The Mind Reading Chook by Hazel Edwards Read Free Book Online Page B

games. Later I check for Chooks Anonymous messages online. A few answers come up on screen. Oh no! They are recipes for cooking chicken! I typed Cook instead of Chook. How embarrassing.

Chapter 4
Clues
    My mobile rings. I lift my wing.
    â€˜Hi. This is Astrid.’
    â€˜Are you the chook looking for a laugh?’ The voice is scratchy, I don’t like the sound of it.
    â€˜I’m Astrid the part-time sleuth. My client has lost his sense of humour. Have you heard a lost laugh?’
    â€˜Yes,’ says the voice. ‘Last night.’
    â€˜How do you know it belongs to Merlin?’ I ask.
    â€˜Because he was here earlier,’ says the voice. ‘Last night.’
    â€˜Where was Merlin?’ I ask the voice again.
    â€˜At the shopping centre.’
    â€˜Which shopping centre?’ I ask.
    â€˜The one where I work.’
    â€˜Which one is that?’ There must be a million shopping centres in our area. Even a mind-reader can’t always get it right.
    â€˜I’m a security guard at the Central car park. I patrol with my dog,’ says the voice.
    I’m not keen on meeting his dog. Neither are my remaining tail feathers. Since Merlin ‘magic-ed’ my best running shoes and lost them, I’ve had bare feet. Not good for a fast getaway.
    â€˜Meet me outside the Hot Chicken Shop in ten minutes and I’ll show you where I saw Merlin.’ He gives the map reference number. He hangs up before I can change the meeting place. ‘Not there!’ I mutter.
    The Hot Chicken Shop gives me the shivers. It was the last place I saw Aunty Rhoda. But the Central carpark is where I found Merlin’s van. Maybe I’m getting closer to solving the mystery.
    I ride my bike so I won’t be late. The mobile clips on the handlebar. My comb-ring swings in the breeze. My number plate is EGGS-PERT. I like the egg theme.
    At Central, I park underground. The carpark is so big. No wonder Merlin has forgotten where he left his van last night.
    I case the joint. That means I have a look around the Hot Chicken Shop. I sniff around. The bins out the back have bones in them. And cardboardy boxes with grease spots. Ex-meals. Ex-chicken. My relatives!
    I peck around. I see the black shoes first. Size 14 feet. I look up. Legs like tree trunks. The security guard wears a uniform. His dog is large.
    â€˜Woof, woof, woof.’ Luckily the dog is on a leash.
    Quickly I flash my I.D. CARD Then I show a ‘mug shot’ of Merlin. ‘Have you seen this man laugh before?’
    â€˜That’s Merlin, isn’t it?’ says the security guard. ‘He was in the mall yesterday afternoon. Next to the perfume stand.’
    I look into his mind. There’s a Merlin shape. He does know Merlin.
    â€˜So what sort of chook are you?’ asks the security guard.
    â€˜I’m an English Sussex. See. I’m white with a black collar.’
    â€˜Rufus has a collar.’
    I’m glad about that. Rufus is pulling on the leash. He’s pulling away from the security guard and towards me. I’m NOT glad about that.
    Rufus takes a lunge forward. I move, FAST!

Chapter 5
Smelly Chook Chase
    Every detective story has a chase. And this is mine.
    I squawk and run! Rufus follows me. I feel his hot breath behind me. My tail feathers quiver.
    The long passageway of the mall is ahead. It’s crowded with traders’ stalls. I pant. I need my runners. Rufus is gaining. ‘Woof, woof, woof.’ That dog can bark and run at the same time!
    I jump a bucket of roses and my wing touches a thorn. ‘Ow!’ I nearly lose my mobile.
    Rufus hits a pile of cans and they roll everywhere. I sniff and keep fluttering. One stall has after-shave, perfume and powder. I read the labels as I fly past.
    Remember, Stop! and Forget.
    A girl squirts perfume samples for customers. I sniff, but it’s too dangerous to stay. I don’t want to be part of a guard dog’s snack attack.
    I