Boardwalk Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

her tongue. “I don’t know,” she said. “But that is what I heard. Things are getting bad on that amusement pier. Carl Hanson needs my help. You should tell him that.”
    Violet looked thoughtful. Mrs. Reddy seemed like a person who liked to be busy and useful.
    “Maybe you can help us,” Violet said. “We are looking for some ice cream. Do you have a favorite ice cream stand on the boardwalk? Would you have the time to take us there?”
    Mrs. Reddy smiled. “Of course!” She linked her arm through Violet’s. “Come with me!”
    The children walked a half block to Kohr’s frozen custard stand. Mrs. Reddy waved to the man behind the counter. “Noah!” she said. “Here are some special guests. These are the Alden children. They have never been to our boardwalk before. I told them that you serve the best ice cream on the whole coast!”
    Noah smiled at the compliment. He introduced himself and welcomed the children. While he made their cones, Mrs. Reddy talked nonstop.
    “Noah, did you hear that Hanson’s zombie knocked out an old man in the ocean? Poor man almost drowned!”
    “I did hear that,” Noah said. “Your friend Karen stopped by earlier. She told me. As a matter of fact, there she is now.” Noah pointed across the boardwalk.
    “Oh yes,” Mrs. Reddy said. “I see her. I promised to help her out in her souvenir shop today. Take care, kids. Enjoy your ice cream. And make sure you tell Carl Hanson that he can call me any time he needs advice.” Mrs. Reddy hurried off to join her friend.
    The children walked toward a bench to eat their ice cream. Benny’s cone was vanilla dipped in a hard chocolate shell. Violet got a twist of orange crème and vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. Jessie chose strawberry with chocolate sprinkles and Henry had a thick milkshake.
    “This is delicious!” Violet said. She watched the people stroll along the boardwalk while she ate her cone. “Look,” she said. “There is the photographer.”
    Donna Mancini was snapping photos of a small sandwich shop with a “Grand Opening” banner hanging over the front door. A man in an apron stood under the banner.
    “I wonder if that man will get his picture in the paper,” Benny said.
    “The picture might be for the paper Benny. But it might be for an advertisement for the new store as well.” Violet was very interested in photography and she enjoyed watching Ms. Mancini work.
    As she watched, Violet saw someone familiar pass by. “Isn’t that Bob Cooke?”
    Henry, Jessie, and Benny looked across the boardwalk. Mr. Cooke was alone. He was walking quickly. Suddenly, Mrs. Reddy and her friend approached Mr. Cooke. He stopped to talk with them. The children were too far away to hear what he was saying. But Mr. Cooke was smiling.
    “What is wrong with Mr. Cooke’s pants?” Benny asked.
    “I noticed it, too, Benny,” Violet said.
    Mr. Cooke was wearing a pair of long tan pants. But from the knees down, the pants were very dark. The children also noticed that Mr. Cooke’s sneakers left footprints on the boardwalk. It looked as though he had gotten wet somehow.
    Mr. Cooke looked up from his conversation with Mrs. Reddy. He saw the Aldens. He looked down at his pants, then quickly hurried away.

CHAPTER 8
A Castle on the Beach
    A fter their ice cream, the children headed back down to the beach. They arrived just in time.
    “Hurry!” Jessie called.
    The tide had come in. Their blanket and towels were just about to get drenched by the ocean! The children grabbed their things and moved them back out of the way of the water.
    “That was close,” Jessie said.
    “Hunter told me about the tides,” Benny said. “He said that when the tide goes out, I might be able to find some cool seashells to take home as souvenirs.”
    “It will be fun to look for them,” Violet said. “But would you like to help me build a sand castle right now?”
    “Sure!” Benny said.
    When the castle was finished, the children sat in the sand