On Friday, Lou Lou could hardly wait to get back to the SS Lucky Alley after school. It was almost PSPP and she and Pea had big weekend plans. At home, Lou Lou went to her garden to wait for Pea. Of course Lou Lou felt sad about Pinky’s absence, but she tried to focus on her toad lilies.
“You’re looking lovely in polka dots today,” she said to the flowers. Lou Lou peeked over the fence into her neighbor’s yard but it was empty.
It wasn’t long before Pea arrived with an overnight duffel slung over her shoulder. They quickly recited their traditional PSPP pleasantries so Lou Lou could tell Pea about Jeremy’s phone conversation with his likely accomplice. Pea listened as she cut a perfect square of butter for her scone.
“It’s unfortunate that we don’t know the other half of that conversation,” she said.
“I know,” Lou Lou replied, dropping little strawberry spots on the table as she slathered jam on her scone. Pea wiped up the spots with a paper towel before Lou Lou had even noticed them.
“I brought my father’s binoculars.” Pea patted her duffel. “We can keep a close eye on your garden from the crow’s nest window.”
When she’d finished her scone, Pea began to take items from her duffel. She’d brought treasures for two of their weekend projects—making Pinky’s altar and their procession outfits.
Pea pulled out the wooden frame with painted flowers they’d used for Bisabuela Nellie’s altar. “Mmm, that will work for Pinky,” said Lou Lou between mouthfuls of scone.
Then Pea held up a patchwork dress for her procession outfit. Lou Lou crinkled her nose as she considered it. “It’s not my favorite but…” Pea chose something different.
“That one’s perfect!” Lou Lou liked a long skirt that Pea had embroidered with multicolored butterflies.
“I like this better, too,” Pea said.
“This is good for the top.” Lou Lou sprayed scone crumbs as she pointed to a sapphire-blue sweater trimmed with black lace. After Pea finished her presentation and brushed off every last crumb, they went to retrieve Lou Lou’s allowance. Her dad hid it in the pirate’s treasure chest in a corner of the front hall. She rooted around in a mound of fake gold coins and jewels until she found it. The money was rolled up into a scroll tied with twine and wrapped in a note that read, You’re Greaty, Matey! Love, Dad. Lou Lou giggled at his silliness.
“Mi padre es un sótano gracioso.” She was proud of her complicated Spanish phrase. But Pea laughed.
“Sótano means cellar,” Pea said. “You said, ‘My father is a funny cellar.’ I think maybe you mean marinero. That is the word for sailor.”
“Oh, yeah,” said Lou Lou. She’d get that one right next time. She pocketed the money, called her padre gracioso to tell him the plan for their PSPP stroll, and they were out the door a moment later.
Vanilla buttercream had won out over candles today, so Lou Lou and Pea went to Cupcake Cabana. They took a long route home to visit the murals and, on the way, they saw Rosa looking intently at Lady Carmen Rides Bonito. She didn’t notice Lou Lou and Pea until they were close enough to count the rhinestones on her hair clip.
“Hi!” said Lou Lou. Rosa jumped and turned. She looked startled.
“It is very nice to see you again, Rosa,” Pea said.
“Hola, Peacock and Lou Lou,” Rosa said softly.
“Why are you staring at this mural?” Despite Lou Lou’s good intentions, this sounded like an accusation. Pea’s advice to be more sensitive came in the form of a gentle elbow to Lou Lou’s ribs. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that … maybe you’ve noticed the murals have been changing after bad things happen?” Lou Lou recounted the stories of Magdalena and Danielle Desserts and the tragedy of Pinky’s planticide. Rosa nodded sympathetically as Lou Lou talked. Her eyes were misty and she wiped them with her sleeve.
“Yes, so many troubles…” Rosa trailed off as she looked back at the mural. Helado’s amber eyes gazed back at her.
“Is Helado making you sad?” asked Lou Lou. Rosa seemed confused.
