The Unusual Suspects Read online

  Sabrina couldn’t believe her ears. Charming knew the Scarlet Hand was real. He had admitted to the girls that the shadowy criminal group of Everafters had approached him. And this was before they’d heard Jack brag about being a member. Why was he now lying about its existence?

  Before Sabrina could confront him, the door opened and Snow White entered. It didn’t seem possible, but Ms. White was even more beautiful up close.

  Mayor Charming rushed to block her view of Mr. Grumpner’s corpse, but the teacher had already spotted it.

  “So, it’s true,” she gasped.

  “Snow, you shouldn’t see this,” Charming said softly.

  “I’m fine,” Snow White said, but the mayor ignored her. He took her by the hand and led her into the hallway. Sabrina and Daphne shared a glance and pushed through the crowd, eager not to miss a second of this royal soap opera.

  The mayor pulled the teacher into his arms as if she needed comfort, and for a brief moment she seemed to enjoy it, but then she pulled away.

  “Billy,” Ms. White said, “what did that to him?”

  “Try to put it out of your head, Snow,” Charming said. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. It was hard to believe that the usually obnoxious mayor could be so tender. “I’ve got my best men on it.”

  The others filed out of Grumpner’s classroom and Sheriff Hamstead took a roll of yellow police tape from his jacket. He draped an X over the door to keep anyone else from entering.

  “Snow, I don’t want you to get involved in this,” the mayor said. The teacher flashed him an irritated look, but then nodded. She turned and bent down so that she was at eye level with Daphne.

  “Are you OK?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about me,” the little girl answered. “We see this kind of thing all the time.”

  Mayor Charming turned to the sheriff. “Mr. Hamstead, could you make sure my fiancée … I mean Ms. White, gets home safely,” he said, blushing over his mistake. As Snow White stood up she smiled softly, but the bright red blush on her cheeks flashed like a police siren on her pale skin.

  “I’d be happy to,” Sheriff Hamstead said, extending his arm to the beautiful woman. He escorted her down the hall and she stopped to gaze back at Charming before they left.

  “So, what’s next, Billy?” Sabrina said, before she burst into giggles. Daphne and Granny Relda joined her. Even Mr. Canis cracked a smile. Suddenly, a loud, goofy laugh was heard behind them. When they turned they found Mr. Seven nearly falling over with laughter.

  “Billy,” Sabrina continued. “That’s just precious. It’s so sweet I’m going to get a cavity.”

  “I think it’s romantic,” Daphne said, doing her best to stop laughing.

  “Enough!” Charming shouted, silencing everyone’s giggles. “This is a crime scene. Relda, take your rug rats and your mangy mongrel with you or I’ll have you arrested.”

  “Watch your words, Prince,” Canis growled as his eyes turned icy blue, showing everyone that the Wolf was just below the surface. “Someday you’re going to wake up and find someone has taken a bite out of you.”

  “Relda, I believe there’s a law in this town about keeping animals on a leash,” Charming said.

  The men stared at each other for a long moment and then, suddenly, Canis’s eyes changed back to watery gray. The old man looked exhausted and his face grew pale.

  “That’s quite enough of this nonsense,” Granny said, stepping in between the two men. Every time Charming and Canis were in a room together they were at each other’s throats, but the old woman had a way of making them feel foolish. They stepped back and lowered their eyes like two squabbling schoolboys who had just been disciplined. “It’s time to go.”

  The family exited the school and found their ancient black jalopy in the parking lot. The beat-up monstrosity was in desperate need of a tune-up and its long-neglected shocks groaned and complained as each person climbed inside. Elvis was in the back, snuggling under a huge blanket, and didn’t even bother to lift his head when the girls got in. Daphne wrapped her arms around the dog’s neck and gave him a big wet smooch on the forehead.

  “I missed you today,” she announced.

  Elvis tucked his head under his blanket and hid.

  “What’s the matter with him?” the little girl asked.

  “He’s pouting. He doesn’t like to be left in the car,” Granny Relda said as she jotted something into her notebook.

