Hypothetical Mystery Challenge:
A taxi company that has always been reliable suddenly begins to experience difficulties. All over town, the taxi motors begin dying, even though the cars are serviced weekly. The company’s reputation suffers.
Who or what might be responsible?
“That’s a really good idea, Kate!” said Elizabeth, patting her friend on the shoulder.
Kate smiled with satisfaction. “From time to time, I write a pretend mystery for my readers to solve. Little do they know, the mysteries are real. I just change enough details so no one will figure it out.”
“What a clever way to get some outside help. Now, let’s send out an SOS to the other Camp Club Girls. They’re sure to help us figure it out. I don’t even know where to start.”
Kate typed the whole story, including the riverboat mishap, Elizabeth’s water balloon experience, and the teenaged troublemakers. In the subject line, she wrote: New Mystery! Need Help!
She continued on, typing what she and Elizabeth had seen so far. Just a couple of minutes after she pressed SEND, Elizabeth’s cell phone rang. It was Sydney.
“Hey, Beth. I just read the email. Tell Kate she’d better learn to swim if she’s going to solve a river mystery.”
Kate, who was standing close enough to the phone to hear, responded, “Ha, ha. Very funny. I plan to stay on dry land for this mystery, thank you very much.”
Elizabeth and Sydney laughed. Kate was brilliant. Nearly a genius. But an athlete, she was not.
“We don’t even know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?” Elizabeth asked Sydney.
“Well, those teenagers sound suspicious to me. You said they were laughing and pointing at the boats? It doesn’t seem funny. Maybe they had something to do with it.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” said Elizabeth.
“Well, keep me posted. And tell Kate not to fall in.” With a quick goodbye, Sydney hung up.
Checking the computer screen, they saw two more emails had come in. One was from Bailey:
Nail the teenagers! Follow their every move. I’ll bet they are the guilty parties.
The next was from McKenzie:
Are there any competing riverboat companies?
Elizabeth and Kate looked at each other.
“There is that other company that never stops to help. I wonder if they are trying to drum up more business for themselves,” Elizabeth mused.
“That’s a definite possibility. I wonder what Miss Hollywood is going to suggest.” As if on cue, Alex’s user name popped up on the live chat page.
Alex: Oh, this is soooo Nancy Drew! I wish I were there with you all.
Kate: We wish you were here too. Any ideas about the first step we should take?
Alex: I think you should follow those teenagers, but don’t rule out other possibilities yet.
Kate: We haven’t.
Alex: Notice everything. Does anyone have anything to gain by forcing this riverboat company out of business? Who owns the company? Do any company leaders have any enemies?
Kate moved to the side, and Elizabeth typed:
Those are good questions. I think we have enough to get us started now. Thanks.
Alex: This will be tough. Send me the names of the riverboat companies, and I’ll do some background research.
Elizabeth: Will do. We’ll get started now. Talk to you soon!
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the two girls peeked out of their doorway into the living area. It was Uncle Dan. “I hope I didn’t wake you all up,” he said.
Robert Anderson invited his brother in. “No, we’re still wide awake. Come on in.”
Uncle Dan wheeled into the room. He looked worried. “My friend Lyndel needs me to go with him to the police station. He owns River City Cruises—the one with all the boats breaking down. Now, one of his boats has been spray-painted by vandals. Neon pink! Of all people for this to happen to. He’s got enough to deal with already.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Sue Anderson. “What is this world coming to?”
Mr. Anderson rubbed his chin. “Lyndel…I believe that was the name of the captain I helped this morning. Can I do anything?”
Uncle Dan shook his head. “No. He just wants me to come for moral support. I wanted to let you know I’ll be gone for a while, but you can reach me on my cell phone.”
He said good night and left.
The two girls looked at each other, and retreated into their room. Vandals! Could the two events be related?
Teenagers Ahead!
