The Mystery of the Red-Brick House Read online

  A crack of lightening flashed across the sky, illuminating the room for an instant. Jeanie was still holding the door knob, ready to exit, when she recognized her two brothers huddled against the wall, and a bundle of clothing at their feet.

  The boys recognized the shadowy figures standing in the doorway were their sisters. “It’s Jeanie and Ann,” Ricky whispered to Neil.

  “Ricky. Neil,” Jeanie called in a hushed tone. “It’s me. Jeanie. Where’s Liz?”

  Ann pushed around her sister, entered the room and called, “Liz. Liz.”

  The boys, still huddled in the corner, didn’t move or speak. They stared at their sisters and waited while Liz remained at their feet in a heap, still passed out. She moved slightly when she heard her name, ad rose from the floor, rubbing her eyes. “Where am I?”

  “Why were you screaming?” asked Jeanie.

  “The lights went out. We couldn’t see,” said Ricky.

  “We thought you was the boogie man,” said Neil.

  “Okay. Everything’s fine. We thought something happened to you.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Jeanie and Ann gathered the younger children, and lead them downstairs. They went out on the porch to wait for their mother’s return. The storm had passed as suddenly as it came. A flutter of sparrows appeared, and busied themselves in the cool, damp aftermath of the rain. A slight breeze blew pear-shaped raindrops from the leaves across their faces.

  “It’s still raining,” Neil commented. No one responded.

  The truck stopped in front of the gate. The fog lights blinked off, the door opened and their mother strode briskly across the wet lawn, with a folded newspaper under her elbow.

  “Mother, Mother,” they called out happily.

  “The lights went out again,” Ricky announced loudly.

  “But they came back on,” added Neil.

  “Did they?” she responded. They went inside the red-brick house. Their mother sat down in a comfortable chair and stretched her legs out. Liz pushed a stool under her feet. She opened the paper and huge headlines loomed across the front page: ‘Jewel Thief Disappears into Storm.’ She read it out loud and commented, “There’s been a jewel theft.” Glancing through the article, she stopped suddenly and looked up at her children. “It happened on Chase Street.”

  Jeanie grabbed the paper from her mother, and quickly scanned the article. She read aloud, “A half-million dollars worth of antique jewelry, including the famed Metro diamond, disappeared from local jeweler’s home during the height of today’s thunderstorm. No clues are known at this time. An all-out investigation is underway.”

  “Wow. All that jewelry,” Liz repeated, her round eyes wide with disbelief. She envisioned hundreds of priceless bracelets and ear rings, filled with diamonds and emeralds.

  Neil and Ricky whistled.

  Miss Briggs called from the kitchen. “Let me see what she wants,” said their mother, as she got up and left the room.

  “Where did it happen?” asked Ann, grabbing the paper from her sister. She glanced at the bottom of the article.

  Jeanie grabbed the newspaper back, nearly ripping it in half. She read it herself. “1021 Chase Street.”

  “That’s right across the street, where Cindy lives,” said Ann. They ran to the front window and stared at the mansion across the street.

  “The Ralston’s were robbed,” said Jeanie and looked at her sister. “Come on, Ann. We can’t talk down here.”

  Their mother returned from the kitchen just moments after they disappeared upstairs. “What happened to Jeanie and Ann?” she asked.

  Ricky, Neil, and Liz shrugged, crawled up on her lap, and hugged her. They knew, but weren’t saying.

  ####

  Chapter 19: The Mansion Across the Street

  “We’ve got to contact Cindy,” Jeanie said. “We need her help.”

  “What for?”

  “To find the secret passage to the attic,” answered Jeanie. “There’s got to be one. And Cindy knows this old house and all its secrets.”

  “We’ll have to smuggle her in so Miss Briggs won’t see her.”

  “Let’s call her first,” Jeanie suggested.

  They went to the second level hallway, and looked in the phone book for a Ralston on Chase Street. Not finding a listing, Jeanie remarked, “Must be unlisted.”

  “What do we do now?” Ann asked.

  “We’ll sneak out later tonight, and go over there.”

  “Don’t you think the police will be guarding the mansion, at least for a few days?”

