Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
The sound of laughter carried from families already lining the street with folding chairs and thermoses. Someone was tuning a trumpet, and a group of kids were tossing candy at each other like it was already parade time.
I hit the ATM, waving at people who waved back.
Cash in hand, I turned back toward the shop, my purse slung over my shoulder. The sun was brighter now and the clouds parted just wide enough to give the world a soft glow. The parade had started, and music filled the air.
Then I froze.
A flash of green, right at the street, caught my eye. It was Nana’s leprechaun outfit…or one just like hers. “Hey.”
The leprechaun—a small figure in a leprechaun costume, hat and all, face completely covered by a mask was bending over by Nana’s back door. What was he doing? He froze, staring at me.
I looked at the vest to see just gold sparkles. No O’Shea crest. Darting closer, I could see worn fabric, like a patch had been torn off. That was the person who’d set the dynamite.
Probably.
“Hey,” I bellowed.
The leprechaun zipped upright, tossed his knapsack over his shoulder, glanced back once, and then bolted down the alley.
“Stop,” I shouted again, breaking into a run.
The green knapsack jostling over his shoulder, he bolted around the side of the building to the front and barreled right into Iron Street and the melee of floats, kids on bikes, and other leprechauns dancing. I skidded to a stop at the curb, flashes of green and gold zipping by me. Did he steal something? It didn’t look like he’d been in Nana’s shop, but he’d been close. What was in the bag?
Was it even possible he still had the silver boxes?
Where was he? I dodged a kid on a trike with ribbons and tassels tied all around her getting sopped by the rain. She didn’t seem to mind.
Too much bright green met my eyes. I skirted the Elks float with their Bugle Team playing their instruments behind it, songs of Ireland blasting out.
Frantically, I looked each way, jumping out of the way of a leprechaun on a motorcycle. Not the one I wanted.
I reached the other side of the street and shoved wet hair out of my eyes, sucking in air. People lined the street sitting in lawn chairs with wide umbrellas covering them. All green. All gold.
No leprechaun.
Aiden jogged toward me, his hair darkened by the earlier rain, his blue eyes sparkling. Even slightly wet, he looked dangerous in his leather jacket and was holding two green covered caramel apples. “Here. Figured you were hungry.”
I accepted the apple, my stomach clenching. “I saw the leprechaun. The one who copied Nana’s outfit,” I blurted, eyeing the area for the sheriff. The lawman was probably in the parade somewhere.
Aiden paused. “Your Nana is in the float with the mayor.” He scanned the area.
“This way I think.” Gripping the stick of the treat in one hand, I stepped onto the street, glitter starting to cover my brown boots. I pivoted around two bikes and hustled out of the way of the Shap’s used car lot’s float of a Model T. Shap, his gray combover flying in the windy rain, tossed a bunch of candy my way, and I turned my head to keep from being pummeled in the eye. Barely missing another tricycle, I made it back to the other side with Aiden on my heels.
“Which way?” Aiden asked.
“Down the street. I think.” I led the way, glaring up at the bulbous clouds as rain began to lightly fall. The festivities carried on behind us, the town participants not bothered by the spring rain. Heck, we were used to it.
I caught sight of green and gold across Quartz road, heading into the town park. “That way,” I yelled.
We both launched into a run, barreling between trees, past the jungle gym and picnic tables to the old carousel at the edge.
The leprechaun ran past the ceramic horses, yanked open a paneled door, and jumped inside a small room.
Aiden took lead, running past me, and winding through the still horses. “Stay here.” He pulled open the door.
Not a chance. I followed him inside darkness. He flipped on a light, and we looked around at spare parts, a work table, and dust.
I frowned. “What the heck?”
“There.” Aiden pointed to the corner, where the floor lay off to the side. A trap door? He hustled to tug it open, using his flashlight to illuminate stairs going down. In one smooth movement, he pulled a weapon from beneath his jeans at his calf. “Stay here.” With that, he started to climb down.
Chapter 24
Aiden went first.
I watched from the top as his boots hit the bottom with a dull thud. Dust rolled up in lazy waves, thick enough to make me cough.
He raised his phone, the flashlight beam slicing through the darkness. “Stay put,” he called up. His voice echoed off the nearby walls, low and steady, the tone that meant he expected to be obeyed.