Read Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock (Children of the Red King, Book 7) for Free Online

temporarily. "He's surely going to make an honest woman of Miss Ingledew. How can he resist? He really ought to marry her. The whole city is waiting."
    "You mean, you're waiting, Mom," said Fidelio. He turned to Benjamin. "I'll come with you, Ben. Don't like to think of you alone in this city without your dog."
    "I am eleven." Benjamin sighed at having to explain this again.
    "And I'm twelve," said Fidelio firmly. "There's a difference."
    After weeks of dark skies and frosty winds, today a few rays of frail sunshine had begun to filter into the city. They did nothing to lift Ben's spirits, though. He felt quite resentful toward Charlie for doing something so risky. But that was Charlie all over. He was always rushing into situations without thinking them through.
    Fidelio, who seemed to have read Benjamin's mind, said, "It's possible that Charlie never meant to go into that painting. He might have been sucked in, against his will, just like Runner Bean."
    "Hmm," Benjamin grunted.
    The boys were now entering the narrow cobble-stoned street that led to the cathedral. On either side of them Tudor houses with ancient, crooked roofs leaned over the cobblestones at dangerous angles. The bookstore stood directly opposite the great domed cathedral; a sign above the door read Ingledew's, in old-world script, and in the window two large leather-bound books were displayed against a curtain of dark red velvet. Miss Ingledew sold rare and precious books.
    If the boys had paid attention to the gleaming black car that stood outside the store, they might have had second thoughts, but they were in such a hurry they rushed straight in. A small bell, attached to the inside of the door, tinkled pleasantly as they entered the store. The sight that met their eyes, however, was not at all pleasant.
    Sitting in a wheelchair beside the counter was Mr. Ezekiel Bloor, the owner of Bloor's Academy. Mr. Ezekiel, as he liked to be called, was a hundred and one years old and his head was as close a thing to a living skull as you're ever likely to see. He was covered in a tartan blanket and wore a red woolen hat pulled well down over his large wrinkled ears. There was very little flesh covering his huge nose with its high knobbly ridge or the sharp cheekbones and long chin. Mr. Ezekiel's eyes, however, were another matter. They glittered beneath the protruding forehead, as black and lively as the eyes of a devious ten-year-old.
    Behind the ancient man's wheelchair stood a burly, bald-headed man - Mr. Weedon, the school janitor, chauffeur, handyman, and gardener. There was nothing he would not have done for Mr. Ezekiel, including murder.
    Fidelio and Benjamin would gladly have stepped back out the door, but it was too late to escape. They reluctantly descended the three steps into the store.
    "Aha!" croaked Mr. Ezekiel. "What have we here? Odd customers for a rare book, I'd say. I bet you haven't got a hundred pounds to spare, Fidelio Gunn, not coming from a family of eight. You can't even afford a pair of shoes, I'd say." He directed his mocking gaze at Fidelio's worn-out sneakers.
    Fidelio shifted his feet self-consciously, but he was not the sort to be outdone, even by the owner of Bloor's Academy. "I save my best for school, sir," he said. "And we've come to see Emma Tolly."
    "Girlfriend, is she?" snorted Ezekiel. "The little girl?"
    "Not at all, sir," Fidelio said calmly. "She's a friend."
    "And who's the scrawny boy trying to hide in your shadow?" Mr. Ezekiel twisted his head to see
    Benjamin, who was, indeed, trying to hide behind Fidelio. "Who are you, boy? Speak up."
    Benjamin was now in quite a state; desperate to get help for Runner Bean, he could scarcely concentrate on anything else, yet he knew he couldn't mention his dog's disappearance to Mr. Ezekiel.
    "Come on, you half-wit," spat the old man.
    Fidelio said, "He's Benjamin Brown, sir. Charlie Bone's friend."
    Mr. Weedon decided to enter the conversation. "So, where's Charlie Bone today?" he