When the children arrived home, Henry pulled an envelope out of the mailbox. “Hmmm,” he said, bewildered, “this is funny. It’s addressed: ‘To the Aldens’ ”
“We got a letter,” Benny cheered. “May I open it?”
“Sure,” Henry said, handing it over.
Benny tore it open. His mouth formed a big O when he noticed the words had been cut out of newspapers.
Jessie, who was standing behind him, read the letter aloud.
“Aldens! Go home! You’re snoopy and don’t belong here! Don’t return to the amusement park.
Signed,
THE WATCHER.”
Jessie looked up. “How do you like that!”
Benny gave the letter to Henry.
“This is unbelievable!” Violet said indignantly. “Shall we call the police?”
“Well,” Henry said. “Maybe we should tell Joe and Alice.”
“But nothing’s happened to us,” Jessie said. “And if we tell them, they might send us home.”
Henry nodded. “We don’t want to go home now, that’s for sure.” He paused. “Besides, I think we can solve this mystery ourselves.”
“We’ll keep our eyes open,” Jessie said firmly. “And we’ll find out what’s going on.”
“We’ll become ‘The Watchers,’ ” Benny said, pressing his lips together in a stubborn line.
Henry’s smile was grim. “Yes, Benny. We won’t let a few phone calls and one letter keep us from going to the park.”
A rap on the door interrupted them.
Hastily, Henry slipped the letter into his pocket as Jessie opened the door.
Alice stood before them. “I’m driving into town to buy a pair of sneakers,” she said. “How would you like to ride along?”
“That would be fun!” Benny exclaimed.
“And maybe while you’re waiting for me you’d like to order a chocolate ice cream soda at Lou’s Drugstore.” Alice’s green eyes sparkled. “My treat.”
“Yes!” Violet said with a smile.
“Yes,” Jessie said with a wider smile.
“Yes,” Henry said with a grin.
So the Aldens drove off with Alice, and as she shopped, they settled themselves at a round table in the window at Lou’s. Soon they were served huge chocolate sodas.
While they ate, Violet suddenly put down her spoon. “Look,” she said, finding it difficult to swallow, “there are Sheila and Frank.”
Benny craned his neck. “Where?”
“At that table over there,” Jessie said, her voice rising in surprise.
“They’re with Margaret Macy!” Henry said.
Sure enough, the tall woman was seriously talking to Sheila and Frank.
“That’s right,” Henry said. “Frank is the one who told Joshua that Margaret Macy was in Watertown.”
“Oh,” Violet said. “Sheila’s handing Ms. Macy an envelope.”
“I wonder what’s in it,” Jessie said with a puzzled frown.
“I wonder, too,” Benny said, drawing up on his straw for the last bit of chocolate ice cream soda. “Maybe they’re handing Margaret Macy a card wishing her a good trip.”
“I don’t believe that,” Jessie said. “Look, she’s taking money out of the envelope and counting it!”
Sure enough the tall woman carefully counted the bills and, smiling, she stuffed them in her handbag.
“Do you think Joshua asked Frank to pay her for inspecting the carousel?” Violet said.
“Why would he do that?” Jessie asked. “Why wouldn’t Joshua just pay her himself? That doesn’t make sense.”
Henry tapped his chin with the straw. “I think Frank is paying Margaret Macy off.”
“For doing what?” Benny questioned innocently.
“Maybe for pretending to be an expert, examining Joshua’s horses, and saying they were real,” Henry said.
“Why would Frank and Sheila do such a thing?” Violet asked.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out,” Henry said, his jaw set and determined.
The children watched Sheila, Frank, and Margaret Macy. They didn’t talk long. Sheila kept glancing over her shoulder. Suddenly, her eyes rested on the Aldens. She said something to Frank and Ms. Macy, and the three of them left quickly.
“So, Margaret Macy was paid off to say the Dentzel horses were real.” Violet shook her head in disbelief.
