MAD IN PURSUIT
Chapter 1 :: The Mysterious Girl Arrives
Maxey Malloy was late to school that day because her mom was out investigating a murder case. Maxey was eleven and got herself ready for school. But her dad, who worked late the night before, had trouble waking up. Then his car wouldn't start.
"I'll call you a cab, baby," Jack Malloy said, after he cursed at the car.
"Nevermind, Dad. I'd rather walk."
"But you'll be late."
“That's okay. Big Butts -- oops, I mean Mrs. Butz understands."
"Maxey! Watch what you say about the principal."
"Okay, Dad. I'm sorry." Then Maxey smiled. "Give me a kiss, Dad. I better hurry."
But Maxey didn't hurry. She looked in all the store windows, stopped to watch some workers at a construction site, and looked at the ducks for a while in the park. It was a sunny autumn day and a strong wind swirled the dried leaves around her. Maxine Sara Malloy was curious about everything and afraid of nothing. Her mother said she took after her father, Jack, who was a reporter for the St. Louis Daily Chronicle. Her father said Maxey was just like her mother, Maggie, who was a detective with the St. Louis police.
When Maxey got to school, she knew just what to do. She marched herself into the principal's office and plopped down on a chair in the waiting room.
"Hi, Maxey," the secretary said. "Late again?"
When the principal, Mrs. Butz came out, she scolded Maxey. "Maxine, I know your parents work irregular hours. I know your mother is working on the Chapman murder now. But you're in the sixth grade and should be able to get up on time. Do you have an alarm clock?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well, you set it for 7:00 a.m. and you'll be able to get here by 8:30. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now, Maxine, I want you to meet a new girl who is going to be in your class."
They went into the principal's office and Maxey met Rose Larue. She was taller than Maxey and very skinny. She had long black hair, with bangs that almost covered her pale blue eyes. Her skin was white, as white as the late pass that Maxey held in her hands. She wore a dark purple dress that seemed too dressy for school. And she had on some kind of sweet perfume. Her left arm was in a cast, which was dirty and had little bits of gauze hanging out the ends.
As they walked down the hall to the sixth grade classroom, Maxey grilled Rose with dozens of questions.
"How old are you? Where do you live? Where did you come from? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Where do your mom and dad work?"
But Rose just frowned and Maxey got frustrated.
"Don't you speak English?" Maxey finally asked.
Rose still didn't answer. But Maxey saw a big tear well up in Rose's eye and trickle down her face.
...
Thumbs
Up if you liked this entry