Since Malcolm couldn’t think of too many things worse than being stuck watching a dance recital he couldn’t see why he should help So So this is my big chance Cocoa wailed clutching her chest dramatically There could be a talent agent in the audience I could be discovered I could become a star She flung her arms wide And I could become a lizard Malcolm said But it’s not likely Cocoa dropped her arms and leaned toward Malcolm You’re already a lizard Now I need you to scamper around and figure out what’s going on Malcolm folded his arms over his chest He and Dandy were Ghost Detectors They had faced the scariest ghosts anyone could imagine They certainly weren’t going to 10
be ordered around by Cocoa not without a sweet deal Say we figure it out What do we get Cocoa glared at him If you don’t do this I’ll tell Mom about all the sneaking around you do You already do that Malcolm said You put the tail in tattletale I think that’s a different kind of tail Dandy said He shook the beanbag chair some more Not when the tattletale is a rat Malcolm said like Cocoa Cocoa looked so mad Malcolm thought steam might come out of her ears Her face turned as bright pink as her lip gloss But she finally said Fine What do you want You do my chores for a month A week Cocoa countered 11
Two weeks Malcolm said And we get a bag of cheese puffs Dandy added A big one It’s a deal Cocoa said But you two better get results Or else 12
Chapter 2 Snap to It You You want your brother to come to dance practice Mom pointed at Malcolm This brother Cocoa rolled her eyes which had to be tough with so much eye shadow caked on them I only have one brother Just checking Mom looked at them suspiciously It’s nice that you two are getting along But I thought Malcolm could stay home and keep Grandma Eunice company 13
