Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach Read Free Book Online Page A

grabbing Jack’s hand and pulling him up from the ground.
    â€œBut don’t tell Mom,” Simon insisted, looking at Jack. “Really, Jack, don’t mess up, okay? If you want to come with us, you have to show us we can trust you.”
    Jack’s face scrunched indignantly. “I don’t ever tell them anything!”
    â€œOh, yeah? What about on Mother’s Day, when we got Mom the surprise—”
    Henry intervened. “Come on, he won’t tell. Let’s just go before Mom says it’s too close to dinner.”
    They quickly got permission from Mrs. Barker. “The library? Now that’s a good way to spend the afternoon—we live so close to it. But be careful on your bikes and make sure to watch Jack.” After stuffing a few cookies in their pockets for the trip, they rode off to find out what had happened on Superstition Mountain.

CHAPTER 9
    AT THE LIBRARY
    A S THEY APPROACHED Coronado Road, they rode past Delilah’s gray house. She was sitting on the front steps, between the bright beds of flowers, looking bored. When she saw them, she immediately bounced to her feet and ran across the yard.
    â€œWhere are you going?” she called.
    â€œNone of your business,” Simon said, zooming past.
    â€œYeah,” Henry echoed. Hadn’t she interfered with their lives enough?
    â€œCat stealer!” Jack shouted.
    Delilah ran along the sidewalk, following them. “I did not steal your cat!” she yelled. “I told you, she comes over to my house all the time. Maybe she doesn’t like you anymore.”
    â€œJosie loves us!” Jack yelled back.
    â€œWell, she likes me better,” Delilah answered, panting.
    â€œDoes not!”
    â€œDoes too!”
    Jack’s bike screeched to a halt, and he flung himself at Delilah. She deftly stepped out of the way, while he tumbled onto the grass.
    â€œJack!” Henry told him. “Cut it out. We don’t have time for that.”
    â€œSo where are you going?” Delilah cautiously helped Jack up, holding him at arm’s length so he couldn’t slug her.
    â€œLet me go!” Jack squirmed.
    â€œJust tell me where you’re going,” Delilah said.
    Henry dragged Jack over to his fallen bike. “The library,” he said curtly. “Now leave us alone.”
    Simon was three houses ahead, with his bike turned sideways, waiting for them. “Henry! Jack! Come ON. ”
    They pedaled fast to catch up. Henry glanced over his shoulder, just once, to see what Delilah was doing. She was standing where they’d left her, brown braids hanging on either side of her freckled face, watching them ride away.
    The library was a sprawling concrete building on one end of Coronado Road, the main avenue through town. The boys slid their bikes into the rack at the edge of the parking lot and ran up the steps through the double doors. Inside, the building was bright and sunny, thanks to large glass windows across one end. Through them, Henry could see the sharp outline of Superstition Mountain. It filled the room.
    At the circulation desk, a dark-haired woman was arranging books on a cart. She looked up when they entered and gave them a tight smile. Her hair was jet-black, which made her look young from a distance, but the skin of her face was leathery brown and wrinkled. Her eyebrows were thin, arched lines, as if they’d been drawn on with ink. Henry thought her mouth seemed as stiff and frozen as a doll’s.
    â€œHello, children,” she said in a syrupy voice. “How are you today?”
    â€œFine,” Henry answered politely.
    â€œCan I help you with something?”
    â€œYes.” Simon strode up to the desk. “Could you tell us where the old newspapers are?”
    â€œOf course. I’ll show you.” She walked past them, beckoning. “The recent issues are over here, in the periodicals area … going back about six