The Windy City Mystery Read online

  You’ll find the treasure

  That is best.

  NOTE WELL: DON’T TELL!

  “Don’t tell what, Henry?” Benny asked.

  Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. About the note, maybe, or … There’s a clue on the bottom. Maybe that’s it.”

  “A clue? What kind of clue?” Jessie said.

  Henry read on:

  CLUE #1

  Find a structure

  Straight and tall

  Standing there

  Through fire and all.

  They drifted back to the bench and sat down. They were full of questions. What did this note mean? Who had written it? Why was it given to them? What was the special treasure the note mentioned?

  “Chad wrote the note,” Jessie decided.

  “But why?” Henry wondered.

  “Let’s ask him,” Benny said.

  “The note says, ‘Don’t tell,’” Violet reminded him.

  Benny was puzzled. “But if Chad wrote it, he already knows about it.”

  “You’re right, Benny,” Henry said, “but if he did write it, he doesn’t want us to know he did.”

  “It’s some kind of game — a treasure hunt,” Jessie said. “We should just go along with it.”

  “Then we’d better figure out the clue,” Henry concluded. He reread it.

  “A structure — is that a building?” Benny asked.

  Henry nodded. “It could be a building. But there are other kinds of structures.”

  “Let’s say it’s a building, Henry,” Jessie suggested.

  “Okay. A building — straight and tall —”

  “There’s Chad!” Benny said.

  This time Chad came inside. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “I hope you weren’t bored.”

  Henry stuffed the note into his pocket. “Actually, we were busy … figuring things out,” he said.

  The Aldens all watched Chad. If he had written the note, he would know they had been trying to figure out the clue. His reaction would give him away.

  Chad did not react. Instead, he said, “Let’s get moving!” and sailed through the doors with the Aldens at his heels.

  Chad led the way along the broad sidewalks. “I hope you like to walk,” he said.

  Benny looked at the tall buildings and the busy streets. “Where are we going?” he asked.

  “To the Water Tower,” Chad answered. “It’s not far.”

  “What’s at the Water Tower?” Violet asked.

  “Long ago it contained instruments to measure water pumped from Lake Michigan. Now it’s a visitors’ center,” Chad said. “We can get information and maps there.”

  “The Water Tower!” Benny said. “We saw a picture of it in Grandfather’s workbook. It looks like a castle.”

  “That’s the one,” Chad said.

  Henry remembered something else about the building. He caught Jessie’s eye. They dropped back behind Chad.

  “What is it, Henry?” Jessie asked.

  “The Water Tower — it survived the fire!” he whispered.

  Jessie nodded. “‘A structure/ Straight and tall.’”

  “‘Standing there/ Through fire and all,’” Henry completed.

  Was the Water Tower the answer to the riddle?

  “It can’t be the place,” Jessie decided.

  “Why?” Henry asked. “It fits the clue.”

  “But if Chad wrote the clue, he wouldn’t just take us there, would he?” Jessie said. “He’d want us to figure it out for ourselves.”

  That was true, Henry agreed. Why would Chad lead them to this place after he had gone to the trouble of writing the clue? He couldn’t think of a single reason.

  Finally he said, “Maybe he didn’t write it.”

  “Then who did?”

  “Jessie! Henry!” Benny called excitedly. “Hurry up!”

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Henry said, and he and Jessie caught up to the others.

  Just ahead, looking like some kind of fairy castle, was the Water Tower.

  “No wonder it survived the fire,” Henry said. “It’s made of stone.”

  They went inside.

  “Oh, look at the floor!” Violet exclaimed.

  Blues, greens, purples, and yellows in flowing patterns glittered beneath their feet.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Chad said.

  “What’s it made of?” Henry asked.

  “Broken glass and stones and shells.”

  “I guess you can make art out of anything,” Benny said.

  Chad laughed. “If you know what you’re doing.”

  They gathered information from the racks along the walls.

  “Henry,” Jessie whispered. “Look for another clue.”