  “Awww, my little baby,” Daphne said, trying to pull the two-hundred-pound dog onto her lap like an infant. She showered the Great Dane in kisses. “Is somebody sad? Did somebody get left in the car? I won’t ever leave you in the car.”

  Elvis gave her a lick on the cheek and the girl giggled.

  Granny spun around in her seat with a delighted look on her face. “Lieblings, you know what all this means?”

  Sabrina groaned. “We’re in the middle of a mystery?”

  “Isn’t it exciting?” the old woman cried.

  “Yes, and pointless,” the girl argued. “You heard Charming and his ridiculous spider theory. He knows the Scarlet Hand killed Mr. Grumpner, but instead he lies about it. Grumpner was a human, so Charming couldn’t care less. Why should the Everafter mayor and the Everafter police department do anything at all? No, they’ll just cover up his death, and we’ll run into one dead end after another.”

  “We are Grimms and this is what we do,” Daphne said.

  “Exactly right, little one. We are Grimms and part of what we do is make sure that this kind of thing doesn’t go unpunished. We’ll just sit here until everyone is gone and then we’ll go back inside and have a look ourselves,” the old woman said. “I have a feeling there are a lot more clues in that room.”

  Suddenly, Mr. Seven was tapping on the car window. He motioned for Granny Relda to roll it down and looked around nervously.

  “Good evening, Mr. Seven.”

  “Mayor Charming has requested your presence at the mansion.”

  “You mean Billy?” Granny said, turning in her seat to wink at the girls.

  The dwarf chuckled. “He has something he wishes to discuss in private.”

  Granny Relda and Mr. Canis shared a suspicious glance. After a moment, Mr. Canis nodded his approval.

  “Tell Mr. Charming we’ll be there,” the old woman said.

  The dwarf nodded and walked over to the mayor’s long white limousine. He buffed the silver stallion on the hood with his shirtsleeve then climbed onto the stack of phone books on the driver’s seat, and soon the limo was pulling away.

  “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this?” Granny said, putting her hand on the old man’s shoulder. Mr. Canis nodded. He started the car and it sputtered to life with a series of backfires that Sabrina was sure could be heard in the next town.

  They followed Charming’s limo through the quiet country roads of Ferryport Landing. Sabrina gazed out at the sleepy little river town that her great-great-great-great grandfather Wilhelm Grimm had founded. Anyone driving through it would think it was just another boring little town. They would never know that many of the residents were princes, pigs, witches, and fairies, all in disguise. And on the rare occasions when one of the really big Everafters caused trouble, such as one of the giants or dragons, the endless acres of firs, Chinese maples, and oak trees that surrounded the town acted as an excellent cover from prying eyes. In addition, the invisible magical barrier that Wilhelm and the witch Baba Yaga had constructed around Ferryport Landing meant no Everafter, no matter how big, could leave the area. As for the humans who lived in town, they were none the wiser. The Everafters were too good at covering up their magic and mischief. Sabrina often wished she were oblivious, too. Ferryport Landing was a perfect place to live, unless you knew that it was all a lie, and the lie kept Sabrina from getting comfortable in her new life.

  As they pulled into Charming’s sprawling estate, Sabrina realized the mayor was the only person in town she could trust. He
was corrupt, but at least he was upfront about it. He planned to buy the town piece by piece and recreate the kingdom he had given up when the Everafters came to America. He didn’t care if you liked it or not and he didn’t care if you thought it was wrong. Charming could always be counted on to do what was right for himself. He might not have any morals, but at least he was consistent.

  Mr. Canis parked the car and turned off the engine. The last time Sabrina had been at the mansion it had been lit up like a Christmas tree for the Ferryport Landing Ball, an annual event for which the Everafter community came together to be themselves and to celebrate. Without all the glitz and glamour, Charming’s mansion looked vacant. The lights were off and the fountain, which featured a lifelike sculpture of Charming, was drained and full of dead leaves.

  “Mrs. Grimm, if it’s OK with you I believe I will stay here,” Mr. Canis said as he opened the car door for Granny Relda. “I’m feeling a bit tired and I suspect Charming will only make it worse.”

