Mystery of the Secret Message by Charles Tang Read Free Book Online Page A

looked like Dawn, but why would she run away? She could see it was just us.”
    “What about that other person?” Jessie asked. “The one who was following us.”
    “You don’t think that was Dawn coming back?” asked Henry.
    Jessie shook her head. “The footsteps sounded different. Heavier.”
    “If you’re right, then maybe we scared off the phantom of Greenfield Square,” Henry said. “But we still don’t know who it is. But one thing is for sure: we should keep an eye on Rick Bass, Sylvia Pepper, and Dawn Wellington. They’ve all acted strange.”
    “Tomorrow we can look for clues. You two can help us, okay?” Jessie suggested to Violet and Benny. “Maybe we’ll find something around the statue.”
    “Good idea,” Henry said. “We have to work on the festival anyway.”
    The festival was the day after tomorrow. Henry wondered if the event would take place after all.
    The next morning the Aldens rode into town with Grandfather.
    “We have a lot of work to do today,” James Alden said. “It’s my job to keep everyone on schedule.”
    “And it’s my job to keep you on schedule,” said Jessie. The notebook was close by her side. She wasn’t going to let it out of her sight until the festival was over.
    “Wow!” Benny exclaimed as they came into the square. “Look at all the people!”
    A blue truck was parked next to the statue of Josiah Wade.
    “The construction crew is here,” Henry said.
    “Yes, this is the crew Sylvia Pepper hired to build the booths,” Jessie said.
    “A lot of the booths are finished,” Grandfather observed. “They must have gotten here early.”
    A few workers unloaded lumber by the town hall. Hammers rang out. Electric saws zipped through boards.
    The statue of Josiah Wade was temporarily blocked from view. The workers had erected scaffolding around the statue and covered it with canvas to prevent damage.
    A short man with scruffy hair carried a stepladder. When he saw the Aldens, he waved.
    “That guy reminds me of our dog,” Benny said. “His hair sticks out just like Watch’s does.”
    “I’m going to see if the men have everything they need,” said Grandfather.
    “And we’ll get to work,” Henry said. The Aldens were on cleanup duty, but they were also going to hunt for clues.
    The shop owners were busy, too. Ms. Reit and Sylvia Pepper were putting the finishing touches on their shop windows. Mr. Ames from the hardware store was hanging a large banner that proclaimed, GREENFIELD WINTER FESTIVAL.
    “Look up there!” Benny cried. He pointed to a figure sitting on top of a lamppost. “It’s Dawn!”
    Dawn shinnied down the lamppost. She wore her camera around her neck.
    “The things a photographer has to do to take good pictures!” Dawn said, joining the children.
    “Weren’t you scared up there?” Violet asked.
    “I’m not crazy about heights, but that was the best place to get shots of the rooftops.”
    “I don’t think I could climb a lamppost just to get a good picture,” Violet said admiringly.
    Dawn turned a small crank on her camera, rewinding the film. “Well, that’s the last of this roll of film. I think I have enough shots for the souvenir booklet.”
    Jessie pulled a flier from her notebook. “Grandfather had stacks of these printed. People can order your booklet tomorrow at the festival.”
    “I’m taking souvenir pictures, too,” Violet said to Dawn. “People will pay a dollar and I’ll send them the picture later, after I have the film developed.”
    “Why don’t you let me develop them for you?” Dawn said. “I can do it much cheaper than the lab the drugstore uses.”
    “That would be great!” Violet paused, then added nervously, “I’ve only taken pictures of the family. This is my first real assignment.”
    “You should take a few test shots,” Dawn advised. “Pose a model by the statue today, just to see what the light is like. That way you’ll know exactly where to stand tomorrow.”
    “I’ll be