Dunc and Amos and the Red Tattoos Read Free

were going to say that?” Amos sighed. “You always have a plan. But listen to me just this once. We aren’t—”
    “We already know which of the men are possible suspects. We need to find out if any of the women could be in on it,” Dunc said.
    “If this plan involves me and girls’ clothes, I’m out of here.” Amos turned to leave.
    “I think Melissa would be our best bet, don’t you?”
    Amos spun around. “You know, that Mr. Wiggleston seems like a pretty nice guy. I’d hate to stand by and see him get in trouble or maybe fired when we could have done something about it.”

• 5
    “Melissa didn’t recognize me. She never even got a good look at my face.”
    Amos was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom examining his bruised chin.
    “She didn’t recognize you because you spent the whole time lying facedown on the porch in front of her cabin,” Dunc said.
    “Can I help it if that board was loose? I only missed that next step by a fraction of an inch.”
    “You didn’t miss it, Amos. You caught it. With your chin.”
    Amos rubbed his chin. “At least you got your information. None of the women are involved.They’re all new this year. All I got was a bruised chin. I didn’t even get to talk to her.”
    “Cheer up, Amos. I know for a fact you had her attention. She’ll probably ask around about you now.”
    Amos started out the door. “Do you think so? We could walk back by her cabin so she could get a good look at my face this time.”
    Dunc grabbed his sleeve. “Maybe later. We’ve got work to do. Besides, you’ve got two whole weeks left to impress her.”
    “Don’t remind me. Two weeks of this place. I don’t know if I can take it. Mosquitoes the size of F-15s. Food I’d be embarrassed to feed to my dog Scruff. Exercising. Marching. Whistles in your ear. And those are the good points.”
    Dunc was studying a list of names. “Okay, these are our suspects. Two counselors, Adolf and Chuck. The doctor and the caretaker. We’re looking for two of them with something against Mr. Wiggleston.”
    Amos looked at his watch. “I’d love to stay and help you out, but it’s time for our bird-watching class.” He made a circle in the airwith his finger. “Yippee. Today we are looking for the ruby-throated hummingbird.”
    “This is great, Amos! Just the break we needed.” Dunc nearly ran over him, heading for the door.
    Amos watched him leave. “I never knew you liked bird-watching.”
    Mr. Ramos, the bird-watching instructor, spent forty-five minutes describing the bird’s personality. Then he assigned each team a pair of binoculars and an area to watch.
    Dunc charged up a small hill and quickly sat down behind some oak brush. He was looking intently through binoculars.
    Amos was out of breath from trying to keep up. “I … never … knew that … you … were … so interested in birds.”
    “Sit down, Amos. You’re blocking my view of the infirmary.”
    “What makes you think a ruby-throated hummingbird will land on the infirmary?”
    “Amos. Help me watch our suspects. This is a great opportunity. From up here, we can watch all of them at the same time.”
    “Oh. Suspects. I knew that. Really. I knew that.”
    After about thirty minutes, Dunc stood up to stretch his legs. “So far all we’ve seen is Mr. Phillips raking leaves and the two counselors, Chuck and Adolf, working with kids. We’re not going to get anywhere at this rate.”
    “This could be something.” Amos pointed toward the infirmary. “Adolf is talking to the doctor. Now they’re going into the infirmary.”
    Dunc grabbed the binoculars just in time to see the two men go through the doorway.
    “This could be it. We’ve got to get inside that infirmary.”
    Amos laughed. “You’re not the only one who wants in. It’s the only way to get any rest in this place.”
    A look came over Dunc’s face.
    “What does that look mean?” Amos started backing away.
    Dunc smiled. “I think I