Read Online Mystery of the Dark Tower by Evelyn Coleman - Free Book Online

already know about the woman. She’d even seen the woman’s face. And if they were going to look for Miss A., Lillian knew her way around Harlem better than Bessie and Eddie did.
    â€œHere it is,” Bessie said, pulling the note out and showing it to Lillian.
    â€œSee,” Lillian said, “I told you, she’s very rich. This is real gold around the edges of the note. Those leaf patterns on the border are gold, too. And that’s engraving there at the top where the initials are.”
    Bessie looked at the fancy engraved letters. “Her initials must be A.W. Now all we have to do is find her,” Bessie said. “Or find out where that Dark Tower is.”
    â€œHow?” Lillian asked.
    â€œWell, maybe we could walk around the neighborhood and ask people if they know a rich woman with the initials A.W.,” Bessie said.
    â€œH-how can we g-get away from Aunt Esther?” Eddie said.
    â€œYour other aunt is back?” Lillian asked. “Oh, no.”
    â€œYes,” Bessie said. “She must have come back last night sometime. And she’s very strict. She told us not to leave the block.”
    â€œI think I have an idea to help you get away. If it works, I’ll see you after lunch,” Lillian said, getting up to go back inside. “I must start working on Mother.”
    Bessie and Eddie ate their lunch in silence. Aunt Esther had cooked them some collard greens and rice. Bessie loved collard greens, but she didn’t feel much like eating. She wondered what Lillian had meant by “working on Mother.”
    When they were almost finished eating, the sound of the door knocker echoed through the house. Aunt Esther stopped stringing beans and went to the door. Bessie and Eddie snuck just far enough into the hallway to see who was at the door. They were surprised to hear Lillian’s mother talking to Aunt Esther.
    As soon as Aunt Esther closed the door, she called Bessie and Eddie. “You children didn’t tell me you’d made such an impressive friend,” Aunt Esther said. “Lillian Moore’s mother came over herself to ask if you would go with Lillian to her uncle’s bookstore. I told her you would love to do that. Richard Moore is a respected businessman. Go on now. Hurry and wash up. Don’t keep Lillian waiting.”
    By the time they got out to the stoop, Lillian was already there.
    â€œThanks, Lillian. Good work,” Bessie said.
    â€œLet’s go. We don’t have much time,” Lillian said. “I have to be back by supper.”
    They walked up the street and turned the corner.
    â€œWho should we ask about Miss A.W. first?” Lillian asked.
    â€œAsk th-that lady,” Eddie said, pointing to a woman just leaving the butcher shop. “Aunt Esther says that in Harlem only r-r-rich p-people eat a lot of meat.”
    They walked over to the butcher shop. The sign in the window read, “Pig’s Feet, Pig Snout, Hog Mawls, and Chitlins.” Bessie’s mouth watered—it reminded her of the good food back home.
    â€œExcuse me, ma’am,” Bessie said. “Do you know a rich colored woman who has the initials A.W.?” The woman shook her head no and turned down the sidewalk.
    Next Lillian asked the shoe-shine man. “Sir, may I bother you to inquire about a woman? Do you happen to know a rich colored woman with a fancy black car?”
    â€œGirl, if I had me a frail-eel like that, don’t you know, me and her would be on the first thing smoking,” the old man said.
    â€œExcuse me, sir, but I don’t understand,” Lillian said, frowning.
    â€œCome on, Lillian,” Bessie said, pulling her away.
    â€œWhat did he say?” Lillian asked as they walked down the street.
    â€œI think he was saying if he had a pretty woman like that, he’d take her away from Harlem,” Bessie said.
    â€œHow do you know that’s what he said?” Lillian