The Sleepy Hollow Mystery Read online

  The woman took hold of her children’s hands. “I don’t believe some headless horseman from a story just happened to show up to throw a pumpkin at us. I will not be recommending this tour to any of our friends. In fact, I’m going to post a review online. People should know this is not for families. Let’s go, everyone.”

  After the group left, Annika looked like she was going to cry. Mrs. Vanderhoff put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I’m sorry about the awful trick.”

  Henry picked up another piece of the pumpkin. “This is another one of those strange pumpkins. It’s white, just like the ones in front.”

  “I use white pumpkins for the logo of my ghost-tour business,” Annika said. “Whoever played this trick must have used a white pumpkin on purpose. They aren’t easy to find.”

  “I wonder if the same person put the cookie crumbs and worm candy in the cookie jar,” Jessie said.

  “Who would have been able to do that?” Henry asked.

  “I don’t know,” Annika brushed her hair off her face. More of it had fallen out of the bun. “We always have treats out here after the tours. I set everything up early so I don’t have to rush around when we get back. I don’t know who would have come into the backyard.”

  “Sometimes people play tricks around Halloween,” Violet said. “Maybe that’s all it is.”

  “I don’t know,” Henry said. “This kind of trick would take a lot of effort. It’s a really mean, scary trick. Why would anyone do that to Annika?”

  A ghostly voice came from the path. “I’m coming to haunt you!”

  Benny grabbed Jessie’s hand. “Who…who said that?”

  CHAPTER 3

  A Pin for Good Luck

  “Isiah, stop with the voices,” Annika called. She sounded angry.

  A very tall and skinny young man came around the side of the house. He wore a black suit with a ruffled shirt and a tall black hat. When he saw the Aldens and Mrs. McGregor, he swept his hat off his head and bowed. “Isiah Sanders at your service.”

  Violet whispered to Benny. “He looks like a character from a book.”

  “Where have you been?” Annika asked.

  “You were supposed to drive the wagon!”

  “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” Isiah dropped down to his knees in front of her and clasped his hands in front of him. “Please forgive me,” he begged. “I can’t go on unless you do.” He looked over at the Aldens and winked.

  The children laughed at the performance.

  “Oh, get up, Isiah,” Annika said. “Now is not the time for acting.”

  He did, brushing the dirt off his knees. “I’m sorry I missed the tour. The harness on the wagon broke, and I lost my phone. I was coming to meet you with my car when the tire went flat. Why is it so dark? And where is the tour group?”

  Henry thought Annika’s friend was making a lot of excuses. It was hard to believe that so many bad things could happen to one person in such a short time.

  Annika explained, “We heard some spooky noises in the woods on the first part of the tour. It sounded like there was something or someone out there following us. The tour guests weren’t happy at all. And then you weren’t there with the wagon.”

  “Are you sure the sounds you heard in the woods weren’t just from an animal?” Henry asked.

  “It sounded like a very big animal, even bigger than a deer,” Annika said. “And deer don’t make that much noise.”

  “That’s a mean trick for someone to play,” Isiah said.

  “It was. I wish you had been there. You have to be more careful with your phone,” Annika scolded. “I need someone I can count on to help me with the tours.”

  “Let me make it up to you. I’ll lead the next tour and you take the easy job and drive the wagon. You know I’m good at telling stories and doing voices.” He hunched over and then spoke in creaky, trembly voice like an old man. “I’ll have them quivering in their boots. He pointed at Benny with a crooked finger. “Young man, you there? I see a strange, ghostly shape. Right behind you!” he yelled. Benny jumped, twisting around to look.

  Benny’s eyes opened wide and then he smiled. “I knew there wasn’t really anyone there. I’m not that easy to trick.”

  “Just teasing you, young lad.” Isiah laughed. “See, I’m good, aren’t I?”

  Annika stomped her foot and scowled at him. “This is supposed to be a family-friendly ghost tour, Isiah. Remember? We don’t want them quivering in their boots.”

