Read Online McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser by Shari Barr - Free Book Online Page B

He’s trying to forget the troubles of his past. He doesn’t need people like you stirring up trouble, so don’t hurt him anymore!

A Clue in the Hills
    McKenzie fled up the lane, her tennis shoes crunching the gravel. She took the porch steps two at a time and raced into the house. Clutching the note, she tossed the rest of the mail toward the kitchen table. She missed, and most of it flew to the floor.
    â€œSydney!” she called, hurrying to her friend who was sitting in front of the computer. “Look at this!”
    Sydney grabbed the letter McKenzie thrust in front of her face. Her eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped. “Who wrote this?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s not signed, and there’s no return address, either,” McKenzie said as she took a second look at the envelope. “I just noticed that there’s no stamp or postmark. Somebody put this letter in our mailbox, and it wasn’t the mail carrier.”
    Sydney studied the note for a moment. “This is so weird. Why don’t we call Alexis and tell her? You know how she’s always watching movie mysteries. Maybe she’s got an idea where to go from here.”
    Alexis loved anything involving detectives. She had read so many mystery books that she was practically a pro herself. She knew most of the old
Hardy Boys
TV shows by heart. If anybody could find a missing clue, it was Alexis.
    McKenzie pulled her phone from her pocket and clicked on Alexis’s name. A few seconds later, a familiar voice answered.
    â€œHi, McKenzie. Thanks for the pictures you guys e-mailed. The Ozarks look really cool, but I wish I was there,” Alexis said cheerfully.
    â€œI wish you were here, too. We just got the weirdest note in the mail,” McKenzie said, settling onto a corner of the couch.
    After McKenzie read the note, Alexis whistled. “Wow, this must mean you’re getting close to finding Mr. Ford. Someone doesn’t want you to find him.”
    â€œWhat do the detectives do in all the mysteries you watch on TV?” McKenzie asked her friend in Sacramento, California.
    â€œWell, they would probably look at the note and envelope for clues,” Alexis suggested. “Can you scan me a copy of them? Send a copy to the other Camp Club Girls, too, and maybe someone can spot a clue. If you’ve got more pictures, send them along. You never know where you might find a clue. Sometimes they’re in plain sight, and we just can’t see them.”
    McKenzie agreed, and the two girls scanned the two items on the computer to send to their friends.
    â€œWhy don’t you e-mail our pictures from this morning, too? Alexis wants to see them,” McKenzie said.
    You never know where someone might find a clue
, McKenzie thought, repeating Alexis’s words.
    Another idea came to McKenzie’s mind. She slipped the fairy necklace from around her neck, snapped a picture of it, and sent it to the Camp Club Girls. She attached a quick note explaining this was a picture of Mr. Ford’s work.
    A few minutes later, the girls received an e-mail message from Alexis. She said she’d get back to them after she looked things over. McKenzie silently prayed their Sacramento friend would find a clue.
I’d be happy with a small clue, God. Please, just let us know we’re on the right track
.
    McKenzie picked Mr. Pibb up off the couch and held him on her lap. He rolled on his back so she could rub his belly. Sydney plopped down beside her, and they studied the note again.
    â€œI don’t understand the line ‘don’t hurt him anymore.’” Sydney pointed to the last line.
    â€œI noticed that, too. Maybe his family hurt him years ago, but we haven’t done anything.” McKenzie propped her legs up on the coffee table and rubbed Mr. Pibb’s furry white belly. “Unless …” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œOh, Sydney, I just thought of something,” she