Read The Candy Shop War, Vol. 2: Arcade Catastrophe for Free Online Page A

step of a bigger plan.”
    “You have to keep Lindy away from Arcadeland,” Ziggy agreed. “I expect that Stott understands this.”
    “He wouldn’t even let Lindy come here today,” Pigeon said.
    Victor nodded as if this were expected. “You four need to help reinforce his efforts to keep her out of Walnut Hills.”
    “Can we bring magical candy into the arcade?” Nate asked.
    “You can and you should,” Victor said. “I don’t expect this venture to be overly dangerous, but if things go wrong, it could get messy fast. You need to be ready to make an escape. Having edible enhancers shouldn’t trigger any alarms. In fact, you should even be able to use them without setting off alarms, since you’ll have been invited into the lair.”
    “Invited?” Summer asked.
    “The invitation is implied with a public area,” Ziggy said. “Same with the retail portion of the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe. The magician gives up some control over the environment upon granting public access.”
    “What are we looking for?” Pigeon wondered.
    “We have some cheap digital cameras for you,” Victor said. “Take pictures like you’re horsing around, but try to get the employees in the background. Look for unusual games. Talk to any kids who seem like regulars. Keep your ears open. Take note of anything fishy.”
    Ziggy pulled out a fat wad of bills and began peeling off twenties. “Play lots of games. We’ll start you out with five hundred dollars. We have plenty more if you need it.”
    Nate noticed Trevor gazing at the cash with wide eyes. “All for video games?”
    “Whatever games you wish,” Victor said. “Sample a wide variety. Keep an eye out for any oddities.”
    “I might enjoy this mission,” Nate said, glancing from Victor to Ziggy.
    “Don’t get too excited,” Ziggy said. “Something crooked is going on at Arcadeland. If you have some fun along the way, no problem, but don’t forget the place is a trap. Keep in mind what Belinda White did with her candy shop. Don’t eat anything, and if a game seems to have strange effects, be an observer, not a participant.”
    “We’ll be right outside,” Victor promised. “John would have our heads if anything happened to you kids.”
    “Deadly lair or not, we’ll be there right away if you need us,” Ziggy assured them. “You in?”
    Nate and his friends exchanged small nods. Nate held out his hand for the money. “We’re in.”

Chapter Four
    Arcadeland
     

    Half a block from Arcadeland, on the opposite side of the street, Summer and Pigeon ducked into an alley. Both of them looked up. The buildings on either side rose three stories tall.
    “No fire escapes,” Pigeon said.
    “We’ll have to use Moon Rocks,” Summer answered, leading them farther down the alley. She looked back toward the street. Almost two hours had passed since they had left Schwendiman’s All-You-Can-Eat Buffet. The sun was not directly overhead, so most of the alley was in shadow. Anyone in the cars driving by on Canal Street would have only a brief glimpse into the alleyway.
    “Acceptable risk?” Pigeon asked.
    “Nobody was nearby on the sidewalk,” Summer said. “If we hurry we should be fine.”
    Pigeon glanced up. “Several windows.”
    Summer indicated a vertical path up the wall. “We’ll be hard to see from a window if we stay along this line. People would practically have to lean out to get a view of us.”
    “We do need a good vantage point,” Pigeon conceded.
    Summer popped a Moon Rock into her mouth, feeling the familiar lightening of her frame. Pigeon did likewise. Summer jumped toward one side of the alley, soaring gently, then kicked off the side of a building, gaining altitude as she crossed to the far side. She kicked off the wall again, gliding higher.
    Glancing down, she saw Pigeon staring up at her. She was already high, but she reminded herself that with the Moon Rock, to fall would be no big deal. Two more sharp kicks and she reached