Old Motel Mystery (5 page)

“That
is
strange,” he said. “But put it back. It probably doesn't mean anything.”

Jessie wasn't as sure as Henry that it didn't mean anything.

“Won't Catherine and Millicent be surprised when they return?” Violet asked.

Jessie nodded, replacing the map and saying nothing.

After lunch, they decorated their own rooms. Henry stood on a ladder, pulling the lovely lavender drape across the rod, while Jessie and Violet made the beds.

Violet stood back and gazed at her bed. “Isn't it beautiful?” she asked, admiringly.

“Won't Kay be pleased when she returns?” Jessie said.

“Can we go for a swim now?” Benny asked. “I'm hot.”

“Even in this air conditioning?” Violet asked.

“Yes.” A smile lit Benny's round face. “I could go swimming in the winter.”

“I'm ready for a swim, too,” Jessie said.

So once again they pulled on their swimsuits and raced to the pool.

Henry made a clean dive into the clear water. Jessie stood on the diving board and dived into the water. Violet waded in with Benny at the shallow end.

Henry swam under the water and came up underneath Benny, who screamed with delight when he was lifted on Henry's shoulders. Jessie and Violet swam easily around their brothers.

The Aldens were swimming and laughing so hard that they didn't hear Aunt Jane and Kay arrive until the two women were at the edge of the pool.

Kay smiled. “You darlings! Jane and I went to your room and peeked in, and what a wonderful surprise! We saw the whole motel changed with new spreads and drapes.”

Aunt Jane smiled warmly at each child. “We couldn't resist checking out the other units, too, and it was hard to believe our eyes! What a difference to see each room with a style and color of its own.” She held out her hand, pulling Violet out of the water. “You must have been working ever since we left.”

Kay looked around. The painters had finished, except for the trim and the bike shed, and the white motel gleamed in the sun. Kay gave a contented sigh. “I almost received my bank loan. I'll know tomorrow morning after the bank inspector comes to look over the motel. If he likes what he sees, I'll get the money.”

“He'll like the motel!” Benny said in a loud voice. “How couldn't he not like it?”

Kay laughed and leaned over, giving him a hug.

“Have any reservations come in yet?” Henry questioned.

A brief frown flickered across Kay's face. “Not yet. I should be receiving the reservations from my regular Snowbirds and also a few from my newspaper ads.”

Aunt Jane removed her straw hat and brushed back a loose strand of hair. “I'd like an iced tea, wouldn't you, Kay?”

“Yes,” Kay responded. “That sounds like an excellent idea. Won't you join us, children?”

They looked at one another and shook their heads. “No, Kay,” Jessie said, “but thank you. We want to go for a bike ride and then—”

“And then,” Benny piped up, “we'll eat!”

Henry's eyes sparkled. “Yes, we have a special supper planned.”

Benny rubbed his stomach. “Chicken and mashed potatoes.”

“And broccoli,” Violet said.

“And strawberry Jell-O,” Jessie added. “Topped off with ice cream and cookies.”

“Ummm,” Kay said, “that does sound good.”

“Boy, I can't wait to eat. I'm going to have two helpings of everything!” Benny said.

And that night for supper that's exactly what he did.

They all went to bed with full stomachs and a happy feeling that they had had such a successful day.

As she was drifting off to sleep, Violet turned in bed and was astonished to see a shadow outlined in her window. Then it disappeared. Her heart pounded and she jumped out of bed. “Jessie! Henry! Someone just went by my window!”

Without a second's delay, Henry found his flashlight and flung open the door.

Sleepily, Benny joined them. “What's wrong?” he said with a wide yawn.

“Shhh,” Violet cautioned. “Someone's out there.”

Benny tiptoed outside behind Henry.

Henry shone the flashlight into the trees, but nothing stirred.

Suddenly Jessie's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a scream. “H-he's on top of the motel,” she stammered.

Henry shot the beam up on the roof. He stiffened with fear.

The white beam of light caught two yellow eyes.

Frightened, they stared at the glittering yellow eyes that moved closer and closer.

CHAPTER 8

The Lights Go Out

T
he four Aldens watched the yellow eyes, too scared to move. Closer and closer they came.

All at once Benny began to laugh. “It's Willie,” he hooted gleefully.

Henry held the flashlight steady, and sure enough, as the cat crept to the edge of the roof, they could see Willie's furry form.

With a meow, Willie leapt to a tree limb and scampered away up to Kay's house.

“Whew!” Henry said. “Am I glad the prowler turned out to be Willie!”

“But I saw a
person
in my window,” Violet protested.

“You must be mistaken,” Jessie said quietly as she opened the door of their motel. “You may have imagined a shadow, Violet, but it was only a cat.”

“No,” Violet murmured. “I know it was a person!”

But either they didn't hear Violet's words or they didn't believe her. Everyone went to bed, relieved it had been only Willie.

With a sigh, Violet snuggled beneath the covers and tried to sleep. It was a long time, however, before she dreamed of shadows and faces at the window.

In the morning after a breakfast of orange juice, Shredded Wheat with sliced bananas, and toast, they sat awhile and discussed Kay's motel.

“You know,” Jessie said, resting her folded hands on the table, “Millicent is always buzzing in and out and asking questions.”

“I know,” Violet answered. “What do you suppose she's up to?”

“Nothing!” Benny protested. “Millicent brings us good things to eat.”

“You're right, Benny,” Jessie agreed. “I'm a little suspicious of Catherine. Remember how she wanted us to stop picking oranges?”

“She asks questions, too,” Violet responded.

“I don't know,” Henry said, his dark eyes serious. “It could be Rolf. Did you hear him say he thinks Kay should sell.”

“That's right,” Jessie said.

