The Old Motel Mystery

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  The Lights Go Out

  The four Aldens watched the yellow eyes, too scared to move. Closer and closer they came.

  All at once Benny began to laugh. “It’s Willie,” he hooted gleefully.

  Henry held the flashlight steady, and sure enough, as the cat crept to the edge of the roof, they could see Willie’s furry form.

  With a meow, Willie leapt to a tree limb and scampered away up to Kay’s house.

  “Whew!” Henry said. “Am I glad the prowler turned out to be Willie!”

  “But I saw a person in my window,” Violet protested.

  “You must be mistaken,” Jessie said quietly as she opened the door of their motel. “You may have imagined a shadow, Violet, but it was only a cat.”

  “No,” Violet murmured. “I know it was a person!”

  But either they didn’t hear Violet’s words or they didn’t believe her. Everyone went to bed, relieved it had been only Willie.

  With a sigh, Violet snuggled beneath the covers and tried to sleep. It was a long time, however, before she dreamed of shadows and faces at the window.

  In the morning after a breakfast of orange juice, Shredded Wheat with sliced bananas, and toast, they sat awhile and discussed Kay’s motel.

  “You know,” Jessie said, resting her folded hands on the table, “Millicent is always buzzing in and out and asking questions.”

  “I know,” Violet answered. “What do you suppose she’s up to?”

  “Nothing!” Benny protested. “Millicent brings us good things to eat.”

  “You’re right, Benny,” Jessie agreed. “I’m a little suspicious of Catherine. Remember how she wanted us to stop picking oranges?”

  “She asks questions, too,” Violet responded.

  “I don’t know,” Henry said, his dark eyes serious. “It could be Rolf. Did you hear him say he thinks Kay should sell.”

  “That’s right,” Jessie said.

  “I think he likes Kay,” Benny said.

  “I agree, Benny,” Violet said. “I’ve seen Rolf’s eyes light up when he looks at her.”

  “Millicent isn’t the one,” Benny said, nodding his head. “And Catherine isn’t either. Rolf couldn’t be. They’re all too nice.”

  “What if it’s just a prowler?” Jessie asked. “Maybe it’s no one we know.”

  Henry shook his head doubtfully. “Someone’s after Kay and her motel, and I’ll bet it’s someone we know.”

  “Enough guessing,” Jessie said, standing. “Let’s help Kay get the motel ready for the bank inspector.”

  “Yes,” Violet agreed. “Let’s go up to Kay’s house.”

  The Aldens, wearing jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers, went outside. They were upset at how dark and gloomy the day had become. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

  “Isn’t it too bad the sun isn’t shining?” Violet said.

  Jessie nodded. “Yes. The motel is so much prettier in the bright sunshine.”

  Violet said, “Let’s turn on the lamps in each unit.”

  “Good idea, Violet,” Jessie said. “I still have the key Kay gave us when the bedspreads arrived.”

  Benny looked up at the sky. “Look how dark it is, and how fast the clouds are flying!”

  “Yes, I’m afraid it’s going to pour any minute,” Henry said.

  “No matter,” Jessie said, smiling. “We’ll make each motel room bright and cheery with lots of light.”

  They began at Catherine’s unit since she wasn’t home. Benny flipped on the switch. Frowning, he muttered, “Where’s the light?”

  Henry chuckled. “Did you see if the cord is plugged into the outlet?”

  Benny followed the cord to the outlet, and wiggled it back and forth. “It’s plugged in!” he said. “I tested it!”

  “Hmmmm,” Jessie said. “Let’s see if the bulb is screwed tightly into the socket.” She twisted the bulb and it was tight.

  Violet tried the bathroom light. Nothing!

  Henry said in a worried voice, “Let’s see if the lights are off in the other units.”

  Sure enough, there were no lights.

  Millicent Fair came out of her unit. “My lights won’t work,” she complained. “I’m not staying here! I’ve called a cab, and I’m going to the Adventure Hotel for breakfast!”

  “Millicent!” Benny said. “Somebody fixed the lights so they wouldn’t light.”

  Millicent stared with wide eyes at Benny. “Why, that’s terrible,” she said, grabbing her purse. “You know what I think?” She leaned forward and whispered, “I think this place is jinxed!”

