The Beast of Blackslope by Tracy Barrett Read Free Book Online

next.
    There was a lot of interesting material in the library, Xander thought. We should definitely go back there.
    I can’t wait to get out in the woods again and see what else we can find! ran through Xena’s mind.
    As they pulled up at the B and B, Mrs. Roberts came out and stood in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. “Just in time for supper! Would you like to join us?”
    â€œThat’s very nice of you,” their mother said. “We’re all hungry.”
    Again, Mrs. Roberts had made sandwiches. “Out in the country we stick to the old-fashioned
ways. Our big meal is at midday, and we have our tea in the late afternoon. So it’s just sandwiches since nobody’s very hungry at supper-time as a rule.”
    They sat down and dug in. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts kept glancing at the door and then at the clock on the wall.
    At home, the sandwiches would have been peanut butter and jelly or maybe tuna fish. Here, there were all sorts of interesting new things to try: egg and olive, cucumber slices with lots of butter on brown bread, and a tender green leaf that Mr. Roberts called watercress. They sampled each of them. Xander wasn’t crazy about the egg and olive, but the others were really good. Xena ate some of everything.
    â€œThese are delicious,” their mother said.
    Mrs. Roberts blushed. “Cooking’s in my blood, I think,” she said modestly.
    The back door opened and then banged shut, and Mrs. Roberts looked up with her lips pressed together. Is she angry at something? Xena wondered.
    Trevor came into the room. “Sorry I’m late,” he mumbled as he pulled a chair up to the table.
    â€œYoung man,” Mr. Roberts said. “You know the rules. Home before dark.”

    â€œThe sun’s just setting now!” Trevor protested.
    This seemed a little odd to Xena. Blackslope was such a peaceful little town. Why would a boy Xander’s age have to be home so early? Were the Robertses overprotective grandparents? Or could they be anxious because they knew that the Beast was around?
    Trevor ate sandwich after sandwich with his head down, and in just a few minutes he pushed back from the table. “May I go spend the night at Ian’s house?”
    â€œOf course not,” his grandmother answered.
    â€œYou know the rules,” Mr. Roberts said again.
    â€œI have the rental car right outside,” Mr. Holmes broke in. “I’d be happy to drive Trevor to his friend’s house.”
    Trevor brightened and said, “Thanks!” but Mrs. Roberts said, “You’re too kind, but Trevor has to stay in tonight.” Trevor scowled and stomped out of the room.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Mrs. Roberts said, and their mother said, “Oh, we know how it is with kids! Why don’t you two go relax? We’ll clean up.”
    Â 
    â€œI bet Trevor’s being grounded for something,” Xander said after the kitchen had been tidied
up. He and Xena were in the sitting room, playing a card game and waiting for their chance to get to work on the case.
    â€œProbably,” Xena said. This was the most likely explanation for the Robertses’ behavior, but she wasn’t convinced. They had seemed more worried than angry.
    Their mom poked her head into the sitting room. “We’re going up to bed. You kids ran us ragged today! Don’t be too late, okay?”
    â€œOkay,” said Xander.
    Xena called out, “Good night.”
    When their parents were safely upstairs Xander said, “Finally! Now we can put all our evidence together.” He pulled a tuft of woolly material from his pocket.
    â€œWhoa!” Xena snatched it up. “Where did you get that from? And why didn’t you show me until now?”
    â€œSome fell off the table when that guy in the library picked it up.” Xander was smug. “I grabbed it. And it’s not like we had a chance to examine it in private until