Deserted Library Mystery (5 page)

Miguel smiled at Benny. “Thanks, Benny. Thanks, everyone! I know you all hope for the best.” But his heart thudded against his ribs. He had a feeling that his father was gone, and he'd never see him again. He jumped up and turned his back on his friends. How could he repay the Aldens' kindness? He couldn't stay with them forever. He made up his mind. If he heard bad news, he'd run away. He'd have to be on his own again. His heartbeat matched the thunder that rolled outside!

CHAPTER 8

The Locked Door

T
hat afternoon it was so windy the Aldens left their bikes at home. They each struggled against the ferocious wind to reach the library. Violet and Miguel held Benny's hands. Henry, leaning against the wind, was the first to the library. He unlocked the door and pushed his way in. The other children followed.

“Whew, what a storm,” Jessie said, collapsing in a chair. “I need a rest.”

“Me, too,” Violet agreed.

“Not me!” Benny said. “I'm ready to work!”

Henry laughed as he removed his rain jacket. “It's no wonder you're ready to work, Benny. You had a little help in fighting the storm!”

“I know.” Benny grinned impishly. “You look tired. Go and rest, Henry, and I'll straighten a pile of books.”

“You do that,” Henry said. “But I'll be working!” He peered at the nearest shelf. To his astonishment, he saw very fresh fingerprints. Could they belong to the person Jessie had heard humming the night before?

Casually, Henry piled books over the telltale prints. There was no sense in alarming everyone, he thought. Why was someone searching the library? Was he looking for the sword?

He turned around and faced his sisters and Miguel. “Let's work especially hard today and try to find the missing sword point. I think we're all ready to go home.”

“Not until we find the
whole
sword, though,” Benny shouted as he came racing downstairs. He smiled at Violet and Jessie. “Right?”

“Right,” Jessie answered, laughing at Benny's determination.

“And I don't want to quit, either,” Miguel said, stepping forward. “Until I find out what happened to my father, I'll stay and help everyone. You've been kind to me.” He smiled.

“Good!” exclaimed Henry. “We're kind to you because you're a splendid fellow, Miguel.”

Miguel felt safe and secure with the Aldens. He wished he would never have to leave.

For a moment, no one said a word. Their hearts went out to Miguel.

Henry broke the silence. “I'll work upstairs and sort through the books.”

“May I go with you?” Benny asked. “I can help you, Henry.”

“I'm sure you can,” Henry said with a chuckle.

All afternoon they worked—Benny and Henry upstairs, and Violet, Jessie, and Miguel downstairs. Almost every bookshelf was neat and clean. The books were upright on the shelves, but not a clue turned up as to where the sword point could be.

Finally, Jessie stopped. She glanced at the rattling windows and the rain pelting against the glass panes. “I'm ready to go home,” she said. “Are you, Violet?”

Violet rose to her feet, several volumes in her hand. Her face was smudged, and her shirt wrinkled. “Yes,” she said. “I'm more than ready.”

“Did I hear someone say they wanted to go back to the house?” Henry questioned. “In this rain?”

“I don't care how wet I get,” Benny said, dragging himself down the steps. “I'm hungry and tired, and I want to go home.”

“Shall we make a run for it?” Henry asked. “If we do, we'll get soaked.”

“It doesn't matter,” Jessie replied. “I don't want to stay in this library all night.” She flung her blue coat over her shoulders. “Just think! The person I heard humming might stay here at night.”

Henry gave her a sharp look, but soon realized she hadn't seen the new fingerprints.

He helped Benny with his red raincoat, then struggled into his own.

Violet buttoned her lavender raincoat but propped her purple umbrella by the door. There was no sense in letting the wind whip it inside out. Miguel wore a yellow slicker, just like a fisherman, which he had hidden under the window seat.

“Okay,” Henry yelled. “Let's run all the way to the house.”

With a whoop, Benny was the first to rush out the door. The raindrops fell faster now, but Benny didn't care. He lifted his head to the rain, enjoying the fresh drops on his face.

“I'll race you!” he challenged, but his words were lost in the roar of the wind. Benny raced down the path. All that could be seen below his red rain gear were his sneakers.

Everyone ran through the mud and the rain. When they reached the house, Benny splashed about in a mud puddle. “Let's stay outside and play in the rain.”

“Not a chance,” Jessie said, shivering from the wet cold.

“I thought you were tired,” Violet said to Benny softly, her eyes twinkling.

“I was,” Benny said. “The rain made me awake! It was fun!”

Miguel, drops of water glistening on his long lashes, laughed, too. “It was fun, wasn't it?”

“All right, you two. Time to remove your wet things. Go upstairs and get into your dry pajamas,” Jessie ordered with a smile.

“Okay, Jessie.” And Benny was upstairs before Henry had his coat off.

Jessie built a blazing fire in the fireplace while everyone changed into warm dry clothes.

Henry, in jeans and a sweater, and Violet, in a violet blouse and jeans, took the leftover soup out of the refrigerator and set it on the stove.

While the soup was simmering, everyone drank hot apple cider and sat before the fireplace. They felt cozy and warm as they watched the orange flames.

