Rock 'n' Roll Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

year,” Alan went on. “He played a few different instruments and could sing pretty well. He wasn’t bad.”
    â€œBut …” Amy said, and her frown told the Aldens that she didn’t care much for Emmott. “He was a tough person to deal with every day.”
    â€œHow so?” Jessie asked.
    â€œHe had a lot of talent,” Karen replied, “but not as much as he thought he did. He acted as if he was the greatest musician and singer in the world.”
    â€œIs that why he left?” Violet asked.
    â€œNo,” Alan said. “He left because we had a big argument one day about what kind of music we should play.”
    â€œWe had one idea,” Amy continued, “and he had another. So he decided to leave.”
    â€œHe was pretty nasty about it, too,” Karen said. “I remember that last day very well. He was telling us how he was going to put his own band together, and it would be so much better than ours.”
    The Aldens shook their heads. “Sounds like a pretty angry person,” Henry said.
    â€œYes,” Alan said. “Jon could also be very jealous. When he left, he moved out to California. He started his own band, just like he said he would. But they didn’t do too well. The last I heard, they broke up, and he had to go back to his old job as an electrician. At the same time, our band was doing really well.”
    â€œHe must have heard about the man from the record company coming to the festival, and he decided to come back and try to ruin the show,” Amy said. “But we’re not about to let it get ruined.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Karen and Alan added. The children could see that the band was determined to succeed.
    Just then the door to the rehearsal studio opened and Raymond came in.
    â€œIt’s time to get ready for the show,” he told the band. Then he turned and noticed the Aldens. “Did you manage to find the thief?” he asked.
    The children showed Raymond the scrapbook and the picture of Jon Emmott. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
    â€œI’ve seen him before!” he said.
    â€œSo have we,” Henry said. “We saw him helping out at the festival. Violet recognized him through his disguise. She drew the beard, glasses, and the beret.”
    â€œBut now we don’t know where he is,” Jessie said.
    â€œHe could be anywhere!” Benny added.
    â€œThat’s true,” Raymond said. Just then, the children noticed he had a wry smile on his face. “Anywhere—like the Greenfield Inn!”
    Everyone seemed stunned by this announcement.
    â€œThe Greenfield Inn? The little hotel right here in town?” Karen said.
    â€œHow in the world do you know that?” Alan asked.
    â€œIt was the oddest thing,” Raymond said. “Some of the other roadies I know—the ones who are here from out of town—are staying at that same hotel. Just before I came here, I gave an old buddy a ride back to the hotel, and that’s when I saw him in the parking lot.” He pointed at the picture. “I’d seen him helping out yesterday and he’d seemed friendly enough, so I waved hello. But this time, he wasn’t friendly at all.”
    â€œWhat did he do?” Violet wanted to know.
    â€œHe didn’t wave back. He looked at me as if I were a ghost. And then he hurried back to his room,” Raymond replied.
    â€œHe must know you’re the Greenfield Four’s roadie,” said Alan.
    â€œHe does,” said Jessie. “When we were looking for you yesterday, Raymond, he knew who you were.”
    â€œIt sounds like he didn’t want you to know he was at the Greenfield Inn,” said Henry.
    â€œWhen did this happen?” Alan asked.
    â€œAbout an hour ago,” Raymond answered.
    â€œOh, no,” said Jessie. “He might not be there much longer. We need to hurry!”
    At the Greenfield Inn, darkness was