  “The tour has to be a little bit scary or else no one will want to go,” Isiah said. “Can I have a cookie?” He reached for the cookie jar and then stopped. Jessie noticed a funny expression cross Isiah’s face. “Come to think of it,” Isiah said. “I’d rather have a cruller. I’m hungry.”

  Annika sighed. “You’re the only person I know who is always hungry.”

  “You know two people now!” Benny said. “I’m always hungry too.”

  “There, you see,” Isiah said, holding up his hand to high-five Benny. “Some people just need to eat. I should be going. I promise I’ll be there tomorrow.” He said good-bye to everyone.

  After he left, Annika slumped down on one of the benches. “I guess the ghost-tour business was a bad idea. Maybe I should just quit.”

  “No, it’s too soon to give up,” Mrs. Vanderhoff told her.

  “Can we go with you tomorrow?” Henry asked. “We might be able to help find out who is playing tricks.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Mrs. McGregor said. “If anyone can help solve this mystery, it’s these four.”

  “You can come,” Annika said. “But I don’t think it will help.”

  “Annika, you sound very tired.” Mrs. Vanderhoff said. “Things will seem better in the morning.” She got up. “Why don’t we all go to bed?”

  She took the Aldens up to the apartment and showed them the sleeping bags on the floor. “I set everything up for you before it got dark. There are flashlights for each of you on the table and extra blankets on the sofa. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

  “We’ll be fine,” Jessie said.

  “Good night, then.” After she left, Watch inspected each sleeping bag. He picked a dark green one and then lay down on it, closing his eyes.

  “Watch is tired too,” Violet said. “Someone is going to have to share their bed with him.”

  “I will,” Benny said. “He can watch out for me. Watch can watch me, get it?”

  “That’s good, Benny,” Violet said. “Let’s all go to bed. I’m as tired as Watch.”

  Once they were all in their pajamas, Benny asked, “That wasn’t really a headless horseman, was it?”

  “No, it was someone dressed up like that,” Jessie said. “There’s an old story about a headless horseman by an author named Washington Irving. It’s set in Sleepy Hollow. We read it in school.”

  “I don’t know why someone would want to dress up like that,” Benny grumbled. “It’s too scary.”

  “We’ll find out who did it and then you’ll see it’s just a trick,” Henry said.

  They woke the next morning when Mrs. McGregor came in the door. She had a tray with mugs of hot chocolate. “Good morning! The power is still out, but as soon as you’re dressed, we’re going next door to the restaurant for breakfast. I hear they have very tasty apple pancakes.”

  Benny jumped up. “Let’s go!”

  “Not in pajamas!” Jessie said, laughing.

  “Oh, right,” Benny said, looking down at his pajamas. “I forgot.”

  Mrs. McGregor picked up Watch’s leash.

  “I’ll take Watch and give him his breakfast,” she said. “He can stay in the backyard while we go to the café. Come along, Watch.”

  When the Aldens were ready, they walked over to the café with Mrs. Vanderhoff and Mrs. McGregor. “Annika won’t be joining us,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said. “I’m afraid she has a bad headache. She is still upset about last night.”

  “I’d be upset too,” Jessie
said.

  “Yes, we don’t like when people play mean tricks,” Henry added.

  In front of the café a man wearing a jacket and a tie was watching two workers attaching a sign to a post outside the restaurant. The sign had a big red apple on it.

  “I can read the sign!” Benny said. “It’s called the Apple House Café!”

  “Good job, Benny,” Jessie said. “You’re learning fast.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Beekman,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said. “What a nice new sign.”

  The man mumbled something and then turned away from them.

  Mrs. Vanderhoff shook her head sadly at the man’s reaction and said, “Let’s go on in.”

  As they walked up the steps, one of the workmen said, “This paint isn’t dry! It’s all over my hands. We shouldn’t be putting up this sign now.”

  “I want it done today,” Mr. Beekman said. “Put it up and I’ll repaint it if it needs it.”

  He added something else, but the Aldens couldn’t hear because a hostess opened the door of the café and said, “Welcome to the Apple House Café.” She showed them to a big round table in the back and gave them menus.

