Dunc and Amos Meet the Slasher Read Free Page B

up?”
    “In a way.”
    “Good. Now, how are we going to get me out of this?”
    Dunc started to pace the floor. He thought out loud. “Well, you obviously can’t be this guy’s personal slave. We’ll just have to handle it another, way.”
    “I still think Canada is the best idea. Or better yet—the North Pole. He’d never find me at the North Pole. I could blend in with the elves.”
    Dunc stopped. “Maybe if we talked to the principal or one of the counselors?”
    Amos got his suitcase out of his closet. “IfI left right now, I could probably be there in a couple of months.”
    “Of course, talking to the principal could make matters worse. Slasher might try to get back at you some way,” Dunc said.
    Amos was throwing everything he owned into the suitcase. “I wonder if my bike is in good enough shape to make it through all that ice and snow.”
    Dunc moved over to Amos. “Maybe you could explain to Slasher that you don’t do other people’s homework because you have a hard enough time doing your own.”
    Amos snapped his fingers. “I know—Amy! Amy would be glad to buy me a oneway ticket to the North Pole.”
    “Amos, you’re not going to the North Pole.”
    “Why not? Have you thought of a better hiding place?”
    “You’re not going anywhere. I’m going to figure a logical way out of this.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Amos pedaled his bike up even with Dunc’s. “Tell me again why we’re doing this.”
    “Because it never hurts to have the upper hand. If we’re going to solve your problem, we need some inside information. If we can find out how Slasher thinks, we’ll be that much farther ahead.”
    “Slasher doesn’t think. He operates solely on killer instinct. Which is why we shouldn’t be spying on him.”
    “Look, Amos, you knowing the location of the gang’s hangout is a real stroke of luck. It might be just the break we need. Besides,I’ve got a hunch about what we might find. I wonder why they told you.”
    “They didn’t exactly tell me. I sort of overheard them talking about it when I was getting Slasher’s chocolate milk. He still owes me for the milk.”
    Dunc coasted down a little hill and then pulled over to the side of the road. Amos followed him.
    “Let’s go over it again.”
    Amos made a face. “You always make me go over things. Do you think I’m brainless? It’s not that hard.”
    “Humor me, okay?”
    Amos groaned. “If the gang is inside, we sneak up and try to listen. If they’re not, you’ll go in and look around while I keep watch.”
    “Good. We should be at the waterfront in a few minutes. Be careful and stay close.” Dunc pushed off.
    “Wait!” Amos yelled. “I need to talk to you about this waterfront thing. Last time we were down there, we barely made it out in one piece. People who value their lives don’t go down there in broad daylight.”
    He was talking to air. Dunc was already out of sight.
    Amos kicked the dirt. “Maybe I just won’t go with him this time. Maybe I’ll turn around right here. I’ll head north and keep on going.”
    He sat on his bike for a full five seconds.
    Then he followed.
    Dunc was waiting for him on the outskirts of the waterfront. “I’ve spotted the old grocery store. The gang’s not there. The only problem is the two guys across the street from the store.”
    Amos swallowed. “Two guys—you mean waterfront types—guys who drink out of paper bags and always have one eye closed?”
    Dunc shook his head again. “These guys look like rejects from the Mafia. Both of them are wearing trench coats and reading newspapers.”
    Amos rolled his bike forward to get a better look. “Probably drug dealers. We better call it a day and head on home.”
    “Come on,” Dunc said. “We can go down the alley and they probably won’t spot us.”
    “The alley,” Amos squeaked. “There arecreepy things in these alleys. Live things. Weirdos. Large man-eating animals. We could get mugged or worse—be