Mystery in San Francisco by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online

fishing short.”
    “And Vito told Charlie he wouldn’t have enough fish for tonight’s dinner,” Henry concluded.
    “Vito was really angry,” Benny added.
    Uncle Andy shrugged. “He seems to have all the fish he needs.”
    “Maybe he bought some from someone else,” Violet suggested. Everyone sat and thought about the mystery.
    Finally they opened their menus. They had a difficult time making a selection. Everything sounded so good. Each of them decided to order something different. That way they could sample many dishes.

    Benny looked around the restaurant. Old anchors, wheels, and other boat gear hung on the walls. The window in the kitchen door was a round porthole.
    Suddenly Benny pulled at Henry’s sleeve. “There’s that man again!” he muttered. Henry looked up in time to see the mysterious man at the round window. Jessie and Violet saw him, too.
    The Aldens exchanged puzzled glances. Each wondered the same thing: What is that man doing in the kitchen of Vito’s Vittles?

CHAPTER 8
Sounds in the Night
    A fter dinner, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny went back to Kate’s boat. While they were relaxing on the boat deck, it began to rain.
    “We should go inside,” Kate said.
    “But it isn’t raining hard,” Jessie said. “May we stay up here for a little bit longer?”
    “Okay. I’ll get your jackets,” Kate said. When she came back with them, the children put on their jackets and Kate slipped into her black poncho.
    “Do you have a yellow slicker?” Violet asked.
    Kate looked at her. “A yellow slicker? No. Why?”
    Violet’s face reddened. “Oh . . . uh . . .”
    “Yellow is Violet’s favorite color,” Benny piped up. “Next to purple.”
    It began to pour. “I guess it’s time to turn in,” Kate said.
    Once the Aldens were settled for the night, they discussed the events of the day.
    “Do you suppose Vito is in on this?” Jessie asked.
    “Why would Vito be causing trouble for the fishermen?” Henry said. “He needs their fish.”
    “I don’t know,” Jessie said. “It just seemed odd seeing that mysterious man in Vito’s kitchen.”
    “That’s right,” Violet said. “What was he doing there?”
    “Maybe he’s the one who sold fish to Vito,” Benny suggested.
    “I don’t think he’s a fisherman,” Violet said. “Where would he get the fish?”
    They all thought about that. Finally Jessie said, “Maybe he works for one of the fishermen.”
    “That’s possible,” Henry agreed. “He could be helping to ruin Charlie’s business so Vito will buy from someone else.”
    “What about Kate?” Benny asked. “What was she doing in Sausalito with that man?”
    “That wasn’t Kate,” Violet argued. “You heard her say she doesn’t own a yellow slicker.”
    “Well, it was Kate we saw in Chinatown,” Benny said.
    “We can’t be sure, Benny,” Jessie said.
    “What about the red hair?” Benny persisted.
    After a silence, Violet said, “Benny, there are lots of people with hair like that. And San Francisco is a big city.”
    Jessie yawned. “This is getting way too complicated,” she said.
    Late that night, Benny awoke with a start. “What was that?” he whispered. There it was again: the noise that had awakened him.
    At the window, Henry said, “I think someone’s on Charlie’s dock.”
    Beside him, Jessie murmured, “Someone is out there. See that light?”
    Violet and Benny crept out of bed. Before they could reach the window, another sound cut through the silence.
    Breaking glass!
    “What’s happening?” Benny asked.
    “The light went out,” Henry told him.
    Jessie peered through the window. “I don’t see anyone.”
    “It’s too dark out there,” Henry said as he returned to bed. “And we don’t know our way around the dock very well. Let’s check it out in the morning.”
    Benny climbed under the covers. “Maybe Charlie came back to sleep on the boat again.”
    “Charlie doesn’t use a light,” Henry reminded him.
    “Maybe he