  “We can’t wait,” Jeanie answered. Just they started to leave, the phone rang. Jeanie lifted the receiver after the second ring. It was Uncle Ben, calling from the farm. They chatted for a few minutes. Then Jeanie called for her mother. “Mother, Mother. It’s Uncle Ben. Says it’s important.”

  Jeanie and Ann stood near their mother as she talked on the phone. When she finished, she turned to her daughters. “I have to go back to the farm. The storm caused a lot of damage. Uncle Ben needs help with the livestock tonight. Why don’t we all go?”

  Jeanie looked sideways at her sister. They had to find a way out of going. When Mrs. Grayson announced to the other children and Miss Briggs that they were all going to the farm tonight, Miss Briggs bristled.

  “The storm caused a lot damage to the apple trees here,” Miss Briggs said. “I’ll be happy to stay and pick the apples off the ground before they rot.”

  Jeanie and Ann looked at their mother, ignoring Miss Briggs. “Ann and I can stay and pick up the apples.”

  Miss Briggs stiffened. “No need for them to do that, Mrs. Grayson,” She sounded like she was pleading to stay.

  “We’re not afraid to stay by ourselves,” Ann added quickly.

  Mrs. Grayson thought for a moment. “Okay,” she agreed, “you girls stay here. Miss Briggs and the little kids go with me.”

  After packing an overnight bag for the children, Mrs. Grayson drove off with Miss Briggs sitting in the front seat trying to look pleasant. Liz, Ricky, and Neil waved from the back. Jeanie and Ann waved until the truck was out of sight. When it disappeared, they both felt a sudden pang of fear. But it was too late. They were all alone.

  “Guess we better get some of those apples off the ground before dark,” Jeanie suggested. “Let’s get some paper bags from the house.”

  When they entered the foyer, Ann spotted something crawling across the floor just she heard a loud crunch under her shoe. Blood splattered across the floor, and tiny insects scurried away into the darkness. “What was that?”

  “Looks like a black widow spider and her brood of young’uns.”

  “Ugh,” said Ann. “I thought they ate their young.”

  “No. Their mate. That’s why they’re widows.”

  They took paper bags from the kitchen, and left by the side door nearest the orchard, and picked apples until dusk. “Let’s quit,” suggested Jeanie, who was anxious to see Cindy.

  They dressed in dark shirts and jeans, and put their long hair up in a French twist. Ann complained she was tired from the night before, and couldn’t they just go to bed. The house seemed so old and musty and lonely with everyone gone. She had lost her mood to solve mysteries.

  “Go on to bed, then,” Jeanie said. “I don’t care,” She knew Ann wouldn’t stay home by herself.

  “No. I’ll go.”

  Just as they were leaving, Ann grabbed her sister’s arm. “Jeanie. Let’s go look in Miss Briggs’ room while she’s gone.” She rushed back upstairs with Jeanie right behind her.

  “Look. It’s padlocked.” Ann pounded on the door in frustration.

  “Oh, heck,” Jeanie responded with a pout.

  They went back down the two flights of stairs two at a time, and headed across their front yard toward the mansion where Cindy lived. Three police cars were parked in the driveway, and flood lights lit up the yard.

  “See,” Ann said. “I told you we couldn’t get near the place. We sho
uld have gone with Mother.”

  Jeanie ignored her complaints. She crouched under the branches of the weeping willow tree that protected them from sight. Peering through the branches, she watched the activities at the mansion for a long time. “Okay,” she said.

  After the patrol cars drove away, Ann pointed to the front porch. “There’s a guard over there.”

  Night had fallen upon them almost unnoticed. The gray clouds moved slowly, eclipsing the half moon, and leaving them without light. “Come on,” Jeanie called out she pushed their gate open and headed quickly across Chase Street toward the mansion. Ann followed quietly, staying in the shadows of the tree-lined street right behind her sister, who was deftly leading her through the dark. They climbed the rock fence surrounding the mansion property, and jumped down onto the soggy ground below. It crunched softly under their shoes. They stopped next to a small mimosa bush, its prickly leaves stabbing their arms, and stared up at the mansion. “It must have twenty rooms,” Jeanie whispered, looking for the guard in the black shadows.

