner of instruments and stacks of sheet music packed the floor. Making for the desk, I eased past a row of horns and drums.
    Footsteps scuffed in the hall outside.
    I whirled to look.
    Boom!
My tail whapped the bass drum.
    I froze.
    Faint voices came from the door. "What was that?" said the higher one.
    "Cockroaches," growled the lower voice—Gustav Mauler. "I vill see you later."
    A key scratched in the lock. The doorknob rattled.
    Frantic, I scanned the room. No cabinets to hide in. No curtains to cover me.
    I leaped over the bass drum and ducked behind it.
    The door swung open.
    Plink!
The lights came on.
    Holding perfectly still, I watched through the drumskins. A shadowy shape slid past. Moments later, the chair squeaked and a drawer clattered open.
    Was Mr. Mauler adding to his stolen booty?
    Moving slower than a baby turtle at bedtime, I peeked around the drum.
    The big lynx was gazing into his desk with a smile. If only I could see his stash, we could wrap this case up right now.
    I leaned out a bit farther...
    His yellow eyes lasered into me. "Aha!" he cried. "Ve haff caught ourselves de sneak thief!"

12. Rose Encounters of the Third Kind
    Gustav Mauler had played me like a Stradiwhatchamacallit—one of those fancy violins. He hauled me up to Principal Zero's office. On the way, we passed scores of kids returning from recess.
    "Dis is de thief!" Mr. Mauler told them.
    No big deal. Sticks and stones may break my bones, and all that. I knew Mr. Zero would be calm and understanding.
    "You
what?!
" the principal snarled when we stood before him.
    "I can explain," I said.
    "No need for dot," said Mr. Mauler. "I caught dis lizard in de act."
    "You broke into his room?" Mr. Zero asked me, tail lashing.

    "Well, technically, yes," I said, "but—"
    The principal's gaze shifted to Gustav Mauler. "And what was he stealing?"
    "Everything, probably," said the lynx. "You can tell from his beady eyes."
    I opened my arms wide. "Search me," I said. "I didn't even take a harmonica."
    Mr. Mauler waved a clawed finger in my face. "But only because I caught you."
    "
He's
the thief!" I told Principal Zero. "He ripped off my sister!"
    "Ridiculous!" the lynx growled. "Don't listen to dis little clown."
    My gut clenched like a clammy fist. "
Clowns?
" I gulped, looking around. "Where?"
    The principal held up a paw. "Enough." His voice cut through our chatter like a buzz saw through a paper doll. He pointed at me. "Gecko, speak."
    "He's been sneaking in and out of empty classrooms," I said.
    "Mauler, is this true?" said Mr. Zero.
    The lynx shook his shaggy head. "Dis is my job," he blustered. "I go from