Luthier's Apprentice, The by Mayra Calvani Read Free Book Online

in the front yard with the bags in her hands, Annika froze when Emma pushed the window curtain aside and motioned her to keep Madame Dupriez from coming inside.
    “Madame Dupriez, wait!” Annika called after the old woman. “Um, er, do you want to look at the roses one more time? Look, more of them have turned orange.”
    Madame Dupriez turned away from the front door. “What are you mumbling now? I think you should go home and take a little rest. You look pale and anxious. You might be coming down with something. Have you eaten any chicken lately? It’s not safe to eat chicken anymore. It affects the brain.”
    Annika’s stomach twisted into a knot. “But the roses!” she urged, glancing at the study.
    “Why are you so obsessed with my roses?” Madame Dupriez asked, exasperated. “I told you those roses were spray painted, probably by some criminal kid. There’s no way they could have turned orange on their own. I’ll take care of it. I should call the police, too. That’s what I should do. If it weren’t because I’m sick of them already...”
    “But—but….”
    “Put the bags here at the door and go home.” Madame Dupriez faced the front door, key in hand.
    “Madame Dupriez!” Annika insisted.
    The old woman inserted the key in the lock.
    “No—wait!”
    At that moment the door swung open and a tall boy in a dark green hoodie appeared.
    “Oh… there you are, Corey.” Madame Dupriez sighed. “Did you finish with the windows?”
    “Not yet,” he said. He looked at Annika pointedly and gave her a crooked smile. There was something odd about his manner and expression, as if he were trying to tell her something.
    “ Mon Dieu , how much time do you need? You’ve been here all morning.” Madame Dupriez turned back to Annika. “You’re still there?”
    “I was just leaving,” Annika said. She put the bags down and backed away toward the sidewalk.
    The green hoodie guy winked at Annika from the doorway. Annika blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating. Who was he? Why was he in the house?
    “Let me help you with those bags, Madame Dupriez,” he said.
    “When are you going to cut that hair, Corey?”
    “Jesus had long hair, Madame Dupriez.”
    “Tsk, tsk, tsk.” The old woman stepped inside, finally closing the door.
    Whistling nonchalantly, Annika stepped onto the sidewalk.
    A moment later the door re-opened and Emma sneaked out, gingerly closing the door behind her. In giant steps she tiptoed across the yard and joined Annika.
    “What happened?” Annika grinned. “Who’s the hottie?”
    Emma had a hand on her chest. “Don’t start.”
    “But who is he?” Annika insisted.
    “He’s a Sherlock Holmes fan named Corey Fletcher.”
    “What?”
    “I’ll explain later. Let’s go to Grandpa’s.” Then she stopped.
    “What is it?” Annika asked.
    Emma nudged Annika’s elbow. “Don’t look at Van Ketts’ shop now, but he’s watching us from the window. Don’t look, just walk!”
    “Okay, okay! How long has he been standing there? Do you think he saw you inside the study?”
    “I’m not sure, but I didn’t like his expression.”
    “Let’s get out of here,” Annika said.
    They hurried to Stockel Square and took the metro to Grandpa’s shop.

Chapter Ten
    W HERE WERE YOU?” GRANDPA ASKED THE minute they’d returned, ignoring the fact that Emma was not alone.
    “I was with Annika, Grandpa.”
    “I can see that, but where?”
    “We went to the market, Mr. Donatelli,” Annika said.
    “And you come home empty handed?”
    “We just looked around,” Emma said. “We didn’t buy anything.”
    He looked as if he didn’t believe them. Emma wondered if he was just being overly protective or if something else was bothering him.
    “Have you heard from Mom?” Emma asked.
    “No.” He made a grimace of pain as he massaged his lower back with both hands.
    Since her mom had left, she’d called only once to announce she had arrived safely. That probably meant there must