Read Online Mystery on Stage by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B

family.
    â€œYes,” Jessie nodded.
    â€œBut all these pranks were directed against Sarah,” Violet pointed out. “It’s Sarah’s costume someone ruined, Sarah’s name that was crossed off the audition sheet …”
    â€œAnd Sarah’s props and script that were taken,” Jessie finished.
    Henry stood and stretched. “The question is, why wouldn’t someone want Sarah in the show?” he asked.
    â€œWell, Melody wouldn’t want her,” Benny noted.
    â€œNo,” Jessie agreed. “She wouldn’t.”
    â€œAnd Richard wouldn’t want her in the play, either, because she takes too much attention away from him,” Violet pointed out.
    â€œThat’s true,” Henry said, nodding.
    â€œI guess if we’re naming suspects, we can’t forget the woman outside in the fur coat,” said Violet.
    â€œOr the man in the big white car,” Benny remarked.
    â€œYes,” Henry agreed. “I wonder why he didn’t want to go backstage to find Sarah himself. No one else would have taken his parking place. No other cars were even parked near his.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought of that,” Violet said slowly. She suddenly stood up and looked around the large backstage area. “By the way, where is Soo Lee?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Benny said. “Soo Lee! Soo Lee, where are you?” he called loudly.
    â€œI’m in here,” answered Soo Lee from the costume room. “I think I found something.”
    The Aldens rushed to her side. “There’s a big trunk in this closet,” Soo Lee told them. “Look what’s inside!”
    â€œSoo Lee! You found a spare bulb,” Henry almost shouted. “I won’t have to reset the lights.” Henry gave his cousin a big hug. “All we have to do now is replace this light and we’re set for tomorrow.”
    â€œThe show will go on,” said Benny happily.
    On the night of the performance, Jessie, Mrs. McGregor, and Benny arrived early. They needed plenty of time to change and put on their stage makeup.
    Soo Lee came into the auditorium with Henry and Violet. She was all dressed up to be an usher in a red velvet dress and black patent leather shoes.
    â€œI can’t thank you enough for finding that light, Soo Lee,” Jim said when he saw her.
    Soo Lee smiled.
    â€œGoodness, some people are here already,” Violet said softly, looking toward the door.
    â€œOh, I better go seat them,” Soo Lee said as she took a stack of programs in her arms.
    â€œWe’ll be backstage,” Henry called to Soo Lee.
    From his post by the lighting board, Henry could peek behind the thick red curtain and watch the audience. He was the first to notice Grandfather seated near the front row.
    Benny soon came to join Henry. Benny was all dressed up in his Munchkin outfit — pale blue pants and a matching jacket.
    â€œLook, you can see Grandfather,” Henry said as he stood near the curtain. Benny peeked out into the auditorium. He looked back at Henry in surprise. “The woman in the fur coat is sitting next to him.”
    â€œWhat?” Henry left his post by the lighting board to look for himself. Sure enough, Grandfather was helping the woman off with her coat. “They’re talking like they know each other,” Henry said, surprised. “I wonder who that woman could be?”
    While Henry stood behind the curtain talking to Benny, he heard some rustling noises behind him. A man wearing a tweed coat was opening the fuse box near the lighting board. He couldn’t see Henry or Benny as they were hidden from him by the curtain.
    â€œHey!” Henry shouted to the man. “What are you doing?”
    The man whirled around holding one of the fuses. Henry recognized him. He was the man he’d seen in the big white car. Suddenly, Sarah appeared in the wings with Jessie, Violet, and Jim. She was all dressed in