The Pizza Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

Violet asked. “Why didn’t he answer you?”
    â€œI’d know those blue eyes anywhere,” Jessie said. “I wonder if he’s started a job here. Maybe that’s why he didn’t come to the restaurant today.”
    The children spent the rest of the morning trying to puzzle out what was going on with their old friend.
    By ten-thirty, the Aldens were out of flyers. They didn’t want to upset Laurie by coming back too early, so they walked slowly.
    â€œSomething is still bothering me about last night,” Jessie said when she saw a Mighty Mufflers delivery truck go by. “Why was Laurie the only one who wasn’t upset?”
    â€œShe almost seemed glad that it happened because then she could help the Piccolos make more sauce,” Henry said.
    â€œThere’s so much work in the restaurant already, why would she want to make those sauces?” Violet asked. “That’s a lot of work.”
    Benny shuffled along with his hands in his pockets. “And I bet she wouldn’t let us help. Or Nick either!”
    â€œNick is the other part of this puzzle,” Jessie said. “At first I thought he was acting strange because of Laurie. But he moved out of the apartment and stopped coming to Piccolos’ before she even started working there.”
    â€œWhat if,” Henry began, “what if Mighty Mufflers hired Nick because he did work for the restaurant and knows all about it? If the factory wants to put Piccolos’ out of business for some reason, they could use Nick to hurt the restaurant.”
    â€œNo!” Violet broke in. “Nick would never help anyone harm the Piccolos. I just know he wouldn’t.”
    The other children knew how much Violet liked Nick. She knew him better than any of the other children. He would never cause problems for the Piccolos. Violet was sure of that.
    When the children finally reached the restaurant, there was a new problem to figure out. A truck from the county health department was parked in the driveway of the restaurant.
    â€œWhat’s the health inspector doing here?” Violet asked.
    â€œHe goes around to restaurants and food stores to check that everything is neat and clean,” Jessie said.
    â€œI know the dishes are neat and clean,” Benny said proudly.
    The children weren’t a bit worried about the health inspector. They knew Piccolos’ Pizza was the cleanest restaurant in Silver Falls.
    The Aldens heard a man’s loud voice coming from the kitchen. “Now take out every pot and pan! And all the canisters of flour, too! This freezer needs to be five degrees colder, so you’ll have to throw out what’s in there.”
    â€œBut, but,” Mrs. Piccolo began, “the freezer will be the right temperature in a few minutes. We lost our electricity last night and . . .”
    â€œYour electrical problems are not my problems.” The man checked off something on his clipboard. “Everything in that freezer has to be thrown out!”
    Henry wasn’t going to let this happen. “Sir, this food has been packed in ice all night. I think if you just open a few containers, you’ll see that everything is frozen colder than your requirements. As Mrs. Piccolo said, the freezer is nearly at the right level now. Please, could you check?”
    â€œHmph!” the inspector said. “I’ll check, but if it’s a tenth of a degree off, out this food goes. Understand?”
    Henry nodded.
    The man pulled the tops off several containers of tomato sauce. “All right,” the man muttered. “Now please run through the steps you follow to store your food and prepare your pizzas.”

    Mr. and Mrs. Piccolo explained how they made their dough and grated their cheese fresh every day. Mrs. Piccolo showed off the gleaming jars of tomatoes she put up at the end of every summer from her garden full of tomatoes. She pointed to the pots of herbs sunning