The Unusual Suspects

"Billy," Ms. White said, "what did that to him?"

"Try to put it out of your head, Snow," Charming said. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. It was hard to believe that the usually obnoxious mayor could be so tender. "I've got my best men on it."

The others filed out of Grumpner's classroom and Sheriff Hamstead took a roll of yellow police tape from his jacket. He draped an X over the door to keep anyone else from entering.

"Snow, I don't want you to get involved in this," the mayor said. The teacher flashed him an irritated look, but then nodded. She turned and bent down so that she was at eye level with Daphne.

"Are you OK?" she asked.

"Don't worry about me," the little girl answered. "We see this kind of thing all the time."

Mayor Charming turned to the sheriff. "Mr. Hamstead, could you make sure my fiancée… I mean Ms. White, gets home safely," he said, blushing over his mistake. As Snow White stood up she smiled softly, but the bright red blush on her cheeks flashed like a police siren on her pale skin.

"I'd be happy to," Sheriff Hamstead said, extending his arm to the beautiful woman. He escorted her down the hall and she stopped to gaze back at Charming before they left.

"So, what's next, Billy?" Sabrina said, before she burst into giggles. Daphne and Gra

"'Billy," Sabrina continued. "That's just precious. It's so sweet I'm going to get a cavity."

"I think it's romantic," Daphne said, doing her best to stop laughing.

"Enough!" Charming shouted, silencing everyone's giggles. "This is a crime scene. Relda, take your rug rats and your mangy mongrel with you or I'll have you arrested."

"Watch your words, Prince," Canis growled as his eyes turned icy blue, showing everyone that the Wolf was just below the surface. "Someday you're going to wake up and find someone has taken a bite out of you."

"Relda, I believe there's a law in this town about keeping animals on a leash," Charming said.

The men stared at each other lor a long moment and then, suddenly, Canis's eyes changed back to watery gray. The old man looked exhausted and his lace grew pale.

"That's quite enough of this nonsense," Gra

The family exited the school and found their ancient black jalopy in the parking lot. The beat-up monstrosity was in desperate need of a tune-up and its long-neglected shocks groaned and complained as each person climbed inside. Elvis was in the back, snuggling under a huge blanket, and didn't even bother to lift his head when the girls got in. Daphne wrapped her arms around the dog's neck and gave him a big wet smooch on the forehead.

"I missed you today," she a

Elvis tucked his head under his blanket and hid.

"What's the matter with him?" the little girl asked.

"He's pouting. He doesn't like to be left in the car," Gra

"Awww, my little baby," Daphne said, trying to pull the two-hundred-pound dog onto her lap like an infant. She showered the Great Dane in kisses. "Is somebody sad? Did somebody get left in the car? I won't ever leave you in the car."

Elvis gave her a lick on the cheek and the girl giggled.

Gra

Sabrina groaned. "We're in the middle of a mystery?"

"Isn't it exciting?" the old woman cried.

"Yes, and pointless," the girl argued. "You heard Charming and his ridiculous spider theory. He knows the Scarlet Hand killed Mr. Grumpner, but instead he lies about it. Grumpner was a human, so Charming couldn't care less. Why should the Everafter mayor and the Everafter police department do anything at all? No, they'll just cover up his death, and we'll run into one dead end after another."

"We are Grimms and this is what we do," Daphne said.

"Exactly right, little one. We are Grimms and part of what we do is make sure that this kind of thing doesn't go unpunished. We'll just sit here until everyone is gone and then we'll go back inside and have a look ourselves," the old woman said. "I have a feeling there are a lot more clues in that room."

Suddenly, Mr. Seven was tapping on the car window. He motioned for Gra

"Good evening, Mr. Seven."

"Mayor Charming has requested your presence at the mansion."

"You mean Billy?" Gra

The dwarf chuckled. "He has something he wishes to discuss in private."

Gra

"Tell Mr. Charming we'll be there," the old woman said.

The dwarf nodded and walked over to the mayor's long white limousine. He buffed the silver stallion on the hood with his shirtsleeve then climbed onto the stack of phone books on the driver's seat, and soon the limo was pulling away.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" Gra

They followed Charming's limo through the quiet country roads of Ferryport Landing. Sabrina gazed out at the sleepy little river town that her great-great-great-great grandfather Wilhelm Grimm had founded. Anyone driving through it would think it was just another boring little town. They would never know that many of the residents were princes, pigs, witches, and fairies, all in disguise. And on the rare occasions when one of the really big Everafters caused trouble, such as one of the giants or dragons, the endless acres of firs, Chinese maples, and oak trees that surrounded the town acted as an excellent cover from prying eyes. In addition, the invisible magical barrier that Wilhelm and the witch Baba Yaga had constructed around Ferryport Landing meant no Everafter, no matter how big, could leave the area. As for the humans who lived in town, they were none the wiser. The Everafters were too good at covering up their magic and mischief. Sabrina often wished she were oblivious, too. Ferryport Landing was a perfect place to live, unless you knew that it was all a lie, and the lie kept Sabrina from getting comfortable in her new life.

As they pulled into Charming's sprawling estate, Sabrina realized the mayor was the only person in town she could trust. He was corrupt, but at least he was upfront about it. He pla

Mr. Canis parked the car and turned off the engine. The last time Sabrina had been at the mansion it had been lit up like a Christmas tree for the Ferrnyport Landing Ball, an a

"Mrs. Grimm, if it's OK with you I believe I will stay here," Mr. Canis said as he opened the car door for Gra