  “Of course, Mr. Canis,” Granny Relda said. “I don’t believe Mayor Charming poses any threat to us.”

  Elvis whined when he saw that the family was leaving him in the car.

  “Elvis, we’re not leaving you in the car. We’re putting you in charge of it,” Daphne said. The dog lifted his huge ears as if he was listening very carefully. “It’s a really important job. You have to stay and guard Mr. Canis. Don’t let anything bad happen to him.”

  Elvis barked, confirming his orders. He sat up in the backseat and watched out the windows for any would-be attackers. As the Grimms approached the mansion, Sabrina looked back and noticed Canis doing something very odd. The stick-thin man climbed on top of the car and sat Indian-style on the roof. He closed his eyes and rested his hands on his knees.

  “What’s he doing?” Sabrina asked.

  “Meditative yoga,” Granny replied, as if this were the natural response. “It’s helping him remain centered and calm. Keeps the dark stuff at bay.”

  Of course, the Big Bad Wolf does yoga, Sabrina thought. Why did I even bother to ask?

  The trio stood on the front steps of the mansion, but before Granny could ring the bell, Mr. Seven opened the door and ushered the family inside.

  “Good evening,” he said and, without offering to take their coats, he turned and raced up the staircase. “I’ll get the mayor.”

  “What do you think he wants?” Daphne wondered.

  “Hard to say,” Granny Relda said. “The mayor is full of surprises.”

  “Maybe he felt like he didn’t get to insult us enough at the school,” Sabrina muttered just as Charming appeared at the top of the steps. Sabrina watched him grimace, then take a deep breath as he came down to join them.

  “This conversation must be an absolute secret,” he said as he stood before them. He leaned down and pinned a shiny tin star on Sabrina’s coat. It looked like the kind sheriffs wore in old black-and-white western movies. She peered down at it and read the words FERRYPORT LANDING SPECIAL FORCES DEPUTY OFFICER.

  “What’s this?” she asked as Charming pinned a similar star onto Daphne’s coat. The little girl looked at it and smiled. “Look at me! I’m a cowboy!”

  “May I?” Charming said to Granny Relda. The old woman hesitated but finally agreed and he pinned the star on her dress, too.

  “I don’t think I understand what is taking place, Mayor Charming,” Granny Relda said.

  “I’m deputizing you,” he said uncomfortably. “Raise your right hand and repeat after me.”

  Charming raised his right hand and waited for the Grimms to do the same. Sabrina stared blankly at the man, wondering if maybe he was pulling some kind of prank on them.

  “Don’t make this harder on me than it has to be,” he begged. “The town needs your help. You know it and I know it. Can’t that be enough?”

  “You want our help?” Sabrina said.

  “I know you’ve been helping Hamstead,” the mayor said. “For some reason the sheriff thinks you will be able to help with this case.”

  “Mayor Charming!” Granny Relda exclaimed. “I never thought I’d see the day when you would come to this family for anything.”

  The man lowered his right hand and groaned. “Do you think I would ask you if it wasn’t absolutely necessary? I swore I’d see your family rot before I asked for your help, but drastic times call for drastic measures.”

  “What are you talking about?” Sabrina demanded impatiently, but as she waited for the mayor to answer, she noticed something odd about the mansion. It was filthy. Several curtains in the ballroom had fallen and lay in heaps on the floor. A giant red stain had ruined a polar bear rug lying near the fireplace. The carpet on the stairs needed a good vacuuming and a bucket sat on the floor collecting rain from a giant patched-up hole in the ceiling. Half a dozen overflowing bags of garbage sat by the door waiting to be taken out and a thick layer of dust covered everything, including a full suit of armor that leaned precariously against a wall.

  “What happened here?” she asked.

  “You happened here!” Charming snapped. “You and your smelly sister ruined the only fund-raising event this town has each year.”

  Daphne raised an arm to smell her armpit. She crinkled her nose and lowered her arm quickly. “I’m not that bad,” she said.

  “You crashed an invitation-only party, brought a giant here, which nearly destroyed the mansion and several cars in the parking lot, and worst of all, you made me look like a fool in front of the town’s biggest donors,” the mayor said. “We didn’t raise a penny. The town is broke.”

