Giant Yo-Yo Mystery Read Online Free Page A

fast sleeper, picked up the string in a couple of places, and the yo-yo first flipped onto one string, then did a somersault, ran down another string, did another somersault and finally landed back in Jeff’s hand.
    The whole thing happened so fast, the Aldens weren’t entirely sure what exactly they’d seen. But it sure was impressive.
    “That was really neat,” Violet said.
    “Thank you,” Jeff replied.
    “I’m still trying to learn how to do a sleeper,” Benny said. “I haven’t been able to do it yet.”
    “You keep working on it, Benny,” Jeff said. “You’ll get it.”
    “Well, we don’t want to keep you from your work, Jeff,” Henry said. “When would you like us to come back again?”
    “There’s not much more we can do until I get some more wood. How about I call you when I’ve got more for you to do?”
    “Okay,” Violet said.
    Jeff walked the children to the door. As soon as they stepped outside, they noticed the gray station wagon was back. It was parked in front of Mrs. Thorton’s house.
    But this time it didn’t look like there was anyone inside.
    “Hey, Jeff,” Henry said. “Have you ever seen that gray station wagon before?”
    Jeff glanced over to where Henry was pointing. “Can’t say that I have,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
    “It was parked behind our grandfather’s car last night,” Jessie explained. “In fact, when we left, it left, too. For a while we thought whoever was driving that car was following us. But then Grandfather pulled over and the person kept right on going.”
    “Well, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to follow you,” Jeff said. “And I don’t know whose vehicle it is, unless it belongs to Mrs. Thorton’s son. I think I heard he was in town this week.”
    “That’s probably whose it is,” Violet said. That would also explain why Mrs. Thorton was home during the day today.
    “So it’s probably a coincidence that he happened to leave the same time we did last night,” Henry said.
    “I don’t know Erik Thorton,” Jeff said. “But rumor has it he set out to break a world’s record a few years ago, too.”
    “Really?” Benny asked. “Which record?”
    “I can’t remember,” Jeff said, scratching his head. “I don’t even remember whether he was successful. But I know there were articles about it in the newspaper. You could probably find them if you were really interested.”
    “Hey, Jeff?” Emily called. “Could you come help me move this cabinet?”
    “Sure,” Jeff said. He hurried over to her.
    The Aldens were about to leave when the phone next to Jessie rang.
    “Could one of you get that?” Jeff called to the Aldens. He had one end of a heavy cabinet and Emily had the other. They were maneuvering it over to the back of the shop. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
    “Sure,” Jessie said, picked up the phone. “Jeff’s Custom Furniture.”
    A male voice said, “Tell Jeff to stop building that yo-yo!”
    Jessie frowned. “Excuse me?”
    “You heard me,” the voice said. “I’m warning you, if Jeff doesn’t stop, there will be trouble.”
    “Who is this?” Jessie asked. “Hello? Hello?”
    But whoever it was had already hung up.
    “Who is it?” Jeff asked as he walked across the shop.
    Jessie hung up the phone. “I don’t know. He didn’t give a name. He said, ‘Tell Jeff to stop building that yo-yo.’ And then he said, ‘I’m warning you, if Jeff doesn’t stop, there will be trouble.’”
    Violet looked alarmed. “What kind of trouble?”
    “I don’t know,” Jessie said. “That’s all he said.”
    “Well, I don’t respond to threats,” Jeff said. “I’m not quitting this project just because someone calls up and tells me there will be trouble if I don’t.”
    “Good,” Henry said. He didn’t want Jeff to stop building the yo-yo, but still, the phone call made him a little nervous.

CHAPTER 4
A Trip to the Library
    “I wonder who made that phone call,” Jessie said a few