“I bet supermarkets all over the country stop selling it!” Sydney added.
Her aunt’s brow wrinkled. “Oh dear! I know the Hamptons, who own the creamery. They’re such nice people. This is terrible…terrible!”
“Very strange,” Uncle Ollie added, shaking his head. “Highly unusual goings-on over there lately.”
Aunt Molly led the girls into the kitchen, and Kate’s parents soon joined them. After they sat down at a fully laden table and asked God to bless the food, Kate told her parents about their adventurous trip, but Sydney interrupted and told the part about the rats. “It was d–d–dis–gus–ting!” she added.
“Not a rat fan?” Uncle Ollie asked.
Sydney shook her head. “No, sir!”
“When Dexter was younger, he had a pet rat named Cheez-It,” Kate’s father explained. “I’ll never forget that little guy. He was pretty cute, actually.”
“Only, he bit me and I started calling him Cheez-Nips,” her mother added, then grinned. “I never could stand rats. Still can’t.”
Sydney shivered, but Kate laughed. “They’re okay in a cage,” she said, “but not running around in a creamery.”
Suddenly the food didn’t look very appetizing, even to Kate, who usually loved to eat. And she couldn’t help but notice the cubes of cheese in the center of the table. She closed her eyes and pretended they weren’t there.
Aunt Molly clucked her tongue as she scooped up big bowls of steaming vegetable soup. “That poor, poor Hampton family. Haven’t they had enough trouble already? Now their creamery will be shut down. It’s a shame, I tell you.”
She set a bowl of soup in front of Kate, and suddenly her appetite returned. She took a yummy bite and listened to the adults talk.
“Has this happened before?” Kate’s mother asked.
“Sadly, yes,” Uncle Ollie said.
“This isn’t the first time the health inspectors have come,” Aunt Molly explained. “They’ve been out twice before. Can’t imagine what’s causing this.”
“Sounds like they’ll have to shut the place down permanently, then,” Kate’s dad said.
Aunt Molly shook her head. “Just seems so sad. I’ve known the Hamptons since I was young. They’re good people. And the creamery has had such a great record of cleanliness. Until a week ago. First I heard about an ant infestation. Then spiders. And now…rats! This is all so…shocking. Folks around here just find this all so unbelievable!”
“Hmm.” Kate pondered her aunt’s words. “Why would they have a rat problem now, after all these years? Out of the blue? Seems…”
“Suspicious?” Sydney whispered.
“Yes.”
“Highly unusual goings-on,” her uncle added, shaking his head. “Quite odd.”
Kate looked at Sydney, her excitement growing. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Maybe they don’t really have a rat problem at the creamery,” Sydney whispered. “Maybe someone is just trying to make it look like they do, to sabotage them!”
“But, why?” Kate asked. “And what can we do about it?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m gonna pray about it.” Sydney nodded.
“Me too. And maybe, just maybe…” Kate smiled, thinking about the possibilities. This wouldn’t be the first case she and Sydney had solved together. No, with the help of their friends—the Camp Club Girls—they’d almost become supersleuths! They even had a page on the internet and a chat room!
“I’m glad you’re going to help figure this out,” Dex said with a frantic look in his eyes. “If the Mad River Creamery shuts down, I won’t be able to eat my favorite cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream anymore!”
“Oh, that’s right.” Kate clamped her hand over her mouth. “It’s not just the cheese customers will be losing…it’s ice cream too.”
“And milk,” her mother added. “Their milk is the best in the country.”
“But I’ll miss their ice cream most,” Dexter said with a pout.
Kate forced a serious expression as she said, “Especially their newest flavor.”
“Newest flavor?” Sydney and Dexter looked at her with curious looks on their faces.
“Rat-a-tat-tat!” She almost fell off of the chair, laughing. “Get it? Rat-a-tat-tat!” She doubled over with laughter.
“That’s horrible, Kate Oliver!” Sydney said, standing. “I’m never going to be able to enjoy ice cream again.”
