Game Store Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

lip. “Well, I wrote down a special order a little while ago, but I don’t know what I did with the paper,” she replied.
    “I’m sure it’ll turn up,” Violet said.
    As the children headed toward the Kids’ Korner, they noticed Carter and Tony Silver sitting together at a table. A game of Word Master was spread out between them.
    “Hey, Carter is supposed to be an expert at word games,” Henry said. “I wonder if he would see any pattern to the letters that have been taken from the sign? That’s kind of how you play Word Master.”
    Jessie shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask him.”
    She pulled out her pad of paper and the children walked over to Carter and Tony.
    The two men were in the middle of a conversation about the security of different kinds of safes.
    “It’s got to be solid steel construction,” Carter said. “It’s got to have three-quarter-inch diameter steel chromed locking bolts and reinforced internal jambs. Anything less shouldn’t even be on the market.”
    “I agree,” Tony said. “How do you know so much about safes, Carter?”
    “Oh, my father was a safe manufacturer,” Carter said. “You could say it’s in my blood.” He smiled, but when he noticed the Aldens standing beside him, his smile fell.
    “Sorry to bother you, Carter,” Jessie said. “But you know someone has been taking letters from that sign out front, right?”
    “Yes,” Carter said impatiently. “What about it?”
    “Well, we wrote down the letters that have gone missing. We know how good you are at word games, and we were wondering whether you might notice any pattern to these letters?”
    Jessie held out the notebook for Carter to see, but he hardly looked at it. “I’m sure there’s no pattern to those letters,” he said gruffly. “The missing letters will probably turn up eventually.” He brushed the notebook aside and turned back to the game in front of him.
    “Would you please just take a quick look?” Benny begged.
    Carter scowled. “Fine.” He picked up Jessie’s notebook and glanced at it. “Sorry. I don’t see anything. Now would you please let me get back to my game?”
    “Sure,” Jessie said. “We’re sorry we bothered you.”
    The Aldens left Carter and Tony and went to look for Queenie. They found her in the back room mixing paint.
    “Oh good. You’re here,” Queenie said when she noticed them standing there. “I put some old sheets down where you’re going to be painting. And I got a bunch of brushes and all the paint colors you asked for. So I think we’re set.”
    “Good,” Violet said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
    The older children each carried some paint. Benny carried the brushes. And Queenie followed behind with a six-pack of sodas. “In case you get thirsty,” she said.
    Once Queenie was sure the Aldens had everything they needed, she went up to the cash register to check on Raina.
    “Did you ever find that special order, Raina?” Queenie asked.
    Raina held up a scrap of paper. “Right here,” she said with a smile. “I’ve already taken care of it.”
    “Good.” Queenie nodded. “Then if you don’t need me out here, I’ve got some paperwork to do in the back.”
    “That’s fine,” Raina said.
    “We’ll let you know if we need anything,” Jessie said as she dipped her brush into a can of blue paint.
    The Aldens spent the next hour painting. Benny painted triangle-shaped skirts on the girls and square-shaped pants and shirts on the boys. Jessie painted faces. Henry painted hair. And Violet outlined everything in black. Her picture was really coming to life.
    “That’s looking really nice, kids,” Tony said when he and Carter finished their game.
    “Yes, you’re doing a nice job,” Carter agreed.
    “Thanks,” Violet said, pleased to receive praise from Carter. He never seemed very friendly around them.
    “Thanks for a good game, Carter,” Tony said.
    “My pleasure,” Carter replied. Then he went to join Queenie in