Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Frozen Hearts by Emma Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

Woeful Institute had no business being friends. None at all.
    â€œWhat a big bathroom!” exclaimed Wilma. In the far corner there was a round bathtub so grand it was elevated from the floor with steps going up to it. Above it were three arched windows that blazed with sunshine, while the floor was a mass of tiny colored tiles. “Hang on a minute!” she said, cocking her head to one side to get a better view. “Look at the floor, Pickle! It’s a map of Cooper Island!”
    Pickle barked. Not because he understood what a map was, because he didn’t. He’s a dog. But because he quite liked all the new smells.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Theodore, opening a cupboard above the sink. “It’s called a mosaic.”
    â€œMosaic,” said Wilma, looking down and nodding. “That’s the fourth new thing I’ve seen today.”
    Theodore smiled and pulled out a small stool that was kept next to the laundry basket. “Sit here, please, and hold out your finger,” he said, pushing the stool toward her.
    â€œWho’s that?” asked Wilma, sitting and pointing at a photograph that was hanging on the wall. The photograph was in black and white and was of a young boy standing next to a grave-looking gentleman who was wearing an expression that said, “Not today, thank you,” which is something adults say when people they don’t want to be bothered by try to bother them. Theodore, who was unwrapping a ball of cotton, cast a glance over toward the wall.
    â€œWell now,” said Theodore, “the young boy is me. And the gentleman was a very great detective called Anthony Amber. He taught me everything I know.”
    â€œWere you his apprentice?” asked Wilma, spinning around to stare the detective square in the face.
    â€œYes, that is correct. Hold out your finger, please. I can’t clean it if it’s being waved here, there, and everywhere.”
    â€œSo does that mean you came from the Lowside, like me?” asked Wilma, eyes widening.
    â€œNo,” said Theodore, giving her a small smile, “I’m afraid I’m very much from the Farside. But I don’t really hold with all that Farside, Lowside business.”
    â€œSo who’s your apprentice?” asked Wilma, fixing Theodore with an unblinking gaze.
    Sensing where this was leading, Theodore concentrated on cleaning the blood from the end of Wilma’s finger. He dropped the cotton into a trash can to his left and unraveled a length of bandage. “I don’t have an apprentice,” he said eventually, realizing that Wilma was still staring at him.
    â€œThat’s a bad business,” said Wilma, shaking her head and pursing her lips together, “but I can start today. So that’s that problem solved. I mean, I’ll have to do my chores for Mrs. Waldock, but I’m sure I can spare you a few hours.”
    Theodore dropped the bandage on the floor and frowned a little. Bending down to pick it up, he wondered how he had gotten himself into this mess and how he was going to get himself out of it. He was well used to telling people bad news about ghastly thefts and gruesome murders. That was part of his job. But telling small girls bad news about hopes, dreams, and job prospects was something else entirely. Still, thought Theodore, it’s always best to be honest and straightforward, so, wrapping Wilma’s finger with the bandage, he looked right at her and said, “I’m not looking for an apprentice right now, thank you. Keep your hand up.”
    Wilma blinked. “But you will need one soon?” she asked with a plaintive look. “Because I only live next door. I know I’m not a detective yet, but I have got some experience. Like last week, at the Institute, a bag of hard candy went missing from Tommy Barton’s desk and no one knew who’d done it, but I worked out it was Frank Finley because when I was talking