The next morning, Kate, Elizabeth, and Biscuit stopped by the breakfast buffet at the hotel on their way to the Little Church at La Villita. Kate finished off a banana, an orange, a chocolate chip muffin, and was working on a cherry Danish.
“I don’t know where you put it all,” said Elizabeth, laughing. “You’re like a hummingbird—so tiny, yet always eating.”
Kate smiled and kept working on her last bites. “I can’t help it. I’m always starving,” she said. “But then, last month I went about two weeks when I wasn’t hungry at all. I hardly ate a thing, and my mom thought I was sick. Go figure.”
When the girls arrived at the church, Gary smiled and welcomed the girls. “I’m so glad you’re here. Elizabeth, Kate told me you are musical. The girl who was planning to lead music for us lost her voice. Would you mind leading the children in a few songs, while we finish setting up?”
Elizabeth looked at the children gathering in front of the church. The Bible club wasn’t supposed to start for another half hour, but these children looked eager to begin.
“No problem,” Elizabeth told the man, and walked up the steps in front of the small church.
“Good morning, everyone! My name is Elizabeth. Welcome to Bible Camp!”
A dozen pairs of eyes looked at her in expectation. “How many of you like to sing?”
A few of the children raised their hands. “Great!” Elizabeth told them. “Why don’t you, and you, and you come up here and help me lead everyone in some songs?”
She pointed out three of the children who’d raised their hands, and they scrambled up the steps to stand next to her.
Elizabeth tried to think of songs everyone would know. “Let’s sing, ‘This Little Light of Mine,’” she said, and started singing.
Only a few of them seemed to know the song, but they were quick learners. The group continued with “Jesus Loves Me,” and Elizabeth taught them the motions to some silly songs. The crowd grew as more children joined the group. Before long, Gary signaled to Elizabeth that she could stop, and the man climbed the steps and addressed the group.
“Welcome to Bible Camp!” the man said. “We’re glad you’re here today. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
As Gary continued telling the children about the upcoming games, snacks, and Bible stories, Elizabeth heard snickering. She turned to see the same group of teenagers from the day before. They were standing in the shadows of a small art museum, and they seemed to be making fun of Gary.
Why, the nerve! she thought. Well, good. You’re here, right under my nose. And I’ll find a way to make you ’fess up!
Gary didn’t miss a beat, though. “Hey guys! Glad you’re here. Come on up here with the rest of us. We’ll put you to work!” Gary’s smile was genuine, and the teenagers looked embarrassed.
“No thanks,” said Red-cap Boy, and the group shuffled away.
“Come back if you change your minds,” called Gary, and continued his speech.
The group of forty children was divided into three rotating groups: games, crafts, and Bible stories. Kate was helping with crafts, and moved to a long table set against the side of the old church. Elizabeth moved inside the church to help keep the children quiet during the Bible story time.
As she was about to enter the tall double doors, she noticed a movement to her right, in the shadows.
Those pesky teenagers again! Why won’t they just leave us alone? Leani
ng over the railing, she peered further into the shadows, and saw a little girl. Is that the little girl we saw with her mother on the Riverwalk yesterday?
Biscuit, whose leash was attached to the railing, barked and wagged his tail.
“Hello?” Elizabeth called. “Would you like to join us? We’re going to have a lot of fun!”
Silence.
Elizabeth moved down the steps, unhooked Biscuit’s leash from the railing, and stepped into the shadows where the girl was hiding.
“What is your name?” she asked.
No response.
“Would you like to pet Biscuit? He seems to like you,” she told the little girl.
Slowly, the girl lifted her eyes just enough to look at Biscuit. Her hair covered most of her face, and she reached out a tiny hand and rubbed Biscuit behind the ears. His tail wagged even more, but he remained calm. It was almost as if he knew he needed to be gentle with this girl.
“Why don’t you come inside with me?” Elizabeth asked, and took the girl by the hand. The girl looked only at the ground, and her thick, dark curls cascaded around her face. But when Elizabeth led her up the steps and into the church, she didn’t resist.
