Mystery at Peacock Hall by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online

slightly. “That’s odd. I’m sure I locked the door behind me.”
    They all walked down the hall and into the living room. Althea gave a little scream.
    Every piece of furniture had been overturned. Cushions lay scattered on the floor. The stern-faced portraits hung crookedly on the walls.
    “I’ve been robbed!” Althea moaned. “James, call the police at once!”
    “Let’s make sure no one is still in the house,” said Grandfather. He and Henry checked the big place.
    When they returned, Henry reported, “Nothing was messed up in any of the other rooms. Only this room.”
    “Maybe we surprised the burglar,” Althea said. “He tried to get in the night you all arrived, remember.”
    “But we didn’t see anybody run out,” Violet pointed out. “And no one’s hiding in the house or Grandfather would have found him. Or her.”
    Henry had a theory. “I think whoever broke in was after one particular thing. And that person knew exactly which room to look in. This one.”
    “There’s nothing of value in here,” Althea said. “What could anybody possibly want that was in my living room?”
    Jessie felt a chill down her spine. The receipt! They’d been studying it when Roscoe Janney came in earlier. She’d slipped it into a drawer behind her. Was it there now?
    Jessie walked over to the small table. The contents of the drawer — postcards and letters — were strewn on the floor. She pawed through the papers.
    “It’s not here!” she cried.
    “What’s not here?” asked Grandfather.
    Henry knew at once. “The old receipt we found. We were looking at it when Roscoe came in today. Jessie hid it in the drawer so he wouldn’t see it. But he did see!”
    “But how could Roscoe steal the receipt?” Benny asked. “He was with us on the trip!”
    “I didn’t think that old piece of paper was important,” said Althea.
    “Apparently it is,” Grandfather said. “Or else someone wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to steal it. Do you still want to call the police?”
    Althea shook her head. “As long as nothing else is missing ...” She sighed. “Anyway, the sheriff will be out here soon enough. To throw me out.”
    When the adults left the room, the children huddled together.

    “Who could have broken in?” Jessie asked.
    “It couldn’t have been Roscoe,” Henry said. “Unless he had a friend break in.”
    “What about Tate?” Benny brought up. “Roscoe and Tate are friends.”
    Jessie bit her lip. “Tate’s kind of weird, but I think he’s loyal to Althea. I don’t think he’d rob her.”
    Henry agreed with Benny. “We can’t rule him out as a suspect.”
    “Is the old paper a clue to the treasure?” Violet asked what they all were thinking.
    Now they’d never know.
    The next morning, Grandfather left for town, again hoping to turn up some legal information that would help Althea.
    “Tomorrow is the last day,” he said.
    Althea had to go to Monticello. “I have the early shift,” she told the children.
    “We’ll stay here and look for the treasure,” Benny said.
    Althea shook her head. “I’m sorry, Benny, but I can’t allow you children to stay here alone. Not after what happened last night.”
    “But Tate is around,” Violet reminded her.
    Althea shook her head. “I know, but I’d feel better if you were with me. You can search the house this afternoon.”
    Was she suspicious of the gardener, too? Jessie wondered.
    This time the children toured Jefferson’s home again. They located their favorite inventions, one by one.
    “Now for mine,” said Benny, heading for the dining room.
    A guide was just demonstrating the dumbwaiters built into the fireplace that Jefferson used for meals.
    “I still wish I had a little elevator in my room,” said Benny.
    Henry laughed. “Just what you need, Benny Alden. Twenty-four-hour room service!”
    At last Cousin Althea’s shift was over. They all drove back to Peacock Hall.
    “Let’s start searching,” Benny said, rushing