“You don’t eat sugar anyway,” Kate said with a shrug. “You’re the healthiest person I know. But me…” She sighed. It really would be tough for her to give up Mad River’s famous ice cream.
But how could she eat it now, knowing they had a…what would you call it? A vermin problem. That’s what they had: vermin. Vermin in Vermont.
“Ugh!” A shiver ran down her spine. Vermin in Vermont. Would she ever think of the state again without thinking of…rats?
Only if they solved the case!
I Smell a Rat
After lunch, the girls took Biscuit for a walk and talked about the case.
“I wonder if this is a case of sabotage,” Kate said, kicking up a pile of snow with her boot. “I think so. Don’t you think?”
“Probably if they’ve had so many problems they’ve never had before. But, why?” Sydney asked, looking worried.
Kate sighed as she pulled her coat tighter to fight off the bitter cold. “We need to call the other Camp Club Girls. Surely one of them would know what to do.”
Sydney giggled. “Knowing Bailey, she would also want to fly out here and join us.”
Kate laughed. “Yes, and Alexis would be telling us just how much this case is like some book she read, or some movie she watched.”
“Elizabeth would remind us to pray, of course,” Sydney added. “And to guard what we say so that we don’t falsely accuse anyone.”
“Yes, and she’d probably quote that King James scripture she loves so much…‘Vengeance is mine;…saith the Lord.’” Kate smiled, just thinking about her friend. Elizabeth loved the Lord so much, and it showed in everything she said and did.
“What about McKenzie?” Sydney asked.
“She would keep searching for clues till she found the culprit!” Kate explained. “You know McKenzie! She would examine the motives of every suspect until she solved the case.”
“Can we call a meeting of the Camp Club Girls in our chat room tonight?” Sydney asked. “Does the inn have internet access?”
“Uncle Ollie has a wireless router,” Kate said. “I know, because I’ve already checked my email on my smartwatch.”
“Your watch?” Sydney looked at her curiously.
“Yes, remember?” Kate stopped walking long enough to hold up her watch. “I have a smartwatch. One of my dad’s students at Penn State invented it. He’s a robotics professor, you know.”
“I know, I know.” Sydney laughed. “And you’re going to be one when you grow up too!”
“Yep,” Kate agreed. She looked at her watch once more. “I have to be close to a wireless signal to get online on my watch,” she explained. “We’re too far from the house now or I’d show you how it works.”
Sydney grinned. “Okay, Inspector Gadget! I always forget you’ve got such cool stuff.”
Kate laughed when Sydney called her by the familiar funny nickname. “Well, that’s what happens when your dad is into electronics like mine is! He gives me all of his old stuff—cell phones, digital recorders, mini-cams, and all that kind of stuff—when one of his students invents something better. And this watch…” She glanced down at it with a smile. “It’s the coolest gadget of all. I can check my email and even send instant messages with it.”
“And check the time too!” Sydney chuckled. “Which is about all I can do on my watch…period!”
“Speaking of the time, I think it’s nearly time to meet Uncle Ollie and Dad in the big red barn out back.” Kate squinted to catch a glimpse of the building through the haze of the drifting snow. “T
hey’re in the workshop.”
“Why are we meeting them, again?” Sydney asked.
“I think Uncle Ollie wants to introduce us to someone. There’s a neighborhood boy who’s been helping him with some of his projects. I think his name is Michael. We’re supposed to be nice to him.” She shrugged, unsure of what to say next.
“Is he cute?” Sydney asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Kate shrugged. “I don’t know. Could be. I just know that Uncle Ollie said he’s kind of a loner.” She shivered against a suddenly cold wind that tossed some loose snow in her face.
“A loner?” Sydney wrinkled her nose. “Meaning, he doesn’t have any friends? That’s kind of weird.”
“Maybe.” Kate sighed. “Molly told me he’s just sad because his grandfather died last month. So Uncle Ollie’s been playing a grandfatherly role in his life. I think that’s pretty nice, actually.”
“Oh, I see.” Sydney looped her arm through Kate’s. “Well, why didn’t you just say so? I’ll be extra-nice to him. Poor guy.”
