The four Aldens watched the yellow eyes, too scared to move. Closer and closer they came.
All at once Benny began to laugh. “It’s Willie,” he hooted gleefully.
Henry held the flashlight steady, and sure enough, as the cat crept to the edge of the roof, they could see Willie’s furry form.
With a meow, Willie leapt to a tree limb and scampered away up to Kay’s house.
“Whew!” Henry said. “Am I glad the prowler turned out to be Willie!”
“But I saw a person in my window,” Violet protested.
“You must be mistaken,” Jessie said quietly as she opened the door of their motel. “You may have imagined a shadow, Violet, but it was only a cat.”
“No,” Violet murmured. “I know it was a person!”
But either they didn’t hear Violet’s words or they didn’t believe her. Everyone went to bed, relieved it had been only Willie.
With a sigh, Violet snuggled beneath the covers and tried to sleep. It was a long time, however, before she dreamed of shadows and faces at the window.
In the morning after a breakfast of orange juice, Shredded Wheat with sliced bananas, and toast, they sat awhile and discussed Kay’s motel.
“You know,” Jessie said, resting her folded hands on the table, “Millicent is always buzzing in and out and asking questions.”
“I know,” Violet answered. “What do you suppose she’s up to?”
“Nothing!” Benny protested. “Millicent brings us good things to eat.”
“You’re right, Benny,” Jessie agreed. “I’m a little suspicious of Catherine. Remember how she wanted us to stop picking oranges?”
“She asks questions, too,” Violet responded.
“I don’t know,” Henry said, his dark eyes serious. “It could be Rolf. Did you hear him say he thinks Kay should sell.”
“That’s right,” Jessie said.
“I think he likes Kay,” Benny said.
“I agree, Benny,” Violet said. “I’ve seen Rolf’s eyes light up when he looks at her.”
“Millicent isn’t the one,” Benny said, nodding his head. “And Catherine isn’t either. Rolf couldn’t be. They’re all too nice.”
“What if it’s just a prowler?” Jessie asked. “Maybe it’s no one we know.”
Henry shook his head doubtfully. “Someone’s after Kay and her motel, and I’ll bet it’s someone we know.”
“Enough guessing,” Jessie said, standing. “Let’s help Kay get the motel ready for the bank inspector.”
“Yes,” Violet agreed. “Let’s go up to Kay’s house.”
The Aldens, wearing jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers, went outside. They were upset at how dark and gloomy the day had become. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Isn’t it too bad the sun isn’t shining?” Violet said.
Jessie nodded. “Yes. The motel is so much prettier in the bright sunshine.”
Violet said, “Let’s turn on the lamps in each unit.”
“Good idea, Violet,” Jessie said. “I still have the key Kay gave us when the bedspreads arrived.”
Benny looked up at the sky. “Look how dark it is, and how fast the clouds are flying!”
“Yes, I’m afraid it’s going to pour any minute,” Henry said.
“No matter,” Jessie said, smiling. “We’ll make each motel room bright and cheery with lots of light.”
They began at Catherine’s unit since she wasn’t home. Benny flipped on the switch. Frowning, he muttered, “Where’s the light?”
Henry chuckled. “Did you see if the cord is plugged into the outlet?”
Benny followed the cord to the outlet, and wiggled it back and forth. “It’s plugged in!” he said. “I tested it!”
“Hmmmm,” Jessie said. “Let’s see if the bulb is screwed tightly into the socket.” She twisted the bulb and it was tight.
Violet tried the bathroom light. Nothing!
Henry said in a worried voice, “Let’s see if the lights are off in the other units.”
Sure enough, there were no lights.
Millicent Fair came out of her unit. “My lights won’t work,” she complained. “I’m not staying here! I’ve called a cab, and I’m going to the Adventure Hotel for breakfast!”
“Millicent!” Benny said. “Somebody fixed the lights so they wouldn’t light.”
Millicent stared with wide eyes at Benny. “Why, that’s terrible,” she said, grabbing her purse. “You know what I think?” She leaned forward and whispered, “I think this place is jinxed!”
Soon a yellow taxi pulled up to Millicent’s unit and she hurried in. She shut the door with a bang, not once looking back at the children.
Jessie’s forehead wrinkled. “What if new tourists who rent Kay’s units find out what’s been happening?”
Violet bit her lip. “They won’t stay here.”
“It’s jinxed!” Benny yelled. “Millicent said so.”
“No, Benny,” Henry said firmly. “The motel is not jinxed! That’s why we’ve got to get to the bottom of who’s doing these things!”
Just then a car door slammed. Violet glanced toward Kay’s house. A blue car with the words BANK OF LYNDALE was parked in front.
“The inspector is here,” Violet said in a low sad voice. “He won’t be able to see how pretty the motel really is.”
“If only the sun could have shone like yesterday,” Jessie said. “The place looks lovely in the sun.”
“Here he comes,” Henry warned.
Kay and the inspector walked down the hill. Kay gestured with her hands as she eagerly talked to the tall skinny man at her side. The bank inspector, dressed in a black suit and carrying a black umbrella, pressed his lips together in a thin line.
“Oh, oh,” Benny said. “He won’t like it ’cause it looks like he doesn’t like anything. Besides, it’s so dark he can’t see the motel very well!”
“I think he’ll be able to see enough,” Jessie said encouragingly. But in her heart she wondered. They could have made the motel look so cozy and bright in the lamplight. Who turned off the lights? She was certain it was no accident.
Lightning zigzagged across the black sky, and a crack of thunder boomed. The Aldens hurried inside where they sat huddled around a table, waiting for the inspector.
Jessie rose and found two candles, then she quietly sat down again. Poor Kay, she thought. She has the worst luck in the world. If she didn’t get the loan, the roof wouldn’t be repaired, and all the other things she wanted to fix would go undone. She would have to sell. |