  Soon a yellow taxi pulled up to Millicent’s unit and she hurried in. She shut the door with a bang, not once looking back at the children.

  Jessie’s forehead wrinkled. “What if new tourists who rent Kay’s units find out what’s been happening?”

  Violet bit her lip. “They won’t stay here.”

  “It’s jinxed!” Benny yelled. “Millicent said so.”

  “No, Benny,” Henry said firmly. “The motel is not jinxed! That’s why we’ve got to get to the bottom of who’s doing these things!”

  Just then a car door slammed. Violet glanced toward Kay’s house. A blue car with the words BANK OF LYNDALE was parked in front.

  “The inspector is here,” Violet said in a low sad voice. “He won’t be able to see how pretty the motel really is.”

  “If only the sun could have shone like yesterday,” Jessie said. “The place looks lovely in the sun.”

  “Here he comes,” Henry warned.

  Kay and the inspector walked down the hill. Kay gestured with her hands as she eagerly talked to the tall skinny man at her side. The bank inspector, dressed in a black suit and carrying a black umbrella, pressed his lips together in a thin line.

  “Oh, oh,” Benny said. “He won’t like it ’cause it looks like he doesn’t like anything. Besides, it’s so dark he can’t see the motel very well!”

  “I think he’ll be able to see enough,” Jessie said encouragingly. But in her heart she wondered. They could have made the motel look so cozy and bright in the lamplight. Who turned off the lights? She was certain it was no accident.

  Lightning zigzagged across the black sky, and a crack of thunder boomed. The Aldens hurried inside where they sat huddled around a table, waiting for the inspector.

  Jessie rose and found two candles, then she quietly sat down again. Poor Kay, she thought. She has the worst luck in the world. If she didn’t get the loan, the roof wouldn’t be repaired, and all the other things she wanted to fix would go undone. She would have to sell.

  CHAPTER 9

  Mr. Smiley

  In the flickering candlelight the Aldens sat quietly at the table. The bank inspector would be there any minute. The thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed,

  It wasn’t long before the pinch-faced man and Kay entered their room. Kay introduced them to Mr. Smiley. But he didn’t look very smiley, Benny thought. He looked more scowly. Mr. Smiley barely nodded as he snooped around the motel. He sniffed as he poked at a bed with his umbrella.

  Kay winked at the children as Mr. Smiley walked into the kitchen. Henry gave Kay a thumbs-up sign. They heard the faucet run and the gas stove turn on.

  Mr. Smiley came into the room and said, “I’ve seen enough, Mrs. Kingsley, to make an honest assessment.” Glancing at the children, he again nodded coldly. Holding the door open for Kay, Mr. Smiley followed her out of the room.

  Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew,” she said. “I’m glad that’s over!”

  “Do you think Kay will get the loan?” Violet asked quietly.

  “He looked too fussy to me,” Benny said, lifting his nose in the air, pretending to be Mr. Smiley.

  Suddenly, the rain came down in torrents. Henry rushed for a pot to place under the leak above where Benny’s bed used to be.

  Jessie took down a game from the closet shelf. “This is a good day to play Monopoly,” she said.

  “Yes, it is,” agree
d Violet. “Isn’t it nice that Kay has all kinds of games and cards for tourists to check out?”

  They played Monopoly for over an hour.

  “The rain has stopped,” Jessie said.

  Henry opened the door and drops of water fell from the roof. The dark sky, however, had changed to a light gray, and in the east was a rosy-pink streak, which meant the sun might shine after all.

  “Let’s go for a bike ride,” Benny said eagerly, pushing the board away. “Violet won.”

  “Okay, Benny,” Violet answered. “We can stop at the store and buy bread.”

  They all helped to put the game back neatly.

  Henry went outside and glanced up at Kay’s house. Mr. Smiley’s car was gone. Coming back in, he said, “Let’s swing around by Kay’s and see if she was given the bank loan.”

  “Oh, yes,” Jessie said, holding up two crossed fingers for luck. “I hope.”

  “And let’s call Grandfather,” Benny said.

  “Oh, good, Benny,” Violet said. “We will.”

  Wheeling out the bikes from the nearby shed, they pedaled single file up the narrow path to Kay’s house.