  A few minutes later a waiter in a red apron appeared. He scowled at them. Violet thought he looked a little like the man outside, but much younger. Both had curly brown hair and round faces.

  “Good morning, Brett,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said.

  The young man didn’t respond to her greeting as he pulled out an order pad. “We’re busy,” he snapped. “There’s going to be a long wait for your food. What do you want?” He took down their orders for pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, and orange juice before hurrying away.

  “The people who work here don’t seem very friendly,” Violet said.

  “It’s just Brett and his father,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said. “I’m afraid they aren’t very happy with me. They offered to buy my house at a good price. They want to turn it into a bed and breakfast for Brett to run. I just don’t want to sell. I love my little shop, even if it doesn’t make much money.”

  “Could Mr. Beekman be the one playing the tricks?” Henry asked. “He may think the tricks will convince you to sell the house.”

  “We know he has red paint,” Violet said.

  “And someone who owns a restaurant might know about food that looks like worms and dirt,” Jessie added.

  “Oh, I hope he wouldn’t do that.” Mrs. Vanderhoff looked shocked. “That wouldn’t be very neighborly. I’m sure it’s someone else.”

  Brett stomped over with a coffee pot and a pitcher of juice. He set the juice down with a thunk and some of it sloshed onto the tablecloth. “Oops,” he said as he walked away.

  The Aldens looked at each other. They weren’t so sure.

  CHAPTER 4

  The Lost Scarecrow

  A young woman came into the café and waved when she saw them.

  “That’s my other daughter Margot,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said.

  “She looks like Annika,” Mrs. McGregor said. Margot had wavy blond hair like Annika but she looked a few years older.

  When Margot sat down, Mrs. Vanderhoff introduced everyone and added, “Margot can tell you about Sleepy Hollow. She works for the county tourist office. She knows all about the history of the place and the wonderful things to see in the area.”

  “You’ve come to visit us at the right time,” Margot said. “Halloween is the spookiest time of year in the spookiest town in America.”

  “Is Sleepy Hollow really the spookiest town?” Benny asked.

  “It will be if I have my way,” Margot said. “There’s a contest going on in a travel magazine. I’m submitting an entry for our town. If we win, more tourists will visit us.”

  “How will the contest be judged?” Jessie asked. “Isn’t it hard to prove a place is spooky?”

  “I’ll send in some of the pictures I’ve been taking of scary places and scary things around town. I’m also writing down all the unexplained hauntings we’ve had. The headless horseman from last night is a perfect story.”

  “Your sister was very upset by that,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said.

  “She shouldn’t have been.” Margot looked annoyed. “I don’t think her ghost-tour business is going to work. It’s silly to have a ghost tour that’s not scary.”

  “You should support your sister’s idea,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said. “Annika is trying very hard to earn some money for the house repairs. We need a new roof.”

  “Mother, you should just sell the house to Mr. Beekman,” Margot said. “You could use the money to rent a shop in a better location right downtown, and get yourself an apartment. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about the roof. Plus, the town needs a gift shop on the main street.”

  “I love our house. It’s been in our family too long to sell it because it requires some work.” She poured herself some coffee. “Would you please pass me the sugar, Violet?”

  Violet handed the bowl and its tongs to Mrs. Vanderhoff. Benny watched with interest as Mrs. Vanderhoff used the tongs to take a sugar cube out of the sugar bowl. She dropped it into her coffee.

  “I didn’t know sugar came in little blocks like that,” Benny said. “Can I try one?”

  “Just one,” Jessie said. “Too much sugar isn’t good for you.”

  He popped one in his mouth. “This is a good treat!”

  Just then Brett brought their breakfasts. “Pancakes will be a better treat,” Jessie said. She handed the syrup to Benny.

  He poured the syrup on his pancakes and then took a big bite of one. “Even if the people aren’t nice here, they make good pancakes.”

