Panther Mystery (2 page)

“Good idea,” Henry said. “We’ll retrace Andrew’s steps. Maybe we can learn something about where he was last seen.”

They wandered around the exhibits. The information center was busy.

Melanie picked up a microphone and announced the next viewing of the film. Then she added, “The next tram tour leaves in ten minutes. This is a two-hour guided tour. We will end at the observation tower.”

One woman fanned herself with a map. “Too hot for me,” she said to Jessie. “I think I’ll go watch the movie!”

Several people followed the woman into the auditorium. Others went out the door to the tram platform. Melanie came out a few moments later. Her face wore a hurried look.

“You seem short-staffed,” said a man as Melanie told them all to board the tram.

The Aldens sat up front, the children sitting in two seats across from one another. Grandfather shared a seat with an older gentleman.

“We
are
short-staffed,” Melanie replied, jumping into the driver’s seat and clipping a microphone to her shirt collar. “Another ranger came up from Flamingo Visitors’ Center to help out these last few days.” After checking to see that everyone was safely inside the tram, she started the engine.

In a monotone, she told them about the Shark Valley area. No cars were allowed on the fifteen-mile loop that went deep into the Everglades. But visitors could bike or walk the trail. Most people took the tram, since fifteen miles was a long walk in the summer heat.

“Will we see any alligators?” Benny asked Melanie. He sat directly behind her. “I really, really wish I’d see an alligator.”

“You might,” she said. “There are lots of alligators in the Everglades.” Then she went back to her talk. She told them that nowhere on earth was there a place like the Everglades. The name meant “river of grass.” The Everglades began north at Lake Okeechobee, a Native American name meaning “big water.” The river flowed south, moving slowly.

“There’s a lot of grass in it,” Violet said.

“That’s called sawgrass,” Melanie replied into her microphone. “It only grows here. It’s not really grass at all, but a plant called sedge. It’s very sharp. Some sawgrass plants are rooted six to fifteen feet deep beneath the water. But here the water is only knee-deep.”

The tram stopped several times as Melanie pointed out a white heron, a colorful spoonbill, and other birds.

At last they reached the end of the loop. “If you want,” Melanie announced, “you may climb the observation tower. It’s sixty-five feet high. You’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of the Everglades.”

Benny climbed off the tram with the others. “We didn’t see any alligators,” he said, disappointed.

“We will,” Violet told him. “Maybe it’s their nap time.” It was very hot. She had brought her camera. It swung around her neck on its strap.

Several older people decided to stay on the shaded tram.

“I’ll stay here, too,” said Grandfather. “Mr. Austin, here, and I both served in the navy and have a few stories to trade. But you kids go ahead. Be careful.”

“We’ll watch Benny,” Jessie promised.

The observation tower was actually very safe to climb, with handrails on both sides. Soon they reached the top. The platform had railings all the way around.

“Wow!” Benny cried, running from one side to the other. “We’re up as high as the moon!”

Jessie giggled. “Not quite.” But the view
was
wonderful, just as Melanie had promised.

“We still don’t know anything about Andrew Beldon,” said Henry. “I thought we might learn something on the ride.”

“I sure hope we find him soon,” Jessie said.

Just then Henry pointed to a dark, greenish shape down below. “Look! Is that an alligator?”

“If it is, your wish has come true,” Violet told her little brother.

Benny rushed over. “It looks like an old log to me.”

“I think alligators
do
look like old logs,” Henry told him. “They don’t move a lot. But it’s pretty far away.”

“I’ll take a picture,” Violet offered. “Just in case it is an alligator.”

She stepped forward to position the greenish log in her viewfinder, then put her finger on the button. Just then someone joggled her arm. Her finger pressed the button, but the camera moved. The picture was spoiled.

She turned to see who had bumped into her. It was a man dressed like a tourist, with a straw hat, a flower-printed shirt, and baggy plaid shorts. He, too, had a camera around his neck. He thumbed through a guidebook on birds.

But as Violet watched him, she realized he wasn’t a typical tourist at all. The man wasn’t gawking like the others, pointing out birds or other unusual sights. He seemed to be listening to the Aldens. But why? And why did he seem familiar?

She moved away from the man and was about to tell the others.

Just then Benny cried, “Look at that!”

A strange-looking vehicle skimmed quickly over the sawgrass. It was very loud. Birds flew up, wings beating.

“That’s an airboat,” Henry said. “Maybe we’ll get to ride on one.”

“They’re awfully noisy,” said Jessie. “All the birds flew away.”

It was time to go back down to the tram. Violet looked around for the strange man, but he had melted into the crowd. When the tram returned to the information center, she thought she glimpsed him hopping quickly off and blending into the swarm of tourists waiting for the next tour.

“We’ll look inside once more,” said Grandfather. “In case Andrew has come back.”

But the ranger at the desk wasn’t Andrew. Melanie was getting ready for the next tram tour.

“I don’t think we’ll get any more information here today,” said Grandfather after letting the children buy guidebooks and maps of the Everglades.

“Besides, it’s lunchtime,” Benny pointed out.

“There aren’t any restaurants in the Everglades,” Grandfather said. “We’ll have to drive back to town.”

“I remember a barbecue place on the way in,” Henry said.

Sure enough, there was a small barbecue shack on the edge of the Everglades. Everyone piled out of the car and into the restaurant. They ordered iced tea and barbecue platters with extra sauce.

