Giant Yo-Yo Mystery Read Online Free Page B

minutes later. The Aldens were gathered in the small parking lot outside Jeff’s shop.
    “I don’t know,” Henry said, hoisting his backpack onto his shoulder. “But I don’t like it.”
    While they were standing there, Benny noticed a curtain moving in the front window of the little yellow house across the street. Was Mrs. Thorton watching them again? He wondered.
    “Remember, Mrs. Thorton said she’d do whatever it took to stop Jeff from building the yo-yo?” Benny asked.
    “Yes,” the others said.
    “Maybe she’s the one who made the phone call,” Benny suggested.
    “I don’t think so,” Jessie said. “The voice on the phone was definitely a man’s voice.”
    “Then maybe it was her son,” Benny said. “Jeff also said he thought her son Erik was visiting right now.”
    “Why would he call Jeff?” Henry asked. “Just because his mother thinks the yo-yo is too dangerous?”
    “I don’t know. That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Jessie said.
    “I wonder what record Erik Thorton tried to break.” Violet said.
    “Maybe we should go over to the library and see if we can find out?” Jessie suggested.
    Jeff’s shop was only a few blocks from the library, so Henry opened his backpack and took put his cell phone. Then he called Grandfather to see if it was okay if he, Jessie, Violet, and Benny went to the library before Grandfather picked them up. Maybe they could even have lunch at the Greenfield Diner along the way.
    “That sounds like a nice idea,” Grandfather said. “Call me when you’re finished at the library.”
    So the children headed downtown. The diner was on the corner of Center Street and 4th Avenue. Bells jangled on the door when the Aldens stepped inside.
    “Have a seat anywhere,” a waitress called as she delivered an armload of plates to the people in the back booth.
    The Aldens chose a table near the front door, then opened their menus.
    The waitress poured water for each of them, then took out her pad and pen. “What’ll it be?” she asked, chomping on her gum.
    The children all ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and vanilla milkshakes. Then they sat back to wait for their order.
    “I want to get some books on yo-yos when we’re at the library,” Benny said.
    “Maybe I can find one with pictures on how to do a sleeper.”
    “I’d like to get some books on yo-yos, too,” Violet said. “Did you know that the yo-yo is the second oldest toy in history?”
    “It is?” Jessie asked.
    “Yes,” Violet said. “Yo-yos have been around for twenty-five hundred years. I read that in one of those articles that Jeff gave me.”
    “If the yo-yo is the second oldest toy, I wonder what the oldest toy is?” Benny said.
    “The doll,” Violet said. “I read that in the same article. I’d like to see what else I can find out about the history of yo-yos.”
    The waitress brought their food and the children dug in.
    “Mm!” Benny said as he wrapped his mouth around the huge burger. “I’m starving!”
    “You’re always starving, Benny,” Violet teased. She took a sip of her milkshake. As she put her glass down, she noticed a gray station wagon parked across the street.
    “I don’t believe it!” Violet said, staring out the window.
    “What?” Jessie asked. She turned around in her seat to see what Violet was looking at.
    “That same gray station wagon we saw in front of Jeff’s shop last night and this morning is now parked right out in front of this diner,” Violet said.
    “Is there anybody in it?” Henry asked, straining his neck to see.
    “No,” Violet replied. “Do you still think it’s a coincidence we keep seeing that car?”
    “I don’t know,” Henry said with concern. “The more often we see it, the more I wonder if we’re being followed.”
    “But why would anyone want to follow us?” Jessie asked.
    “I don’t know,” Violet said.
    “We’re looking for some information on Erik Thorton,” Jessie told the reference librarian.
    “What kind of