  Kay and Aunt Jane were picking roses that grew near the house. The pink blossoms glistened with raindrops.

  Aunt Jane turned and smiled. “Hi, children. Did you sleep well last night?”

  “After Willie jumped off the roof,” Henry said, straddling his bike, “we were fine.”

  Kay laughed. “My cat likes to roam at night.”

  “Does he ever!” Jessie said. “Willie’s yellow eyes gave us quite a scare.”

  “We were wondering what Mr. Smiley had to say,” Violet asked shyly.

  Kay said in a deep voice like Mr. Smiley’s, “ ‘After much thought, I will recommend that you be granted a loan.’ ”

  “Hurrah!” Benny yelled. Jessie laughed in delight at Kay’s imitation.

  Now Kay’s voice was lighthearted. “I’ve already phoned Rolf, and he’s in Lyndale right now buying shingles to patch the roof. He’s also bringing fuses. He thinks someone stole the fuses from the fuse box and that’s what made the lights go out.”

  “Good!” Benny said. “Now we can see, but who did it?”

  “I wish we knew,” Kay said. “Too many things are happening!”

  “Whoever it is, the person will be caught,” Violet said, trying to reassure Kay.

  “When Rolf fixes the roof, no more rain will drip on my face,” Benny said, his face brightening.

  Kay chuckled. “That’s right, Benny. No more leaks in the roof.”

  “May we call Grandfather?” Jessie asked.

  “Please,” Kay answered, gesturing to the phone on the desk.

  Jessie dialed the number and told Grandfather Alden what a good time they were having. Violet said hello and didn’t mention any of the mysterious goings on, for fear that he’d worry. Benny eagerly told him about the orange trees and the swimming pool.

  After each Alden had talked to Mr. Alden, Henry went over to Kay. “Could we bring you anything?” he offered. “We’re biking to the store.”

  Kay glanced at Jane, who shook her head. “I don’t think we need a thing, but thanks,” Kay said.

  Cheerfully waving good-bye, the children biked down the muddy lane.

  At the store, Jessie bought a loaf of bread. That errand over, they biked to the edge of Lyndale and back.

  When they returned, Kay called to them, “Rolf is back with the shingles and has already replaced the missing fuses. He needs a little help with the shingles.”

  Benny shouted. “I’ll help.”

  “And so will I,” Henry volunteered.

  “Wonderful,” Kay said. “I think he just needs someone to hand him the shingles.”

  “What can we do?” Violet asked.

  Kay smiled. “See all these geraniums? They need potting. I have window boxes stored in the bike shed.”

  “Oh, what fun,” Jessie said. “We’ll plant the flowers in the boxes and put them on the windowsills of each motel unit.”

  “Right,” Kay said.

  “Won’t the red flowers be pretty against the white motel?” Violet said.

  “I thought so,” Kay said. “If you’ll do that, Jane and I have a sewing project. You know the small round table by each bed. We’re going to make tablecloths to cover each one in all the units.”

  “Aunt Jane is a beautiful seamstress,” Violet said.

  Kay chuckled. “I know. She’s already hemmed a skirt for me.”

  Rolf climbed the hill. “Hi, kids,” he called. “It’s good to see the sun again, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Benny said, looking up at the big man. “Henry and I will help you with the shingles!”

  “Then let’s get started,” Rolf said. “My Jeep is parked below, filled with shingles. Come on, kids.” He hoisted Benny up on his shoulders.

  “I’m a roofer today,” Rolf said with a grin, setting Benny on the ground. Rolf wore a cap, jeans, and a navy shirt and looked quite handsome. “Do you want to bring me a bundle of shingles from the Jeep, Henry, while I get the ladder?”

  “Sure thing,” Henry said, eager to start.

  The girls hauled out eight window boxes and filled them with potting soil from the bags that were lined up against the shed. Then they took the crimson geraniums and planted the first window box.

  Rolf placed the ladder against the motel.

  Benny shaded his eyes as Rolf climbed halfway up the ladder. “Will you stop the rain from dripping in my eyes?”

  “I’m going to patch that very spot,” Rolf promised.

  Shingles were stacked high in the back of the jeep.

  Henry reached in for a stack but quickly pulled his hand away. Puzzled, he stared at his sticky fingers.