“The bunny,” explained Pea. “He is new to the mural. We thought he needed a name so we picked Helado.”
“Ice cream.” Rosa smiled despite her tears. “I like that.” She gazed at Helado. “The bunny you call Helado is mi mascota and my best friend. But I haven’t seen him in two weeks. He has been bunnynapped!” Rosa whispered.
“How terrible!” exclaimed Pea.
“Have you called the police?” asked Lou Lou.
“No, no.” Rosa shook her head. “I don’t want to involve them in this.”
That seemed odd to Lou Lou. “Rosa, do you have any idea who is behind the crimes and changing the murals?” she asked. “Is it Jeremy? Kid about our age, spiky blue hair, studded bracelet, black boots? Can’t miss him.”
Rosa looked at them strangely. Before she could reply, they heard the sound of fast-approaching footsteps around the corner.
“I’m sorry, I need to go.” Rosa seemed nervous. “¡Hasta luego, Peacock and Lou Lou!” She hurried away, disappearing into someone’s side yard.
“Why does she keep rushing off?” Pea wondered.
“I have no idea,” Lou Lou said, and looked at the spot where Rosa had been. She had a feeling they’d been close to finding out something about the Mural Mystery. She turned toward the corner where the sound of footsteps had stopped.
Lou Lou caught a glimpse of a yellow bumblebee sweater as Kyle peered out, then quickly ducked back behind the corner.
“We see you, Kyle!” Lou Lou called. Kyle’s head poked out again. He noticed Pea and emerged from his hiding spot.
“Where does a peacock go when it loses its tail?” Kyle asked, grinning. Lou Lou wondered how long he’d been waiting to tell this joke to Pea. “A retail store!” said Kyle. “Get it? Re-tail. As in, to get another tail.”
“I get it,” Pea replied, and Lou Lou couldn’t help but laugh. It reminded her of one of Bisabuela Nellie’s bad jokes. Encouraged, Kyle tried again.
“Wanna hear a space joke? I have a million of those.”
“Why were you hiding just now, Kyle?” Lou Lou asked.
Kyle frowned. “I wasn’t hiding. I was spying from my invisible spacecraft.”
“Why are you so interested in us?” asked Lou Lou. Kyle’s face turned red and he stole a glance at Pea.
“I’m not interested in you guys!” Kyle replied. “I’m keeping an eye out for anything suspicious in the neighborhood. Just like I told you I would, Lou Lou Bombay! Who was that girl looking at the mural? I’ve seen her around before but I don’t know her.”
“Her name is Rosa,” said Pea. “She is very nice.”
“I saw her yesterday, too,” Kyle said. “She was talking to that new kid in our school. The one with blue hair and the studded wrist thingy.”
Rosa and Jeremy! Lou Lou and Pea exchanged knowing looks.
“What were they talking about?” Pea asked.
“Dunno. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she looked upset,” Kyle said. “I was gonna tell him to stop bothering her, but he left before I got the chance. He was probably scared off just looking at me since I’m so tough.” Kyle pulled up his sleeve and flexed his biceps. Lou Lou smiled. She could fit one of her ponytail holders around his arm. “I was watching her today in case she needed my help,” Kyle added.
Why was Rosa talking to Jeremy? Lou Lou wondered. He must have been threatening her. Maybe trying to get her to pay a bunny ransom for Helado’s safe return. Which could explain Rosa’s reluctance to get the police involved.
“Let’s go.” Lou Lou wanted to tell Pea about her ransom theory without Kyle Longfellow around.
“Goodbye, Kyle,” Pea said, and turned.
“Wait! I should hang out with you guys. I can protect you with my supernova laser beam.”
Lou Lou and Pea continued down the block. “Maybe next time!” Lou Lou called over her shoulder.
The sky was darkening and they had to head back to the SS Lucky Alley. As they walked and talked, Rosa’s words echoed in Lou Lou’s head.
So many troubles …
It’s true, thought Lou Lou. And somehow the troubles have to stop!