Candy Factory Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

if that’s okay.”
    â€œYou kids are from Winkles?” one of the men said, looking over the Aldens. “Well, check with the boss. He’s inside. If he says it’s okay, then it’s okay.”
    The children climbed the steps to the loading platform. As soon as Henry pushed the door that led inside, the children all sniffed the air at the same time.
    â€œChocolate!” Soo Lee said. “It smells just like Winkles Candy Factory.”
    â€œThe smell seems to be coming from over there.” Henry pointed to a door at the far end of the warehouse.
    The children began to make their way to the back, then stopped. They heard a door slam behind them. The sound of heavy footsteps came closer.
    Mr. Boxer stood directly behind them. “Stay right there,” he ordered. He stepped around the children, then marched to the back of the warehouse. He shut the door and cut off the sweet candy smells flowing through the warehouse.
    The Aldens didn’t move.
    â€œWho let you in here?” Mr. Boxer’s question boomed through the warehouse. “You’re those kids I saw the other day. What are you doing here?”
    Henry was about to answer when Mr. Boxer’s phone rang.
    Mr. Boxer waved away the children. “Go back outside. I’ll be out in a few minutes. I need to answer this.”
    The Aldens obeyed Mr. Boxer. On their way out, they caught a few snatches of Mr. Boxer’s conversation. “Did you send those kids here …?” The words trailed off before the children could tell who was at the other end of the phone.
    â€œWas that Mrs. Winkles?” Jessie asked in a friendly voice when Mr. Boxer returned a few minutes later. “Or Meg?”
    Mr. Boxer stared at Jessie. “That was … um … just a business call. And speaking of that, what business do you kids have coming into my warehouse? I can’t have people just roaming around inside or even out here. You could fall off the loading dock. Then where would you be?”
    â€œOn the ground?” Soo Lee looked up at Mr. Boxer.
    Mr. Boxer didn’t find this fanny. “If Rose Winkles sent you here, go back and tell her I can’t get her candy shipped out with a bunch of kids underfoot.”
    â€œBut the candy was in the sun,” Benny said. “It could melt and get squished like Mrs. Winkles’s —”
    Henry nudged Benny so he wouldn’t say anything else.
    â€œLook here,” Mr. Boxer broke in. “I ship candy for a lot of companies. I don’t need to be told how to do my job. Now you kids can just get out of here.” Mr. Boxer suddenly looked over the Aldens’ heads.
    The children turned around to look behind them. They saw a car drive around the side of the warehouse.
    â€œGet going now,” Mr. Boxer told the Aldens, this time more firmly than before. “I have an important visitor.”
    â€œI know one thing,” Henry muttered after Mr. Boxer left. “He sure doesn’t want us snooping around.”
    â€œAnd I know one other thing,” Jessie added. “When somebody doesn’t want us snooping around, there’s usually a reason.”
    â€œCan Soo Lee and I run in back of the warehouse to see who just drove in?” Benny asked.
    Jessie nodded. “Well, okay, Benny, but just for a minute. Take a quick peek, then catch up with us right away. I don’t want to hear any more of Mr. Boxer’s orders.”
    Benny grabbed Soo Lee’s hand and disappeared around the side of the warehouse. The older children strolled slowly toward the street. A couple of minutes later, the younger children returned.
    Benny was out of breath. He took a few gulps of air. “Guess what. The man …” Benny could hardly get the words out. “The man who came to Mrs. Winkles’s factory and checked everything, that’s who’s visiting Mr. Boxer. They went into a little building that’s part of the