Mystery in the Fortune Cookie Read Online Free PDF Page A

a T-shirt with ‘World’s Greatest Grandfather’ on it?”
    When the waitress arrived, Henry ordered a toasted cheese sandwich and a cola. Jessie had a chicken sandwich, cole slaw, and milk. Violet chose tuna on a bun and lemonade. And Benny ordered a hamburger, fries, and chocolate milk. The waitress wrote down their orders and hurried away.
    While they waited for their food, the Aldens turned their attention back to the mystery. “Isn’t it funny?” Jessie remarked. “The clues seemed to fit so many places.”
    Nodding, Henry started adding everything up on his fingers. “First, there was the Rainbow’s End Jewelry Store, then Albert’s Fruit and Vegetable Cellar, and finally the Big Top T-Shirt Shop.”
    “That seems weird,” said Violet.
    Henry shrugged. “It’s amazing what you can talk yourself into.”
    “What do you mean, Henry?” Benny wanted to know.
    “Well ... ” Henry hesitated. “It turns out the clues weren’t really leading us to any of those places,” he pointed out. “Maybe we just made the clues fit because ... ” He paused for a moment to sort out his thoughts. “Well, because we wanted to believe there was a real mystery to solve.”
    The corners of Benny’s mouth turned down. “You mean this isn’t a real mystery?” He looked crushed.
    There was a long silence. In a quiet voice, Henry finally answered Benny’s question. “It’s beginning to look that way.”
    Violet bit her lip. “I really don’t know what to believe.”
    “I don’t, either,” put in Jessie. “But I guess it’s possible we got all worked up about nothing. Maybe Martin was right after all. Maybe the fortune was just some prank.”
    Benny didn’t look very happy to hear that. The enthusiasm seemed to drain out of him.
    No one said anything for a while. There was nothing to say. If the fortune was just a prank, then there wasn’t a mystery to solve.
    As the waitress brought their food, Benny spoke up. “We can’t just do nothing , can we?” he protested.
    Violet felt her brother’s disappointment. “Maybe we should check out a few more stores.”
    “Okay, Benny,” Henry said. “We’ll go to all the stores.”
    “We promise,” added Jessie.
    Benny felt more cheerful after hearing this. “Maybe we can check out the ice cream parlor next,” Benny suggested, with a grin on his face. He dipped a french fry into ketchup. “And while we’re there, we can get — ”
    “Ice-cream cones for dessert!” finished Violet, who couldn’t help laughing.
    Jessie swallowed a bite of her sandwich. “Are you sure you’ll have room for dessert, Benny, after a hamburger and so many fries?” She smiled as she waited for her younger brother’s answer, even though she knew what it would be.
    “I always have room for ice cream!” said Benny, who loved desserts. He turned to his brother. “Do we have enough money for ice cream, Henry?”
    But Henry didn’t seem to hear Benny. He had spotted someone sitting at a nearby booth. It was Martin! He was sipping coffee and talking on a cell phone.
    “Of course I’m not getting cold feet!” Martin said into the phone, sounding annoyed. “I’m telling you, there was nothing I could do. It all happened too fast.”
    Henry put his finger to his lips. “Don’t look now,” he whispered to the others, “but Martin is here.”
    One by one, the other Aldens peeked over to take a look. “You’re right, Henry,” Jessie said, trying not to stare.
    Violet turned around slowly to take another glance. “I wonder why he looks upset,” she said in a hushed voice.
    The children didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But from where they were sitting, they couldn’t help overhearing bits and pieces of the phone conversation.
    “Don’t forget, you’re dealing with Drum Keller.” Martin was talking loudly now. “Even a hint of something fishy going on and it’ll ruin everything!”
    Jessie held a forkful of coleslaw in midair. “Did ... did he just say something fishy was