“We were in the mall,” Benny was telling Grandfather at dinner that night, “and guess what we heard on the overhead speakers?”
“I have a hunch it had something to do with a mystery,” answered Grandfather. “Am I right?”
Benny’s jaw dropped. “How did you know?”
Grandfather chuckled. “Because my grandchildren have a way of attracting mysteries.”
“The Greenfield radio station is having a contest, Grandfather,” Henry said. “The Great Detective Race.”
Jessie added, “There’s a code word hidden somewhere in town. The first person who finds it, wins the race.”
“We’re hoping to win tickets to Swan Lake,” Violet said. She looked to make sure their housekeeper wasn’t around. “For Mrs. McGregor’s birthday,” she whispered behind her hand.
Grandfather nodded approvingly. “That’s a great idea.”
“And that’s not all,” Benny added. “The winner gets a ride with Chopper Dan—in his helicopter!”
“Well, it’s not Chopper Dan’s helicopter, Benny,” Henry corrected. “I’m pretty sure it belongs to the radio station.”
“It won’t be an easy race to win,” Jessie said. “Lots of people were signing up for the contest.”
“Unless I miss my guess,” Grandfather said, pushing back his chair, “my grandchildren will have this mystery wrapped up in no time.”
The Aldens got up to clear the table as their grandfather left the room.
“Debra was right,” Henry said, stacking the dinner plates. “That first clue really is a doozy!”
“Why don’t you read it again, Henry,” Violet suggested, as they carried the dishes into the kitchen.
Henry read the riddle aloud:
The Pied Piper’s tune
is the sweetest of all;
to find the next clue,
just answer his call.
“I remember that story,” Benny said, handing Jessie an empty platter. “The Pied Piper saved a town from rats.”
Jessie nodded as she opened up the dishwasher. “He saved the town of Hamelin.”
“But Hamelin wouldn’t pay the piper’s fee,” added Henry, “so he decided to teach them a lesson.”
“What did he do again?” Benny wanted to know.
“He played a tune on his pipe,” Violet reminded him. “All the children followed him out of town.”
Benny frowned. “Did that really happen?”
“No, it’s just a story, Benny,” Jessie told him.
“Then how can we follow his call?” Benny wanted to know. “If he isn’t real, I mean.”
“Good question,” Henry said. He gathered the dirty forks and knives and put them into the dishwasher rack.
Just then, Mrs. McGregor came into the room. “I never imagined they’d be sold out already,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.
“Is anything wrong, Mrs. McGregor?” Violet asked.
“I was hoping to get tickets to see the ballet, Violet,” Mrs. McGregor told her. “But it looks like I’m out of luck.” She reached her sewing basket down from the cupboard with a sigh. “I guess the early bird gets the worm.”
As their housekeeper left the room, Violet shook her head. “Mrs. McGregor looked so disappointed. I sure hope we can win those tickets for her.”
Henry nodded. “The answer’s got to be somewhere in the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
“There’s something about that name that rings a bell,” said Jessie.
“What name, Jessie?” Benny wondered. “The Pied Piper?”
Jessie shook her head. “No, not that,” she said. “I’m talking about the name of the town. I have a feeling—” Her face suddenly lit up, then she dashed from the room.
A moment later, Jessie came back waving a street map in the air. “I want to check something out,” she told them.
The other Aldens gathered round while Jessie opened the map. As she bent over the table to look at it, she suddenly thumped her finger down. “I knew it sounded familiar!” she said, pointing to a street just behind the Greenfield tennis courts.
Henry, Violet, and Benny took a closer look. “It’s Hamelin Lane!” Violet realized.
“That’s good detective work, Jessie!” said Henry. He slapped his sister a high-five. So did Violet and Benny.
“You think that’s where we’ll find the next clue?” asked Benny. “Somewhere on Hamelin Lane?”
“That’d be my guess,” said Jessie.
Benny let out a cheer. It was always fun figuring out clues.
After breakfast the next morning, the Aldens put on their WGFD baseball caps and hopped on their bikes. With Watch beside them, they set off for Hamelin Lane. Henry held their little dog’s leash as they pedaled along. They were careful not to go too fast so that Watch could keep up with them.
“Keep your eyes peeled,” Henry advised when they reached the lane behind the tennis courts. “Remember, anything unusual can be a clue.”
The children rode up and down Hamelin Lane. Once … twice … three times. They saw a teenager cutting the grass, kids throwing a Frisbee, and a woman knitting at her kitchen window. But they saw nothing that would help them win the Great Detective Race. They finally stopped.
