Candy Factory Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

said impatiently. “Since you and I worked together, Meg, I’m really not sure why you’re such a fussbudget about my being here. Remember, I did help you get this job. We’re supposed to be helping each other.”
    Meg noticed the Aldens standing nearby. For a change, she seemed relieved to see them. “Oh, I’m glad you’re all here. I have that broken machine part Mrs. Winkles called about,” she said. “This is Mr. Boxer. He’s my old boss from the shipping company where I used to work. He ships all our packages.”
    The man didn’t seem a bit interested in meeting the Aldens. He barely turned around from the file cabinet he was trying to open. “Humph,” was his way of saying hello. “It’s no use,” he muttered. “It’s locked.” With that, he brushed by the Aldens without another word.
    The children still didn’t feel comfortable around Meg. But now she looked so worried, they almost felt sorry for her.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Violet asked.
    â€œOh, nothing,” Meg said softly. She gathered up all the papers the man had scattered on Mrs. Winkles’s desk.
    â€œI bet Mrs. Winkles is a nicer boss than that man was,” Benny told Meg.
    â€œBenny,” Jessie whispered. “That’s not our business.”
    Meg started to say something else but stopped. Finally, she held out the broken machine part. “Here it is. Don’t forget to tell them that we need it fixed as soon as possible. I’ll see you later.”
    When the children turned to leave, Tom appeared in front of them as if he had come out of nowhere.
    â€œTom!” Jessie said. “We were waiting for you to come back.”
    Tom looked away from the Aldens. “What do you mean, come back? I just got here.”
    Jessie scrunched her eyebrows. What did Tom mean by that? “Weren’t you here really early this morning? We saw you in the parking lot. We all waved down at you.”
    Tom waited a long time before speaking. “Wasn’t me. You must have seen someone else. I was home all morning.”
    Now Henry was confused, too. “But I called you there. Your answering machine was on.”
    â€œI must have been in the shower,” Tom said.
    â€œGuess what,” Soo Lee said, looking up at Tom. “Mrs. Winkles’s chick machine broke. We’re getting it fixed.”
    Now it was Tom’s turn to look startled. “That’s why I came by. Mrs. Winkles also left a message on my machine. I’m the one who goes to the toolmaker’s to make sure he does the job right. It’s not an errand for kids.”
    Jessie looked up at Tom. “Mrs. Winkles told us to go,” she said in a firm voice. “We just talked to her. See you later.” Jessie led the children out before Tom could say another word.
    The Aldens didn’t have to go far to find the tool repair shop. It was just a few blocks away.
    Jessie looked down at the scrap of paper with the toolmaker’s address on it. “There’s the place— All-Tool Casting . Let’s see if they can help us.”
    The children entered the small shop, which was filled with all kinds of metal parts.
    A man in blue overalls came out to greet the Aldens. “May I help you?”
    Jessie put the broken machine part on the counter. “We’re from the Winkles Candy Factory. Mrs. Winkles asked us to get this fixed.”
    â€œHer candy chick machine broke again,” Soo Lee told the man.
    â€œThat sounds like an emergency,” the man said with a friendly twinkle in his eye.
    â€œIt is an emergency!” Benny said. “A candy emergency. But Mrs. Winkles said you fixed it before when Tom came here. Now it’s broken again.”
    â€œBefore?” the man asked in a puzzled voice. “I haven’t worked on this broken part before.”
    Now it was the Aldens’ turn to be confused.
    â€œAre you