While waiting for their food, the children leafed through their new books.

“We should see all kinds of animals,” Henry said excitedly. “Turtles, birds, snakes —”

Jessie shuddered. “No snakes.” Normally she was brave, but she didn’t like snakes.

“You know what we ought to do?” Henry suggested. “Since we know how to make plaster casts from our trip to upstate New York, we should buy supplies. We want to be prepared if we come across the footprint of a crocodile. Or, if we’re very, very lucky, a Florida panther.”

“Wildcats?” Benny’s eyes grew round. “Here?”

“Not in the restaurant,” Jessie teased. “The Florida panther is very rare. I doubt we’ll see one. But that’s a good idea, Henry.”

On the way back to the hotel, the Aldens stopped at a variety store. They loaded up on more bug spray plaster of paris for making casts, and other supplies.

At the Flamingo, Grandfather went up to his room to make more calls to the Park Service. “This time I’ll try Andrew’s supervisor,” he said.

The kids gathered in the boys’ room to discuss the case.

“I think we should try calling Andrew,” said Violet. “Maybe he’s home by now.”

“Great thinking!” Henry praised. After finding Andrew’s number in the phone book, he pulled the phone toward him and dialed the number.

“Hello?” answered a woman’s voice on the other end.

“Hello,” Henry said. “I’m a friend of Andrew Beldon’s and I was wondering —”

Click.
The line went dead.

Henry held out the receiver. “She hung up on me.”

“S
he hung up?” Jessie echoed.

Violet was looking at the local street map Jessie had brought in with their new books. “Andrew lives at four-oh-two Ancona Lane, apartment three. According to this map, Ancona Lane is only two streets over from this one,” she said.

“We can walk there!” Benny said. “And see if Andrew is home.”

“He might be sick,” Henry added, folding the street map. “He may need help.”

First the Aldens went down the hall to let Grandfather know they were going for a short walk. He was busy on the phone and motioned that it was okay for them to leave.

Even though it was hot, the kids ran the two blocks to Ancona Lane. This street also had small hotels and houses with rooms for rent. A
VACANCY
sign was staked in the front yard of number 402.

An elderly gentleman sat on the porch reading a book. He smiled as the kids climbed the steps.

Henry noticed the front door was closed. “We’re here to see a friend,” he said to the old man. “Do we need to ask permission from the owner of the house first?”

“I have a key,” the old man said, rising. “I’ll let you in. If you know the apartment number, just go down the hall.”

“Thanks,” Jessie told him. She pushed the door open and was greeted by a blast of cool air and a sour face.

The cool air was welcoming, but the sour face was not.

“Who are you?” demanded a woman with red hair.

“We’re the Aldens,” answered Benny. “We’ve come to see Andrew Beldon.”

The woman’s gray eyes narrowed in a frown. “Did you just call on the phone?”

“As a matter of fact, I did —” Henry began.

“Andrew is not here,” the woman told him. “And I don’t allow kids in my house.”

“Thanks for your help,” Jessie said. She refused to be impolite.

The door slammed behind them. The old man was still sitting on the porch.

“Old Lady Applegate give you a hard time?” he guessed.

“Yes,” said Violet. “Is she always that grouchy?”

“Pretty much. But the lodging is cheap and her cooking isn’t too bad.” The old man stuck out his hand. “My name is Gus Hummer. Anything I can help you with?”

The children took turns shaking hands and introducing themselves.

“We hope you can,” said Jessie. “We’re looking for Andrew Beldon. He does live here, doesn’t he? In number three?”

“Yep,” said Gus. “But Andy’s been . . . away for a while.”

“Do you know where he is?” asked Henry. “Our grandfather knows Andrew’s father. He’s trying to find Andrew for his father.”

Mr. Hummer opened his mouth, then glanced back at the house. Violet thought she saw a curtain twitch at the window. Was Old Lady Applegate spying on them?

Gus lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper. “The only thing I can say is that Andy is mixed up in something pretty serious. He’s disappeared like this before, but never for this long.”

“Is Andrew in danger?” Henry prodded.

Gus shook his head. “I don’t think so. I think he’ll probably show up soon. I can’t say any more, kids. But watch out for Old Lady Applegate.”

Violet led them across the screened-in porch and down the steps. As soon as they were away from the boardinghouse, they began discussing this new development.

“What could have happened to Andrew?” asked Jessie. “What would keep him away from his job? And from calling his father?”

“And how does his landlady fit into the picture?” Violet wondered.

“I still think Melanie Harper knows more than she’s telling us,” said Jessie.

“I’m afraid Andrew is in danger,” Henry stated grimly.

The children were silent on the way back to the pink hotel. They went straight to Grandfather’s room.

Grandfather was through making calls. “Here’s what I’ve found out,” he reported. “Andrew last came to work four days ago, but has not been seen since. Also, his attendance record is spotty.”

Benny frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means Andrew has been arriving at work late, or leaving early, or taking extra time off,” said Grandfather. “His supervisor told me Andrew has received two warnings.”

“I thought Andrew was responsible,” Henry said. “This doesn’t sound like him.”

“It doesn’t,” Grandfather agreed. “That’s what’s puzzling me. I’ve known Andy Beldon since he was very young. He was always interested in nature. He was so excited when he became a park ranger. It was a dream come true for him.”