The Firehouse Mystery

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  “I’ve just begun to learn that old things can be valuable,” said Rebecca. “And beautiful,” she added. Quickly she tucked the drawing of the trophies under the rest of the plans. “Listen, if that’s all you came for, you might as well go. As I said, this is my first big break. I’ll do anything to hang on to this project. Anything.”She looked very serious.

  “All right,” said Jessie. “I’m sorry we couldn’t change your mind.”

  “And I’m sorry I couldn’t change yours,” Rebecca said.

  The Aldens went from Rebecca’s studio to the nursery to pick up more evergreens. The woman behind the counter was surprised to see them again. “Weren’t you just in here buying some of these yesterday?” she asked.

  “Yes,” said Henry. “But there was a little . . . um, problem. We need more.”

  The grocery store was right next to the nursery. The Aldens went inside, and Jessie picked up a basket.

  “We’ll need some ground beef,” said Henry

  “While you’re getting that, I’ll get some canned tomatoes, beans, and some spices,” said Jessie.

  “I’ll pick out an onion and a green pepper,” Violet said.

  “What can I do?” asked Benny.

  “Why don’t you go get a box of rice and some cheddar cheese to serve with the chili,” Henry suggested.

  In no time, the children had collected everything they needed for the chili and were back on their bicycles, heading back to the firehouse. As they rode, they talked about their visit to Rebecca’s studio.

  “Remember what she was saying on the phone when we came in?” asked Henry. “Something about money.”

  “Yes. I wonder what she was talking about,” Jessie said.

  “I’ve been thinking about the drawing of the trophies,” said Violet. “It was so carefully done, and yet she didn’t seem to want to talk about it.”

  “I noticed that, too,” Jessie agreed. “And she made some comment about old things being valuable. . . . I had the feeling that she meant more than she was saying.”

  Soon the children arrived at the firehouse. Christine and Shawn were there, putting on their gear. They weren’t moving as quickly as usual.

  “Is there a fire?” asked Benny.

  “No,” said Christine with a smile. “Today’s job is a little unusual. If you want to come watch, we’ll be on Oak Lane.” A moment later, she and Shawn drove off in the truck.

  “That sounds mysterious!” said Violet. “What do you think they’re doing?”

  “Only one way to find out,” said Henry. And so after quickly putting away their groceries, the Aldens got back on their bicycles. Oak Lane wasn’t too far away. A few minutes later they were coasting down the road, parking their bikes near the fire truck.

  Shawn was getting some tools out of the back of the truck. Christine was standing in the road, next to a sewer. She was talking to an attractive woman with brown curly hair. Christine motioned to the children to join her. “This is Mrs. Berg. She’ll tell you what’s going on.”

  Mrs. Berg took up the story. “This morning I heard some little noises down in the sewer. At first I thought I was imagining things. But when I went closer and peered down inside, I realized what it was. A kitten has fallen into the sewer.”

  “Oh, no!” said Jessie. “How sad.”

  “Luckily, there’s a dry ledge on the side of the sewer, so he’ll be okay for a while,” said Mrs. Berg.

  “Don’t worry,” said Christine. “We’ll get the little guy out.”

  Shawn had taken the tools over to the sewer and was prying the grating off. As Mrs. Berg and the Aldens watched, he and Christine slowly lifted the heavy piece of metal. Then Christine reached in and pulled out the tiny kitten.

  “How sweet,” Violet said, as Christine held up the kitten for Mrs. Berg and the children to see.

  “He doesn’t seem to be hurt,” said Christine. “We’ll call the animal shelter to see if anyone has lost a kitten.”

  “I’ve heard of firefighters rescuing cats stuck up in trees, but not in sewers!” said Benny, surprised.

  “People call us whenever they need something done and don’t know who else to call,” said Shawn.

  The Aldens rode their bikes back to the firehouse and arranged the new evergreens in the window boxes. “I hope nothing happens to these,” said Violet. Then they joined Steve for lunch. The Aldens all sat around the kitchen table, eating the tuna fish sandwiches Mrs. McGregor had made for them.