  Henry didn’t need to be told. He was already looking.

  CHAPTER 3

  No Clue

  “That should be enough,” Chad said. He led them outside and found a bench. “Let’s sit here and look through the brochures.”

  Jessie and Violet studied the leaflets. Benny looked at the colorful pictures. But Henry couldn’t concentrate. He kept wondering about the clue. He was sure they had come to the right place: The Water Tower was certainly the solution to the puzzle. But where was the next clue? He stared up at the stone building. What secret was it keeping? He stood up and walked toward it.

  “Where’re you going, Henry?” Benny asked.

  “To look at the building close up,” he said. He ran his hand along the rough stone walls and glanced down at the ground. Seeing something, he picked it up. But it was only a paper scrap. He went back inside the Water Tower.

  “Did you find anything, Henry?” It was Jessie. She had come inside after him.

  He shook his head. “If this is the place, there has to be another clue.”

  But there was nothing out of place — nothing there to get the Aldens’ attention.

  “Maybe we’re wrong,” Jessie continued. “Maybe this isn’t the place.”

  Violet was at the door. “Grandfather’s here!”

  They went back outside. Sure enough, Grandfather Alden was sitting beside Benny on the bench.

  “Grandfather!” Jessie said. “What are you doing here?”

  “Cob and I finished our business for the day,” Mr. Alden answered, “so I thought I’d join you.”

  “How did you know we’d be here?” Henry asked.

  “Well, I … uh …” Grandfather didn’t seem to have an answer. Finally he said, “Chad told me. Didn’t you, Chad?”

  Chad looked confused. “Did I? I don’t remember telling you.”

  “You did say we’d pick up brochures and maps this morning,” Jessie reminded him.

  “That’s right,” Grandfather said. “And this is a visitors’ center — just the place to do that.” Changing the subject, he asked, “What are your plans for the day?”

  “We’re still deciding,” Violet said.

  “I have a suggestion,” Mr. Alden said. “How about a baseball game? The Cubs are in town.”

  Benny jumped up and down. “Oh, good!” he said. “We can have lunch there!”

  Grandfather stood up. “Chad, we’d like you to come along.”

  “Thanks, I’d love to go, but I have some schoolwork to do,” Chad said. He added, “I’ll see you in the morning,” and then he was gone.

  “Jessie, I think you dropped something,” Grandfather said.

  Jessie looked behind her. Several pamphlets lay on the ground.

  “I’ll get them,” Benny said.

  Mr. Alden picked up a few leaflets that had blown some distance away. He handed them to Jessie. “Don’t forget these.”

  She stacked the papers and put them in her backpack.

  “How are we getting to the ballpark, Grandfather?” Violet asked.

  “You’ll see,” Mr. Alden answered. “Just follow me.”

  Benny laughed. “You made a rhyme, Grandfather! Just like the —” Henry poked him. Then Benny remembered they were not s
upposed to tell anyone about the mystery.

  They walked west. Two blocks away, Mr. Alden led them down a broad staircase.

  “We’re going to the subway,” Henry observed.

  “There’s a lot happening underground in Chicago,” Grandfather said.

  Downstairs, Grandfather Alden paid the woman in the ticket booth and, single file, they pushed through the metal turnstile. More stairs took them to the station platform where tracks ran along both sides.

  Grandfather said, “We want to go north.”

  Violet was the first to see the NORTHBOUND sign.

  Before long, a train screeched to a stop. Doors slid open. They all hopped on.

  After several stops, the train began to climb. It emerged from the tunnel into the sun. Up, up went the tracks until they were high above the street. The train screeched past the buildings lining the way.

  “What do you think of the El, Benny?” Grandfather asked.

  “El?” Benny said.

  Henry looked at Grandfather Alden. “Is that short for elevated?”

  “Right you are, Henry,” Mr. Alden answered.

  Before long, a voice came over the public address system. “Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs!” it said.

  The train squealed to a halt. The Aldens followed the crowd down the steep stairway.