  “We know what the fund-raiser is really for,” Sabrina replied. “You want to use the money to buy the whole town. Why don’t you just dip into the money you’ve conned out of everyone for the last two hundred years?”

  “You dare question my honor?” Charming growled. “I haven’t taken a penny out of this town. The rumors about my finances are greatly exaggerated. Relda, do you believe I would live like this if I didn’t have to?”

  Granny Relda gazed around the room. “No, I don’t,” she answered.

  “Services had to be cut drastically. Transportation, education. I’ve even had to fire the crew of workers who polish statues of me in the park. Mr. Seven has agreed to a substantial cut in pay and I haven’t taken a salary in weeks. I had to lay off three-fourths of the town’s police force, which, since there were only four police officers to begin with, leaves me with Hamstead. The sheriff works hard and he’s smart as a whip, but he’s only one pig. We’re stretched too thin, and we just don’t have the resources to investigate a crime, let alone a murder committed by the Scarlet Hand. I need your help, and since most of this is your family’s fault, I think it’s your responsibility.”

  “So now the Scarlet Hand exists, huh? Why did you lie about it back at the school?” Sabrina asked.

  “Because I don’t need the citizens of this town to panic. If word got out that there was a terrorist group killing people, there would be chaos in the streets. Hamstead can barely keep up now with speeding tickets and jaywalkers. Your family has proven to be good detectives: you’re persistent and lucky and stubborn,” Charming continued. “If you don’t stop whatever did that to the teacher, then it won’t get stopped.”

  “Why do you care what happens to a human teacher?” Sabrina said. “I thought you hated humans.”

  Charming said nothing.

  “You don’t want anything bad to happen to Ms. White,” Daphne cried. “You are in love with her. You want to kiss and hug her!”

  “Nonsense!” the mayor shouted. “I can’t have terrorists running around the elementary school, even if I approve of who they’re killing.”

  “You want to write her love notes,” the little girl persisted. “You want to hold her hand in the park and look at puppies in the pet store.”

  “Is there an Off button for this one?” Charming asked Granny Relda.

  The old woman grinned at the mayor. “You haven’t answered the qu
estions.”

  “All right!” Charming surrendered. “Snow has a knack for getting in trouble. I would sleep better at night knowing she is safe.”

  “Of course, we’ll do what we can,” Granny Relda assured him.

  “What are you going to do for us?” Sabrina asked.

  The old woman looked at the girl in horror. “Liebling, we would never take payment for helping folks.”

  “Granny, finding the killer is going to take a lot of time—time that we could use to find Mom and Dad,” Sabrina argued.

  “What can I do?” Charming said. “I can’t exactly send Hamstead to search everyone’s homes.”

  “No, but you have connections we don’t,” said Sabrina. “People will talk to you. Maybe there is something we could use, something magical lying around we don’t know anything about. Use your imagination, Billy.”

  Charming thought for a moment. “You have my word.”

  He raised his right hand.

  “It’ll have to do,” Sabrina said as she raised her hand as well. Granny Relda and Daphne did the same.

  “I do solemnly swear to protect and serve the inhabitants of …”

  “What does inhabitants mean?” Daphne interrupted.

  “It means the people who live in a particular place,” her sister answered, noting Charming’s impatient face.

  “Why didn’t you just say the people, then?” the little girl asked.

  “Let him finish, lieblings,” Granny Relda said.

  “I do solemnly swear,” Charming started over, “to protect and serve the people of Ferryport Landing to the best of my ability. I vow to protect the peace, secure the safety, and uphold the rule of law.”

  The Grimms repeated what he said, word for word, and then lowered their hands.

  “You are now officially deputized under the laws of Ferryport Landing,” the mayor said, as he pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Granny Relda.

  “What are these?” Granny said, looking down at the key ring.

  “Keys to the school,” Charming said. “You’ll need them to get inside.”

  Granny smiled and handed the keys back to the mayor. “I’ve got my own set, thanks,” she said. Charming scowled and shoved the keys back into his pocket.