“I was so sure we were on the right track,” Jessie said, as they walked their bikes across the grassy lawn by the tennis courts.
Henry nodded. “The clues seemed to fit.” Benny had a thought. “Maybe we should be looking for rats.”
“Ooooh!” Violet shivered. “Do you really think so, Benny?”
“Well, The Pied Piper of Hamelin was a story about rats.”
“You might be on to something, Benny,” Henry said thoughtfully.
Jessie turned to her older brother. “What are you thinking, Henry?”
“What’s the name of the bookstore?” Henry asked.
Jessie snapped her fingers as she remembered. “The Rat Cellar!”
Benny grinned. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
With that, they headed down Main Street. While Violet waited on the sidewalk with Watch, the other Aldens went inside the Rat Cellar to look for clues. They searched up one aisle and down another. They even checked out the books on the bargain table. But it was no use.
“Looks like we struck out again,” Henry said, heading for the door.
“Wait a minute, Henry.” Benny pulled on his brother’s arm. “We’re forgetting something.”
Henry turned around. “What’s that, Benny?”
“Remember what Debra Belmont said?” he reminded them. “About the magic words, I mean.”
“Oh, right!” said Henry. “Good thinking.”
With that, Benny walked up to the salesclerk. “I listen to the Big G!” he announced.
“What …?” The salesclerk looked startled. “That’s, um, … nice,” she said, then hurried away to help a customer.
“Well, that didn’t work,” Henry said as they stepped outside.
“No luck?” Violet asked.
Jessie shook her head. “Zero.”
Violet had been thinking. “There’s a music store just down the street. Let’s check it out.”
“A music store?” Henry looked puzzled, but only for a moment. “Oh, because the Pied Piper played music on his pipe, right?”
“Exactly,” said Violet, taking her bike from the rack.
“Hi there, kids!” said a voice behind them.
As they whirled around, Amber Madison flashed them a smile. The children were so surprised by the author’s friendly greeting, they were speechless for a moment.
“You’re the Aldens, right?” Amber went on. “I noticed you signing up for the Great Detective Race. Are you getting anywhere with it?”
“Not really,” said Jessie. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Oh,” said Amber. “Too bad.” She sounded disappointed.
“But we’re getting warmer,” Benny said.
Amber lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?” She flashed them another smile. “I’d love to hear all about it,” she said. “I find it quite fascinating.”
Jessie suddenly felt very uncomfortable. “We have to go,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Sorry.”
The Aldens hurried away.
“That was weird,” Jessie said, when they were out of earshot. “How did Amber Madison know who we were?”
“We didn’t tell her our names,” said Benny.
“Maybe she overheard us talking at the mall,” suggested Violet. “I noticed her sitting on the edge of the fountain nearby.”
But Jessie wondered if Amber Madison had asked someone who they were. But why?
When they got to the music store, they soon forgot all about the author. Jessie, Violet, and Benny gave the shop a careful search while Henry had waited outside with Watch. They checked out the flute section twice. They even said the magic words to the salesclerk. But he just looked puzzled. Finally, they stepped outside again, shaking their heads.
“Another dead end?” Henry asked.
Violet nodded. “Looks that way.”
Just then, Benny caught his breath. “Look!”
The others followed their little brother’s gaze down the street. “Oh my gosh!” cried Violet. “Is that what I think it is?”
Jessie nodded. “It’s a … a giant turkey!”
Henry laughed. “I think it’s just Dennis Howe in some kind of turkey getup!” Dennis was a college student—and one of the Aldens’ neighbors.
Sure enough, Dennis greeted them with a cheery smile. “Good to see you again, kids!”
“Cool costume!” chirped Benny.
“Actually it’s anything but cool, Benny,” Dennis said, as he knelt down to pet Watch. “I’m roasting under all these feathers.”
“So … why are you dressed up like a turkey, Dennis?” Henry wanted to know.
“Goes with the job.” Dennis looked up as he scratched Watch behind the ears. “I’m handing out fliers for the Turkey Trot dance studio,” he explained. “And what are you kids doing in town?”
“We’re on the hunt for clues,” Jessie told him. “We’re taking part in the Great Detective Race.”
“That explains the baseball caps,” Dennis said, standing up. “They’re very popular around here lately.”
The Aldens glanced around at the shoppers. Dennis was right. Half the people in town seemed to be wearing WGFD baseball caps! Could they find the code word before anyone else? |