Read Charlie Bone and The Blue Boa (Children Of The Red King, Book 3) for Free Online Page B

rushed at Grandma Bone, who shrieked again.
    "Get it out!" she shouted.
    "Er . . . " Charlie played for time.
    Runner Bean bared his teeth and snapped at the old lady's ankles.
    "That's it!" yelled Grandma Bone. She backed out of the kitchen shouting, "I'm calling pest control — the dogs' home — the police. They'll have to put that dog down. It's dangerous."
    "Grandma, you can't," Charlie pleaded.
    But Grandma Bone was already on the phone, giving her address, telling someone about the killer that needed exterminating. "They'll be around at half past six, and I'm not coming downstairs until that wretched Bean has gone."
    Charlie was horrified. He didn't know what to do. Maisie and Mrs. Bone came running down to see what all the fuss was about. But they didn't know what to do either. Maisie was so worried about her sister, she said she couldn't think straight.
    "If only Uncle Paton were here," Charlie wailed. "He'd know what to do."
    Charlie felt like taking Runner Bean and rushing over to Fidelio's or Emma's, or even Olivia's place. But could they hide the big dog, or would they want to, with Runner Bean looking so wild? He hated being shouted at; his eyes were rolling and low growls kept coming from his throat.
    "We'll explain to whoever comes that he must on no account be put down," said Mrs. Bone. "We'll tell them that he's never bitten anyone, ever."
    "Perhaps he'll go to a nice dogs' home where you can visit him," Maisie said hopefully
    "He'd hate it," cried Charlie. He took a large dish of goose liver pate and ten slices of honey-roast ham out of the fridge and poured them into the dog bowl that Maisie had hidden under the sink.
    "Grandma Bone's specials," said Maisie in hushed tones.
    "I don't care," said Charlie. He kneeled beside Runner Bean and stroked the dog's wiry head.
    It was very satisfying to see his grandmother's favorite food being wolfed down a shaggy throat.
    The time was twenty-five minutes past six.
    Charlie stood up. "I've made a decision. I'm going to ask Fidelio to hide Runner until Benjamin comes back."
    "With all those noisy musicians?" said Maisie. "He wouldn't last a minute."
    And then someone rang the doorbell.

CHAPTER 4
    SPARKLING STONES
    “Is that the dog people?" called Grandma Bone.
    Charlie's heart sank.
    "Don't worry Charlie. We won't let them do anything nasty" said his mother
    Grandma Bone was already in the hall. She opened the front door and gave a yelp of surprise.
    Charlie ran into the hall. A small furry-looking man stood on the doorstep. Charlie recognized him immediately It was his friend, Mr. Onimous. Behind him stood three fierce-looking cats — the cause of Grandma Bone's yelp. She hated cats, particularly orange cats. These were orange-, yellow-, and copper-colored.
    “Are you the dog exterminator?" she said suspiciously "I've seen you before, and these peculiar cats." She took a step backward.
    The man held up a card. "Orvil Onimous, madam. Pest control."
    "You'd better come in and get the dog," said Grandma Bone. "Charlie, if it's got a leash, fetch it."
    Charlie leaped back into the kitchen, followed by Mr. Onimous and the cats.
    "It's OK," Charlie whispered to Maisie and his mother. "Mr. Onimous has come."
    Maisie pulled the leash out of her apron pocket and handed it over. "You be good to that dog," she insisted.
    Mr. Onimous winked.
    There was some good-natured growling and sniffing between cats and dog as Mr. Onimous clipped the leash to Runner Bean's collar, but the big dog seemed very happy to see them all again.
    "How did you know about Runner?" Charlie whispered.
    "The cats," said Mr. Onimous. "They wanted to pay you a visit. I didn't know nothing till I got here. Come and see us at the café, Charlie."
    Grandma Bone called, "Come on, come on! Get that dog out of here."
    Mr. Onimous led the cheerful dog away and Runner Bean looked back, just once, to give Charlie an encouraging bark.
    "Cheerio, folks," said Mr. Onimous.
    Grandma Bone slammed the door. Luckily