The Alpine Menace by Mary Daheim Read Free Book Online Page A

make out of the garden, which was fairly large but well kept up. “Youngsters need aunts and uncles and cousins. It makes life so much richer.”
    “We had us,” I said, feeling defensive. “Our own little quartet. It was enough.”
    Vida didn't respond, even though I knew she disagreed. Reversing down to the intersection, I took a left to head for Ashworth, just a few blocks away.
    “You didn't plan on visiting the Addisons tonight, did you?” I asked Vida.
    “Nooo,” Vida replied, peering at her watch. She refused to read the time from the digital clock on the dashboard, having often expressed her disapproval of “unnecessary gadgets” in the newer automobiles. “It's after nine. We might be imposing.”
    The Addison house was a larger version of my old home, with stone pillars on the front porch. The lights were on there, too, and the front door was open. I was halfway into the curb when a man carrying two cardboard boxes came rushing down the front steps. A plump woman followed, screaming and waving her arms.
    “Goodness!” Vida exclaimed. “What's this?”
    The man, who was big and balding, dumped the boxes on the parking strip, opened the trunk of a Honda sedan, and was about to pick up the boxes again when the woman kicked him in the rear end. He whirled around and made as if to grab her, but swore instead. She swore back. Then, apparently noticing my headlights, they both stopped and stared.
    To my dismay, Vida rolled down her window and leaned out. “Yoo-hoo! Is this the way to the zoo?”
    “The zoo's closed!” the man shouted.
    “No!” Vida cried. “That can't be! Are you sure?”
    He took a step closer and lowered his voice. “Yeah, it's after dark. You'll have to come back tomorrow. It's right over that way.” His arm shot out to his left. “Just follow Fiftieth Street.”
    “You don't have a map, do you?” Vida asked.
    “Not handy,” the man replied, impatient. “’ Scuse me, I'm busy here.”
    The woman, meanwhile, had picked up the boxes and was scurrying back into the house. He didn't notice until she reached the door, which slammed shut behind her.
    “Damn!” The man pounded a fist into his palm. “Damn, damn, damn!”
    “Dear me,” Vida said. “Is there a problem?”
    “You bet,” he said, already rushing back to the house. We watched as he beat both hands against the door and yelled, “Kathy!” several times.
    “What do you think?” Vida asked in a musing tone.
    “I think we'd better get out of here,” I said, pulling back into the street. “If we call on the Addisons again, how are we going to explain our nocturnal desire to visit the damned zoo?”
    “Please, Emma, just because you're in the city doesn't mean you have to swear like the rest of these people.”
    “Sorry.” I sighed, maneuvering the car down the narrow street, which allowed parking on both sides. “But haven't we blown our cover?”
    Before Vida could respond, a small sports car came tearing around the corner. We both put on our brakes and must have missed a collision by inches. I let out a little cry, Vida emitted a gasp, and the sports car didn't budge.
    “You have the right-of-way,” Vida said in annoyance. “Why doesn't this silly fool back up so you can get by?”
    The “silly fool” appeared to be a young woman. I could see the outline of a curly head of hair and a pair of hands held up in a do-something gesture. I did some-thing—I honked four times. My adversary put her hands back on the wheel and emphatically shook her head.
    “Idiot,” I spat out. “She's just being stubborn. I'd have to back all the way to the Addisons’ to pull over. Which I refuse to do. We'll sit it out.”
    “Good for you,” Vida said, glaring at The Enemy. “Don't give in. She looks young and is probably spoiled. We'll teach her a lesson.”
    I folded my arms across my chest. There was no reason—at least that I could see from my boxed-in position—that the girl couldn't back around the corner.