  When they were finished with lunch, the children started making the chili, since it would need several hours to simmer before dinnertime. With Steve supervising, Henry carefully turned on the stove. Then he put the ground beef in a large pot and put it on the stove. Soon it began to sizzle, and Henry stirred it with a long wooden spoon.

  Meanwhile, Jessie got out a cutting board. She chopped up the onion and green pepper, being extra careful with the knife. When she was done, she slid the vegetable pieces off the cutting board and into the pot with the browned meat. Soon a wonderful smell filled the room.

  When the onions and peppers were cooked, Violet opened the cans of tomatoes and beans and dumped them into the pot. Then Benny carefully measured out the spices — cumin, garlic, and chili powder — with measuring spoons. Standing up on a chair so that he could reach, he dropped each spoonful into the pot and stirred it with the wooden spoon.

  Jessie turned down the heat under the pot. “Now that just needs to simmer for a few hours, and it will be ready for dinner.”

  “It smells delicious,” said Steve. “I can’t wait!”

  While the chili simmered, the Aldens began to paint the inside of the firehouse. Some of the firefighters had prepared the rooms while the Aldens were away. They had moved the furniture away from the walls and draped it with big white sheets. They had also covered the floor with newspapers and put tape around all the doorknobs, windows, and light switches.

  The Aldens spent the rest of the afternoon painting. With the help of the firefighters, the downstairs was almost completed by dinnertime.

  “We’ll finish up here tomorrow morning and then move on to the upstairs,” said Jessie as they packed up their things. “We’ll finish just in time for the rally Saturday!”

  “Now it’s time to finish preparing dinner,” said Henry.

  The Aldens washed their hands carefully in the kitchen. Then Henry put a large pot of water on the stove to boil, before pouring in some rice. Benny grated the sharp cheddar cheese and put it in a bowl. Meanwhile, Jessie and Violet were setting the table. Besides Steve, there were six firefighters who would be joining them for dinner.

  “It’s a good thing we made a big pot of chili,” said Violet as she and Jessie laid plates around the kitchen table. Beside each plate they put a knife, fork, and spoon, and a paper napkin. Then they filled glasses with water or milk and put them around the table, too.

  “The rice is ready,” said Henry finally.

  Jessie peered into the chili pot and stirred the mixture with the wooden spoon. “The chili looks just right,” she said.

  “Dinnertime!” Benny called out.

  Steve came out of his office. “Smelling that wonderful smell all afternoon has been making me hungry,” he said as he wheeled up to the table.

  One by one, the other firefighters came and sat down. A couple of them had been watching TV in the living room, and one had been reading a book upstairs. The others had been working on one of the trucks in the garage.

  Henry served rice into each bowl and handed it to Jessie. She spooned the steaming hot chili over the rice. Then Benny sprinkled the top of each bowl with grated cheese. Violet carried the bowls to the table and handed one to each firefighter.

  Soon all the bowls had been filled and the Aldens sat down at the table with the others.

  “Mmmm!” said Tom, tasting his first spoonful. “This is delicious!”

  “Sure is,” Shawn agreed. “Even better than the chili I make.”

  Jessie took a taste
. “Not bad,” she admitted, turning to her sister and brothers. “But Mrs. McGregor still makes it the best.”

  Several of the firefighters had seconds, and Steve even had a third bowl.

  When everyone had eaten his or her fill of the delicious chili, the Aldens cleared the dishes away. Then Steve got a large container of mint chip ice cream out of the freezer and served everyone a large scoop.

  “This is the perfect way to finish off the meal!” said Violet, putting a spoonful of the green speckled ice cream in her mouth.

  At last even Benny was full. Jessie and Henry washed the dishes, while Benny and Violet and a couple of the firefighters dried them and put them away.

  When the kitchen was neat and clean, Benny tried to stifle a yawn, but Jessie spotted it. “I think it’s time we went home. It’s been a busy day.”

  “Thank you so much for making dinner,” Tom said, and the other firefighters chimed in with their thanks, too.

  “Yes,” said Steve. “You kids are great cooks!”

