Button Hill Read Free Page B

toward Dekker. He could smell coffee on her breath. “That clock is cursed,” she whispered.
    Dekker groaned. “Yeah, I get it. Mom told you I made fun of it, right?”
    â€œThe clock has not run in decades. And let me tell you, I was glad when it stopped working.”
    â€œWhy?” asked Dekker.
    â€œBecause that’s when the people of Button Hill stopped disappearing.”
    â€œOh yeah?” he asked suspiciously. “What about all those people who died that you told us about yesterday? They’re all gone.”
    â€œYes, but they departed in the usual ways, thank goodness. You should ask your mother when she returns. It’s one of the reasons why you’ve visited so seldom.”
    â€œI don’t believe you. An old clock couldn’t make stuff happen.”
    â€œIt’s quite concerning that you should dream of it so soon. Are you positive you didn’t touch it?”
    Dekker shook his head, not meeting her eyes.
    â€œI’m of a mind to call your mother and alert her to this development.”
    Dekker stood up. “No, don’t call her. I’ll stay away from it, I promise.”
    Aunt Primrose’s pale eyes held his gaze for a long moment. “See that you do. For your own sake.”
    Dekker climbed the stairs to his bedroom and frowned at the hospital-green walls. Ranger stood up and wagged his tail when Dekker came in. “Good boy,” Dekker said and ruffled the dog’s ears. Ranger’s head was boxy, and he had a patchy black-and-white coat that reminded Dekker of cows. The dog jumped onto the bed and danced around in a circle three times before collapsing on the pillow.
    â€œDon’t go in the bathroom if you can help it,” Dekker said to the dog. “There’s a bunch of old-lady underwear hanging over the tub.” Ranger wriggled onto his back so Dekker could rub his tummy. “What are we doing out here, buddy? I mean, it’s going to be great for you. There are fields for you to run in and gophers to chase, but it’s going to suck for me. I’m stuck with Aunt Poison and my sister. I wish she’d been born a boy. Then she’d do stuff I want to do. Of course, there is one game she might like.”
    He got up and crossed the landing. Riley’s room was identical to his but the color of butter. He watched as she hummed to herself on her bed while she gave one of her dolls a haircut with large scissors. “Mom’s going to kill you if she catches you with those.”
    Riley stuffed the scissors under her pillow, her eyes wide with alarm. “Don’t tell,” she whispered.
    He nodded. “Your secret’s safe as long as you play Finding Things with me.”
    She sat forward. “How do you play Finding Things?”
    Dekker sat down on the bed beside her. “You tell the other person to find some place or thing you’ve seen, and they have to look for it. Each person gets a turn. You win if the other person can’t find what you told them to look for.”
    â€œCan I pick first?”
    â€œSure. But only if you don’t quit like a crybaby if you start to lose.”
    â€œI won’t. Let me grab my backpack. Come on, Cuddles!” Riley crammed her stuffed leopard into a dirty pink pack.
    Dekker returned to his room and reemerged with his walkie-talkie. “We can test this out too,” he said, tossing the handsets into the bag.
    Downstairs, Aunt Primrose was chopping some long roots with a heavy cleaver. Dekker put his hands behind his back and stepped quietly into the kitchen. “Um, Aunt Primrose, we need a break from all that unpacking, so can we go outside and explore a bit? Please?”
    Aunt Primrose looked out the window and frowned. “There’s a storm coming. I don’t want you wandering about.” She frowned at Ranger, who was sniffing around by her feet. “I can’t abide animals who beg.” She untied her