With Biscuit on their heels, the girls trudged through the now-thick snow to get to the barn. Kate pulled back the door, amazed at what she found inside.
“Doesn’t look like any barn I’ve ever seen!” Sydney said with a look of wonder on her face.
“I know.” They stood for a moment, just taking in the sights. “Look at all of Uncle Ollie’s electronics! This place is even better than my dad’s workshop in our basement.”
“I can sure tell your dad and his brother are related!” Sydney said.
“No kidding. Except, of course, Uncle Ollie is a lot older. And he is so smart!” Why, next to Dad, he was the smartest man Kate had ever met.
Off in the distance they heard voices. Kate followed them until they reached a small, crowded work space filled with all sorts of electronics and robotic goodies. “There you are!” she said as she caught a glimpse of her father and uncle.
A boy, about fourteen, stood in the distance. That must be Michael. He was tall and thin with messy hair that needed to be combed.
Michael turned to look at them with a nervous look on his face. At once, Biscuit began to growl.
How odd, Kate thought. Biscuit gets along with everyone!
“Stop it, Biscuit!” She tugged his leash and he stopped, but she could tell Biscuit was still uneasy. Very, very unusual. Something about this boy made Kate suspicious right away. She immediately scolded herself. Stop it, Kate. He’s never done anything to you. Be careful not to pass judgment on someone you don’t even know!
Sydney didn’t seem to notice the tension in the air. She went right up to Michael and introduced herself with a welcoming smile. After taking a seat on a nearby chair, she asked, “Have you lived in the area long?”
He shrugged, but never looked her way. “I grew up in Mad River Valley. Why?”
“Oh, I just wondered.” She looked around the workshop then glanced back his way. “Do you ski?”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?” He looked at her as if she were crazy.
“I don’t,” Kate said. “Never have.”
He shrugged and went back to working on some electronic contraption. “That’s weird.”
“So, if you ski, are you going to enter the Winter Competition?” Sydney asked.
“Maybe.” He kept his eyes on his work. “I usually do, but I don’t know if I feel like it this year.”
“Oh, you should! It would do you good.” Uncle Ollie patted Michael on the back then turned to the girls. “You should see him ski! He’s the best in his age group. Wins every year.”
“Humph.” Sydney crossed her arms at her chest and looked him in the eye. “We’ll just see about that.”
“Oh yeah?” Michael turned her way. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, this year I’m entering too.” Sydney nodded, as if that settled the whole thing.
“You are?” Kate turned to her friend, stunned. “Really?”
“Did you see the grand prize?” Sydney said, her voice growing more animated by the moment. “Three hundred dollars! That’s exactly the amount I need to go on my mission trip to Mexico this summer.”
“Oh, I see.” Kate pondered that for a moment. Sydney would have a wonderful time on a mission trip. And Mexico…of all places! Sounded exciting.
Sydney sighed. “My mom doesn’t make a lot of money.” She shook her head. “And things are really tight right now. But she told me I could go if I could raise the money on my own. So, that’s why I have to win that competition! I’ve read the article in the paper a dozen times at least. And I’ve stared at the poster in the front room of the inn a hundred times!”
“You have?” Kate looked at her, stunned. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I don’t know.” Sydney looked down at the ground. “I still have to come up with the entrance fee. Twenty-five dollars. But I think my mom will send it if I ask.”
“Wow.” Kate stared at her friend. “So you really want to do this.”
“I do.”
Michael crossed his arms at his chest and stared at her. “Well, maybe I will enter after all. We’ll just see who’s the best.”
“Fine.” Sydney shrugged. She stuck out her hand and added, “And may the best skier win!”
Michael shook her hand then went back to his work. Kate could see now that he was putting together an electronic resistor board. What are they building out here, anyway? she wondered. She drew near to Sydney and whispered, “What can I do to help you win the competition?”
“Hmm.” Sydney pursed her lips and squinted her eyes. “I guess you could help me find the perfect skis. I’ll have to rent them, probably.” A sad look came over her. “I guess that will cost even more money, so maybe not. I don’t know.”
