Running Scared Read Free

was a mystery—the Landons didn’t know what had happened to him, except that he was gone from Sammy’s life. His mother had overdosed on drugs and was now in jail, and Sam had no other relative to take him.
    The kid had faced a lot and asked for little. Jack had a lot and asked for more. When he thought about it, he knew there was no way he could turn down Sammy’s request. Anyway, Jack was Sammy’s hero, and a hero shouldn’t look like a wimp.
    No longer hesitating, Jack answered, “OK, Mini-Me, let’s do it. Tomorrow. If it’s OK with Mom and Dad and Ashley.”
    Sam didn’t say a word. In the dim light, Jack could see him smile.

CHAPTER TWO
    C ome on, kids,” Steven said. “Get moving, or we’ll be late for our appointment with the bat woman.”
    â€œB-b-bat woman?” Sam asked. “Like in the movies?” When Jack burst out laughing, Ashley gave a sharp yank on his arm and pulled him back to whisper in his ear, “Stop that! Sammy will think you’re laughing at his stammer.”
    â€œI’m not!” Jack protested, but Ashley only hissed at him, “Show some sensitivity!”
    â€œOK.” Making sure his expression was serious, Jack leaned down to tell Sam, “There’s no Bat Woman in the movies. There’s Batman and Batgirl and Catwoman, but no Bat Woman. What my dad meant was that we’re going to see a naturalist who knows everything about bats, and she happens to be a woman.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Olivia added, “and you kids are really lucky to get to meet Dr. Rhodes. She’s a world-renowned expert on bats.”
    Ashley sighed and said, “I know we’re lucky, and I really want to hear all about bats, but when do we get to go inside the cavern? I thought we were supposed to do that this morning.”
    They’d reached the bottom of some stairs that led to the door of a building made of limestone blocks. Peering through the window glass in the front door, Olivia answered, “Your dad will take you there after we see the bat woman—whoops!” Blushing, she said, “Now you’ve got me doing it, Sammy. I hope I don’t call her that by mistake—it would be an embarrassing way to meet her. Anyway, after you kids and your dad leave Dr. Rhodes’s office, I’ll stay with her to learn more about the bats.”
    â€œSo let’s get started,” Steven suggested, leaning across Olivia to push the door wide. While he held it open, the three short ones—Olivia, Ashley, and Sam walked under Steven’s extended arm into the corridor. Jack was now too tall to fit under his father’s arm, and he liked that. With every inch he grew, he felt a bit more grown-up. He figured that one of these years he might actually outgrow his father, who was nearly six feet four.
    â€œCome in, come in!” Dr. Rhodes welcomed them. For a world expert, she had a small office, Jack thought, and only three chairs.
    â€œThe kids can sit on the floor,” Steven quickly offered. “These two are our kids—Jack and Ashley—and Sam Sexton is our guest.”
    Guest. That was the word the Landons liked to use for the short-term foster kids who stayed with them from time to time, kids who needed a safe place to live until their problems could be solved.
    â€œPleased to m-meet you,” Sam said, hardly stuttering as he took the hand Dr. Rhodes held out to him.
    â€œHow are you, Sam?” Smiling warmly, Dr. Rhodes told him, “You sit here, closest to my chair, so you’ll have the best look at the pictures I’m going to show everyone.” Jack wondered whether his mother had clued Dr. Rhodes in on Sam’s background. Or maybe Dr. Rhodes was just naturally nice to small kids.
    â€œWell,” she said, “let’s start. Your mom said you wanted to hear about bats. The first things I’m going to tell you are what bats are