The Trimoni Twins and the Shrunken Treasure by Pam Smallcomb Page A

closer,” Wiliken said cheerily.
    Beezel and Mimi looked at each other. Beezel didn’t know what to say. The twins stood motionless next to each other and stared at Wiliken.
    â€œHey …” Wiliken ran his hands through his hair. “I really enjoyed your show tonight. You guys are amazing.”
    Beezel managed a thanks. Did Wiliken actually believe what he was telling them? He seemed to. She didn’t get a chance to ask him, because Hector had returned.
    â€œCoast is clear, Wiliken,” Hector said proudly. “I personally escorted each and every one of thoseguys out of the hotel. And the security guard is waiting for you in the hall. He’s got a Merlin Hotel car parked by the kitchen door ready to take you back to your house.”
    â€œThanks, Hector,” Wiliken said. “I’m sorry about all this.”
    â€œNot a problem,” Hector said. “I don’t like their type one bit. It felt good to toss them out.” He smiled and looked at the twins. “What’s the matter with you two?”
    â€œNothing,” Mimi said. “We’re just thinking.”
    â€œWell,” Wiliken said, “I should get going. Hoogaboom and I still want to do a little treasure hunting before we turn in.”
    As they stood and watched Wiliken leave to meet the security guard, Hector said to the girls, “Correct me if I’m wrong, bumblebees, but did Wiliken Riebeeck just say he was going on a treasure hunt?”
    â€œYep.” Mimi nodded.
    â€œHe sure did,” Beezel said.
    â€œThen I guess my poor uncle isn’t the only one unraveling a little bit, is he?” Hector shook his head and herded the girls back to their room.

Chapter Ten
    â€œBeezel, I’ve lost her,” Mimi sobbed as she crawled across the floor the next morning. “Oh, poor,
poor
Gumdrop!”
    â€œStop crying, Mimi,” Beezel said as she looked under their bed again for the missing snake. “We’ll find her. It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve misplaced Gumdrop.”
    Mimi sniffed and wiped her eyes. “You’re absolutely right, Beez. I just have to be logical about it, like you.” She chewed on her lip. “Let’s see. First, I got Gumdrop from Enid and took her up to our room. Then I fed her some kibble. Then I ka-poofed her into her old self again….” She looked at Beezel. “Because Gumdrop can’t be a dog all day—it makes her grumpy.”
    â€œThen we sat on the bed and looked at the guidebook,” Beezel said. “And I took a shower.”
    â€œAnd then I went into Hector’s room to ask if we could see Rembrandt’s house this week …” Mimi froze.
    The twins slowly stood up and stared across the bed to the door that separated their room from Hector’s. It was wide open.
    â€œMIMI!” The twins flinched as they heard Hector scream her name.
    â€œGuess I’d better go explain,” Mimi said in a small voice.
    Beezel sighed. “I’ll come with you.”
    Hector didn’t wait until the twins were actually
inside
his room to begin yelling at them.
    â€œYou’ve actually smuggled a boa constrictor into the Merlin Hotel! In
Amsterdam!”
he shouted. “Of all the idiotic animal muddles you’ve cooked up, this one takes the cake!” He pointed to the big snake on the floor. “There are times when I think
Gumdrop
has more common sense!”
    Hector ranted for a few more minutes, but when he saw tears welling up in Mimi’s eyes, he caved. “Oh, don’t cry, duck,” he told her. “We’ll figure something out.”
    â€œI already did, Hector.” Mimi blew her nose on the tissue Beezel handed her and proceeded to tellHector all about Operation GAAD. “And Enid, the prop manager, takes care of her. She’ll even take her for a walk if we want her to. I’ll pay for everything with my