The Fairy-Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm, Book 1)

"Elvis, play dead," Daphne said, and the dog lay on his side. The little girl turned a worried face to her sister. "He's not going to do what I think he is, is he?"

 

"CARPET, DOWN!" Jack shouted, and the carpet fell from the sky until it was literally skidding across the pavement. Its momentum carried the group underneath the truck to the other side and down the street. When they sat up again, the young man was already laughing—until he looked up and saw the street cleaner barreling toward them.

 

"CARPET, UP!" they all shouted and the little rug struggled higher, narrowly missing the boiling-hot water and sharp bristles the machine used to scour the street. The carpet continued to rise until it had cleared the vehicle. Sabrina sat up and turned around. Ichabod Crane was out of his car, angrily ordering the owners of the eighteen-wheeler and the street cleaner to move. Unfortunately, the traffic problems did little to stop the giant. It's monstrous foot soared high above the commotion and landed only yards from the carpet.

 

"THAT THING IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE," Sabrina shouted. "Carpet, we have to get away from the main road!"

 

The carpet made an abrupt turn toward Ferryport Landing's farm community. The giant followed closely behind and the little rug dodged each deadly footfall. Several times the ugly brute reached out to squash the group in his hands, but each time the carpet zipped out of his reach. He grunted and roared at them, but eventually became exhausted by the chase and gave up, shaking his fist into the air and roaring with frustration.

 

"Don't cry, big boy," Jack shouted to the giant as he disappeared behind them on the horizon. "You'll be seeing me again, very soon!"

 

? ? ?

 

As the magic carpet coasted up the driveway, it was barely six inches off the ground and had lost all of its kick. When the group finally stepped off of it, the beautiful little rug dropped to the ground and rolled itself up, just as it had been delivered to the girls. Daphne leaned over and picked it up gingerly, the way one would a tired kitten, and cradled it in her arms.

 

"Poor thing is all worn out," she said, cooing.

 

Sabrina looked toward the forest. Hamstead's squad cars were still perched in the tall trees behind the house, but he and his men were nowhere to be seen. Reaching into her pocket, Sabrina removed Granny Relda's enormous key ring and began the tedious job of unlocking all the bolts. Jack watched attentively until she had unlocked every one. Before Sabrina could say the magic words that gained them entrance, Daphne pulled her aside, cupped her hand over her big sister's ear, and whispered, "Should we let him in?"

 

It was a fair question. Every time they had broken one of Granny Relda's rules they had regretted it, but they were in a tough situation. Jack was probably the only person in the world who could confront a giant, and he had offered to help.

 

"I don't think we have much of a choice," Sabrina whispered back. She made a fist and knocked on the door. "We're home."

 

Jack cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

 

"Family tradition," Sabrina said in hopes of throwing him off. "Granny does it and it makes Daphne laugh so I picked it up, too."

 

Daphne faked a laugh.

 

Jack shrugged. "Whatever."

 

"What's he doing here?" Puck said as he floated down from the sky.

 

Jack turned around and eyed the flying boy, whose huge wings flapped hard to allow him to hover over them.

 

"He's offered to help," Daphne explained, but this time her diplomacy was falling on deaf ears.

 

"Help us do what, try on some big pants?" Puck sneered, taking a jab at Jack's recent job. "You weren't supposed to bring him back."

 

"Listen, you little brat, I'm the only hope you've got," Jack replied. "Two little girls and a garden gnome aren't going to stop a giant."

 

"Who are you calling a garden gnome?" Puck said, pulling his flute from his sweatshirt. "My royal army knows how to deal with insolent peasants."

 

"Boys!" Sabrina and Daphne cried in unison. "That's enough!"

 

Puck and Jack backed off. The girls looked at each other. Apparently, there was a bit of Granny in them both.

 

"What happened to Hamstead and his deputies?" Sabrina asked.

 

"Charming came by and picked them up," Puck said, staring a hole into Jack. "I sat up on the roof and watched him scream at them for half an hour. It was hilarious."

 

"Good, we could use a break," Sabrina said, turning and opening the front door.

 

Elvis rushed past her and into the kitchen, returning a moment later with Granny Relda's handbag. He dropped it at the girls' feet and began to snarl at it. The girls ignored him. Daphne headed into the living room, set the carpet tenderly on the floor, and plopped down, exhausted, into a chair. She pulled a book out from underneath the cushion she was sitting on and tossed it aside.

 

"So, this is the famous Grimm house," Jack said as he wandered from room to room, lifting up photographs and snooping around. "Oh, I wish I had my camera with me. No one will believe I was actually inside."

 

"Make yourself at home, please," Sabrina said. If Jack heard the sarcasm in her voice, he pretended not to and continued his snooping.

 

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