Up To No Good: Book 4 Georgie B. Goode Gypsy Caravan Cozy Mystery by Marg McAlister Page B
Authors: Marg McAlister
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of course come now! If Jerry’s missing… do you know how to find us?”
“Yes, we have all your contact details from the sale.”
“I’ll make coffee,” Sarah said. “See you soon.”
Tammy terminated the call. “Time to roll,” she said. “Let’s hope we’re not jumping straight into trouble.”
Chapter 11
They bumped along the track that led to the Smiths’ small holding, drove through a gate, and pulled up alongside a solid-looking 4WD that bore a Johnny B. Goode RV Empire sticker on its rear bumper. A dog that looked like part Staffy and part who-knew-what barked half-heartedly from near the door, and wandered over to watch them.
They all piled out into misting rain, watching the dog warily, but he just wagged his tail and submitted to Scott scratching his head. “Not a fierce guard dog then, little guy?” Scott commented, before straightening up to survey the house.
Georgie cast a glance at him, but she couldn’t see any evidence that he was carrying a gun. Ditto with Tammy, clad in a hunting vest and cargo pants; she had pockets everywhere. With her blonde hair caught up under a cap and no makeup on, she looked ready for a day’s hiking. Or hunting. ‘Sandy’ from Grease had completely disappeared.
At that moment the door opened to reveal the real-life version of the woman that fitted the image Georgie had picked up earlier. Dressed in jeans and a chambray shirt with a loose sweater pulled over the top, she had tanned skin, fine laughter lines around her eyes, and dark brown hair pulled back in a practical ponytail.
“Don’t stand around in the rain, come in!” she called, standing back with the door wide open. “I’ve got coffee…have you been driving all night?”
“Pretty much,” Scott said. They gratefully moved in out of the rain, which started to get heavier as Sarah closed the door.
“You’ll be hungry too. Breakfast? Do you have time for eggs and bacon, or do you need to get on with the search?”
Georgie could have kissed her. Coffee, eggs and bacon sounded like a gift from the gods. “Sarah, that’s so kind of you. All of that would be fantastic. We’ll be sure to replace your supplies.”
“Don’t be silly, anything we can do to help.”
“Thank you. I’m Georgie. This is Scott, Layla and Tammy.”
They followed her into a good-sized family living area, with a six sturdy chairs around a wooden table. A pixie-like girl of about ten and a solid boy a few years younger sat there with empty cereal plates in front of them, staring at the newcomers with curious eyes.
“These are our kids, Carley and Mason… kids, can you move over to the sofa with your tablets now? Headphones on, please…if you can get the work I’ve set done early, you can choose your own activity later.” Efficiently, she shepherded them to an adjoining area and started them on an online learning activity.
“Home schooling?” Georgie asked when she returned.
“Yes. We made the choice years ago, and it’s worked out well. It helped that I was an elementary school teacher before Carley was born.” There was a flash of movement to one side, and she glanced over. “Here’s Jack, with the radios. Jack, let me introduce you to our guests.” She ran through the introductions.
Jack, a tall man in his thirties with steady hazel eyes and a thick crop of greying brown hair, stood in the doorway between the kitchen and a corridor, his arms laden with electronic equipment. He nodded a welcome but didn’t smile, his eyes moving from one face to another. “Welcome to our home. I’m sorry to hear about your problems; I hope we can help.”
Sarah exchanged the flicker of a glance with him, and Georgie was instantly on the alert. There was a lot going unsaid here. The pair could be posing as harmless citizens that liked an alternate lifestyle and home schooling on the surface, she thought, while hatching who knew what plans on a completely different level.
“Take a seat, everyone,” Sarah
“Yes, we have all your contact details from the sale.”
“I’ll make coffee,” Sarah said. “See you soon.”
Tammy terminated the call. “Time to roll,” she said. “Let’s hope we’re not jumping straight into trouble.”
Chapter 11
They bumped along the track that led to the Smiths’ small holding, drove through a gate, and pulled up alongside a solid-looking 4WD that bore a Johnny B. Goode RV Empire sticker on its rear bumper. A dog that looked like part Staffy and part who-knew-what barked half-heartedly from near the door, and wandered over to watch them.
They all piled out into misting rain, watching the dog warily, but he just wagged his tail and submitted to Scott scratching his head. “Not a fierce guard dog then, little guy?” Scott commented, before straightening up to survey the house.
Georgie cast a glance at him, but she couldn’t see any evidence that he was carrying a gun. Ditto with Tammy, clad in a hunting vest and cargo pants; she had pockets everywhere. With her blonde hair caught up under a cap and no makeup on, she looked ready for a day’s hiking. Or hunting. ‘Sandy’ from Grease had completely disappeared.
At that moment the door opened to reveal the real-life version of the woman that fitted the image Georgie had picked up earlier. Dressed in jeans and a chambray shirt with a loose sweater pulled over the top, she had tanned skin, fine laughter lines around her eyes, and dark brown hair pulled back in a practical ponytail.
“Don’t stand around in the rain, come in!” she called, standing back with the door wide open. “I’ve got coffee…have you been driving all night?”
“Pretty much,” Scott said. They gratefully moved in out of the rain, which started to get heavier as Sarah closed the door.
“You’ll be hungry too. Breakfast? Do you have time for eggs and bacon, or do you need to get on with the search?”
Georgie could have kissed her. Coffee, eggs and bacon sounded like a gift from the gods. “Sarah, that’s so kind of you. All of that would be fantastic. We’ll be sure to replace your supplies.”
“Don’t be silly, anything we can do to help.”
“Thank you. I’m Georgie. This is Scott, Layla and Tammy.”
They followed her into a good-sized family living area, with a six sturdy chairs around a wooden table. A pixie-like girl of about ten and a solid boy a few years younger sat there with empty cereal plates in front of them, staring at the newcomers with curious eyes.
“These are our kids, Carley and Mason… kids, can you move over to the sofa with your tablets now? Headphones on, please…if you can get the work I’ve set done early, you can choose your own activity later.” Efficiently, she shepherded them to an adjoining area and started them on an online learning activity.
“Home schooling?” Georgie asked when she returned.
“Yes. We made the choice years ago, and it’s worked out well. It helped that I was an elementary school teacher before Carley was born.” There was a flash of movement to one side, and she glanced over. “Here’s Jack, with the radios. Jack, let me introduce you to our guests.” She ran through the introductions.
Jack, a tall man in his thirties with steady hazel eyes and a thick crop of greying brown hair, stood in the doorway between the kitchen and a corridor, his arms laden with electronic equipment. He nodded a welcome but didn’t smile, his eyes moving from one face to another. “Welcome to our home. I’m sorry to hear about your problems; I hope we can help.”
Sarah exchanged the flicker of a glance with him, and Georgie was instantly on the alert. There was a lot going unsaid here. The pair could be posing as harmless citizens that liked an alternate lifestyle and home schooling on the surface, she thought, while hatching who knew what plans on a completely different level.
“Take a seat, everyone,” Sarah
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