The Zombie Project
Page 6
“We’ll follow the clues and find out,” said Jessie.
“I see Madison,” said Violet. She pointed at the reporter. Click! Click! Click! Madison was taking pictures of the flattened dirt and grass next to the trail they had cleared earlier.
“Don’t let her see us,” said Henry.
The Aldens quickly stepped into the woods and hid behind a tree.
“The zombie came back,” said Violet softly.
“The trail is torn up again?” whispered Henry.
“Yes, it is,” said Violet. “Here, look for yourself.” She gave the camera to Henry.
Benny looked over at the old fishing lodge. No one lived there, but something was different. What was it?
Benny closed his eyes and then he opened them again. It was the porch. There was something new on the porch. It was a tall, skinny bag filled with black-and-silver sticks. Each stick had a big silver handle at the top.
“What is that on the porch?” said Benny.
“It’s a golf bag,” said Henry. “See the golf clubs sticking out of it?” Then he put his hand on his forehead. “That’s it!”
“What?” said Benny.
“Do you remember Matthew Donovan, the guy that was making Madison crazy?” said Henry.
Jessie nodded her head. “The missing millionaire,” she said.
“He was missing his own charity golf tournament,” said Violet.
“Is he in the cabin?” asked Benny.
“I think so,” said Henry. “Let’s go tell Madison.”
The Aldens walked down the trail to where Madison was taking pictures. They told her what they had seen.
“You found Matthew Donovan!” said Madison.
“Well, we didn’t see him,” said Henry.
“We saw golf clubs,” said Jessie.
“It must be him,” said Madison. “That man is always playing golf. He even plays in his office.”
“In his office?” repeated Benny.
“Crazy, isn’t it?” replied Madison. “Where did you see him? I mean, where did you see the golf clubs?”
“At the old fishing lodge,” said Henry.
“Let’s go,” said Madison. She took her cell phone out of her pocket. “There’s one way to find out if Matthew Donovan is inside.”
“What is that?” asked Violet.
“We can call him!” said Madison.
Madison and the children walked down the trail to the clearing by the old fishing lodge. Then Madison called the number she had for Matthew Donovan.
Inside the cabin, they could hear a phone ringing.
Madison hung up. “I have to call Sheriff Briggs,” said Madison. She quickly called the sheriff’s department.
“Sheriff Briggs,” said Madison. “I have some good news.”
The Aldens waited with Madison until the sheriff and his three deputies arrived. They walked into the woods, and a few minutes later, Sheriff Briggs was with Matthew Donovan, who wore handcuffs.
Madison took her notebook and her pen out of her pocket. She went up to the millionaire and started asking questions. “Did you spend all of the investors’ money, Donovan? Is that why you were hiding in the woods dressed in a zombie costume, so no one could find you? And why did you tear up the grass here?” She pointed at the clumps of grass next to the trail. “Did you think we wouldn’t notice?”
“Madison said he was making her crazy,” said Jessie.
“Now he’s making news,” said Henry.
“I’ll record it for her,” said Violet. She walked over and filmed Madison talking to Matthew Donovan.
“Now wait a minute!” said Donovan. “Everyone makes divots when they play golf. The club pulls up a bit of dirt and grass when it swings. I was just playing a little night golf.”
“Dressed as a zombie?” said Madison.
“Everyone knows about the zombie legend at this lodge,” said Donovan. “I heard it when I was only a child, like them.” He looked over at the Aldens. “I was just having a little fun.”
Donovan leaned forward and stared at Madison. “Why are you bothering me? I came here to get away from nosy reporters like you.”
“So you were hiding from your investors,” said Madison.
“I’m not hiding,” said Donovan. “I didn’t steal the investors’ money. It’s all just a misunderstanding.”
“I don’t think your investors would agree,” replied Madison.
“No, they don’t,” said Sheriff Briggs. “That’s why we’re here.” Then Sheriff Briggs and his deputies took Matthew Donovan away.
Madison took out her cell phone and called her editor. “I have your front page story for tomorrow,” said Madison. Then she turned and looked at Violet. “And some news footage, too.”
That night, Violet’s film was on the news, and the next morning, Madison’s story was on the front page of the Greenfield Gazette with one of Violet’s photos. Even the teens woke up early that morning. They were huddled over a copy of the newspaper at the end of the table.
“So there isn’t really a zombie,” said Benny.
“No,” said Jake. “It’s just an old story.”
Ring! Ring!
“There it goes again,” said Maude. She stood up and walked into the lobby to answer the phone.
“The phone has been ringing all morning,” said Jessie.
“Everyone wants to come and see where the missing millionaire was hiding out,” said Jake. “Thanks to you, it looks like business is picking up.”
“Glad we could help,” said Henry.
“Can we see your zombie movie?” asked Jessie.
“Sure,” said Jake. “We call it The Zombie Project. I posted it online last night.”
“You put it online?” said Violet.
“Then everyone can see it,” said Jake. “We made the movie to help Grandma. We wanted more people to know about the lodge.”
“That’s right,” said Abby. She put her arm around Jake.
Jake gave Abby a kiss. “Let me go get my laptop,” said Jake. “It’s in my room.” He walked out of the dining room.
“I’ll make the popcorn,” said Abby, and she went into the kitchen.
“Popcorn!” said Benny. “Yum!”
“For breakfast?” said Jessie.
“It’s a special occasion,” said Violet.
“It’s not every day that you catch a zombie,” said Henry.
Caleb stood up and put his hands out in front of him. Then he grimaced and began walking slowly across the dining room floor. “Uh-uh-uh!” he said.
Benny ran over and grabbed Caleb by the waist.
“You got me!” said Caleb.
The Aldens laughed.
About the Author
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER discovered when she was teaching that many readers who like an exciting story could find no books that were both easy and fun to read. She decided to try to meet this need, and her first book, The Boxcar Children, quickly proved she had succeeded.
Miss Warner drew on her own experiences to write the mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks opposite her family home. She often dreamed about what it would be like to set up housekeeping in a caboose or freight car — the situation the Alden children find themselves in.
When Miss Warner received requests for more adventures involving Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, she began additional stories. In each, she chose a special setting and introduced unusual or eccentric characters who liked the unpredictable.
While the mystery element is central to each of Miss Warner’s books, she never thought of them as strictly juvenile mysteries. She liked to stress the Aldens’ independence and resourcefulness and their solid New England devotion to using up and making do. The Aldens go about most of their adventures with as little adult supervision as possible — something else that delights young readers.
Miss Warner lived in Putnam, Connecticut, until her death in 1979. During her lifetime, she received hundreds of letter
s from girls and boys telling her how much they liked her books.
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 2011 by Albert Whitman & Company
978-1-4532-2153-2
This 2011 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media
180 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com