Wilma Tenderfoot: The Case of the Fatal Phantom Read Online Free PDF Page A

very long time ago. This might turn out to be a case that cannot be investigated. Or no case at all, for that matter.”
    Wilma screwed her mouth sideways. She hoped it was a case. She hoped that more than anything. Jumping out of the trailer, she helped Pickle down from his seat. He was in something of a grump and had a large bandage on the end of his nose after the unfortunate Bracklingincident from the previous evening. The bandage was pink and sparkly and had a picture of a cat on it. Pickle just hoped none of the big dogs from Coop would see it.
    Standing waiting for them at the top of the front flight of stone steps was a tall man with hunched shoulders in a black morning suit. His jaw looked far too long for his face, and his eyes drooped at the corners. “That must be the butler,” whispered Wilma, giving Pickle a nudge with her foot. “My textbook says butlers are generally not to be trusted. Apparently they’ve always got secrets.” Pickle sniffed.
    “Mr. Goodman?” said the man, with a small bow, as Theodore strode up the steps. “Master has been expecting you. No doubt you have heard of the unfortunate discovery in the bottom field? We would have had the body taken to the island laboratory in normal circumstances, but with the snow, I felt it best to keep it in the library. It’s been quite an inconvenience. I’d been hoping to plant my award-winning peas. As well as being the butler, I’m also in charge of the Hoo vegetablepatch. But that’s by the by. If you would like to follow me, I can take you to the body immediately.”
    “Thank you,” replied Theodore, giving the magnifying glass hanging on a chain from his waistcoat pocket a twiddle. “Perhaps you could ask all the family to meet me there. And household staff too, please. I may have some questions.”
    The butler’s dark-ringed eyes stared at the great detective without responding. Wilma gave Pickle another nudge. “Classic suspish,” she whispered again. “Not reacting instantly to basic requests. My book calls that a ‘physical tell.’ It’s when your body accidentally gives away secrets that reveal what you’re
really
thinking. It’s quite technical and a bit advanced for me. I’m not supposed to read that chapter till next year.”
    “Wilma,” said Theodore, “you may think you are whispering, but I can hear every word you are saying. What did I tell you about pointless speculating?”
    Wilma gulped.
    “Precisely. Now then, shall we have a look at this mysterious body?”
    “Yes, Mr. Goodman,” answered the butler, before glancing at Wilma. “Quick enough for you?”
    Wilma mustered a weak smile and cleared her throat. This wasn’t quite the impressive start to the new case she’d been hoping for.
    Despite the early hour, the interior of the house was dark and filled with shadows. The library was on the first floor, to the left of the main staircase at the end of a long, narrow corridor. The walls in the hallway were covered with dusty paintings of large and impressive pigs. “Told you so,” noted Inspector Lemone, pointing. “Actually
invented
the pig. Remarkable, don’t you think?”
    As Wilma walked, she couldn’t help but be impressed by the grandeur of the place, but she also noticed how shabby everything looked. The rugs were a little threadbare, the statues a little chipped and grubby. Even the butler’s morning suit, she realized, had frayed trouser ends and cuffs.
    “The body is in here,” murmured the butler, his hand resting on a dull brass doorknob set ina large oak door. “I should warn you, it is rather alarmingly illuminated. One of our gas lamps is burning a little bright.”
    He twisted the knob and with a groan, the heavy door into the library opened. “Ooooh!” cried Inspector Lemone. Wilma, who couldn’t quite see from behind the inspector’s bulk, pushed around him. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she saw what sat before her. Leaning against a high-backed velvet chair, its