  “There he is,” said Ann. “Going around the corner.”

  “Let’s go,” Jeanie ordered. She jumped from their hiding place, and rushed toward the house. They stopped for a minute under a bay window that protruded from the stone wall. “Let’s try one of these windows,” she whispered.

  To her surprise, the window opened. “Give me a boost,” Ann said.

  Jeanie followed by heaving herself up and entering the room head first. She nearly knocked over a nearby lamp, but Ann caught it just in time. They found themselves in a magnificent library, with two walls completely filled with books from the floor to the ceiling. A light from one lamp dimly lit the room, giving it a somber atmosphere. Lush, thick carpets covered the floor. Two doors, on adjacent walls allowed exits to other rooms. “Which door should we take?” Ann asked, as though Jeanie should know.

  Jeanie peeked out the nearest door. “This one is a staircase going up,” she announced. “Let’s go.”

  At the top of the stairs, they opened a door into another, smaller room. It appeared to be an office or a study. It had a large desk, and several glass-covered bookcases, filled with books, maps and encyclopedias. “This must be another library,” said Ann. “Or someone’s study.”

  They were gawking at the tasteful and expensive décor when they heard voices. Without saying a word, they both dashed for the door to the staircase and quietly closed the door.

  The voices entered the study. They were both masculine voices, but their words were muffled. They left the study within a few minutes, and when the girls heard the other door close, they re-entered. The room was now pitch-black. The two men must have come in to turn off the lamp.

  They held hands and crept forward across the room toward the windows. Jeanie found a drawstring and pulled the drapes open enough for the moonlight to beam through the crack. It cast dark shadows into the room and made everything look grotesque. “Now we can at least see to get around,” Jeanie said. She looked up at the star-speckled sky. “See, Ann. All the clouds are gone. The moon is back out.”

  Ann looked out the window, and across the street to the red-brick house. “Look, Jeanie,” she said, pointing toward the house. “Doesn’t it look spooky in the moonlight?”

  “Yes. And we’ll be alone there tonight,” she reminded her sister. They both shuddered as they stared into the dark.

  ####

  Chapter 20: The Secret Passage

  Jeanie and Ann opened a door and peeked through the crack. A dimly-lit hallway faced them. They tiptoed down its carpeted length. Doors flanked them on all sides.

  “These doors must lead into bedrooms,” Ann said, pointing to a small gold placard on one door.

  “Oh. They all have signs,” Jeanie said with relief, pointing to one which read nursery.

  “Maybe her room has her name on the door.”

  They passed one that said Master and Mistress. Loud snores came from within. Neither girl spoke as they passed. They didn’t find any with Cindy’s name on it, when Ann whispered excitedly. “Hey. Jeanie. This sign says Our Princess.

  Footsteps coming up a nearby staircase caught their attention. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ann opened the door and entered, with Jeanie right behind.

  There was just enough moonlight for them to discern different objects around the room. A canopied bed was against the wall on the left. They recognized Cindy’s short-cropped hair on the pillow. “Cindy,” Ann called softly.

  Jeanie shook her gently. “Cindy,” she called. “It’s me. Jeanie.”

  Cindy’s eyes fluttered open from the round, sleepy face, then quickly closed.

  “Cindy,” Ann repeated again. “Wake up. We need you.”

  She opened her eyes again, and looked around the darkened room. “Jeanie. Ann,” she called out. “What are you doing here?”

  “Get up, Cindy,” Jeanie said. “We need your help.”

  “Put on some dark clothes that won’t show up in the moonlight,” Ann added.

  “Why?” She was beginning to wake up, and recognized her two friends from the red-brick house.

  “To solve the burglary,” Jeanie said matter-of-factly, as though this was something she did all the time.

  Cindy didn’t ask any more questions, but she kept wondering why her friends were involving themselves in her grandfather’s burglary. She dressed in dark clothing like they told her. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Ann looked at her friend approvingly. “Good. Now, what is the best way to get out of here without being seen?”

  “We came through the library,” Jeanie explained.

  Cindy was wide awake now, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Come on. Follow me.”

