Old Motel Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

gone for a couple of days.”
    â€œ ’Bye, Catherine,” Violet said. “Thanks for taking the time to tell us about the Seminoles.”
    â€œI was glad to,” Catherine said with a sweet smile.
    Violet watched Catherine’s car leave. Catherine was such a lovely girl. She certainly couldn’t be guilty of doing anything bad.
    â€œDo you think Catherine would introduce me to Lacota?” Benny asked.
    Violet shook her head. “I doubt it, Benny. The Native Americans are friends with Catherine, but they might not like a stranger coming into their homes.”
    Disappointed, Benny said only one word. “Oh.”
    â€œAre you hungry?” Violet asked, standing.
    â€œBreakfast!” Benny said. “I almost forgot.”
    â€œCome on, then, let’s give Jessie a hand.” Violet and Benny dashed back to their unit.
    When they arrived, they found Jessie mixing pancake batter, and Henry, who had returned from Kay’s, broiling sausages.
    â€œJust in time to eat,” Henry said, dishing up the sausages. “Sit down, Benny.”
    Violet set the syrup and butter on the table and poured the milk while Jessie placed a steaming stack of pancakes before Benny.
    â€œHow did Kay take the news about the oranges?” Violet asked.
    Henry helped himself to several sausages and passed them to Jessie. “Kay wasn’t happy about it, but she’s determined to go ahead with redoing the motel.”
    â€œGood,” Violet said, breathing a sigh of relief.
    â€œAunt Jane is going into Lyndale this morning with Kay. They’re stopping at the bank where Kay plans to ask for a loan,” Henry added.
    â€œI hope she gets it,” Jessie said.
    â€œI hope so, too,” Henry replied. “After they go to the bank, Aunt Jane and Kay are staying in town for shopping and lunch.”
    â€œGood for them,” Violet said.
    â€œW-e-ll,” Jessie said, drawing out the word and smiling slyly. “Kay did say the bedspreads and drapes will arrive today and if we wanted to—”
    â€œIf we wanted to!” Violet said eagerly. “Of course we want to!”
    â€œWant to what?” Benny said, licking his fork for the last drop of syrup.
    Violet’s brown eyes twinkled. “Want to unpack the bedspread and drapes and fix up each room.”
    â€œYes!” Benny said. “We’ll have a big surprise for Aunt Jane and Kay.”
    â€œWe sure will,” Henry said with a chuckle. “Kay said we all needed a break and that we should loaf today and go biking and swimming.”
    â€œWe can do that and put on the spreads, too,” Jessie said, clearing her plate and glass. She smiled at Benny.

CHAPTER 7
    Glittering Yellow Eyes
    T he Aldens made up the beds with the brightly flowered bedspreads. Then they unpacked the matching drapes and in the afternoon, using the master key that Kay had given Jessie, hung them in Millicent’s and Catherine’s units. Neither was home so it was easy to work in their rooms.
    While stripping off the pillows in Catherine’s room, Jessie brushed her arm against a book on the end table. The book clattered to the floor and a map fell out. She glanced at the map, noticing it was of the area. She was about to slip it back in the pages, when she glimpsed a red marking. “Look, Henry,” she said in a puzzled tone. “This map has Kay’s motel circled in red.” She stopped. “And Adventure Hotel is circled, too!”
    â€œThat is strange,” he said. “But put it back. It probably doesn’t mean anything.”
    Jessie wasn’t as sure as Henry that it didn’t mean anything.
    â€œWon’t Catherine and Millicent be surprised when they return?” Violet asked.
    Jessie nodded, replacing the map and saying nothing.
    After lunch, they decorated their own rooms. Henry stood on a ladder, pulling the lovely lavender drape across the rod, while Jessie and