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

Charming's words were followed by another lively tune from the violinists and the festive mood soon returned.

 

The girls mingled in the crowd, barely able to contain themselves whenever they heard angry, threatening words about their family from the mouths of characters they had grown up loving. It seemed that the only topic of conversation tonight was how wonderful the world would be if the Grimm family dropped off the face of the Earth. When the clock struck 8:45, both girls had heard enough. It was high time they made their move.

 

"I have to get upstairs," Sabrina said to Daphne. "If we stick around here any longer we're going to change back, and these people will probably kill us. Find somewhere out of the way and warn me on the walkie-talkie if Charming is coming."

 

"Good luck," Daphne said, wrapping her hard metal arms around Sabrina and hugging her.

 

Sabrina navigated through the crowd. As she approached the steps, she thought she'd finally found her opportunity. That was until Sheriff Hamstead stepped in her way.

 

"Young lady, you are under arrest," Hamstead said.

 

Sabrina wondered what she should do. She could probably knock the sheriff down with one swing of her big bear paw, but everyone would see. Running away didn't seem like an option, either.

 

"For being the prettiest lady at the ball," the sheriff continued.

 

"Uh, thank you," she stammered, somewhat confused.

 

"Wonderful party, don't you think?" said Hamstead as he transformed to his true pig self.

 

"Yes," she said. "Could you excuse me? I have to visit the ladies' room."

 

Hamstead apologized and let her pass. Sabrina lumbered up the stairs until she reached the top. She walked past the violinists and down a long hallway. Once she was out of sight of the crowd, she made sure no one was following, then reached into her purse and pulled out the walkie-talkie, awkwardly switching it on with her big paws.

 

"Jack, I'm upstairs," she said.

 

"Good job, duck. His office is the last one—" Jack said, his voice popping and crackling.

 

"I can barely hear you. Say again," Sabrina said.

 

"It's the last one on the right!" Jack repeated, still sounding distant.

 

Sabrina walked down the hallway. When she got to the end, she found the door Jack had spoken of. She opened it, and standing before her was another seven-foot grizzly bear ready to pounce. Sabrina screamed, but the bear did nothing. In fact, it didn't even twitch. Sabrina realized it was stuffed.

 

The room was dedicated to Prince Charming's hunting trophies. Several mounted deer heads, a stuffed fox, and a wild boar overlooked Charming's immense desk. A rattlesnake sat on top of it, poised and ready to strike. What portions of the walls weren't covered in dead animals were hung with portraits of the prince done in various artistic styles. There was even an abstract portrait in which his nose was on his forehead.

 

"Creepy," Sabrina whispered to herself. She reached for her walkie-talkie and pushed the button again. "I'm in."

 

"The coast is clear down here," Daphne’s voice said. "Charming is busy talking to a raccoon in a tuxedo. That's so crazy!"

 

"Look for a map or something like that," Jack's voice squawked through the box. "Charming keeps records of everything."

 

Dozens of files and reports littered the top of the mayors desk, including an unfolded map of the town. Someone had circled areas in red and written "reported sightings" next to them.

 

"Jack, are you there?" Sabrina said into the walkie-talkie.

 

"Yes," his voice crackled.

 

"I found a map with some circles on it, but there's nothing that says the exact time or location of a meeting. In fact, to me it looks like Charming's trying to track the giant as well."

 

"I doubt it. . . that. . . homes . . . too." Jack's voice broke up.

 

"Jack, I can't hear you. Try to get closer," Sabrina said, but there was no response.

 

"Daphne, I've lost Jack somehow. I'm going to take the map. What is Charming doing?" Sabrina asked.

 

But there was no response from her sister, either. Sabrina looked around the room. In the corner was a television. Hooked to the back by wires was a video camera, and on the television's screen was a frozen image of the Applebee farm. Sabrina crossed the room and found the remote control. She picked it up awkwardly and after several difficult seconds managed to get her giant paw to press the Play button.

 

The screen came to life with the most amazing scene. A giant beanstalk was exploding upward from the ground, soaring high into the sky and disappearing off the top edge of the TV. Within seconds, an enormous body came crawling down it and the sight sent shivers through Sabrina. It was the giant she had met the day before. It stomped down on the little Applebee farmhouse just as Mr. Applebee leaped out the door. Granny had been right. The lens cap did mean someone—Charming— had taped the whole violent episode!

 

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