  “The game’s going to be crowded,” Benny decided.

  And he was right. Still, there was plenty of room. They found good seats.

  “Is anybody hungry?” Grandfather asked.

  Benny raised his hand. “I am!”

  Laughing, the others raised their hands, too.

  “Give me your orders,” Mr. Alden said. “Henry and I will go get lunch.”

  They all wanted hot dogs and peanuts.

  “That’s easy to remember,” Henry said. He followed Grandfather out to the concession stands.

  Jessie, Violet, and Benny watched the pregame action. All around them, people settled into seats, talking excitedly.

  “Did you think more about the clue?” Violet asked Jessie.

  “Henry and I thought the Water Tower was the place,” Jessie answered.

  “You’re right,” Violet said. “It fits the description.”

  Benny was surprised. “You mean we solved that clue, and I didn’t even know it?”

  “We’re not sure we solved it,” Jessie said.

  Violet thought about that. Finally she asked, “If Chad wrote the clue, why didn’t he let us figure it out?”

  “But who else could have written it?” Benny asked.

  “Henry and I asked both those questions, too,” Jessie answered. “And another thing: There was no clue at the Water Tower. There has to be another clue. Where is it?”

  Just then, Henry appeared, carrying a box of drinks. “Grandfather has the food,” he said. He looked over his shoulder. Mr. Alden wasn’t there. “That’s funny. He was right behind me.”

  Benny got to his feet. “Let’s go find him. I’m hungry.” He and Henry trotted off.

  “Where could he be?” asked Jessie.

  “Look!” Violet said. “Up there!”

  Jessie followed her sister’s gaze.

  High at the top of the bleachers, a man wearing bib overalls and a cap took a seat.

  “Isn’t that the man we saw this morning?” Violet asked.

  “It’s hard to tell,” Jessie answered.

  “There’s Grandfather!” Violet said. She stood up and waved.

  “Where are Henry and Benny?” Grandfather asked as he approached.

  “They went to look for you,” Jessie told him.

  Just then, the boys scampered down the stairs to join them.

  “What happened to you, Grandfather?” Henry asked. “You were right behind me and then you … disappeared.”

  Grandfather handed the box of food to Jessie. “Sorry, I … uh … went back to get this.” He pulled a cap out of his pocket and put it on Benny’s head. It was blue. On the front was a red letter: C. “Now you’re a real Cubs fan,” he said.

  Henry was puzzled. He had been with Grandfather when he bought the cap. Had Grandfather forgotten?

  Benny passed out the food. “This smells so good,” he said.

  A voice boomed out over the field. “Plaaaaay ball!”

  The teams took their positions.

  The game began!

  The crack of the bat, the shouts of the umpires, and the roar of the crowd soon pushed the mystery to the back of the Aldens’ minds.

  During the seventh inning, Grandfather Alden went for more peanuts. “Be right back,” he said.

  Watching him go, Violet saw someone else. “There’s that man again,” she said.

  The man in the overalls hurried past. He was definitely the same man they had seen speaking with the doorman, yet he looked different somehow.

  Benny giggled. “His mustache is crooked!” he said.

  This time, Grandfather returned with the peanuts quickly. The Aldens enjoyed the rest of the game, and best of all, the Cubs won!

  CHAPTER 4

  Another Clue

  Back at their apartment building, Willard opened the door for them. “How’d you like the ball game?” he asked. “When those Cubbies are good, they are really good.”

  Wide-eyed, Benny looked up at the man. “How’d you know we went to the game?”

  Willard raised one eyebrow. “This is my building. I know all about the people in it.”

  The Aldens laughed — except Benny. He was wondering if Willard could be the man behind the mysterious clue.

  Upstairs, Grandfather said, “I think I’ll take a nap. All that rooting for the home team wore me out.”

  “You go ahead, Grandfather,” Jessie said. “We’ll do the breakfast dishes.”

  “If I’m not up, wake me in an hour,” Mr. Alden said as he closed his bedroom door.