  The next morning, the Aldens were happy to see the evergreens still decorating the window boxes.

  “The place looks great, so far,” Mike told them as they started painting. “Keep up the good work.”

  “Thanks,” said Henry.

  A couple of firefighters helped finish painting the downstairs. As they were all taking a break for lunch, one of the men turned to Jessie. “Hey, I hear you kids have a petition to save the firehouse. I’d like to sign.”

  “Great, I’ll get it,” said Jessie, running to fetch her knapsack from the garage. But when she opened it and looked inside, the petition was gone!

  CHAPTER 7

  Lost — and Found!

  It’s got to be here some where,” Jessie muttered to herself. She took everything out of her knapsack. But the petition wasn’t there. “How can this be?” she said to herself. “I never lose things.”

  Jessie searched everywhere in the garage. Maybe the petition had fallen out somehow. But it was nowhere to be found.

  Jessie ran back into the firehouse to tell the others.

  “What do you mean the petition’s missing?” asked Henry. “Didn’t you have it in your knapsack?”

  “Yes,” said Jessie. “But now I can’t find it.”

  The Aldens could see how upset their sister was. “Let’s go out to the garage and take another look,” said Violet. “Maybe you just misplaced it somehow.”

  But, back in the garage, the others had no better luck than Jessie.

  “Where was the knapsack?” Henry asked.

  “Right here,” said Jessie, pointing to the floor at her feet.

  Henry looked at the wide-open garage doors. “So your knapsack was sitting out in the garage all morning while we were inside painting?”

  “Yes,” Jessie said.

  “I hate to say this,” Henry began. “But . . . I wonder if someone took the petition.”

  “You think someone stole it?” asked Benny.

  “I can’t think of any other explanation,” Henry said as they went back inside the firehouse.

  “But who do you think would have taken it?” asked Jessie.

  “I don’t know,” said Henry. “But probably the same person who’s been doing the other things to harm the firehouse. Without that petition, the town council won’t know how many people want to save this place.”

  “Well, there’s just one thing to do,” said Jessie. “Tomorrow I’ll go out and get all those signatures again. The petition was my responsibility, and so it’s my fault it’s gone.”

  “We’ll all help get signatures,” said Henry. “Whoever’s trying to stop us from saving the firehouse doesn’t know one important thing about the Aldens.”

  “What’s that?” asked Violet.

  “We don’t give up!” said Henry.

  Just then they heard Sparky barking and the door opened. It was Rebecca Wright, carrying her sketch pad and a big bag.

  After greeting the Aldens, she turned to Steve, who had come to help them paint. “Mind if I take another look around?” she asked.

  “Of course not,” Steve replied. “You can leave your things here on the couch if you’d like.”

  The Aldens watched as Rebecca put down her bag. Then, sketch pad in hand, she began to walk around. She paused in front of the antique silver pieces for several minutes, a thoughtful look on her face.

  “Is anything wrong?” Henry asked, seeing how closely she was studying them.

  Rebecca didn’t answer.

  “Rebecca?” Jessie said.

  She jumped. “What — oh, I’m sorry, I was just thinking. Did you ask me something?”

  “I just wondered if anything was wrong,” Henry said.

  Rebecca didn’t answer for a moment. She looked again at the silver pieces. “No, no, I guess not,” she said at last.

  Rebecca headed upstairs just as the Aldens had finished packing up the supplies to bring up there.

  “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m tired of painting,” said Benny, putting down his brush and sitting down on the couch. “I wanted to learn about firefighting, not painting.”

  “I wouldn’t mind taking a break myself,” said Violet.

  “That’s fine,” said Jessie. “Henry and I will take the supplies upstairs and start getting ready to paint.”

  Steve rolled up beside Benny and Violet. “Well, if you’re going to be firefighters, then you need to know the five most important safety rules,” he said. “What do you think the most important rule is?”

  “Never play with matches?” asked Violet.

  “That’s right. Lots of fires start that way,” Steve told them. “Stay away from open flames, like barbecue grills. Last night, when you were making the chili, I was glad that you asked me for help before you turned on the stove. You should never use the stove without an adult’s help.”