  With Cindy leading them, they went out a window from her second floor bedroom onto a ledge. She pointed down a circular slide. “My private fire escape,” she explained. “You two go first.”

  Ann looked down the slide, then sat down and gave herself a slight nudge, She zoomed down so fast, she landed in a sand pile before she had time to be scared. Jeanie followed, then Cindy. They found themselves in the back yard, where a small fountain gurgled and sparkled streams of colored water into a large pool.

  “Follow me,” Cindy called out. She lead them to a gate in the rear of the property. They crept through the shadows of the tree-lined street until they reached Chase Street. “Where do we go now?” Cindy asked.

  Jeanie took the lead, and ran across Chase Street toward the red-brick house. They stopped under the horizontal branches of an oak tree outside the gate. Ann pointed to the open gate. “Didn’t we close the gate?” she asked.

  Jeanie nodded her head. “Blacky must be here.”

  “Oh, no,” Ann cried out in fright.

  Jeanie took her arm. “Come on. It’s three against one. We can’t stop now.” They entered the yard and walked cautiously toward their house, leaves fluttered against the rooftop in a steady rhythm, and moonbeams acted a spotlight. They stayed in the shadows until they reached the house.

  Ann was the first to see the mud prints. Her finger shook as she pointed. “Foot prints.” She could barely speak. She reached for Cindy’s hand and clung on.

  “To the middle of the porch,” Jeanie muttered to herself. “But why?” she asked out loud. She looked to Cindy for an answer. “Do you know any secret passages in this house?”

  Cindy was puzzled. She didn’t know any secret passages.

  Jeanie wasn’t about to give up. She was no longer frightened, and was eager to solve the mystery of the red-brick house. She knew in her heart that Miss Briggs and her friend Blacky were involved in the jewel theft. It had become her mission to catch them.

  But Ann and Cindy weren’t quite that devoted to Jeanie’s mission. “Can’t we just go to my house and spend the night there?” Cindy asked.

  “Come on, Jeanie,” Ann implored. “Let’s leave this place. It’s too spooky.”

  But Jeanie wouldn’t give in. “There has to be a way
for Blacky to get into the house,” she said.

  “Who’s Blacky?” asked Cindy.

  “He’s the jewel thief,” Jeanie answered.

  “You mean the burglar that stole my grandfather’s jewels?”

  “Yes.”

  Cindy started to ask Jeanie why she was so sure, when Jeanie began jumping up and down with her arms outstretched to the ceiling of the porch. Instead, she asked, “What in the world are you doing?”

  “See those fingerprints?” she answered, pointing up to some smudges on the white boards above their heads. “Give me a hand lift.”

  Cindy and Ann clasped hands obediently. Jeanie stepped on the their hands that were clutched together, and balanced herself with her hands on top of their heads. Then reaching up with her right hand, she pushed hard on the smudges. To her surprise, a door swung up, and a rope ladder fell down. Jeanie grabbed the ladder without a moment’s delay. She climbed up the swinging rope and poked her head into the passage, but it was too dark to see up.

  “Ann. Get a flashlight from the kitchen,” Jeanie said.

  “Come with me,” Ann said to Cindy. When they returned with the flashlight, Jeanie leaned down from the rope ladder and retrieved it. She pointed the light up into the darkness. “Come on up,” she said to Cindy and Ann. “A wooden ladder is nailed to the wall, and goes all the way to the top of the house. I think it goes straight to the attic.”

  Cindy stepped onto the rope ladder and started up. Rather than be left alone, Ann reluctantly followed. The passage was narrow, dark, and dusty. They climbed until they reached a trap door that stopped their entry into the attic. Jeanie pushed on it, and it opened with only a slight creak. She peeked through the crack into the attic. An electric lamp lit the room dimly. It’s empty. “No one’s here,” she announced to the others. “I’m going in.” She lifted the door wide open, and climbed onto the floor of the attic. Cindy and Ann followed.

  “We’re right behind you, Jeanie,” Ann said.

  “It’s dusty up here,” Cindy whispered, she sneezed.

  “Is this the attic?” Ann asked, looking around the bare room. “Where’s Blacky? Where are the jewels?”