Kelsey the Spy Read Online Free PDF Page A

actor. Dad was devastated to lose his clock, but Mom couldn’t stop smiling. And there’s never been any more talk of divorce.”
    â€œSo your sister hid the clock in our shack?” Becca asks.
    â€œApparently,” Reggie answers with a shrug. “I think a friend helped her, probably someone who lived near your sanctuary.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a sanctuary that long ago—just a farmhouse owned by a family with lots of kids,” Becca adds. “One of the kids must have known your sister. You could ask her.”
    â€œEv is too tight-lipped to admit anything,” Reggie says. “But since you found the clock in your shack and this photo of Granddad, I’m sure that’s what happened.”
    â€œOur clock mystery is solved,” I say excitedly.
    â€œSolved for me too,” Reggie says, setting down his mug. “Do you mind if I keep the photo?”
    â€œOf course not.” Becca smiles. “It’s yours.”
    â€œThank you.” He rubs his finger gently over the photo. “I thought I’d never know what happened to the old clock, but now I do. You’re quite resourceful kids.”
    â€œLeo figured out where you lived.” Becca lifts her hand to Leo for a high five. “Way to go, Leo.”
    But Leo ignores Becca’s raised hand. His shoulders slump as he turns to Reggie. “The clock belongs to you. I guess you’ll want it back.”
    â€œAfter all your hard work to fix the old thing?” Reggie shakes his head firmly. “Not a chance. It’s yours now.”
    â€œBut it’s a valuable antique and part of your family traditions,” Leo points out. “Your father will want it.”
    â€œHe well might, but Mum would kill him if he tried to get it back.” Reggie pats Leo on the shoulder. “I’m all for family traditions. But sometimes a tradition is like playing the same tune over and over. After a while you hate the song so it’s time for a new one. I don’t want or need the clock. Keep it—but my parents must never find out. I’d rather they stay happily married.”
    â€œWe won’t divulge your secret,” Leo says with a widening smile.
    Becca stands from the bench. “We shouldn’t take any more of your time. Thanks so much for the root beer floats and sharing your story. Come visit anytime at Wild Oaks Sanctuary and you can talk to Mom about volunteering.”
    â€œI’d love that.” He flashes a pearly grin. “But before you go, there’s something I want to show you.”
    Becca, Leo, and I exchange curious glances, then follow Reggie into his backyard. He courteously opens the gate for us. We enter a spacious yard with a covered patio attached to the house and a large fenced-off area in the back around a sturdy shed. There’s an odd smell to the air that reminds of me the bird pond in Wild Oaks Sanctuary.
    â€œThis way,” Reggie says as he goes to the back gate and unlatches it. “Watch where you step. It could be muddy.”
    â€œDo you raise birds?” Becca sniffs and looks around curiously.
    â€œNo.” He shakes his head, his smile bright with mystery.
    The gate bangs behind us as we enter an enclosure with a shallow pond and a muddy island and wild grass. In the center of the island is a large, dark rock.
    The “rock” moves and a long, rubbery neck peeks out of a domed shell.
    â€œMeet Albert.” Reggie makes a sweeping gesture with his hand. “My granddad’s giant Aldabra tortoise.”

- Chapter 5 -
    Albert
    I thought Albert looked big in the photo, but he’s even bigger up close.
    â€œHe’s like a dinosaur.” Becca carefully avoids mud puddles as she walks to the edge of the small pond.
    â€œTortoises and turtles are the longest living reptiles,” Leo spouts off. “They’ve been around for over 250 million years.”
    Reggie nods. “Many tortoise