Read Online Mystery on the Train by Charles Tang - Free Book Online Page A

said. “Ah, well, perhaps the trip across the country has been good for my nerves.”
    He stood up abruptly and bowed. “It’s been a pleasure. You are fine children. Good bye to you all.”
    Mr. Reeves turned to leave the dining car. Henry stood up and said, “I think I’ll follow him, just to be safe.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Jessie said.
    They followed Mr. Reeves to his room and then went up to Annie’s room to wait for her. When she arrived, Henry asked, “Will you check on your posters just to make sure they’re safe?”
    Annie went into her compartment and in a few minutes she came out smiling. “Everything is fine. Thanks a lot.”
    “We’re going back to the observation lounge,” Jessie said. “Do you want to come along?”
    “No. I think I’ll feel safer if I sit right here,” Annie said. “Besides, my ankle is still a little weak. I’ll just sit here and think.”
    “Why do you think your uncle called Mr. Reeves to sell your posters?” Jessie asked.
    Annie shook her head and looked troubled. “I really don’t know Uncle Bob. My aunt never talks about him but it’s clear she doesn’t like him. When I began to quarrel with her, I wrote to him. He telephoned me a few times and then he said he really wanted me to come out to California to live. He was the one who suggested I could sell the poster to pay for my education.”
    “So you’ve never even seen him?” Henry asked.
    She said, “He’s coming to meet me in Emeryville where the train stops and we’ll take the bus into San Francisco. He said he’ll be wearing a red tie.”
    “We’ll help you find him,” Jessie promised.
    “Thanks,” Annie said. “You’ve been good friends. See you at five.”
    At exactly five p.m. the train pulled into the station in Oakland, California. There was a bus waiting to take all the passengers who were going to downtown San Francisco.
    Annie said, “Won’t you wait and meet my uncle?”
    “That would be very nice,” Aunt Jane said. “We’d like to invite you to visit us while the children are here.”
    “There’s a man over there in a green jacket and a red tie,” Benny said. He pointed to a dark-haired slender man.
    Annie and the others went over to the man. She said, “Uncle Bob?”
    “Annie? Is that you? I’m so glad to see you.” Her uncle put his arms around her and hugged her.
    Violet looked very upset and she said to Henry, “I know that man. He was on the train with us. He’s the one with the beard and sunglasses.”
    “How would you know that?” Henry asked.
    “I recognize his ears,” Violet said. “I’m certain I’m right.”
    When Henry looked doubtful, Violet called out to Annie, “Come here, please, I have something to say.”
    Annie stepped away from her Uncle Bob and came over to Violet and Henry.
    Violet said, “Annie, he’s the one who tried to steal your posters. He had on a fake beard and sunglasses but I’m certain it’s him. Here, let me show you.”
    Violet dropped her suitcase onto the ground and knelt beside it. She opened up the suitcase and pulled out her sketch pad. She began to flip through the pages as she said, “You’re an artist, Annie. You’ll see what I mean. Look at his ears. Now look at the ears on this man in the sketch. They are the same, aren’t they?”
    Annie looked at the sketch. Then she looked at her uncle. Then she looked at the sketch and then she turned kind of white and asked, “Are you really my Uncle Bob?”
    “Of course I am.” The man laughed and pulled out his driver’s license with a picture on it. “I guess it’s right to be cautious. After all, you’ve never met me even though you are my only niece. I’ll carry the posters.” He tried to take the portfolio from Henry but Henry held on tight.
    “I met a man on the train who said you’d promised to sell him my posters,” Annie said. “That wasn’t your decision to make, Uncle Bob.”
    “Don’t be silly,” her uncle said. “I was just trying to