“And to think Joshua trusted her!” Jessie straightened her shoulders indignantly. “Margaret Macy isn’t an expert, after all! She’s a crook!”
“He trusted Frank, too,” Henry said. “He believed him when he said Ms. Macy was an expert.”
“We’d better tell Alice!” Benny shouted.
Henry glanced at Benny, shaking his head. “We’d better not. She might not let us go back to the park and find Joshua. He should be the first to know and decide what to do.”
Benny put his finger to his lips. “Not a word,” he whispered.
So when Alice picked them up, the children raved about the sodas, but didn’t mention a thing about what they’d seen.
When the Aldens arrived home, they mounted their bikes and pedaled to the park.
Sheila and Frank were at the concession stand, just as if nothing had happened. When Sheila spotted them, her dark eyes shot sparks in their direction.
“Frank and Sheila are watching us,” Henry said, his lips barely moving. “Act natural.”
“Shall I buy a cotton candy?” Benny asked.
“That’s being very natural,” Jessie said, chuckling. “Go ahead, Benny.”
“Let’s not find Joshua right away,” Violet cautioned. “We don’t want Frank and Sheila watching us.”
“You’re right, Violet,” Jessie said. “We’ll just go on a ride or something.”
Benny joined them, happily licking his cotton candy. “Sheila was grumpy, but she took my money.”
The children strolled down the dusty midway, the calliope music playing a brisk march. And all the while Violet’s heart thumped.
“The carousel horses look beautiful in the sun,” Jessie said, linking her arm through Violet’s.
“Don’t they?” Violet said in a shaky voice. “The chocolate brown shines like mahogany.”
“Can I ride one of the fake horses?” Benny asked.
“Shhh,” Henry said, “not so loud. I don’t think you’d better.” He glanced at Sheila, who was watching them through narrowed eyes. “I think we’ll stay away from the merry-go-round,” Henry said thoughtfully.
“Pretend we’re here to enjoy the park,” Violet said. “We should act casual, so they won't suspect us.”
“Why don’t we ride the Ferris wheel?” Jessie asked.
Benny peered up through the spokes to the top of the Ferris wheel. “It’s too tall,” he complained.
“Yes,” Henry answered. “And because it’s so tall we’ll be able to see the whole park.” Then he leaned down next to Benny’s ear and whispered, “We’ll be able to keep an eye on Frank and Sheila.”
“Okay,” Benny agreed. “We can’t be good detectives if we can’t see what’s going on.”
Soon they were seated on the Ferris wheel, going up, up in the air.
At the top their chair gently rocked back and forth.
When they descended, it halted to let off passengers. Once more they moved swiftly around in a circle.
High on top of the Ferris wheel, the rides and people looked small.
Violet glanced over the side and noticed Sheila talking to the man who ran the ride. After a few minutes, the man walked toward the coffee stand. Sheila now ran the Ferris wheel. Fearfully, Violet glanced at Jessie and Henry, who nodded in understanding. They had seen the man leave and Sheila take over, too.
Again they climbed higher and higher. At the top the Ferris wheel shuddered to a stop.
“I’m afraid to look down when we’re at the top,” Benny confessed. He hugged Jessie tight.
“I like to see everything!” Jessie said. “I can see Sheila below!” She put her arm reassuringly around Benny.
Their chair swayed back and forth.
“All the other passengers have gotten off,” Violet said, biting her underlip. “We’re the only ones on the Ferris wheel!”
“I know,” Jessie replied, her pulse racing.
“I don’t like this ride,” Benny said.
Henry placed his hand over Benny’s.
Sheila gazed up at them, her face twisted in a terrible smile.
Benny dared to peek over the side. “Sheila’s going to keep us up here forever and ever,” he whimpered in a frightened voice.
Henry tried to think of something he could do to make Sheila start the Ferris wheel again, but he couldn’t. Benny started to cry, but he tried very hard not to sob too loud. Tears filled Violet’s eyes, too, as she gazed at the ground that seemed so far away. |