The two girls, with Biscuit, found seats behind the others. A brunette girl from Kate’s church was just starting. “Hello, everyone. My name is Charis, and I’m going to tell you a story.”
Elizabeth was thrilled when the girl began placing felt figures on a flannel board. Looking around the room, she saw every child’s eyes glued to the board.
The little girl beside her kept her head down, with her hair covering her face. But those two large brown eyes peered upward, taking in every word of the story. Elizabeth started to gently push the girl’s hair away from her eyes, but the girl moved out of reach.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth whispered, and turned her attention back to the story of Jonah. I wonder what makes her so afraid of people.
Eventually, Charis finished the story and asked everyone to bow for prayer. During the prayer, Elizabeth heard rustling beside her, but figured it was just Biscuit. When she opened her eyes, the little girl was gone.
The rest of the morning passed quickly, and before long, Kate approached Elizabeth outside the church. Her hands were covered in marker and glue.
“I don’t know why Gary asked me to help with crafts. It was fun, but I’m not very crafty. Give me some nuts and bolts and wires, and I’m good to go. But ask me to glue a circle onto a piece of paper, and I’m all thumbs. It was fun, though,” said Kate, using the back of her hand to push her glasses up on her nose. She pulled her backpack onto her shoulders, getting ready to leave.
“Did you see a little girl leave the church? She had thick, dark curls, and she walked with her head down,” Elizabeth asked her.
Charis approached them, hearing the last part of the conversation. “I noticed she left early. What happened? She listened to every word I said, but after the prayer, she was gone!”
Kate nodded. “I did see her leave, but I was covered in glue at the moment.”
Biscuit barked and wagged his tail. “I’ll bet Biscuit can find her, if she’s still around here,” Elizabeth said.
Kate knelt down and stroked the little dog’s fur. “Can you find the little girl, Biscuit? Take us to her!”
With a bark that told of understanding, the dog led the way. Kate held his leash, and Elizabeth waved to Charis before following Kate and Biscuit.
In and out of old stucco buildings Biscuit led them, stopping here and there, sniffing an area before moving forward. Suddenly, his ears perked up, his tail stuck straight out, and he growled.
Pulling the leash tight, he moved forward, practically dragging Kate. “Whoa, boy! Where are you taking us?”
Biscuit continued pursuing some unknown party, Kate and Elizabeth in his wake. They rounded the corner of an old building just in time to see a flash of red ball cap disappear behind another building.
Elizabeth and Kate looked at each other, but Biscuit gave no time for the girls to talk. Tugging fiercely on his leash, he pulled Kate, with Elizabeth following.
Before long, they had left the vicinity of the Riverwalk. “I sure hope Biscuit can lead us back, because I’m lost!” said Elizabeth. Then, she saw a sign that read THE ALAMO, with an arrow pointing to the right.
Biscuit barked and pulled even harder at his leash.
“Come on,” said Kate, and they let Biscuit lead the way. They kept seeing glimpses of the red hat ahead and knew they were following the group of teenagers.
Before long, they arrived at the Alamo site. It was crowded with tourists, and the girls could no longer see the gang of teens.
“Whoa,” breathed Kate. “So this is really the Alamo. I’ve always wanted to see the place where the Texans won their famous battle.”
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. “Kate,” she said. “We lost the Alamo.”
Kate stopped abruptly. “What? That can’t be true. In all the old Westerns, the cowboys ride around saying, ‘Remember the Alamo!’ Why would they want to remember it if they lost?”
Elizabeth took Kate by the arm and led her toward the old structure, which was now a museum.
“Come on, Yank. You’ve got some thangs to larn,” Elizabeth said in an exaggerated Texas accent.
“Yank? Who are you calling a Yank? Exactly what is a Yank, anyway?” Kate asked.
Elizabeth laughed. “A Yankee is just a person from up north who doesn’t really understand the Southern way of life.”
“Well, technically, Texas isn’t in the South. It’s in the West,” Kate corrected her.
