The Disappearing Friend Mystery Read Online Free Page A

making posters to help raise money for the new hospital wing. But then someone took all our supplies!”
    â€œThat’s too bad.” The art store owner frowned. But then her smile came back. “Since these posters are to help raise money for the new hospital wing, I’ll give you a discount on supplies. That will be my contribution.”
    â€œOh, thank you so very much,” said Violet softly.
    With the help of the owner, the Aldens had just finished paying for new paints and poster boards when Beth came hurrying in. She was holding a paper bag and seemed a little out of breath.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Jessie. “We wouldn’t have left without you.”
    â€œAre you all finished, then?” Beth looked around nervously.
    â€œYes,” said Benny. “Let’s go.”
    â€œOh, Well. I guess . . . yes. Let’s go,” said Beth. She clutched the bag to her side and went with Benny out of the store. Jessie, Violet, and Henry gathered up the supplies and followed them.
    But as they began to put the supplies in their baskets, Benny suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, no!”
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Jessie.
    â€œMy tire is flat!” cried Benny.
    â€œThat’s strange,” said Jessie.
    Henry looked more closely at Benny’s bike. “This is even stranger— both tires are completely flat!”
    â€œBut how could that happen?” Violet asked.
    â€œThis couldn’t be an accident,” said Henry. “Someone must have let the air out of your tires.”

    â€œReally?” said Benny. “Why would anyone do that?”
    â€œYes, why?” asked Violet.
    â€œBeth,” said Jessie. “After you left the drugstore, did you see anybody?”
    â€œW-what do you mean?” asked Beth.
    â€œAnybody near our bikes,” Jessie explained.
    â€œOr anybody acting suspicious, as though they might be up to something,” suggested Henry.
    â€œNo!” said Beth. “No, I didn’t. Not at all.”
    Violet looked at Beth. Beth’s face was flushed and she looked almost as if she might cry. “Oh, Beth. Don’t worry. We can put more air in the tires,” said Violet.
    â€œM-maybe it was someone’s idea of a joke,” said Beth.
    â€œIf it is, it’s not a very funny one,” said Jessie.
    â€œCan my tires be fixed?” asked Benny anxiously.
    â€œOf course they can, Benny,” said Violet.
    â€œWe’ll go to the bike store and use their pump.”
    Beth suddenly wheeled her bike away. “I can’t go with you,” she said.
    â€œBut what about the posters?” asked Henry.
    â€œIt’s getting late. My parents want me to be home soon,” Beth said.
    â€œWell, come over tomorrow,” suggested Jessie. “We can work on the posters then.”
    â€œUh—okay,” said Beth. She quickly got on her bicycle and rode away.
    The Aldens walked toward the bike store, wheeling their bicycles. “Why did that upset Beth so much?” wondered Violet.
    â€œMaybe she doesn’t like mean jokes,” said Henry.
    â€œ I don’t, either,” said Benny.
    â€œNo one does,” said Jessie. “What can Beth think of Greenfield?”
    â€œI wish we had brought Watch,” said Benny. “He would have watched my bicycle.”
    â€œAnd I wish Watch had been in the boxcar when our art supplies disappeared. Then they wouldn’t have,” said Violet with a sigh.
    Suddenly, Jessie pointed, “Look! It’s Charlie the Fix-it Man’s truck. He must be the man Mrs. McGregor was talking about.”
    Parked on the curb ahead of them was an old white truck, with Charlie’s name, phone number, and advertising slogan on it. There was no one in the truck.
    â€œI wonder whats he’s fixing,” said Violet.
    â€œDo you think we’re going to do some of the same kinds of jobs he does?” said Jessie