The Monkey Howled at Midnight Read Free Page A

the twins cast sideways glances at each other. It was embarrassing to hear Mr. Estevez talk about money with his employee. It should have been done in private. But they had already begun to realize that Mr. Estevez didn’t treat anyone with kid gloves.
    Luis appeared with Mr. Carson and Maxim. “Let’s start the tour,” he said.

    They went from the Museu do Indio to the Museu do Homem do Norte. They saw pottery and woven goods and materials from the native tribes. All day long, Mr. Estevez’s phone kept ringing. “I’m sorry, but I can never ignore a phone call,” he said. “It could always be business, and it could always be important.”
    Pino took out his phone in the Museu do Homem do Norte. “I’m turning mine off,” he said.
    Mr. Estevez looked at him sternly. “You should take the business more seriously. So should your brother. You’ll be running it someday.” Then his phone rang again.
    â€œNo, no, no—it can’t be done,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t give you another chance. You’ve had too many already.” He hung up and sighed.
    â€œThat was a former employee,” he said. “I hate to fire anyone. But he just wasn’t doing the job. I suspected he might be stealing, too. He denied it and I couldn’t prove anything.” He shrugged. “Well, let’s keep on looking.”
    â€œIt’s a wonderful museum,” said Mr. Carson.
    Rae and the twins agreed. They were learning a lot. But they hadn’t learned how to tell the Estevez twins apart.
    Moments later, Mr. Estevez got another phone call. As he spoke, his voice shook with rage. “I already told you everything I had to say,” he snapped. “I am here with friends at the Museu do Homem do Norte and I would like to enjoy my day. I don’t want to hear from you again. Ever.” He hung up.
    â€œSame disgruntled employee?” Maxim asked.
    â€œUh—yes, yes it was,” he answered. He clenched his jaw tightly.
    About half an hour later they left the museum and headed out into the warm sunshine. “What would you all like to do?” Mr. Estevez asked. “We could visit our famous floating dock. It was specially made to rise and fall with the river water.”
    â€œThat sounds really interesting,” said Otis.
    â€œIt does,” Cody echoed.
    â€œI’d like to see it, too,” said Rae.
    â€œIt sounds like a plan,” Mr. Carson agreed. “Which way do we go?”
    â€œFollow me,” said Mr. Estevez. He stepped off the curb.
    A black sports car came rocketing through the traffic, hurtling along at a dizzying speed. It swerved giddily along, dodging through traffic like a pony in a barrel race. Horns honked wildly.
    There was no mistaking where the car was heading. It was streaking right toward Mr. Estevez!

[ Chapter Four ]
    T he Chameleon said good-bye and put down the phone. His eyes had turned from gray to black. He grabbed the snake that was hanging around his neck and flung it across the room. It hit the floor and began to curl itself up into a ball.
    The man could smell a problem coming a mile away. He could sniff the stink of one in the air right now. This guy wasn’t going to cave in.
    He put in a call to his chief contact in Brazil. “Your friend isn’t going to cooperate,” he said. “I want the problem taken care of. This time, do it right.”

[ Chapter Five ]
    â€œT hank you, boys, for pulling me back just in time,” Mr. Estevez said shakily. “You saved my life.”
    â€œAnybody get that license-plate number?” Otis asked. The car had sped around the corner so quickly that even his eagle eyes hadn’t caught it. Everyone else shook their heads.
    â€œThere are some crazy drivers in this city,” said Aldo.
    â€œThat didn’t look like some random crazy driver,” Rae observed. “It looked like he was