Guide Dog Mystery by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online Page A

anyone about all the strange things that had been happening at the school — at least not until they had some answers. They weren’t even sure they could trust Jason. He might be involved somehow.
    “Why were you keeping watch?” Anna said.
    Benny looked to Jessie for help.
    “Well,” Jessie began slowly, “ever since we came to the school, we’ve noticed some strange things have been happening. The very first day Benny saw someone lurking in the bushes behind the kennel.”
    “Then there was this man, Mr. Dominick, who kept coming by trying to buy Ginger,” Violet continued.
    “ My Ginger?” Anna put her arms around Ginger possessively. Jessie smiled, thinking how close Anna and the dog had become.
    “The school doesn’t sell dogs,” said Jason.
    “We told him we didn’t think the school sold their guide dogs, but he wouldn’t give up,” Violet said.
    “I still don’t understand why you were keeping watch,” Anna said.
    “Does it have to do with that night you thought you saw someone lurking around the kennel?” Jason asked.
    “Yes,” said Benny. “And the night before last we saw some weird lights.”
    “Weird lights?” Jason repeated. “Where?”
    “They were, um ...” Benny paused, not sure what to say.
    “Actually, Jason, they were in your room,” Henry finished for his little brother. “We think someone was in there with a flashlight. And the next day, your key to the kennel was gone.”
    Jason sat back on the blanket, trying to take in what the Aldens had just told him. “This gets stranger all the time,” he said at last. “Why would someone want to break into the kennel? Do they want one of the dogs?”
    “Well,” Anna said, “they’re worth more than gold to people like me.” She stroked Ginger’s back.
    “That reminds me,” said Henry. “The latch on Ginger’s pen was all scratched up last night. Remember?”
    “And Mr. Dominick said something about Ginger being worth a lot of money — that she looked like a champion dog,” added Jessie.
    Anna sat up straight. “Do you think someone — Mr. Dominick — is trying to steal Ginger?”
    “Could be,” said Henry.
    “I’m not going to let that happen,” Anna said fiercely. “I’d feel safer if Ginger slept in my room tonight.”
    “That’s usually not allowed at this point —” Jason began.
    “I think it’s a great idea,” said Jessie, and the others nodded and looked at Jason expectantly.
    “All right, but only because this is a special situation,” Jason said.
    After they were done eating, the children gathered up the garbage and threw it in a nearby trash can. Anna and Jason folded the tablecloth. Then they spent the rest of the sunny afternoon playing in the grass with Ginger. They were having so much fun that none of them noticed the tall person in the raincoat slinking away through the bushes.
    After dinner, Anna brought Ginger back to her room instead of to the kennel. Each of the Aldens gave Ginger a pat on the head as they said good night.
    “Her new collar is very nice,” Violet said.
    “I hope Ginger likes it, too!” Anna said with a smile. “Good night!”
    The nights before had been very exciting. For a change, the Aldens were hoping they could get a good night’s sleep.
    But once again, something woke them. This time it was someone banging on the door.
    “Jessie! Violet!” a voice called. “Wake up!”
    Violet jumped out of bed and ran to the door when she recognized Anna’s voice. “Anna, what is it?” Violet asked.
    “It’s Ginger! She’s been kidnapped!” Anna cried.
    “What do you mean?” demanded Jessie.
    “Someone broke into my room and took her!” Anna said.
    Henry and Benny had just stumbled sleepily out of their room to find out what was going on. As soon as they heard what Anna was saying, Henry took off down the hall. “I’m going to get Jason,” he called over his shoulder.
    When Henry returned with Jason, Anna was sitting on her bed, wiping tears from her