The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves Page B

and since today was Saturday, she knew he would be making his “famous” pancakes. She hoped they would be better than his last batch.
    Like any good scientist, Howard used the trial-and-error method when cooking, experimenting with unusual ingredients and odd flavor combinations. As he liked to say, “Cooking is just edible chemistry.”
    She heard him turn the radio to a news station to keep him company as he worked. The squeaky fridge door opened and shut as he got out the milk, and the spoon began clinking on the mixing bowl as he stirred the batter.
    Suddenly, the cooking noises stopped and the only sound was the radio. She could hear the announcer’s voice talking excitedly in the urgent way announcers did when there was some kind of emergency. She couldn’t hear all of what he was saying, but could make out a few words here and there. Did he say something about an escaped convict? Then her heart skipped a beat when she clearly heard the words “Asylum for the Dangerously Insane.” Wasn’t that the place Thaddeus’s grandfather’s killer had been sent? Josephine hopped out of bed, slipped her robe on, and hurried quietly downstairs. She paused just outside the kitchen door to eavesdrop on the radio broadcast.
    “…I have Sergeant Finneas Cole of the Awkward Falls PD on the line now,” the announcer was saying. “Fin, can you give us any details about the escape?”
    “Aye, Phil.” The sergeant spoke calmly, as if he were talking about a missing cow instead of an escaped killer. “The escapee busted out of the asylum yesterday afternoon during the big to-do they were having over there for the mayor’s visit.”
    “Oh, yah? Well, how’d the fella manage that? I’ve always heard that the asylum is escape-proof.”
    “Turns out, not so much,” said the officer. “Anyhoo, it appears the guy went wild during some kind of scientific demonstration. Ran around bitin’ and scratchin’ the doctors, then jumped right through a window.”
    “He sounds like a dangerous one, eh, Fin?”
    “I’d say so, Phil. The man’s name is Fetid Stenchley. He’s been locked up for murder for the last ten years or so. He even tried to attack the mayor’s wife during his escape, but her dog held him off. The little pooch latched on to his nose, I’m told, and wouldn’t let go!”
    “That’s some dog, eh? Musta been a husky, then, eh?”
    “Nah. Hairless Egyptian spaniel.”
    “Oh, they’re tough ones, those are.”
    Josephine gasped at the mention of the mad killer who had murdered Thaddeus’s grandfather. She shivered at the thought of him on the loose somewhere nearby.
    “Now, what’s our threat level here in town, then, Sergeant?” the announcer asked.
    “We’re at hot pink now, Phil, which is, as you know, pretty high up there,” said the officer. “You’ll wanna be on the careful side, keepin’ both eyes open today.”
    “And is Stenchley still at large at this time?”
    “Aye, Phil, the escapee has still not been apprehended. The first lady says she saw him hightail it into the woods after he jumped the north wall. I figure he’s makin’ his way up north toward the lake country wilderness, but he’s not likely to get that far. A crack squad of Mounties came in last night with a couple o’ helicopters and a bunch of fancy gear. They’re out lookin’ for him now.”
    “Helicopters, eh?” The announcer sounded impressed, as if the sergeant had said the Mounties were bringing in cruise missiles.
    “Oh, yah, they’re serious, those Mounties are.”
    “They get their man, eh, Fin?”
    “Always, Phil, always.”
    The sergeant went on to advise listeners in the Awkward Falls area to report any strangers or unusual activity to the authorities immediately. He stressed that this was only a precaution, however, and that the Mounties would undoubtedly have the escapee locked up again in no time.
    Josephine stood frozen outside the door, pondering the news of Stenchley’s escape. She suddenly