Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo (5 page)
“But we did see Helen Brooks sitting in her car by the zoo,” Jessie said.
“She asked us questions, but we didn't tell her a thing!” Benny said in a firm voice.
“Good for you!” Edward said.
“Then I got this book at the bookstore,” Benny said, holding it out to Grandfather.
Grandfather paged through the book. “It's a wonderful book, Benny. I know you'll enjoy it!”
That was one of the many things Jessie liked about Grandfather. He always encouraged them to read, and often gave them books for presents.
“Whew! I'm hot!” Benny gasped, dropping onto the sofa.
“How about a cold glass of lemonade?” Jessie asked.
“You bet,” he said, sitting up.
“And how about you, Edward and Grandfather?”
“That sounds good,” Grandfather said.
Edward was concentrating so hard on the chess game he only nodded.
Even the night didn't bring any relief from the heat. It was very hot, even for late August.
Early the next morning the phone shrilled throughout the small house. The children were on their way downstairs.
Edward, dressed and ready to go out the door, said, “It's Pat at the zoo. She wants me to meet her at the seals. Something is wrong.”
“Could we come along?” Henry asked.
Edward nodded. “Maybe you can help again. I can depend on you Aldens!” he said, pleased. “Your grandfather is still sleeping.”
When they reached the seals, Pat was pouring water over a coughing seal, who constantly clapped his flippers. Another seal lay on the rocks, too still and quiet.
Edward stood before the seal pond, too stunned to move. The pond had been drained. It had been a hot night, and the seals had been without water.
“Who could have done this?” Pat cried, shaking her head. “It's good I was here early this morning. I turned the water on, but it will take a little while for the pool to fill. Pat's face was pale and she looked helplessly at the children.
Furious, Edward whirled and got some buckets. Then he and the Aldens brought buckets of water and doused the seals, who clapped for more. The seal lying down perked up at the first bucketful of water.
Once the pool was full and the seals were again in the water, the children sat down to rest. It was good to listen to the seals honking and splashing with pleasure.
“This is terrible,” Jessie said. “The poor seals could have died.”
“We'd better find out who's doing this,” Henry said, “before Helen Brooks finds out. The seals would fill a page in her notebook.”
Violet said thoughtfully, “I wonder why Pat came to the zoo early today.”
“I think it's Mac Thatcher!” Benny stated, his brown eyes flashing. “He hates animals, and that's why he's doing all these mean things.”
“Whoa,” Henry said. “Just because he forgot to feed his dog doesn't mean he's guilty.”
“Then it's Helen Brooks,” Jessie said with a firm nod. “If she could prove the animals were being mistreated, she could get the zoo closed in a minute.”
Violet didn't answer. They didn't really have a clue, she thought, as to who the guilty person could be. And if they didn't find out soon, Edward would lose his zoo! Even worse, some animals might die.
T
he next day was calm at the zoo. Maybe, Jessie thought, the strange things happening to the animals had stopped.
On the afternoon of the second peaceful day, Benny said, “Let's read our books.”
“That would be fun,” Violet said. “I'm almost finished reading the mystery I brought with me and I'm eager to see how it ends.”
So they went outside and Henry spread out two blankets. There was only one tree in Edward's backyard, but it was a large apple tree and heavy with apples.
It was pleasant to enjoy the shade on such a warm day, to eat crisp apples, and to read.
At last they closed their books and folded their blankets. When they decided to visit the zoo, it was almost closing time.
Going through the gate, they found David. He was giving Joe, the elephant, a bath. “Hi, Aldens,” he called with a smile, then returned to his work.
Joe patiently allowed David to use a brush to scrub him. Making wide soapy circles in the elephant's leathery hide, David soon covered Joe in white.
“Watch this,” David said, chuckling and picking up a hose. “He loves his shower!” He sprayed the elephant, causing the soap to run down Joe's sides in white streams. Joe lifted his trunk and trumpeted his pleasure.
At last David coiled up the hose and came over to lean on the fence. “What did you do today?” he asked.
“Most of the day we read and ate apples,” Benny said, grinning.
David nodded. “That sounds like a perfect afternoon. Second only to working here with the animals.”
“David,” Henry asked, growing serious, “what do you think of what's been happening at the zoo?”
Frowning, David shook his head. “I wish I knew what was going on. If these awful things don't stop, I'm afraid Edward might lose the zoo.” He paused. “I noticed Helen Brooks here again yesterday. She asked me a lot of questions, but I didn't give her any information that would hurt Edward.”
“Good!” Jessie said. “I know she's waiting for a chance to find out something really damaging.”
“I saw Pat talking to her,” David said, “but I know she didn't give her any news, either.”
I hope not, Jessie thought.
“Has anyone else been around asking questions?” Violet asked.
David shrugged. “Not that I noticed. I only work three days a week in the summer.” He smiled. “I'd like to work with the animals every day. Someday,” he announced, “I'm going to be a zookeeper.”
“That would be a great job, David,” Benny said. “Maybe I'll be one, too.”
“We could work at the same zoo, Benny,” David said, teasing. “Well,” he sighed, “I'd like to stay and talk but I'd better get back to work. Pat wants me to check out the brown bears.”