In the morning, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, they had hot cereal, buttered toast, and cocoa for breakfast, and were ready for a day at the library. Maybe today they would find the rest of the sword. The wind still howled, but the rain had stopped.

“Do you think the Coast Guard will bring in the two fishermen today?” Miguel asked in a low tone, barely above a whisper. His father was always in his thoughts.

Henry glanced out the window at the gray sky and the swaying tree branches. “Not today, Miguel. The wind isn't as bad as yesterday, but the ocean waves are too high. I'm sure, though, your father will be found safe and sound in a day or two.”

Miguel met Henry's eyes and his voice was husky. “I wish I were as certain as you that he's alive. I pray you're right!”

Benny piped up, changing the subject. “That was a good breakfast.” He jumped up and ran to the door. “I want to see how windy it is.”

“Careful you're not blown over,” Henry teased.

Benny tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. He leaned against it with his shoulder and shoved as hard as he could. The door was stuck fast!

“Henry,” Benny panted. “The door won't open!”

Henry laughed. “The wind is strong, Benny, but I don't think it's that strong.” He turned the handle and pushed against the door, but Henry couldn't open it, either. He pushed three times, but the door remained shut.

“Let's all try,” Jessie suggested. All five put their shoulders to the door, but it remained closed.

Puzzled, Henry shook his head. “Maybe something has blown in front of the door and jammed it shut.”

“I don't think so,” Jessie said. Worry lines creased her forehead.

“I need to check the door from the outside,” Henry said, “but I have a problem.” He stared at the narrow windows. “The windows are too small. I can't squeeze through.”

“I could!” Benny shouted. “Let me! Let me!”

Henry nodded. “Okay, Benny, you're the only one small enough to crawl through.”

Henry opened a window and lifted Benny up. Benny wiggled through the narrow opening and dropped to the ground.

Benny hurried around the cabin to the front door. There, to his surprise, was a heavy branch shoved through the door handle. No wonder it wouldn't turn. He tugged with all his might and was able to pull the branch out. “You can open the door now,” he yelled.

Henry opened the door, and Benny showed him the branch that had locked them in.

“Someone deliberately tried to keep us from getting out, didn't they?” Violet asked.

“I'm afraid so,” Henry answered.

Jessie's throat tightened, and her mouth was dry. Was someone trying to keep them from getting to the library? She pulled her sweater tighter around her. What would they find when they reached the library?

CHAPTER 9

The Upside-down Mess

T
he day before, the Aldens and Miguel had run up the rain-splashed path, not minding the wet and cold. This morning, however, after they had escaped the house's bolted door, they walked up the path to the library without a word. They all were worrying about who had tried to keep them in Pete's house.

Henry took out the library key to unlock the door, but as he came closer, he noticed the door was ajar.

He hesitated. “Someone might be in there. Keep a sharp lookout,” he advised.

“D-do you think we should go in?” Violet asked timidly.

“We've worked very hard,” Henry said calmly. “Do you want to stop now?”

“No,” Jessie said. “Let's just look in.”

Henry pushed the door open. He listened carefully for any sounds. When he heard nothing, he stepped inside. The others followed, peering around.

Entering the library, Jessie stopped. Her hand flew to her mouth at the sight that greeted her. “Oh, no,” she wailed. “Look at this mess!”

Violet was behind her. “Who would do such a thing?” she asked in a shocked voice.

Miguel's face paled. “The books are scattered everywhere!” He stepped over a stack of books. “Look! The desk is upside down.”

Books were upside down, too. Books were right side up, standing on end, and tossed in corners. Leaves of books had been ripped out and cast here and there. Some pages had been crumpled, others torn to shreds. There was no doubt about it! Someone had locked them in Pete's house to gain time to search. The books, the shelves, and every nook had been explored.

“All our hard work is wasted!” Violet said.

Speechless, Henry stood with his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disbelief. He picked up a tattered book.

Benny gazed at Henry. “This is bad, isn't it?”

Henry paused, then spoke in a calm manner. “It's bad, Benny, but nothing that can't be fixed. Books are everywhere, but there's no major damage.”

Jessie rose. “We'll need to put the books back on the shelf, that's all.” She rolled up her sleeves.

Miguel held up a book, studying it curiously. “Where did these jagged holes come from?”

Henry reached for the book and examined the pages. “Our prowler,” he observed, “has done this on purpose! He's used scissors to slash these books!”

“Who would do such a terrible thing?” asked Miguel.

“Someone who is angry because he can't find what he wants,” Jessie answered. Her eyebrows knit together in a frown. “The intruder not only balled up pages and tossed them aside, but stabbed the bigger books with his scissors or a knife!”

“What a shame,” Violet said. “He must have been furious when he didn't find what he was hunting for.”

“I need to check upstairs and see how many books have been ruined up there,” Henry said.

Jessie moved to his side. She anxiously chewed on her underlip. “Grandfather will be so disappointed if the library isn't a landmark.”

Henry smiled grimly. “I know, Jessie. It's pretty discouraging, but we'll clean up this mess.” He wheeled about and hurried upstairs.

Soon Henry returned. “Good news! The upstairs has hardly been touched. The intruder only tore apart one shelf.”

Violet tilted her head. “We must have interrupted whoever it was,” she said thoughtfully.