Two Little Girls in Blue Read Free Page A

kids she’s babysitting.” Clint knew he was furnishing the information the Pied Piper wanted. He and Lucas had been successful.
    â€œI can’t reach Bert.”
    â€œHe told me to tell you he has a five A.M . pickup to go to Kennedy Airport. He went home to sleep, so he turned off his phone. I hope that . . .”
    â€œHarry, turn on the television,” the Pied Piper interrupted. “There’s a breaking story about a kidnapping. I’ll get back to you in the morning.”
    Clint grabbed the remote button and snapped on the TV, then watched as the house on Old Woods Road came into view. Even though the night was overcast, theporch light revealed the house’s peeling paint and sagging shutters. The yellow crime-scene tape used to keep the press and onlookers back extended to the road.
    â€œThe new owners, Stephen and Margaret Frawley, moved to this address only a few months ago,” the reporter was saying. “Neighbors say they expected the house to be torn down but instead learned that the Frawleys intend to gradually renovate the existing structure. This afternoon some of the neighbors’ children attended a third-birthday party for the missing twins. We have a picture that was taken at the party only hours ago.”
    The television screen was suddenly filled with the faces of the identical twins, their eyes wide in excitement as they looked at their birthday cake. Three candles were on each side of the festive confection. In the center was one larger candle. “The neighbor tells us that the center candle is the one to grow on. The twins are so identical in every way that their mother joked it would be a waste to put a second candle to grow on there.”
    Clint switched channels. A different picture of the twins in their blue velvet party dresses was being shown. They were holding hands.
    â€œClint, look how sweet they are. They’re just beautiful,” Angie said, startling him. “Even asleep they’re still holding hands. Isn’t that precious?”
    He had not heard her come up behind him. Now she put her arms around his neck. “I always wanted to have a baby, but I was told I couldn’t,” she said, as she nuzzled his cheek.
    â€œI know, Angie, honey,” he said patiently. This was a story he had heard before.
    â€œThen for a long time I wasn’t with you.”
    â€œYou had to be in that special hospital, honey. You hurt someone real bad.”
    â€œBut now we’re going to have a lot of money and we’ll live on a boat in the Caribbean.”
    â€œWe’ve always talked about that. Very soon we’ll be able to do it.”
    â€œI’ve got a good idea. Let’s bring the little girls with us.”
    Clint snapped off the television and jumped up. He turned and grabbed her wrists. “Angie, why do we have those children?”
    She looked at him and swallowed nervously. “We kidnapped them.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œSo we’d have lots of money and could live on a boat.”
    â€œInstead of living like damn gypsies, and getting kicked out of this place every summer while the golf pro lives here. What happens to us if the police catch us?”
    â€œWe go to prison for a long, long time.”
    â€œWhat did you promise to do?”
    â€œTake care of the kids, play with them, feed them, dress them.”
    â€œAnd isn’t that what you’re going to do?”
    â€œYes. Yes. I’m sorry, Clint. I love you. You can call me Mona. I don’t like that name, but it’s all right if you want me to use it.”
    â€œWe must never use our real names in front of the twins. In a couple of days we’ll give them back and get our money.”
    â€œClint, maybe we could . . .” Angie stopped. She knew he would be angry if she suggested they keep one of the twins. But we will, she promised herself slyly. I know how to make it happen. Lucas thinks