Copycat Mystery Read Online Free

“You mean, as volunteer tour guides?”
    “Yes,” said Jessie. “It would be fun!”
    “It sure would!” agreed Benny.
    Henry nodded. “I think that’s a terrific idea.”
    “And we could solve a mystery,” added Benny. “The copycat mystery!”
    Later, when Gwen heard their offer, her green eyes lit up. “Do you mean it?” she asked as they made their way back to the farmhouse. “I must warn you, it can be hard work.”
    “Oh, you don’t know these children! There’s nothing they like better than hard work,” said Aunt Jane. “I had a hunch they’d want to help.”
    “When do we start?” asked Benny, who always got straight to the point.
    Gwen laughed. “How does tomorrow sound? I can take you on a tour of the farmhouse right now, if you like.”
    “We’d like that very much!” replied Jessie, speaking for them all.
    As they followed a path through a field of clover, Jessie noticed a small white cottage near the orchard. “That must be where Draper Mills lives,” she said to Henry.
    Henry nodded. “There he is now, looking out the front window. I think he sees us.” When Henry put a hand up to wave, the custodian yanked the curtains closed.
    “He isn’t very friendly,” said Jessie.
    “That’s for sure,” agreed Henry. “I guess we’d better keep out of his way while we’re working here.”
    “Oh, dear!” said Gwen as they came out of the orchard. “It looks like the farmhouse is a lot busier now.”
    Everyone followed her gaze to where a number of cars were parked.
    “Why don’t we leave your tour until the morning,” she suggested. “That way I can spend more time with you and we can get started on your training.”
    “We’ll be here bright and early,” promised Jessie.
    As they rounded the farmhouse, Gwen waved to a girl of about fifteen who was standing on the porch talking to an older couple. The young girl looked very much like Gwen. She had the same fair hair and slim build, only she was much taller.
    “Oh, it looks like Sharon’s back from the dentist,” said Gwen. And she waved for her to come over.

    When Gwen’s sister raised her long skirts above her ankles to come down the porch steps, Violet noticed her socks. They were covered in burrs—just like Benny’s.
    Sharon gave the Aldens a friendly smile. “Are you here for a tour?” she asked.
    “Actually, I’ll be taking them on a special tour in the morning,” Gwen told her. “You see, the Aldens have offered to help us out this week. Isn’t that wonderful? As a matter of fact,” she added, “they’ve already been a help. Benny found the farmhouse sign! The Aldens happen to be first-class detectives.”
    Sharon’s smiled faded. Suddenly she didn’t look so friendly. “We don’t have time to train new volunteers,” she said rather sharply. “Aren’t we busy enough as it is?”
    The children stared at her in disbelief. Why was Sharon getting upset?
    Even Gwen seemed surprised by her sister. “We need all the help we can get. I thought you’d be pleased with such a kind offer.”
    But Sharon did not look pleased at all.
    “They won’t even know what to do!” she shot back. “It’s just going to be a waste of everybody’s time. I mean, what’s the point in—”
    “Sharon!” Gwen broke in. “What’s gotten into you?”
    “We’ll do a good job,” Benny promised. “Just wait and see!”
    “And what happened to that reporter?” Sharon asked her sister, changing the subject. “I thought he was going to take pictures of the farmhouse.”
    “There weren’t any visitors,” explained Gwen. “Mr. Mason didn’t want pictures of an empty farmhouse in the paper.”
    Sharon frowned, then stormed away.
    Gwen apologized for her sister’s behavior. “Sharon can be a bit difficult sometimes. But she really has a good heart.”
    When the Aldens were walking back to the car with Aunt Jane, Henry let out a low whistle. “Gwen’s sister sure doesn’t want us helping out,” he said.
    A