Mystery of the Missing Cat by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t like that rule!”
    â€œI don’t either, Benny, but we have to obey it.”
    â€œOkay,” said Benny, taking Watch’s leash. “We’ll wait out here. Maybe we’ll even catch Mr. Jones while you’re inside.”
    Jessie went inside the post office and quickly found box 93. It was midway up a row of boxes and it could be seen through the front window of the post office.
    She hurried back out and showed Benny which box it was. “We can sit here under this tree and keep our eyes on the mailbox,” she said.
    â€œOh, good,” said Benny, sitting down.
    Jessie sat down next to Watch and Benny, and leaned back against the tree. For a little while, the post office was very busy as people stopped by on their way to work. Then fewer people came. Several customers went to check their mail, but no one went to box number 93.
    Benny yawned. “I’m tired,” he said. “We’ve been here a long, long time.”
    â€œHenry and Violet and Soo Lee will come soon,” said Jessie. She watched a stout woman in a baseball cap walk up to the wall of mailboxes. Her heart beat faster in excitement. Was Mr. Jones really Ms. Jones?
    But the woman reached up high and opened a mailbox in the corner. Jessie leaned back against the tree again.
    Watch, who had been taking a nap next to Benny, lifted his head and barked.
    â€œWhat is it, boy?” asked Benny. “Is it Mr. Jones?”
    â€œI think it’s just a squirrel Watch wants to chase,” said Jessie, pointing.
    Sure enough, a squirrel who had been hopping over the ground scurried up a nearby tree. Watch laid his head back down on his front paws.
    The time seemed to pass very, very slowly. Jessie was glad when she stood up to stretch and saw Henry and Violet and Soo Lee riding their bicycles down the sidewalk toward them.
    â€œAny luck?” asked Henry as they came to a stop near the tree.
    Jessie shook her head. She showed them where box 93 was located. “No one has come near it,” she said. “I’m glad you’re here. We were getting tired.”
    â€œAnd hungry,” said Benny.
    â€œWell you can take a break now,” said Henry.
    Violet set her backpack down on the ground and reached inside. “Here, Benny, I have an apple for you,” she said.
    â€œThanks!” said Benny.
    Just then Soo Lee grabbed Jessie’s arm. “Look!” she said.
    They all looked in the direction Soo Lee was pointing. Someone wearing an overcoat, dark glasses, and gloves, with a hat pulled low over his eyes was walking toward the wall of mailboxes.
    Violet gasped. “That looks like the person who followed us that day!”
    â€œAnd like the person Professor Madison described,” said Henry.
    As they watched, the person reached out and opened box number 93!
    â€œIt’s him,” said Henry.
    Mr. Jones took out a single letter and ripped it open hastily, throwing the envelope to the floor.
    â€œHe’s littering,” said Benny indignantly.
    â€œWait a minute, Benny. Let’s see what happens,” Jessie told her younger brother.
    Mr. Jones read the letter. Then he folded it up and stuck it in his pocket, and began to walk very fast toward the post office door.
    â€œWe can follow him,” Jessie said. “Everybody get your bicycles ready.”
    But it was no use. When Mr. Jones got outside the post office, he went to a big, dark car parked in front of the post office. Before the Aldens could do anything, he had jumped inside and sped away.
    The children jumped on their bicycles and rode as fast as they could after the car. But by the time they’d gone a block, the car had disappeared from sight.

    â€œOh, no!” said Henry. “We’ve lost him!”
    â€œWe’ll never solve this mystery!” cried Violet.
    â€œYes, we will,” panted Jessie, pulling her bicycle to a stop. “Remember what Grandfather said about not