“The Southwest,” Elizabeth answered playfully. “Actually, we’re not Southern or Western. We’re just plain Texan.”
They stopped just outside the large wooden doors and read a small plaque on the wall. “Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years.”
“Mission? The Alamo was a church?”
“Not exactly. It was a missionary home,” Elizabeth clarified. “But it was probably used for church services too.”
“And they blew it up?” Kate asked with disbelief. “Churches are supposed to be safe places!”
Elizabeth took her friend by the arm and led her inside, but not before picking up Biscuit and placing him in her friend’s backpack. “Come on. I think it’s time for a history lesson.”
The girls entered the mission just in time to join a tour group. Kate looked in awe at cannons, rusty pistols, even weathered sticks of dynamite as the tour guide gave them an overview of Texas history.
They were about halfway through the tour when Elizabeth spotted the red cap in the group in front of them. “Look!” she whispered, but Kate ignored her. She was fascinated with the tour guide’s words.
Kate raised her hand to ask a question. “So Santa Anna was trying to reclaim Texas to be a part of Mexico?”
“That’s correct,” the tour guide answered.
Elizabeth tried to get Kate’s attention again, but couldn’t. The red hat was moving toward the exit.
“And Santa Anna’s men lost on the first and second tries, but came back a third time and climbed the walls?” Kate continued.
“Yes,” the woman answered. “Many more of Santa Anna’s men were killed than Texans. But there were more to start with so when all was said and done, Santa Anna and his men won the victory.”
“It doesn’t seem like a fair fight to me,” Kate said.
“Many Texans felt that way. That’s why the battle at the Alamo caused many to join Sam Houston’s army, which resulted in Santa Anna’s defeat,” the woman said.
“Now I get it. That’s why they wanted to remember the Alamo. They didn’t want to let Santa Anna bully them anymore,” Kate said.
The boy with the red hat, along with the rest of his gang, were leaving the building. Elizabeth grabbed Kate by the arm and said, “It’s been a wonderful tour. Thank you so much. We’re s
orry we have to leave now.”
“Hey! What are you—” For the first time, Kate caught a glimpse of the gang of teenagers just as the door was closing.
“Oh! Bye!” Kate waved at the group of tourists and followed Elizabeth.
The girls stepped into the bright Texas sunlight and looked around. Nothing. The group had vanished.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m glad you’re so interested in Texas history, Kate. Really, I am. But your timing is a little…off!”
“Sorry,” said Kate. “It’s just that I had no idea! I can’t believe I’m really standing at the Alamo! I could be standing in the exact spot where…where…where John Wayne stood!”
Elizabeth, who had begun moving forward, stopped in her tracks. “Now that sounds exactly like something Alexis would say. You do know John Wayne was an actor in a movie, don’t you? He wasn’t really at the battle of the Alamo.”
Kate giggled. “I know. I just wanted to see what you’d say!”
Biscuit, whose face was poking out of Kate’s backpack, became agitated. He began wiggling and barking. Elizabeth reached over, removed Biscuit, and placed him on the ground. She was about to snap his leash into place when the little dog took off running!
“Biscuit, wait!” called Elizabeth, but Biscuit kept running. The girls had no choice but to chase their four-legged sidekick. He didn’t make it easy for them. He dodged in and out of tourists’ legs, causing several to drop their bags. Kate and Elizabeth followed after him at high speed, calling out, “Excuse me!” and “So sorry!”
At last, Biscuit stopped. When they caught up with him, he was barking fiercely at the gang of teenagers, and had Mr. Red-cap backed into a corner.
“Whoa, boy! What is your problem? Why don’t you like me, little dog?” the boy was saying. His back was flat against the brick wall of an art shop, and the customers and other tourists were gathering.
“Biscuit! Stop that!” said Kate, kneeling beside him and attaching his leash. “Sorry about that,” she said to the boy. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”
Biscuit continued growling, but submitted to Kate.
Camp Club Girls: Elizabeth Page 24
