Scene Stealer Read Online Free

him. “His great-grandmother sang in the chorus of all the Victor Herbert operettas.”
    â€œShe wasn’t in the chorus, she was featured.”
    â€œMy grandmother sang for the Shuberts.” The freckle-faced youngster peeped from behind the twelve-year-old.
    Patti ignored them both. “Kevin and I were on a break between classes.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “We were going to Baskin-Robbins for an ice-cream cone.”
    â€œYou’re not supposed to leave school between classes,” Freckle-face said. “I bet you snuck out.”
    â€œGoody-goody.” A chorus of voices heckled the child.
    â€œIt’s my fault he’s kidnapped.” A tear slid down Patti’s cheek. “It was my idea to go for ice cream. They’re featuring Gummi Bear Swirl this month and it’s my favorite and now Kevin is gone.”
    â€œYch!” One of the children commented on Patti’s choice of flavor.
    â€œIt’s not your fault, Patti. We will find Kevin; now tell me all you can remember about the man.”
    â€œHe came up to Kevin and gave him a big greeting. Kevin looked surprised. I don’t think he recognized him at first, but then he said ‘Hello’ back. The man said he wanted to ask Kevin something in private and Kevin said we were friends and I was going to be his manager someday, which I am, so the man could talk in front of me. The man said it had to be private so I said I would meet Kevin at Baskin-Robbins. Kevin never showed up.”
    â€œStood you up,” the pint-sized boy soprano declared.
    â€œKevin would never stand me up! That man must have abduc…abducted Kevin.” Patti struggled with the word but finally succeeded in pronouncing it correctly.
    â€œAw c’mon. My dad says it’s all a publicity stunt to sell more burgers.”
    â€œWhat did the man look like?” I asked.
    â€œNothing special,” Patti said.
    â€œTall or short?”
    â€œSort of in-between.”
    â€œFat? Thin?”
    â€œNot fat. Not thin either.”
    â€œHair?”
    â€œA real mess. He was in desperate need of a hair stylist.”
    â€œWhat about his features?”
    â€œThe camera wouldn’t like them. His skin was bad too. A cosmologist might have helped but he’d need a lot of treatments.”
    â€œCan you think of anything else, dear?”
    â€œI didn’t know it was going to be important. What if he hurts Kevin?” Patti stifled a sob.
    â€œIt’s going to be all right, Patti. I promise.”
    Patti’s face brightened. “His teeth,” she said. “The man had terrible teeth. I remember thinking he couldn’t be an actor or he would have had his teeth capped. They were awful. Does that help?” She looked at me—anxiety written all over her sweet face.
    â€œYes, dear, thank you. You’ve been most helpful.”
    Patti had just described the man on the train.
    â€œDid any of you see Kevin and the man go off together?”
    None of the children had. They grew restless.
    Three alarms rang; each had a distinct and, to my ears, discordant tone. Three boys checked their cell phones.
    â€œUh oh, time to get back to school,” Freckle-face said.
    There were no more answers to my questions. Recess was over.

CHAPTER THREE
    I confess. I misrepresented myself in order to obtain an interview with Robert Barton, the sponsor of the Cowboy Bob’s Big, Bad Burger commercials. He had been interviewed on Good Morning America and was obviously a publicity hound; why not play upon his desire to bask in the spotlight?
    Before my retirement, Scholastic Magazine had published several articles I had penned and I rationalized my deception with the thought that I was not lying, merely fudging the truth a bit when I flashed my laminated library card at Barton’s secretary and she mistakenly accepted it as a press credential.
    I crossed a plain of gold-colored