In Too Deep - 39 Clues 06 Read Online Free

said. "This place could have been designed by me."
    "Have a seat." Shep quickly rushed to push a load of surfing magazines, T-shirts, and sandals off a couch. "What are you doing in Sydney? Last I heard you were living with your aunt.""Um, we still are," Amy said. "Technically.
    But we're on vacation. Sort of.""I see. I think. Man, you two sure have grown.""Well, it's been eight years since you saw us."He nodded, and the brightness left his gaze. "I know."Amy, Dan, and Nellie sat on the couch.
    Shep took a seat on the coffee table made out of a surfboard in front of them. "Listen, first off, I'm sorry about not keeping in touch," he said. "I'm just not the keep-in-touch sort.""It's okay," Amy said.
    But suddenly, she realized that it really wasn't.
    They didn't know Shep, but he was their father's closest relative and best friend. Except for postcards and a couple of Christmas cards of kangaroos in Santa hats, they'd barely heard from him."It's not okay." Shep looked down at his clasped hands. "I was sorry to hear about Arthur and Hope.
    Devastated, actually. I didn't get the message until after the funeral that they ... were gone. I called, but some old bat kept telling me you had enough to worry about.
    That wouldn't be your auntie, would it?""That would be her," Dan said grimly."She never told us you called," Amy said."Do you have a place to stay? I've got plenty of room. No beds, but plenty of room."
    He grinned at them, and Amy had a weird sensation like she wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. He looked so much like her father.
    "We tried to call," Amy said."I just have a mobile now. Sorry I'm such a hard bloke to find."Amy leaned forward.
    "We wanted to ask you about our parents' last trip here. Did you see them?""See them? Of course I did. That would be about... five years ago?"
    "Eight, actually."
    "Yeah, time flies." Shep shook his head.
    "It was the last time I saw Artie."Artie? Nobody ever called their father Artie.
    Saladin mrrped loudly. Shep leaned over. "Hello there, Mister Chow," he
    said. "You look hungry. Would you like to get out of there?"
    "Careful, he's been in there awhile," Nellie said. "And he's not so good with strange .. "
    Shep was already lifting Saladin out and twining him around his shoulders like a fur stole. Saladin blinked, then purred happ ily.
    "Bet you'd like a dish of something," Shep said to the cat.
    He crossed to the kitchen area. He poured water into a shallow bowl and stuck his head in the fridge. "How about some barramundi?""Barracuda?" Dan asked."Barramundi," Nellie said. "It's a delicious fish."
    "He only likes snapper," Amy said."Then he'll love barramundi," Shep said. "Best fish in the world." He forked some into a bowl and put it on the floor. Saladin smelled it, looked up at Shep, and gave a great, happy me-WOW!
    They all laughed as Saladin dived in."I practically grew up with your dad," Shep said, crossing back to them. "Our mothers were cousins and best friends. They grew up together, and Artie and I did, too. Until we were twelve.
    Then my mom and dad got divorced and the next thing I knew I was in Oahu with my mom. Art and I tried to stay in touch, but... well, twelve-year-old boys don't make the best pen pals. But every time I saw him, we just picked up where we left off."
    "Do you know where our parents went when they were here?" Dan asked."Sure. I ferried them around."
    "You have a ferry?" Dan asked hopefully."Better than that," Shep said with a laugh.
    "A plane. A sweet Cessna Caravan, so -- " His cell phone trilled, and he reached into the pocket of his shorts. He listened intently for a moment, said "Right-o," and hung up.
    He jumped to his feet. "We've got to get out of here. Now!"
    CHAPTER 4
    Amy, Dan, and Nellie were used to quick exits. Dan stuffed his feet back in his sneakers. Amy leaped over the back of the couch. Nellie charged for the door, opened it, and waited until Amy and Dan were clear.
    Shep leaped into the Jeep parked outside. "Get in!" he