Game Store Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

spare key. She kept it on her desk. But she noticed yesterday that it was missing. And then last night her store was broken into.”
    “That’s interesting,” Jessie said. “Was there a spare key missing from the Java Café?” she asked Raina.
    Raina blinked. “I-I really don’t know,” she stammered. “I don’t know where Chip kept his spare key.”
    Just then a young couple walked into the store.
    “I’ll go see if they need some help,” Raina said as she hurried over to them.
    “Why don’t we go down to the Java Café and ask Chip whether he’s missing any keys,” Violet suggested.
    “Yes, let’s,” Benny said.
    So the Aldens walked down to the Java Café at the end of the mall. There was a businessman reading a newspaper while Chip mixed a coffee drink.
    “Here you go,” Chip said as he handed the paper cup to the businessman.
    “Thanks.” The man nodded at Chip, then picked up his drink and went to sit down.
    The children stepped up to the counter.
    “Can I help you kids?” Chip asked, as he started wiping the counter.
    “Did you know there were keys missing both at the Game Spot and at Lake’s Jewelry Store before they were robbed?” Violet asked.
    Chip stopped wiping. “No, I didn’t.”
    “We were just wondering whether there were any keys missing here before this store was robbed?” Henry asked.
    Chip frowned. “There were a couple of them missing,” he said. “Raina Holt only worked for me for ten days, but in that time she managed to lose two keys.”
    “Are you sure she lost them?” Henry asked. “They didn’t just disappear?”
    “No, she’s the one who lost them,” Chip insisted. “I had to get new keys made twice.”
    “I wonder why she didn’t mention that when we asked her about missing keys,” Jessie said.
    “Maybe she was embarrassed?” Violet suggested.
    “Or maybe she’s the thief,” Chip said.
    “The police don’t think so,” Jessie said. “She was out of town when the Game Spot was robbed.”
    “She had a key to this place and she had a key to the Game Spot,” Henry said. “But she wouldn’t have had a key to the jewelry store.”
    “Maybe she managed to get one,” Chip said. “She’s a smooth one. She’s got you all fooled. But I’m warning you. As long as that girl continues to work in this mall, there will continue to be robberies here. You mark my words.”
    The Aldens took their time walking back to the Game Spot.
    “No matter what anyone tells him, Chip just will not believe that Raina is innocent,” Violet said.
    “Well, she was in the jewelry store yesterday,” Jessie pointed out. “Remember? She bought herself that necklace. But that doesn’t mean she stole a key to the store.”
    The children stopped just outside the
    Game Spot door. “Lots of people were probably in there yesterday,” Violet said. “Including Carter. But I agree with you. I don’t know how either of them could have gotten the key from the back room.”
    “Unless they snuck back there when no one was looking,” Benny said.
    “That’s certainly possible,” Violet said.
    “Hey Jessie,” Henry said. “Are you still keeping track of the letters that are missing from that sign?”
    “Yes. I have the list right here.” She patted her pocket.
    “Why don’t we go inside and take a look at it,” Henry suggested. “Maybe there’s a clue in those letters?”
    So they went inside the Game Spot and sat down at the main table. Jessie took out her list of letters and added the new ones to the list. Violet went to get some paper, a pencil and a pair of scissors. Then the children copied down all the letters onto four sheets of paper:
L A K E R Y S E R E M N
    P O E A E P E I L Q U M

    Then they cut out the letters and each of them took a set.
    “Let’s see how many words we can find in these letters,” Jessie said as she started moving the letters around in front of her.
    Benny found PLAY and ME. Violet found PLEASE. Jessie found SAME and MAPLE. Henry