  Mrs. Vanderhoff smiled. “I’m glad you like them. Maybe after breakfast you children would like to make a scarecrow. There’s a scarecrow contest at the library this afternoon. Annika made one, and we have all the supplies to build another.

  “That would be so much fun!” Violet said.

  “I’ll be there taking pictures,” Margot said. “There are always some amazing scarecrows in the contest.”

  Mrs. Vanderhoff turned to Henry. “We have wood for you to make a frame for the scarecrow. While you’re doing that, your brother and sisters can look in the attic for old clothes to dress it up.”

  “Do we have to make a scary scarecrow?” Benny asked. “I’m not sure I want to do that.”

  “No, you can make any kind of scarecrow you like,” Mrs. Vanderhoff said.

  When they were finished with breakfast, she took them over to the house and up to the attic. “Use anything you want. The old trunks are full of clothes. If you need anything, just come downstairs and ask.”

  “I’ll go make the frame,” Henry said. “When you find something to put on the scarecrow you can bring it out to the garage. We can stuff it full of straw out there.”

  Jessie opened one of the trunks. “Should we make a girl scarecrow? There are some good dresses here.”

  “How about a lady in purple?” Violet suggested, picking up a long purple dress.

  “Okay,” Benny agreed. “That’s not scary.”

  “Here’s a good hat for her.” Jessie said. She pulled out a big straw hat with a pink bow on it.

  The three of them went to find Henry. He had already finished the frame and was putting away the tools while Watch followed him around. The children took the frame out into the yard, dressed the scarecrow, and stuffed it with straw.

  When they were finished, Watch came over and growled at it.

  “Watch doesn’t like scarecrows,” Violet said.

  “It’s because it doesn’t have a head,” Benny said. “I don’t like headless scarecrows either. How do we fix it?”

  “We could stuff a paper bag to use as the head,” Jessie suggested. She went inside to ask Mrs. Vanderhoff for one and returned with a large grocery bag.

  “Now it needs a face,” Henry said.

  Violet said, “I’ll get my art supplies.” She brought down her markers and drew a lady’s face onto the paper bag. When she was done, Henry attached
the head to the scarecrow. Jessie put the hat on it. They stood back to look.

  “It doesn’t look quite right,” Henry said. “But I don’t know why.”

  Jessie laughed. “We forgot something important! It’s missing hair!”

  “How can we make hair?” Benny asked. “Bald scarecrows are almost as scary as headless ones.”

  “Maybe Mrs. Vanderhoff has some yarn,” Violet suggested.

  Mrs. Vanderhoff had yarn in shades of green, pink, and orange. “Let’s use pink,” Violet said. “That goes with the bow on the hat.”

  When they were done, they carried it around to the front of the house and onto the porch. Mrs. Vanderhoff and Mrs. McGregor came outside.

  “What a wonderful scarecrow!” Mrs. Vanderhoff exclaimed. “It will stand out in the crowd.”

  The Aldens spent the rest of the morning helping Mrs. Vanderhoff in the shop. Jessie dusted while Benny and Violet made black and orange paper chains to decorate the front windows. Henry fixed a loose hinge on the door to the storeroom. Annika came downstairs when she felt better and helped too.

  After lunch, Henry and Jessie loaded the scarecrow into Annika’s car. She drove them downtown to the library. The lawn in front was filled with rows and rows of colorful scarecrows.

  “Look at that one with the big red nose!” Benny said. “It’s a clown scarecrow. I see one that looks like a cowboy. I’m glad there are scarecrows that aren’t scary.”

  “Is there room for ours?” Violet asked.

  “We’ll ask Isiah,” Annika said. “He works at the library and is organizing the contest this year.”

  “Is that him?” Benny pointed at a man wearing a wizard costume with a long white beard.

  “Yes, he loves any excuse to dress up,” Annika said. “He wants to be a professional actor some day.”

  Isiah saw them coming and hurried over to meet them. “What a great scarecrow,” he said. “Or maybe we should call it a scare lady. Would you like to dance, miss?” He took the scarecrow from Henry and twirled it around.