“I think he likes Kay,” Benny said.

“I agree, Benny,” Violet said. “I've seen Rolf's eyes light up when he looks at her.”

“Millicent isn't the one,” Benny said, nodding his head. “And Catherine isn't either. Rolf couldn't be. They're all too nice.”

“What if it's just a prowler?” Jessie asked. “Maybe it's no one we know.”

Henry shook his head doubtfully. “Someone's after Kay and her motel, and I'll bet it's someone we know.”

“Enough guessing,” Jessie said, standing. “Let's help Kay get the motel ready for the bank inspector.”

“Yes,” Violet agreed. “Let's go up to Kay's house.”

The Aldens, wearing jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers, went outside. They were upset at how dark and gloomy the day had become. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Isn't it too bad the sun isn't shining?” Violet said.

Jessie nodded. “Yes. The motel is so much prettier in the bright sunshine.”

Violet said, “Let's turn on the lamps in each unit.”

“Good idea, Violet,” Jessie said. “I still have the key Kay gave us when the bedspreads arrived.”

Benny looked up at the sky. “Look how dark it is, and how fast the clouds are flying!”

“Yes, I'm afraid it's going to pour any minute,” Henry said.

“No matter,” Jessie said, smiling. “We'll make each motel room bright and cheery with lots of light.”

They began at Catherine's unit since she wasn't home. Benny flipped on the switch. Frowning, he muttered, “Where's the light?”

Henry chuckled. “Did you see if the cord is plugged into the outlet?”

Benny followed the cord to the outlet, and wiggled it back and forth. “It's plugged in!” he said. “I tested it!”

“Hmmmm,” Jessie said. “Let's see if the bulb is screwed tightly into the socket.” She twisted the bulb and it was tight.

Violet tried the bathroom light. Nothing!

Henry said in a worried voice, “Let's see if the lights are off in the other units.”

Sure enough, there were no lights.

Millicent Fair came out of her unit. “My lights won't work,” she complained. “I'm not staying here! I've called a cab, and I'm going to the Adventure Hotel for breakfast!”

“Millicent!” Benny said. “Somebody fixed the lights so they wouldn't light.”

Millicent stared with wide eyes at Benny. “Why, that's terrible,” she said, grabbing her purse. “You know what I think?” She leaned forward and whispered, “I think this place is jinxed!”

Soon a yellow taxi pulled up to Millicent's unit and she hurried in. She shut the door with a bang, not once looking back at the children.

Jessie's forehead wrinkled. “What if new tourists who rent Kay's units find out what's been happening?”

Violet bit her lip. “They won't stay here.”

“It's jinxed!” Benny yelled. “Millicent said so.”

“No, Benny,” Henry said firmly. “The motel is
not
jinxed! That's why we've got to get to the bottom of who's doing these things!”

Just then a car door slammed. Violet glanced toward Kay's house. A blue car with the words
BANK OF LYNDALE
was parked in front.

“The inspector is here,” Violet said in a low sad voice. “He won't be able to see how pretty the motel really is.”

“If only the sun could have shone like yesterday,” Jessie said. “The place looks lovely in the sun.”

“Here he comes,” Henry warned.

Kay and the inspector walked down the hill. Kay gestured with her hands as she eagerly talked to the tall skinny man at her side. The bank inspector, dressed in a black suit and carrying a black umbrella, pressed his lips together in a thin line.

“Oh, oh,” Benny said. “He won't like it 'cause it looks like he doesn't like anything. Besides, it's so dark he can't see the motel very well!”

“I think he'll be able to see enough,” Jessie said encouragingly. But in her heart she wondered. They could have made the motel look so cozy and bright in the lamplight. Who turned off the lights? She was certain it was no accident.

Lightning zigzagged across the black sky, and a crack of thunder boomed. The Aldens hurried inside where they sat huddled around a table, waiting for the inspector.

Jessie rose and found two candles, then she quietly sat down again. Poor Kay, she thought. She has the worst luck in the world. If she didn't get the loan, the roof wouldn't be repaired, and all the other things she wanted to fix would go undone. She would have to sell.

CHAPTER 9

Mr. Smiley

I
n the flickering candlelight the Aldens sat quietly at the table. The bank inspector would be there any minute. The thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed,

It wasn't long before the pinch-faced man and Kay entered their room. Kay introduced them to Mr. Smiley. But he didn't look very smiley, Benny thought. He looked more scowly. Mr. Smiley barely nodded as he snooped around the motel. He sniffed as he poked at a bed with his umbrella.

Kay winked at the children as Mr. Smiley walked into the kitchen. Henry gave Kay a thumbs-up sign. They heard the faucet run and the gas stove turn on.

Mr. Smiley came into the room and said, “I've seen enough, Mrs. Kingsley, to make an honest assessment.” Glancing at the children, he again nodded coldly. Holding the door open for Kay, Mr. Smiley followed her out of the room.

Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew,” she said. “I'm glad that's over!”

“Do you think Kay will get the loan?” Violet asked quietly.

“He looked too fussy to me,” Benny said, lifting his nose in the air, pretending to be Mr. Smiley.

Suddenly, the rain came down in torrents. Henry rushed for a pot to place under the leak above where Benny's bed used to be.

Jessie took down a game from the closet shelf. “This is a good day to play Monopoly,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Violet. “Isn't it nice that Kay has all kinds of games and cards for tourists to check out?”

They played Monopoly for over an hour.

“The rain has stopped,” Jessie said.

Henry opened the door and drops of water fell from the roof. The dark sky, however, had changed to a light gray, and in the east was a rosy-pink streak, which meant the sun might shine after all.

“Let's go for a bike ride,” Benny said eagerly, pushing the board away. “Violet won.”