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

practice shooting. Coach Reynolds gave Benny and Violet another skating lesson.
    “Good work,” he told them when their lesson was done. “You two have improved a lot.”
    Seeing that Benny and Violet were done, Jessie and Henry skated over.
    “It looks like you’re improving, too,” Coach told Jessie, patting her firmly on the shoulder. “You’ll score a goal for us soon,” he assured her. “Now I’ve got to go meet with the architect who is working on plans for the rink.”
    “How are things going?” asked Henry.
    “The architect is almost finished redoing the plans,” Coach said. “The town council is meeting this Friday night. I’m hoping the plans will be done in time for me to bring them to the meeting.”
    “And the championship game is Saturday,” said Jessie. “We’ll be playing in it if we beat the Tigers tomorrow night.”
    “That’s right,” said Coach. “And if the plans for my new rink are approved, we’ll have a party here on Sunday to celebrate. I’ve been busy lately getting ready for that.”
    “Anything we can do to help out?” Violet asked.
    “No,” Kevin began. Then he said, “Well, actually, there is something. I’m getting together a bunch of hockey stuff to display at the new rink—old photos, trophies, that kind of thing. If you kids could help me organize it, that would be a big help. Are you any good at organizing?”
    The Aldens all looked at Jessie.
    “Did somebody say organize?” Henry asked. “My sister is a champion organizer!”
    “Just what I need,” said Kevin. “Maybe we could get together one night this week and work on it.”
    “You and your family can come to our house,” Jessie suggested. “We’ll make you dinner, and then we’ll go through all your things.”
    “That sounds great,” said Kevin. He thought for a moment. “Tomorrow is the Tigers game, so how about the night after that?”
    “That’s great,” said Violet. “We’ll just check with our grandfather. But I’m sure he’ll be happy to have you and your family over.”
    “Grandfather is almost as much of a hockey fan as we are!” Benny said.
    Kevin smiled broadly. “What can I bring for dinner?”
    “We’ll take care of everything,” Jessie assured him. “Just bring the hockey stuff!”
    “I left a box of things with Scott because I was going to ask him to help me,” said Kevin. “But he’s so busy. I’ll pick it up from him and bring it to your house.”
    “We can get the box from Scott’s office,” Henry offered. “Then you won’t have to worry about it.”
    “It’s pretty big,” Kevin said. “You may need two of you to carry it.”
    “That’s okay,” said Henry. “We’ll ask our grandfather to come pick us up.”
    “You kids are the greatest,” said Kevin.
    The next night, the Polar Bears beat the Tigers seven to five. Jessie still hadn’t scored a goal, but she was happy that her team was going to be playing in the championship game that weekend.
    The next day, the Aldens were on their way to Scott’s office to pick up Kevin’s box. “I can’t wait to see what’s in it!” Benny said.
    Scott’s office was on the other side of the lobby, opposite Tracey’s and Kevin’s. The door was open, so the children poked their heads in. The office was dark and quiet. No one was inside.
    Scott’s desk was under the window, and large posters of Olympic figure skaters covered the wall. On the floor in the corner was a large box labeled KEVIN REYNOLDS.
    “That must be it,” said Henry. He lifted the top of the box and looked in. He saw some framed photos and a trophy. “Yes, this is it.”
    “I’ll just write Scott a note so he’ll know we took it,” said Jessie. She went to Scott’s desk and looked for a pad of paper and a pen.
    Scott’s desk was covered with papers.
    “Wow, look at this,” said Benny, holding up a brochure. On the cover was a picture of a beach lined with palm trees. Florida’s Most Beautiful Homes was printed at the