Space Shuttle Scam Read online

  “I have relatives visiting from out of town,” Alice said into the phone. “But I’ll call you soon to make a date.”

  Mr. Keans agreed, and the call ended.

  “So the mysterious M.K. is Mark Keans, who works in a bank,” Walker said. “But how does he know about this property?”

  Auntie A. handed the phone to Wallis. “It’s not a mystery,” she said. “Kenny’s last name is Keans.”

  “Mark Keans is Kenny’s uncle,” Dink said. “Kenny told us he was late picking us up yesterday because he had to bring something to his uncle at the bank.”

  “It all fits together,” Ruth Rose said. “Kenny must have told his uncle about how scientists want to turn algae into fuel. They got Dr. Pardue to come out for a look, and then they made a plan to cheat you, Auntie A.”

  “I can’t believe Kenny and Hanna did this,” Auntie A. said. “I thought they were my friends. I even invited them for a piece of my birthday cake later!”

  “Perfect,” Walker said. “We’ll have a nice chat with those two!”

  Wallis laughed. “I guess I’d better get busy baking!” she said.

  * * *

  —

  The picnic table was crowded when Wallis carried out the cake. Alice had also invited Howie and his wife, Dot, with Seth and Maddy. Bear lay under the table, waiting for cake crumbs.

  Hanna and Kenny showed up last, riding on the motor scooter. They parked the bike and quickly sprayed each other with mosquito repellent. Hanna dropped the can in her book bag, and they came across the lawn.

  When they reached the table, Dink sniffed the air. It was definitely the same stuff he’d smelled in the bunkhouse last night.

  When everyone was seated, Alice said, “Kenny, why don’t you call your uncle Mark? Do you think he’d like some of my cake, as well as my property?”

  “My uncle?” he said. “How…how do you know my uncle?”

  Alice tapped the postcard on the table. “We know a lot,” she said. “Like how you and Hanna and your uncle tried to get my land from me. How Hanna lied about seeing a rattlesnake under this table yesterday.”

  “And we know about the mountain lion,” Wallis added. “Or should I say fake mountain lion?”

  Kenny and Hanna looked at each other. Both had turned red.

  Alice placed two slices of cake on a paper plate. “Take these and leave my property,” she said. “Enjoy the cake.”

  “I’ll escort you,” Walker said. He stood behind Hanna’s seat.

  “Me too,” Howie said, joining Walker.

  Dink whispered something to Howie.

  “Oh, and we won’t report you to the police if you return the diary and Mr. Wallace’s papers,” Howie added.

  He and Walker followed Kenny and Hanna to the motor scooter. Dink watched Hanna unlock the small compartment and pull out a thin book and a file folder. She handed them to Walker, then climbed onto her scooter with Kenny on the rear seat. They left their slices of cake on the driveway and sped away.

  * * *

  —

  After Howie and his family had gone, Dink, Josh, Ruth Rose, and Wallis sat at the picnic table. They could hear Walker and Alice laughing through the kitchen window.

  “My aunt wanted me to tell you that you can visit her whenever you want,” Wallis said. “And she’ll bake you cookies forever.”

  “Awesome,” Josh said. “But I ate too much cake, and my stomach hurts.”

  Ruth Rose giggled. “Now you know why you are the Red Gobbler!” she said.

  Dink gazed up at the moon. “I see Blinky,” he said.

  “Oh, I’d forgotten about Blinky with all the other excitement,” Wallis said. “He’s still up there!”

  “I figured out a way to bring him back to Earth,” Dink said.

  “Tell me!” Wallis said.

  “What if there was a podcast for people who own cats?” Dink said. “You could call it CatChat. In your story, the astronaut who lost Blinky could ask all the cat owners to send one dollar each to NASA. It would get millions of dollars and use the money to send Blinky’s owner to the moon. He’d get Blinky and bring him back home!”

  Josh started laughing. “CatChat?” he said.

  “Well, I like the idea,” Ruth Rose said. “It would be a happy ending!”

  “I think it’s brilliant!” Wallis said. “I’m going to work that into the story. I’ll put a note in the book telling my readers how Dink Duncan came up with the idea.”

  “Dinky saves Blinky,” Josh said. He gave Dink a poke.

  Ruth Rose rolled her eyes.

  Dink grinned.

  To learn more about the facts in this mystery, find these books at your local library or bookstore:

  Books About the International Space Station

  The International Space Station by Allan Morey (Epic, 2018)

  Life in Space by Ben Richmond (Sterling, 2018)

  My Journey to the Stars by Scott Kelly (Crown, 2017)

  Books About Astronaut Training

  Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone (Candlewick, 2009)

  Ask the Astronaut: A Galaxy of Astonishing Answers to Your Questions on Spaceflight by Tom Jones (Smithsonian, 2016)

  Astronaut in Training by Kathryn Clay (Capstone, 2017)

  Books About Animal Tracks

  Go Wild: Be a Tracker by Chris Oxlade (Hungry Tomato, 2015)

  Tracks Count: A Guide to Counting Animal Prints by Steve Engel (Craigmore Creations, 2014)

  Books About Snakes

  Awesome Snake Science! by Cindy Blobaum (Chicago Review, 2012)

  Copperheads by Melanie A. Howard (Capstone, 2012)

  Rattlesnakes by Heather L. Montgomery (Capstone, 2011)

  Snakes by Valerie Bodden (Creative Company, 2009)

  Books About Big Cats

  Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey (Flying Eye, 2017)

  Florida Panthers by William Caper (Bearport, 2007)

  Mountain Lions by Christine Zuchora-Walske (Capstone, 2012)

  Pumas by Charlotte Guillain (Raintree, 2014)

  Books About Algae and Biofuel

  Protists: Algae, Amoebas, Plankton, and Other Protists by Rona Arato (Crabtree, 2010)

  Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future by Joshua Sneideman and Erin Twamley (Nomad, 2016)

  Craig Norton

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Ron Roy has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach his dog tricks, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.

  You can visit Ron on his website at ronroy.com

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