Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery by David A. Adler Read Free Book Online Page B

the principal, stepped up to the microphone.
    “This is a great day for our school,” she said. “We have a beautiful new library. We have Governor Zellner here. The Pearls are also here. This library is their generous gift to our school.”
    The library office door opened. Two Secret Service agents came out, followed by Governor Zellner and the Pearls. The governor wore a large red, white, and blue “Zellner for President” button on his jacket. Mrs. Pearl had long, curly white hair and wore a red dress and a large dangling pearl necklace. Mr. Pearl was dressed in a white suit, white shirt and tie, and white shoes.
    When they walked out, lightbulbs flashed as news photographers took their pictures.

    “It’s my great honor,” Dr. Prell announced, “to introduce our beloved governor, Elliot Zellner.”
    Governor Zellner stood by the microphone. He raised his hands and waved. “Thank you. Thank you,” he said.
    Bang!
    Governor Zellner dropped to the floor.

C HAPTER T WO
    The children and teachers in the room were scared. They dropped to the floor. Many of the adults standing by the sides of the room did, too. The four police officers hurried in.
    Two Secret Service agents and the police officers walked slowly through the room. Cam looked behind her. All she saw were people on the floor. She turned and looked up at the large front desk.
    Two Secret Service agents were crouched on the floor beside Governor Zellner. Another had pushed the Pearls behind the desk.
    Cam turned and watched the two agentsand the police officers go to the back of the library. She looked at the large windows in the new library. She looked up at the skylights. She took a deep breath and then whispered to Eric, “I don’t see or smell smoke. If a gun was shot in here, there would be smoke.”

    “Maybe someone shot from outside.”
    “No,” Cam whispered. “The windows are closed, and not one is broken.”
    “Then why are we on the floor?” Eric asked. “Why do the Secret Service people look so worried?”
    “They want to know what made that noise.”
    “I do, too,” Eric said.
    People in the room began to whisper.
    One of the agents in the back of the room waved. Then one by the desk said, “There’s no need to be afraid. Please, return to your seats.”
    Cam, Eric, and the others in their class looked at Ms. Benson. She looked to the back and saw the two agents who had searched the room. They were smiling. Ms. Benson returned to her seat. Then Cam, Eric, and the others did, too.
    “I wonder what made that noise,” Ms. Benson said.
    “It wasn’t me,” Danny told her. “I’ve been good.”
    The two agents who had searched the room were now by the front desk. They spoke for a moment with the other two agents and Dr. Prell.
    Dr. Prell laughed. She said something to Governor Zellner. He laughed, too. Dr. Prelltook a large yellow book from a shelf on the side of the room. Then she tapped on the microphone to get everyone’s attention.
    She smiled and said, “That was frightening, but no one was hurt. This is a library. There are lots of books here, and one of them fell. We don’t have carpeting yet, so when the book hit the concrete floor it made that scary sound.”
    Dr. Prell dropped the yellow book onto the desk.
    Bang!
    The book fell flat.

    A few children dropped to the floor again. Others laughed.
    Dr. Prell tapped on the microphone. When everyone was quiet, she introduced Governor Zellner again.
    “We are delighted and proud to have him here,” she said. “We hope this will be his first of many visits to our school.”
    The governor waved and smiled. Lights flashed as photographers took his picture.
    “I am very pleased to be here,” the governor said. “This is a great day for your school and our state. I am happy to share it with you and with my good friends Sam and Emma Pearl. But what’s more important, the Pearls are great friends of libraries and schools.”
    “Please,” Cam whispered to Eric, “let me