“Maybe Aunt Molly can help with that,” Kate suggested.
“Maybe. And then I have to find out where the competition will be held. I want to hit the slopes in advance. Get in plenty of practice.” Sydney’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you need to come with me!”
“Me? Put on skis? I don’t know…” Kate hesitated. “I never…”
“I know you’ve never skied before, but there’s a first time for everything. Besides, I need someone to clock my time. So you won’t really be doing a lot of skiing. I think it will be good for you, Kate! You’ll learn something new, and I know you love learning things.”
“Maybe.” Kate shrugged. “Just usually not sports! But first let’s go talk to Aunt Molly and see if she knows where we can get some skis.”
“Hope she has two pairs!” Sydney said, looping her arm through Kate’s. “Then it’ll be you and me…off to ski!”
Another shiver ran down Kate’s spine. This one had nothing to do with the cold. How could she possibly make Sydney understand…she didn’t like sports! Not one little bit! And the very idea of soaring down a hill with boards strapped to her feet scared her half to death!
Sighing, she headed back toward the house to ask Aunt Molly about the skis. Hopefully she would only have one pair!
The Mousetrap
Kate and Sydney tromped through the snow, finally reaching the back door of the inn, which led straight into Aunt Molly’s spacious kitchen with its big, roaring fireplace. As they stomped their snow-covered boots on the mat, Biscuit jumped up and down excitedly. Must be the smell of gingerbread that had him so excited!
“Oh, yum!” Kate looked down at a large tray where several cookies were cooling. “I love these!” She pulled off her coat and hung it on the coatrack, then turned to her aunt with a “Can I have one?” grin.
“I’m glad to hear that you like gingerbread.” Aunt Molly handed each of the girls a warm cookie. “Taste and see if they’re any good.”
“Oh, they’re the best I’ve ever had!” Kate spoke between bites. She snapped off a little piece and handed it to Biscuit, who gobbled it up and begged for more.
“I saw that, Kate!” Aunt Molly said. “You shouldn’t be giving sweets to
a dog!”
“I know, I know.” She sighed and pulled off her mittens. “I know I spoil him…way too much! But he’s such a good dog, and he’s been great at solving crimes, so every now and again I like to treat him.”
“Treat him too much and he’ll be as big around as a turkey at Thanksgiving!” Aunt Molly laughed.
“I know, I know.” Kate hung her head in shame, then looked up with a grin.
“I’ve got some good news!” Aunt Molly said as they nibbled. “The creamery is open again. The health inspector came this morning and couldn’t find any rats. In fact, they couldn’t even find a hint that there had ever been rats. Strange, isn’t it?”
“Wow! That’s amazing,” Kate said. “I need to go back for the tour and get some more information for my essay. Do you think Mr. Hampton would give me an interview? Maybe on video? I’d love to share it with my class. My teacher might even give me extra credit!”
“I’ll call him and ask,” Molly said. “Surely he will do it for me. I’m an old friend.” She winked as she said the word “old” and Kate grinned.
“Do we have to go back there?” Sydney asked, looking worried. “I don’t care what the health inspector said. We just saw rats in that place yesterday. Besides, I need to go skiing. I need the practice, remember?”
“Yeah.” Kate leaned her elbows on the counter and sighed.
“What’s wrong, Kate?” Her aunt gave her a curious look.
“Sydney wants to enter the ski competition at the Winter Festival to raise money for a mission trip to Mexico,” she explained.
“Well, that’s a lovely idea!” Aunt Molly stopped working long enough to grin at Sydney. “I think that’s wonderful.” She set two steaming mugs of hot apple cider down in front of the girls.
“Only one problem. Well, two, actually.” Sydney shrugged. “I don’t have any skis, and I don’t have money to enter the competition. At least, not yet. I’m going to ask my mom.”
“I can help with the skis. I have a wonderful pair,” Aunt Molly said with a wink. “They’re in the barn. Want to go see them?”
“Well, um…” Sydney looked a little embarrassed.
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