  “We always ask Grandfather or Mrs. McGregor or Aunt Jane to help us,” said Violet.

  “Now for the next rule. What should you do if you think there’s a fire in the house?” asked Steve.

  “Call the fire department?” asked Benny.

  “Even before that,” said Steve.

  “Get out?” Violet asked.

  “Yes,” Steve said. “Get out quickly. If it’s smoky crawl low on the ground. Don’t go back in even if you’ve forgotten something. Wait until an adult tells you it’s safe.”

  “Why do you crawl?” Benny wanted to know.

  “Because it’s very dangerous to breathe smoke,” Steve explained. “Since smoke rises, the clearest air is near the ground.”

  “I get it,” said Benny.

  Steve went on, “Make sure you know at least two ways out. You should even have some practice fire drills with your family.”

  “Then do you call the fire department?” asked Benny.

  “Yes, that’s the next rule. As soon as you’re safe, call the fire department right away,” said Steve. “In many towns you can just dial 9-1-1 for any kind of emergency. Make sure the emergency numbers are taped to the phone.”

  “What about ‘stop, drop, and roll’?” asked Violet.

  “What’s that?” asked Benny. “Sounds like a new dance!”

  Steve laughed. “That’s rule number four, and it’s what you do if your clothes catch on fire. You should never run, because that will only make the fire burn more. Violet, why don’t you show Benny?” Violet stood up.

  “First you stop,” said Steve. Violet stood very still.

  “Then you drop,” he said. Violet dropped to the floor and lay down.

  “Then you roll,” he finished, as Violet rolled on the floor. “Rolling on the ground will put out the flames. Be sure to cover your face with your hands.”

  “Now I get it,” said Benny, as he rolled on the floor next to Violet.

  “And the last rule is, make sure your Grandfather changes the batteries in your smoke alarms every year,” said Steve. “Now, can you kids repeat those rules back to me?”
r />   One by one, Violet and Benny recited each rule.

  “You’re good students. Now how about a cup of hot cocoa?” Steve asked.

  “That sounds great,” said Benny, going with Steve into the kitchen. “I’ll get one for you, Violet.”

  A few minutes later, Benny returned with two steaming mugs of cocoa.

  “Benny,” Violet whispered, her voice tense. “Come here, quick.”

  Benny looked at his sister. She was sitting on the couch staring at Rebecca Wright’s bag. “What is it?” Benny asked, hurrying over to her. “Why are you acting so strange?”

  “Look what’s sticking out of Rebecca’s bag,” said Violet.

  “What do you mean?” Benny asked.

  “Just look,” said Violet. “Quick, before she comes back downstairs.

  Benny looked, and his eyes grew big and round. He saw immediately why his sister was behaving so oddly. Sticking up out of Rebecca’s bag was a folded piece of paper. On the paper he could see Violet’s handwriting at the top and a long column of signatures underneath. It was the petition! “What’s that doing in there?” he asked.

  “Shhhh! She’ll hear you,” Violet said, her voice hushed.

  “What’s that doing in there?” Benny repeated in a whisper.

  “That’s just what I was wondering,” Violet whispered back.

  “Rebecca must have taken it,” said Benny. “But why?”

  “That doesn’t matter right now,” said Violet. “What matters is, how are we going to get it back?”

  “I think we should just ask her for it,” said Benny. “After all, it’s ours, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but — ” Violet started to say. But it was too late. Rebecca had come down the stairs, and she was heading right for them.

  CHAPTER 8

  A Broken Lock

  See you all later,” Rebecca said, picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

  Benny looked at Violet. Rebecca was about to leave, and she still had their petition!

  Before Violet could stop him, Benny blurted out, “Rebecca, isn’t that our petition in your bag?”

  Rebecca turned around, her face pink. “Oh, my goodness, that’s right.” She laughed uncomfortably. “I feel so silly! I forgot I had brought it to give back to you.” She put down her bag, pulled out the petition, and handed it to Benny.