After dinner, the Aldens each took a slice of Mrs. McGregor’s apple pie and headed outside to the front porch. Watch, their wire-haired terrier, raced outdoors with them.
“How did the smallest Alden end up with the biggest piece of pie?” asked Henry.
Benny, his cheeks stuffed with the delicious dessert, shrugged his shoulders.
“Henry,” asked Violet, “what do you really think about the vampire story? It seems like Mr. Hudson did see something in the cemetery that scared him.”
“I’m sure the vampire’s not real, Violet. But something odd does seem to be going on at Mr. Hudson’s house.”
“Yes,” said Jessie. “Why would someone steal the ‘For Sale’ sign on his front lawn?”
“I’m not sure,” said Henry. “Maybe it was just a joke.”
Violet shook her head. “Josh certainly wasn’t laughing.”
“No,” Jessie replied. “And Josh seemed really upset by the vampire story. I wish we knew a little more about that legend. It might help us to solve the mystery of what is going on at Mr. Hudson’s house.”
Benny jumped from his chair and dashed into the house. He returned with his backpack. Watch barked excitedly.
“Benny, what are you doing?” asked Jessie.
“It’s a clue!” Benny replied. “The book I got at the library yesterday that Mr. Hudson wrote. I put it in my backpack.”
“That’s right, Benny!” Henry said. “I had forgotten about The Legend of the Vampire.”
“And didn’t Mr. Hudson say that he based his book on the old vampire legend?” asked Violet.
“Yes, he did,” said Jessie. “Good work, Benny.”
Benny reached into his backpack. A funny look came over his face.
“What’s wrong?” asked Jessie.
“I know I put the book in my backpack,” he said. “But now it’s not here.”
“Maybe you took it out when you got home,” suggested Violet.
“No, I’m sure I didn’t,” Benny said.
“Could it have fallen out?” asked Jessie.
“I don’t think so,” Benny said. “There are no holes in my backpack. But maybe I didn’t zip it closed all the way.”
“We should ride our bikes back to the library and to Mr. Hudson’s,” Henry suggested. “We can look along the streets to check if the book fell out.”
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny strapped on their helmets and rode to the library. It was almost closing time.
“Hello, children,” said Mrs. Skylar. “The library will be closing in about ten minutes. Can I help you find something?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Skylar,” said Henry. “We were wondering if anyone turned in The Legend of the Vampire.”
Mrs. Skylar went to her computer and clicked the keys. “No,” she said. “The computer shows that it was checked out this morning by Benny. Did something happen to the book?”
“We seem to have misplaced it,” said Jessie. “But I’m sure we’ll find it soon.”
“I hope so,” said Mrs. Skylar. “Good luck.”
“Don’t look so sad, Benny,” said Jessie. “We still might find the book outside Mr. Hudson’s house.”
The four Aldens rode quickly through Greenfield until they arrived at Whittaker Street. It was still light out, but the sun was beginning to set behind Mr. Hudson’s house.
The woods and the cemetery were full of shadows.
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny spread out and searched the sidewalk and the lawn. There was no sign of the book.
“Maybe Mr. Hudson found it already,” Violet suggested. “He might have the book inside.”
Henry knocked on the door, but no one answered. It was very quiet.
Suddenly, a loud clatter came from the side yard. The children ran to the edge of the porch. Their bicycles were lying in a heap on the ground.
“That’s odd,” said Henry.
“Maybe it was the wind,” Violet suggested.
Benny jumped over the porch rail and picked up his bike. “It’s not very windy.” Something caught his eye and he pointed toward the cemetery. “Look!”
“What do you see?” asked Jessie.
But whatever it was, it was gone.
“I don’t know,” Benny said. “I thought I saw someone in a dark cape running. But I guess it was just a shadow.”
“We should get home,” Henry said. “Grandfather doesn’t like us riding our bikes in the dark. And it is getting late.”
“But what about the book?” asked Benny. “We still haven’t found it.”
“Don’t worry,” said Jessie. “If we don’t find it by the due date, we’ll all chip in from our allowance money to pay for the book.”
“Hey! Is that you Alden children over there making all that clatter?” Mrs. Fairfax was leaning against the rail of her front porch.
“We’re sorry,” Henry called. “The wind knocked our bicycles over. We’re leaving now.”
“I hope so,” she said, turning away and stomping back toward her front door. “A person can’t get any peace around here. And stop running through my backyard!”
“But we …” Violet wanted to explain that they had not run through her yard, but Mrs. Fairfax was already inside, the screen door slamming shut behind her.
“Why is she so angry?” asked Benny.
“Mrs. Fairfax probably just likes her peace and quiet,” Violet said. “I suppose she’s not used to such noises on this street. Maybe we frightened her.”
“I hope I don’t upset her when I have to cut the lawn,” Henry added. “Lawn mowers make plenty of noise.”
“So does my stomach,” said Benny. “All this bike riding has made me hungry.”
Henry laughed. “Let’s go home and get you another piece of Mrs. McGregor’s pie.”
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