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

"So girls, where can I take a kip?" he asked.

 

Daphne looked at Sabrina for a definition but Sabrina shook her head.

 

"I have no idea what that means."

 

"You know, hit the sack?" Jack said.

 

 

 

"You want to go take a nap?"

 

"I'm zonked."

 

"We didn't break you out of jail so you could camp out in our house."

 

"Kids, I was on a lumpy jail cot all night. I need to get some rest, and besides, my big plan can't go into effect until tomorrow night, anyway."

 

"What big plan?"

 

"Right now, it's best that we don't discuss it." Jack fell onto the couch and stretched his arms behind his head.

 

"He doesn't have a plan!" Puck snapped.

 

"Yes, I do!" Jack replied. "We'll talk about it later. I just need a couple of hours of shut-eye." He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

 

Puck looked at the girls, turned, and stomped outside, slamming the door behind him.

 

"What do we do now?" Daphne said sleepily.

 

"I suppose we might as well get some rest, too," Sabrina said, seeing her sister's head bob. She scooped her grandmother's handbag off the floor and set it on the table, then gently urged Daphne out of her chair. Elvis whined at the girls.

 

Sabrina turned and whispered into the dog's ear, "Elvis, keep an eye on Jack."

 

The dog's eyes reflected an understanding, and he seated himself like a stone guardian, watching the sleeping man. The two girls went up to their bedroom. It had been a long day.

 

? ? ?

 

Sabrina didn't remember falling asleep, but when she woke up she was still in her clothes and it was already nine o'clock in the morning. She crawled out of bed, leaving her snoring sister alone, and walked down the hallway. She heard a sound from Granny Relda's room and decided to investigate, but when she opened the door, no one was there.

 

She stepped inside and noticed a framed photo on the old woman's dresser. It was of Granny and Grandpa, hugging happily under an apple tree. As usual, Mr. Canis was standing nearby. His face seemed slightly out of focus and the camera flash had turned his eyes a bright blue color. Sabrina reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo she had found in Granny Relda's handbag. Comparing the two, she found the same odd effect over Mr. Canis. Sabrina was surprised she hadn't noticed it before.

 

"What are you doing in here?" Puck's voice asked. It startled Sabrina and she dropped both the picture and the framed photo to the ground. Luckily, the glass didn't break.

 

Sabrina looked around the room, searching for the boy, but didn't see him. "Where are you?"

 

 

 

"Up here, ugly," said Puck.

 

Sabrina looked up and nearly screamed. A housefly the size of Elvis was sitting upside down on the ceiling above her. But its enormous size wasn't nearly as disturbing as its human head, which had shaggy blond hair, a gold crown, and a mischievous grin. Apparently, Puck had a whole bag of disturbing tricks.

 

"What are you doing in here?" Sabrina demanded.

 

"Uh . . . it's the only quiet room in the house," Puck replied. "Besides, I know you and Jack have got your big plans. Wouldn't want to get in the way."

 

"Could you come down here?"

 

Puck suddenly morphed back into his human form and fell clumsily to the bed below.

 

"You're being a baby," Sabrina said. "Jack wants to help, and you can't stand not being the center of attention."

 

"Whatever," the boy replied. "But when he gets you into trouble, don't be angry when I remind you that I told you so."

 

"You got a better plan, then let's hear it, 'cause all I've heard from you is the never-ending buzz of your flapping lips," Sabrina snapped. "My parents ran out on me and Daphne almost two years ago. We've been through the ringer and have been bounced around for far too long. I admit, when we met Granny Relda I didn't want anything to do with her. But now that I know she's the real deal, I'm going to do whatever it takes to get her back. I've lost one family. I'm not losing another. So if you have a better idea, then I'm all ears!"

 

"Don't look at me," Puck said. "I've made no promises to the old lady. She knew I wasn't a good little boy when we met."

 

Sabrina was taken aback by his insensitivity. "So you couldn't care less what happens to her?"

 

"I've learned one thing in this life of mine. Look out for yourself. Everyone else will just end up disappointing you."

 

"So you won't help?"

 

"I'm not one of the good guys," Puck said.

 

Suddenly, the sound of Elvis's barking filled the room. Sabrina peered into the hallway. There, she saw Jack fighting with Elvis, who was shredding the man's pants in his angry teeth.

 

"Get this beast away from me! He's rabid," Jack begged.

 

"What are you doing up here?" Sabrina asked, suspiciously.

 

"I was coming up to wake you."

 

Daphne entered the hallway rubbing sleep from her eyes.

 

"What's going on?"

 

"The Giant Killer is prowling around the house looking for something to steal," Puck said. "Your savior has sticky fingers."

 

"Shut your mouth, you dirty little hooligan," Jack shouted.

 

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