Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo (8 page)
Mac glanced at the car and saw Amos in the cage. “Okay, so I tried to sell your monkey,” he admitted. “I didn't get much money for him.” He shot Edward a hateful look. “After all, I lost my job and my salary!”
Edward calmly replied, “You deserved to be let go, Mac Thatcher, and I think you know it. I wouldn't put it past you to have drained the seals' pool, changed the temperatures, and stolen my files!”
Mac gritted his teeth in annoyance. “Well, I didn't do it! All I did was take a measly monkey.”
Doubtfully, Jessie stared at Mac. She didn't like his mean little eyes and narrow dark face. But she realized that didn't make him guilty.
“Did you change all the names of the animals?” Benny asked.
Mac looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“The giraffes' sign was put in front of the bears, and the monkeys' sign was in front of the elephants,” Violet explained.
Mac snorted. “I never heard of such a thing!” Abruptly, he yanked the keys out of the trunk, and they dropped in the street.
“Wait a minute!” Edward shouted, scooping up the keys, and dangling them before Mac's eyes. “Why do you have my zoo office key and the key to the gates?”
“I forgot to turn in the fool things,” Mac said stiffly, but he bit his lip in confusion.
“I don't think so,” Edward said icily. “You
did
turn in your keys, but first you had a second set made. This explains how you got into the zoo. You knew all about the zoo's wires, how to change the temperature, and where the files were kept, didn't you?”
Sullen, Mac stared at the ground.
“We saw you several times at the zoo, too,” Henry said. “Now we know why.”
“Yes,” Benny said, nodding his head vigorously, “and you asked us a lot of questions about the zoo!” He stuck out his chin, daring Mac to contradict him.
Mac's eyes shifted from one to the other, then back to the telltale keys.
“All right!” Mac growled. “I guess you've got me. Sure I did all the things you mentioned! Why shouldn't I?” Mac paused, his eyes narrowing. “You had it coming! No one fires Mac Thatcher and gets away with it. I'd be happy if your zoo closed.”
“You hurt the animals!” Benny said, his disbelieving eyes opening wide.
“If it hadn't been for you kids and that mangy monkey, you'd never be the wiser.” He snatched the keys from Edward's hands. “But try and stop me! I'm leaving Rosedale forever!”
Suddenly, a police car pulled up and two policemen jumped out.
Quickly, Edward told the police lieutenant the story of his animals and what had been done to them. “I'm sure the files will be in the house.”
The first policeman arrested Mac and ordered him into the back of the squad car. The lieutenant entered the house with Edward and the Aldens. Sure enough, the files were stacked in a corner.
Henry and Jessie picked up the important papers and carried them out to the car.
Scamper dashed outside with them, then stood on his hind legs.
“Who will take care of Scamper?” Benny wailed. “If Mac goes to jail, there won't be anyone to feed him.”
Edward reached down and scratched the dog under its chin. Scamper eagerly licked his fingers. “Well, Scamper, it looks like you'll be coming home with me. I'd like a little fellow like you around the house.”
“Oh, good,” Violet said, petting Scamper.
The dog looked at them with his big dark eyes. He obviously wanted someone to love and to be loved himself.
Edward found a leash and fastened it to Scamper's collar and led him outdoors. “By the way, officer, Mac Thatcher owes me five hundred dollars. That's the money he made when he stole my monkey from the zoo and sold him.”
“Come down to the station in a few hours and swear out a complaint,” the officer said, “and we'll see that you get your money.”
“Thanks, officer,” Edward said, with a wave. After the police car left, he breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to the Aldens and the old twinkle crept back into his eyes. “To the zoo, James!”
Arriving at the gates, Edward immediately let Scamper out, holding onto the leash, and with his other hand took the cage to the Monkey House and opened it. At first the monkey stood quite still, then suddenly he erupted into a ball of energy. He leapt up, grabbed the trapeze and swung wildly back and forth. Then he grasped a tree branch and climbed to the top.
As they watched the monkey, a high-pitched voice interrupted them. “Yoo-hoo, Edward Marlow.”
In dismay the children turned and saw Helen Brooks bearing down on them, her high heels clicking determinedly.
Not Helen Brooks, Violet thought, her heart skipping a beat. In the joy of finding Amos and uncovering Mac Thatcher, she'd almost forgotten the woman who wanted to close the zoo. But now here was Helen Brooks to ruin the day.
H
elen Brooks faced Edward Marlow.
“Hello, Helen,” Edward greeted her coolly.
“I hear your zoo has been having lots of problems,” Helen said. “You can't keep the animals quiet if something is bothering them!”
“Yes,” Edward admitted. “But we've found the one responsible for the zoo's troubles.”
“I knew something was going on,” she said smugly. “What I want to know is are these troubles really over?” She shook a red fingernail under Edward's nose.
“The troubles are over,” Edward said calmly. Then he glared at her. “Except for
you,
Helen.”
Helen drew herself up and straightened her purple hat. “You don't need to worry about me any longer.”
“What do you mean?” Henry asked. “Aren't you trying to close Edward's zoo?”
“Not anymore,” Helen said, lifting her chin and pressing her lips into a thin line.
Edward's eyes opened wide. “You mean you're not bringing this before the town council?”
“Actually, no,” Helen said, gazing down at her oversized purse. “You see, I had a talk with my fellow council members, and they informed me that they'd
never
vote to close the zoo. They said it gave too much pleasure to the people of Rosedale.” She met Edward's eyes. “I know when I'm defeated.”
