Seaside Mystery Read Online Free

around and you can meet my mom and dad.”
    Louise stepped inside, still carrying Flame. “I thought you’d never ask!”
    Maisie took Joel and Louise through to the old store where her parents were working and introduced them. “Look what I have. Joel gave them to me,” she said, holding up the boots.
    “That was very nice of you, Joel,” Mrs. Simpson said, wiping her hands on acloth. Joel blushed. He looked at the half-painted walls, wooden shelving, and bare floorboards. “It looks really different in here. Lighter and sort of…bigger.”
    “That’s because there’s no brown wallpaper or counter with musty newspapers, and no shelves with jars of sticky old candies,” Louise said.
    “Is that how it used to be? The old store sounds like a nightmare,” said Mr. Simpson.
    Joel and Louise laughed.
    Maisie smiled at her parents. They were so good at making people feel at ease. She showed her new friends the rest of the house and then brought them back to the kitchen. They sat at the table. “Would you two like to stay for dinner?” she asked Joel and Louise.
    Louise answered. “Thanks, but we better get back. Mom will be expecting us. Come on, Joel.”
    Maisie picked up Flame, who was curled up on her lap, and went to the door. “Bye. See you later!” she called as Joel and Louise left.
    “We’re going on a bike ride to Smuggler’s Cove tomorrow and having a picnic with us. Do you want to come?” Louise said.
    “You can wear your new boots,” Joel encouraged.
    As Flame gave an extraloud purr, Maisie grinned. “We’d love to!”

Maisie’s hair streamed out behind her as she rode her bike the following morning.
    Flame was in the basket attached to the handlebars. He leaned forward, his nose twitching as he sniffed at the exciting smells.
    Maisie could see Joel and Louise up ahead. They were having a race to seewho could reach the top of the hill first.
    “I won!” shouted Joel, waving both arms in the air.
    “Only because you have longer legs than me!” Louise cried. She turned around and biked back toward Maisie. “Almost there now. Smuggler’s Cove is just around the headland.”
    “Great,” Maisie said, pedaling hard asLouise wheeled around again and sped after her brother once more. “Phew! Those two are some double act! I can hardly keep up with them!” she said to Flame.

    Flame nodded, his bright emerald eyes sparkling. “Are we a double act, too?”
    “We’re the best ever!” Maisie said, feeling her heart swell with affection for the tiny kitten.
    Smuggler’s Cove had a picnic area on the cliff top. There was a small parking lot and a kiosk selling ice cream and drinks. Maisie lifted Flame out of the basket and then chained her bike up. Joel and Louise chained their bikes next to hers.
    They sat on the grass to eat. The food was delicious, and Maisie ate hungrily.She broke off pieces of her cheese sandwich for Flame.

    Joel was wearing his sleeveless jacket with all the pockets. He sprawled on his stomach to eat his chips. He’d almost finished them when Louise jumped on him. The chips shot everywhere.
    “Hey! I hadn’t finished those!” Joel complained.
    “Tough! You have now!” Louise said, giggling as she wrestled with her brother and tried to stuff grass into his mouth.
    Maisie laughed. They were completely crazy. She hoped that they didn’t decide to start on her!
    After a few minutes, Joel and Louise sat up. Joel’s jacket and Louise’s T-shirt were covered in grass stains.
    “Let’s go and explore the caves,” Joel suggested, shaking his head to get grass out of his hair.
    “Do you think we should? Maisie might be scared,” Louise panted, her brown eyes gleaming mischievously.
    “Scared? Why would I be?” Maisie asked.
    “Because of the legend,” Louisesaid, winking at her brother. “A smuggler was trapped inside the cave by the rising tide. Sea monsters swam up and dragged him away. Sometimes you can still hear his screams.”
    “I really believe