The Secret Zoo Read Online Free PDF Page A

of food. It landed on the table with a splat .
    â€œWhoa!” Ella said. She reached across the table and touched his arm, looking concerned.
    Richie said, “Sorry, Noah. I was only joking.”
    â€œIt’s okay. It’s just that…”
    â€œJust that what?” Ella asked.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œC’mon! How long have we been friends?” she said.
    Noah didn’t know why, but he was finding it difficult to tell them about the zoo. He reminded himself that he trusted his friends more than anyone else in the world.
    He gathered his courage and blurted out, “It’s Megan!”
    Ella and Richie turned serious. There was no joking between them when the subject was Megan.
    â€œWhat is it?” Ella asked.
    â€œI—” He stopped and stared into space.
    â€œNoah,” Ella said, “you can tell us anything.”
    Knowing that this was true—that these two were the best friends anyone could ever hope for—Noah let his eyes meet Ella’s and said, “The animals at the zoo…I think…no…I know they have something to do with Megan’s disappearance.”
    Ella’s jaw fell. Richie dropped a piece of the unidentified meat. For a moment, the three of them sat and stared at one another, not knowing what to say next. Then Noahglanced over both shoulders to make sure no one was watching them.
    â€œLook at this,” he said. “I have to show you something.”
    He thrust his hand into his pocket to find Megan’s notes.

CHAPTER 7
B LIZZARD C ONDITIONS
    T hat afternoon, Noah met Ella and Richie inside the zoo entrance, beside the water fountain. The weather was unusually cold for October. Ella wore fluffy pink earmuffs that looked like big globs of cotton candy stuck to her ears. Richie wore his favorite winter hat, a stocking cap with a ribbed cuff and a large red pom-pom on top. The pom-pom shook whenever Richie moved.
    â€œYou guys ready for this?” Noah asked.
    Ella winked and smiled at Noah. Richie nodded his head—and his pom-pom.
    Ella said, “Let’s check out that note again—the one the birds gave you.”
    They found a private spot beneath a tree. Noah opened the crumpled paper, and the three children focused on the page. The writing started in the middle of a sentence and the middle of a thought, as it did on the note that Mr. Tall Tail had given him.
    too much going on, too much I don’t understand. I’m sooo confused! I’ve been investigating the underwater tunnel at the Polar Pool in Arctic Town. The lady who works there always watches me as if she suspects something. It’s creepy! She always asks if I’m with my parents, and I just say yes.
    Ella turned to Noah and asked, “Did you know she was coming here?”
    â€œNunh-unh!”
    â€œThose piano lessons she was taking with Ms. Courtney—you know, the ones over the summer—I bet if we check into that—” Ella stopped herself, realizing that she was about to call Megan a liar.
    Noah finished her thought, saying, “I bet she can’t even play ‘Chopsticks.’”
    They exchanged a knowing look and turned their attention back to Megan’s note.
    Anyway, I need to get home. Noah’s probably home already, and I’m supposed to be there. I’ll tell him and the other scouts about this soon. But right now, they’d probably think I’m crazy.
    All for now.
    Megan
    P.S. Almost forgot! I have to remember to watch the polar bears when the zoo starts to close. They get real active. It’s best to watch them from the glass tunnel—especially around the Polar Pool’s curves and corners. I know I saw light coming
    The writing ended. Noah turned the paper over. The second side was too smeared to read anything except a few lines:
    only has two polar bears, Frosty and Blizzard. But if I saw what I think I saw, this whole thing is getting really weird.
    For a second I