Animal Shelter Mystery Read Online Free Page A

loading dock with the two men following behind. Mr. Seed was talking slowly, but the men didn’t seem to be paying any attention.
    â€œNow, you’ll want to drive slowly and avoid any bumps with that box of dynamite in your trunk,” Mr. Seed said. “Your whole car could blow up if you hit a pothole too hard, you know.”

    â€œNo problem, old man,” one of the men said to Mr. Seed.
    Mr. Seed noticed Jessie, Violet, and Benny waiting for Henry, who was busy looking for a receipt book. “Henry, why don’t you leave those receipts so you can have lunch with your brother and sisters? I’ll get them signed.”
    One of the men stepped up to the register where Mr. Seed was filling out the receipt book. “No need to sign anything, is there, mister? This is a cash deal. No need for receipts. We’re going to use that dynamite. Don’t worry, we won’t be back to exchange it for one of these flowerpots or maybe a nice pack of marigold seeds.”
    The man and his two friends seemed to find this very funny and laughed loudly. The Aldens could see Mr. Seed’s face turn red. He was proud of everything in his store, including the flowerpots.
    Jessie couldn’t bear to see Mr. Seed upset. “Excuse me, Mr. Seed. I’d like two starter pots for geraniums,” she said.
    â€œSure thing, Jessie,” Mr. Seed said in a shaky voice. “And what about you, Violet? Can I get you anything?”
    â€œJust a piece of tape to put up this FOUND CAT sign. We found Miss Newcombe’s animals, but we can’t find her. Maybe one of your customers will see my sign and tell us where she is.”
    At this, all three men stared hard at the Aldens. The man who had made fun of the flowerpots stepped up to Jessie. “You kids didn’t happen to follow us here, now, did you?”
    â€œOf course not,” Jessie answered. “We came to meet our brother for lunch. And buy some flower seeds for our grandfather’s garden. May I have two packs of the marigolds, Mr. Seed?”
    Mr. Seed didn’t answer right away. He was studying the way the three men were staring at the Aldens. He didn’t like what he saw one bit.
    â€œOf course, of course, Jessie,” he finally answered. “But let’s let these customers out first.” He hurried the men to the front door. “Good day,” he told them, though it was plain from his voice that this hadn’t been a good day at all. The brass bell at the top of the door jingled when he opened the door, then jingled again when he shut it and turned the big brass lock so the men couldn’t come back in.
    Everyone started talking at once. “Who were those men, Mr. Seed?” Jessie asked first. “And why did they talk to you and Henry that way?”
    Mr. Seed wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. The Aldens could see he wasn’t his usual cheery self. His hands shook, and his eyes darkened. “I got a call a few days ago from one of them, I’m not sure which one. They’re all demanding and impatient. Said they were from a construction company and then ordered a box of dynamite, which I had to get special from one of my suppliers. When they came to pick it up, I almost changed my mind about selling it to them, but they had a purchase order from a construction company upstate.”
    â€œHave you or Henry ever seen them before?” Jessie asked.
    Henry frowned and seemed to be thinking hard. “That’s the odd thing. I kept thinking I’d seen them somewhere, but I can’t figure out where or when.”
    Mr. Seed locked up the register. “I don’t even like to take money from people like that. And I didn’t like the once-over they gave all of you when you came into the store. That’s why I wanted them to leave before the four of you went outside.”
    â€œThey did look at us kind of funny,” Benny said. “But not really funny. That one