Radio Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner [Chandler Warner, Gertrude]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-2887-6
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2011-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

The Ghost Prowls at Night

“The show sounded great today,” Jocelyn praised. She and Grandfather had dropped by the station and found Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny in the breakroom.

Avery came in, joined by Gwen and Frances. “Well, these kids kept it going but it wasn’t easy,” he said. “The ‘ghost’ visited again.”

“Is something missing?” Grandfather asked.

“The turntable,” Gwen replied.

Jocelyn sighed. “That turntable was expensive. Our thief knows exactly what to take.”

“Don’t you think you should report these robberies to the police?” Grandfather asked.

Jocelyn sighed. “I guess I’d better — ”

“No!” Gwen cried. “I mean, the police might scare the ghost away.”

“Wouldn’t that be good?” Violet asked.

“Yeah, but we might not get the equipment back,” Gwen said.

Henry’s right, Violet thought. Sometimes Gwen acts like she doesn’t want this case solved.

“I’ll have to buy a replacement turntable in Port City,” Jocelyn said. “That’s the nearest town that carries them.”

“We could drive there right now,” Grandfather suggested. He turned to Gwen. “Why don’t you kids relax, then eat at the diner this evening? You’ve all been working hard on the radio program.”

The Aldens spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around Deer Crossing. Gwen didn’t want to go. She said she wanted to stay home to read.

After playing in the park, the Aldens went back to Jocelyn’s house. Gwen was waiting impatiently. “It’s time to go eat,” she said.

“Was your book good?” Benny asked.

“What book? Oh,” Gwen corrected herself. “Yes, I finished it.”

Jessie wondered what Gwen had really been doing.

The children walked to the Route 11 Diner and settled into a booth near a window. The only other customer was a man in a dark suit sitting at a table in the back.

DeeDee was their waitress again. She wore a blue ribbon on her collar.

“Seen that ghost anymore?” she asked, pulling her pencil from her apron pocket.

“The lights went out while we were broadcasting today’s show,” Jessie said. “And the turntable was missing.”

“Daphne Owens strikes again!” DeeDee seemed almost pleased.

“It can’t be a ghost,” said Violet. “Ghosts can’t lift heavy objects.”

“Ghosts can do anything,” DeeDee stated. “You know what you want yet?”

Everyone ordered burgers with fries and vanilla shakes. DeeDee brought their food promptly.

“You kids are awful brave to stay at that station,” she said, plunking down the ketchup bottle. “Who knows what that ghost will do next!” She bustled off to wait on customers at the counter.

“How can DeeDee actually believe in that ghost story?” Henry said.

Jessie dragged a french fry through a pool of ketchup. “It’s weird. Grown-ups should know better.” Then she had a thought. “Unless DeeDee is just fooling with us.”

“DeeDee is new to Deer Crossing, right?” Henry said.

“She just moved here,” said Gwen, nodding. “Nobody knows much about her.”

“How long has she worked at the station?” Violet wanted to know.

“About two months,” Gwen replied.

“When did the ghost first show up?” Benny asked.

“A little over a month ago,” said Gwen. “What are you getting at?”

Henry looked thoughtful. “Did the ghost ever appear before DeeDee came to the station?”

“Funny little things would happen,” Gwen said.

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