  Benny, coming up behind Henry, also tried to lift a shingle, but it was stuck fast.

  “Ugh!” Benny said, wiping a thick black substance on the grass. “It won’t come off,” he wailed. “What is it, Henry?”

  “I think it’s tar,” Henry said.

  The shingles were ruined. Someone had poured tar all over them.

  CHAPTER 10

  Running Water

  “Rolf!” Henry shouted. “Look at this!”

  Rolf stepped off the ladder and walked over to Henry. “What is it?” Then he saw the black tar oozing over the new shingles. “For Pete’s sake,” he muttered, planting his hands on his hips and shaking his head “Who did this?”

  “I wish I knew.” Henry looked at Rolf with a stricken expression. Rolf seemed very calm. To Henry, Rolf didn’t seem upset, nearly enough.

  Benny’s chin stuck out and he said in a loud voice. “I wish we could find this mean person!” He shook his fist in the air. “I’d like to give him a punch!”

  Henry’s hand dropped on Benny’s shoulder. “I know, Benny. But don’t worry, we’ll find out who’s behind this!”

  “I’ll just have to haul the whole mess to the dump,” said Rolf.

  Violet and Jessie hurried over to see what all the fuss was about. Jessie stared at the ruined shingles. “Well, this tops it,” she said angrily. “I think Kay should hire a detective!”

  Thoughtfully, Rolf smoothed his mustache. “Let’s not be too hasty about hiring a detective. We’ll talk to Kay first.”

  Henry gave Rolf a sideways glance. Was Rolf afraid of a detective? He was always at the scene of trouble, and he knew Kay’s motel like his own place. He was able to replace the fuses in a flash, knowing just which ones controlled which units.

  “Come on, Henry and Benny. Let’s go up to Kay’s,” Rolf said.

  All at once Millicent and Catherine appeared.

  “We heard the commotion,” Catherine said, “and came out to take a look. Who spoiled the shingles?”

  Jessie shrugged. “The same person who’s upset Kay’s plans for the motel.” Jessie was surprised to see Catherine. She thought she was with the Seminoles. You never knew where Catherine was. When you believed she was out in the Evergl
ades, she was there at the motel. Hastily Jessie returned to her planting, afraid Catherine might see the doubt in her face.

  “Oh, dear, oh, dear,” Millicent said, placing a palm against her round cheek. “I’m astonished Kay would stay here after this! She’s had one problem after another.”

  “Kay is a fighter,” Violet said quietly. “Maybe she’ll hire a detective to find out who’s doing these things.”

  Millicent’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, I wouldn’t think that would be necessary,” she said. “Maybe the tar spill was an accident.”

  Jessie stopped patting dirt around a red geranium to stare at Millicent. Was she serious? What a weird thing to say. Perhaps Millicent was the guilty one. Jessie hid a smile. It was hard to imagine that Millicent knew how to turn off the water and lights.

  “I just don’t know,” Millicent said. “I’ve just retired and want a little relaxation and”—she waved a plump hand in the air—“all these things happen. I said it before and I’ll say it again—Kay’s motel is jinxed.”

  Jessie stood up and said as calmly as possible, “I don’t think so, Millicent. Whoever the prowler is, he’s as much alive as you and I.”

  “Well,” Millicent announced, “I’m only staying until the end of the week. All this hullabaloo is hard on my nerves!”

  “Meow,” went Willie, rubbing against Millicent’s ankle.

  “Heavens! The cat!” squealed Millicent. All at once she sneezed—three tiny sneezes in a row. “Why, oh, why, does that beast come near me!”

  Catherine gathered Willie in her arms.

  “Cats seem to know when someone doesn’t like them,” she said. “Willie just wants to make friends with you.”

  Millicent threw up her hands in despair. “I’m going inside before I break out.” Rapidly she breathed in and out. “My allergy, you know.” And off she went as fast as her short legs could carry her, sneezing all the way.

  As soon as Millicent was gone, Willie leapt out of Catherine’s arms and padded over to a tree where he clawed the bark.

  Catherine said, “Time is running out for me. On Monday I return to the university.” Smiling, she said, “My money supply is running out, too. Renting a car and staying in a motel are expensive.” She paused. “Although Kay’s motel is much more reasonable than the big hotels.”