Game Store Mystery Read Online Free PDF

the back room.
    Tony stopped at the front of the store and bought a pack of gum.
    Raina was on the phone when she rang up Tony’s gum. She had a very serious expression on her face. “Uh huh, I understand,” she said into the phone. “That’ll be sixty-five cents,” she told Tony.
    Tony handed Raina a dollar, and she put it in the cash register. “Yes, I’m still here,” she said into the receiver.
    Tony cleared his throat. “Uh, Raina? You forgot to give me my change.”
    Raina covered the phone again. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, her face turning red. “Hang on a second,” she told the person she was talking to on the phone. She punched in some buttons on the cash register and the drawer opened.
    “What do I owe you?” Raina asked.
    “Thirty five-cents,” Tony replied.
    Raina scooped up some coins and handed them to Tony. “Here you go.”
    “Thanks,” Tony said.
    Once he was gone, Raina turned back to her phone conversation. She listened for a while, then said, “Yes, I know. I know! Look, I don’t have the money now, but I can get it to you on Monday. Yes, Monday! I promise.” Then she slammed the phone down.
    “Is everything okay, Raina?” Jessie asked for the second time that day.
    Raina jumped. “What? Oh yes. Everything’s fine. I’m just a little behind on my rent. But I’ll have money on Monday. Everything will be fine.” She forced a smile, then hurried toward the back of the store.
    “It seems like Raina’s got some money problems,” Violet said once Raina was gone.
    “Yes, it does,” Jessie agreed. “But it sounds like everything will be okay next week.”
    “I thought Queenie said she paid on the first and third Fridays of the month,” Benny said.
    “Yes, I think she said that when she hired Raina,” Henry said.
    “Today is only the second Friday of the month,” Benny said, pointing to the calendar behind the cash register. “Queenie isn’t paying today. And this is Raina’s only job. So where is she going to get money on Monday?”
    “I don’t know,” Jessie said. “But Raina’s money problems really aren’t any of our business.”
    “You’re right, Jessie,” Violet said. And the children got back to work.

CHAPTER 5
Message on the Sign
    “How many words did you find, Benny?” Jessie asked on Sunday afternoon. A light rain was falling outside, so the Aldens were spending the day indoors. They were clustered around the kitchen table playing Word Master. The smell of baking cookies hung in the air.
    “I found seven words,” Benny said. “How many points is that?”
    “It depends on which letters you used.” Violet leaned over to count up Benny’s points. “It looks like 75 points. Did you find the message in the words?”
    “I don’t think so,” Benny said.
    “How many points did you get, Violet?” Jessie asked, her pencil ready.
    “I got 134 points,” Violet replied. “I didn’t find the message, either.”
    “I think I got the message,” Henry said. “Is it ‘good things come to those who wait?’”
    “Yes,” Jessie said.
    “Then I got 154 points,” Henry said.
    “I got 128,” Grandfather said.
    Jessie was still counting her points. “I’ve got 162,” she announced once she finished counting.
    “Wow!” Violet said.
    “Looks like you win again, Jessie,” Grandfather said as he sat back in his chair.
    The housekeeper, Mrs. McGregor, brought them a plate a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies. “You all look like you could use a snack,” she said as she set the plate in the middle of the table. “These just came out of the oven.”
    “Mm! That’s the best time to have chocolate-chip cookies,” Henry said, helping himself to two cookies.
    “I’ll go get the milk,” Benny said, hopping down from his chair.
    Violet went to get glasses and napkins. Then the Aldens slid back into their chairs and enjoyed their snack.
    “Can I have that cookie?” Benny asked as he eyed the last cookie on the plate.
    “Haven’t you