The Aldens strolled over to the leopards and watched a baby leopard playing with its mother.
Four chimes sounded. The zoo was closing. One boy, sitting on his father's shoulders watching the beavers, cried, “I don't want to leave.”
“We'll come back, son,” the father reassured him.
A man pushed a wheelchair before him. In the chair was an elderly woman with a lovely smile on her face.
Yes, Henry thought. Edward's zoo
had
to stay open. It gave so much enjoyment to so many different kinds of people.
In the morning the children planned to go to the zoo early. Edward was opening up that day and Pat was coming in later. They wanted their afternoon free, as Grandfather was taking them to a movie, then out for ice cream.
As soon as they entered the zoo's gates, they knew something was wrong. Going by the lions, they noticed how restless they were and how they paced back and forth, shaking their manes.
Hurriedly they followed Edward to the Bird House. “Let's see how our tropical friends are doing,” Edward said, opening the door.
The macaw screeched, and the green parrot scolded, but on the whole the birds were unusually quiet. Many were hunched over and didn't move.
“Oh,” Jessie cried, grabbing her arms, “it's cold in here!”
“I'm cold, too,” Benny exclaimed.
“The heat's off!” Edward shouted, racing to the opposite wall and checking the thermometer. Immediately he turned up the heat, and when he faced them, an angry expression crossed his face.
“These birds could have died!” he said, his face red with fury. Helplessly he threw out his hands. “Let's check the others.”
Sure enough, the brown bears from Alaska were slumped against the rocks, panting. The air-conditioning in their glassed-in area had been turned off.
Edward raced from one animal house to another, raising low temperatures and lowering high temperatures. The Aldens helped by bringing water to animals that were lying down, too uncomfortable to move.
At last all the animals had been checked, and when they were at ease again, the children relaxed, too.
“Maybe we should face Helen Brooks and ask her to leave the zoo alone!” Violet exclaimed.
“Not yet,” Jessie cautioned. “If she isn't the one
doing
these things, she'd just love to hear about them.”
“The best thing to do is keep our eyes open, and if we see anything suspicious, tell Edward,” Henry advised.
“I hate to sit here and
wait
for things to happen,” Violet said.
“It's the only thing we can do right now,” Jessie admitted. “I don't like it any better than you do.”
“Let's go home,” Henry said. “We can't do any more here. Edward is in the Bird House and Pat will be coming soon.”
As they left, a black car sped away.
“Who was that?” Benny said. “He was speeding!”
“Doesn't Helen Brooks have a black car?” Jessie asked.
“Yes,” Violet responded quietly. “Was she spying again?”
Henry shook his head. “I don't think so. A man was behind the wheel.”
Puzzled, they glanced at one another. The mystery was becoming deeper and deeper.
I
n the afternoon the children went to the movies with Grandfather. And for a while they forgot about the zoo. But afterward, as they ate banana splits, Benny said, “Could we stop at the zoo on the way home, Grandfather?”
Surprised, Grandfather Alden said, “You spent all morning at the zoo.”
“We want to see if the animals are all right,” Jessie said. “When we left, Edward was still checking some of them that had suffered under the wrong temperature.”
“Of course, we'll stop,” Grandfather said with understanding. “I'm sure all the animals survived, but we can pick up Edward.”
“Great!” Henry said. “Lately Edward looks so worn out from everything that's happened.”
“It's a good thing we're here so we can help him,” Violet said softly, finishing the last of her ice cream.
Mr. Alden studied his two granddaughters, proud of them. And how pretty they looked. Violet in her blue denim jacket and skirt, her hair tied with lavender ribbons, and Jessie in yellow flowered shorts and top.
He was proud of his grandsons, too. Handsome boys. Henry resembled him, tall and straight. Benny had an impish twinkle in his dark eyes.
Yes, he was a lucky man to have found his four loving grandchildren. To think that not too long ago they had hidden from him in an old boxcar, believing that he was a mean man who wanted to hurt them. If Violet hadn't become ill, he might never have found them. It was the doctor, a friend of his, who had led him to them. Yes, indeed, he was truly lucky. Never had he known children that were so ready to help, and not only him, but others as well.
Benny leaned forward. “Are we going, Grandfather?”
“Wh-what?” Grandfather stammered, coming back from his memories. “Oh, yes, yes.” Smiling, he stood, paid the bill, and they left for the zoo.
They arrived at closing time as people were streaming out the front gates.
Jessie tugged at Henry's sleeve. “Isn't that Mac Thatcher from the bookstore?” she whispered, as a tall thin man went by.
Henry saw Thatcher walking down the sidewalk to a black car and unlocking it.
“That's him,” Henry said firmly. “He doesn't look like the type who comes to the zoo for enjoyment!”
“There's the bad man from the bookstore,” Benny shouted, pointing at the black car pulling away from the curb.
“That's him,” Violet agreed. “What do you suppose he was doing here?”
“Maybe
he
was making the birds cold and the bears hot,” Benny stated.
Thoughtfully, Jessie shook her head. “No, Benny, the temperature changes happened early this morning.”