  Violet helped with the dishes. “Next time, it’s your turn,” she said to her brothers.

  After everything had been dried and put away, Jessie said, “We should decide where we want to go tomorrow with Chad.” She took the brochures out of her backpack and laid them on the table.

  Benny leaned in close to the others. “I think Willard wrote the clue,” he whispered.

  “Willard?” Henry said. “I doubt it.”

  Violet disagreed. “Benny might be right,” she said. “Willard did give us the note, remember? And he never said it was from Chad.”

  “We didn’t ask him,” Henry said.

  “That would explain why Chad took us to the Water Tower before we figured it out,” Jessie said. “He didn’t know about the clue.”

  “Willard did it,” Benny said. “How else did he know we went to the ball game?”

  Henry, Jessie, and Violet exchanged amused glances.

  “Benny, you’re the clue to that,” Henry said.

  Benny pointed to himself. “Me?”

  Henry reached across the table and took the cap off Benny’s head. “You’re wearing a Cubs cap,” he said.

  Benny put the cap back on his head. “Oh, I forgot,” he said.

  Violet shuffled through the pamphlets. She held up a white envelope. “What’s this?”

  Jessie took it from her. “I don’t know,” she said. “There’s no writing on it.” Jessie opened it and took out a folded piece of paper. “It’s another clue!” She read it aloud:

  CLUE #2

  When you hear

  Two lions roar,

  You are at

  The proper door.

  Go inside,

  Walk around,

  Find tiny rooms

  On the ground.

  Jessie looked up from the paper. “I must have gotten this at the Water Tower,” she said.

  “But I looked everywhere,” Henry said. “There was nothing.”

  “You dropped some stuff, Jessie,” Benny reminded her. “I picked it up. Maybe the clue was mixed in with that.”

  “Or it could have been with the thing
s Grandfather picked up,” Violet said.

  Jessie reexamined the envelope. “But our name isn’t on this,” she said.

  “Whoever put it there was sure we’d find it,” Henry decided.

  “Who knew we were going to be there?” Violet asked.

  They could all answer that: Chad and Grandfather.

  “Grandfather certainly didn’t do it,” Jessie said.

  Henry nodded. “Chad’s behind this.”

  “Or maybe Willard,” Benny piped up. “He said he knows everything about the people in this building.”

  “We know one thing for sure,” Violet said. “The Water Tower is definitely the answer to the first clue.”

  “How about this one?” Benny asked. “What’s the answer to it?”

  Jessie read the clue to them again. Then she sighed. “This one is really hard.”

  “Let’s take it one line at a time,” Henry suggested.

  “The first is about lions roaring,” Benny said.

  “Zoos have lions,” Violet put in.

  “But do they have doors?” Jessie asked.

  “Not the zoo itself,” Henry said, “but the lion house would have doors.”

  “What about the little rooms?” Benny asked.

  “Tiny rooms,” Jessie corrected. “The clue says ‘tiny rooms/ On the ground.’”

  “Ants make tiny rooms,” Benny said.

  “Most of an anthill is under the ground,” Henry said.

  They heard Grandfather’s voice in the bedroom. He was talking on the telephone.

  Jessie piled the clue with the brochures and put them aside. “We’ll get back to this later,” she said.

  Mr. Alden came into the room. “How about a picnic supper?”

  Everyone thought that was a wonderful idea.

  “Why don’t you make sandwiches,” he suggested. “I’ll go downstairs to get a newspaper.”

  Jessie got out the bread, cold cuts, lettuce, and pickles. Benny got out the peanut butter and jelly. Violet took apples from the crisper and bananas from a bowl on the counter. Henry found paper plates and napkins.

  “We can use my backpack to carry everything,” Jessie said as she wrapped the last sandwich.

  “Are there picnic tables where we’re going?” Violet wondered aloud.

  “We’ll have to ask Grandfather,” Henry said.

  Benny went to the door and looked out into the hall. No Grandfather. “What’s taking him so long?”