Edward grabbed Helen's hand and shook it up and down. “Thank you! Thank you!”
“And you know I've often sat in my car in front of the zoo to see if I could find something wrong.” Helen managed a smile. “The only thing I saw were a lot of happy faces.”
“That's great news, Miss Brooks,” Violet said shyly. “The zoo is really a wonderful place.”
Helen glanced at Violet. “Yes, it is, dear,” she murmured.
“I'm glad you don't want to close the zoo,” Benny said, grinning at her.
“You know something,” Helen said. “I'm glad, too.”
They told Helen good-bye, and Grandfather said, “We've got to say good-bye, too.”
“Yes, Watch and Mrs. McGregor will wonder what happened to us,” Jessie said.
“I'm so glad you don't have to worry about the zoo being closed,” Violet said, a smile lighting her pretty face.
“So am I!” Edward said emphatically.
“Surely you'll be able to stay one more day,” Edward said.
“Yes, there are a few odds and ends I need to clean up in the yard,” Grandfather said. “Besides, I know my grandchildren would enjoy one more day at the zooâa day without problems.”
“Yes, oh, yes,” Jessie said, bending down to scratch Scamper behind the ears.
“You bet we would,” Henry echoed.
Their last morning, over a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, Jessie asked Edward, “Do you think we could have a party tonight and invite Pat and David?”
“We want to make dinner for you one last time,” Violet said, smiling.
“That's a splendid idea!” Edward said. “I'll ask Pat and David today.”
“Should we ask anyone else?” Henry asked.
“Who would it be?” Benny wanted to know.
“Are you thinking of Helen Brooks?” Jessie said, her eyes twinkling.
Edward thought about it, then said, “Why not? Yesterday she made me very happy. And even though she doesn't know it, she made the animals happy, also!” He rose. “I'll see you children at the zoo.” And he went out the door.
The Aldens bought groceries and cooked all morning.
In the afternoon the children walked to the zoo for the last time. They visited each of the animals. Benny spent the longest time at the Monkey House. He laughed at Amos's funny tricks, but when it was time to go, his smile vanished. Waving at Amos, he stepped away. “I'll be back,” he promised.
That night, when everyone plus Pat, Helen Brooks, and David were seated at the candlelit table, the children served dinner.
David's eyes grew big when he saw the dishes of delicious roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and buttered peas set on a white tablecloth. Later, apple pie and ice cream was served for dessert.
Cleaning his plate, Edward leaned back with a contented look on his face. When Helen Brooks smiled, Benny thought she looked almost pretty. “You should smile more often,” he blurted out.
Helen's mouth opened in astonishment, then she winked. “I know I should. When you were kind enough to invite me to dinner, I promised myself I'd be more pleasant.” Her blue dress brought out the blue of her eyes, and, as she carefully folded her napkin, she murmured, “I'm ashamed of the way I acted.” She glanced around the table. “I'm surprised you're speaking to me.”
Everyone was pleased that the evening was such a happy occasion, and after the guests had left, the children, Edward, and Grandfather went into the living room. Edward settled into his easy chair next to his bookcase and cabinet. The children were proud of the cozy corner they had made for him.
Henry poured Grandfather and Edward another cup of coffee, then sat on the floor next to Jessie and Violet. Benny perched on the arm of Grandfather's chair. They discussed the zoo and all the things that had happened to the animals. They talked about Mac Thatcher and poor kidnapped Amos, and Helen Brooks, and the fun they'd had.
Jessie, sitting cross-legged, glanced up at Edward. “We had a wonderful time!” “So did I,” Edward said, reaching down and stroking Scamper, who lay at his feet. “I'll miss you when you leave, but I hope you'll come back.”
“Oh, we will.” Grandfather laughed. “I need to check on the roses and new shrubs.”
Benny yawned. “I'm sleepy,” he admitted.
“Yes, it's time to go to bed,” Violet said, standing and stretching.
Grandfather said, “We're leaving early, children, so get a good night's sleep.”
It had been a wonderful vacation, full of fun and mystery, but now it was over and time to go home. They could hardly wait to tell Mrs. McGregor all about it.
G
ERTRUDE
C
HANDLER
W
ARNER
discovered when she was teaching that many readers who like an exciting story could find no books that were both easy and fun to read. She decided to try to meet this need, and her first book,
The Boxcar Children,
quickly proved she had succeeded.
Miss Warner drew on her own experiences to write each mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks opposite her family home. She often dreamed about what it would be like to set up housekeeping in a caboose or freight car â the situation the Alden children find themselves in.
When Miss Warner received requests for more adventures involving Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, she began additional stories. In each, she chose a special setting and introduced unusual or eccentric characters who liked the unpredictable.
While the mystery element is central to each of Miss Warner's books, she never thought of them as strictly juvenile mysteries. She liked to stress the Aldens' independence and resourcefulness and their solid New England devotion to using up and making do. The Aldens go about most of their adventures with as little adult supervision as possible â something else that delights young readers.
Miss Warner lived in Putnam, Connecticut, until her death in 1979. During her lifetime, she received hundreds of letters from girls and boys telling her how much they liked her books.
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
T
HE
B
OXCAR
C
HILDREN
S
URPRISE
I
SLAND
T
HE
Y
ELLOW
H
OUSE
M
YSTERY
M
YSTERY
R
ANCH
M
IKE'S
M
YSTERY
B
LUE
B
AY
M
YSTERY
T
HE
W
OODSHED
M
YSTERY