Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery Read Free Page A

to see what happens.”
    “Stay right here,” Mrs. Jansen told her. “I don’t want you bothering Dr. Prell.”
    Beth got on line to have her books signed. Her father went back to the biography table. Cam’s mother returned to the history book table.
    Cam stood by the entrance to the gym. She looked through the open doors and waited.
    Danny and his parents stood in the lobby with Dr. Prell. Cam could see that they were talking, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. Two police officers walked into the school. Cam watched them talk to Dr. Prell and Danny’s parents.
    Hey, Cam thought, I know one of those officers. He’s been at the school before. That’s Officer Oppen.
    Cam waved to him. She hoped he would see her and ask her to come into the lobby. If a police officer tells me to leave the gym, Cam thought , I’ll have to go!
    Officer Oppen had his police pad out. He was writing whatever Danny’s father said.
    Danny’s father reached into his pocket. He took out his wallet and showed something to Officer Oppen.
    That must be information on his car, Cam thought.
    Cam waved some more. She called out, “Hello!”
    Officer Oppen saw Cam. He smiled, but he didn’t tell her to join him.
    Danny’s father talked some more. Then it seemed he was done. Officer Oppen closed his pad.
    Just then, Eric, his sister Diane, and his father came into the school. They hurried over to the police officers. Mr. Shelton said something, and Officer Oppen took out his pad again. He started to write.
    Cam waved to Eric. He didn’t see her. Cam called out his name.
    Eric looked toward the gym. He saw Cam. He waved to her. Then he held up his hand. He would be right there.
    Cam waited and watched. Officer Oppen wrote a lot in his pad. Then Mr. Shelton took out his wallet and showed something to Officer Oppen.
    Cam waved again to Eric. She signaled to him to come over.
    Eric hurried to the gym entrance.
    “You won’t believe what happened,” he told Cam. “After all of you went inside, Dad said, ‘Hey, where’s my car?’ We looked and looked, but it’s gone. My dad’s car was stolen, too!”

Chapter Six
    “Two cars were stolen from the school lot,” Cam said. “I have to tell Mom.”
    “Wait,” Eric said. “First listen to what the police officer told us. He said he would call in the license number and description of our car. The police will look for it. But he said they may not find Dad’s car.”
    “Wow!”
    “Dad’s dry-cleaning—a few shirts and his good suit—is in the trunk. Donna’s and Diane’s ice skates are also in the trunk.”
    “Wait here,” Cam said. “I’ll tell Mom what happened. She said I have to stay in the gym, but I can’t stay here with so much happening outside.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Eric said. “I’ll tell her we need you to find Dad’s car.”
    Cam and Eric went to the history book table.
    “Look at this,” Mrs. Jansen said to them. “This book is all about Benjamin Franklin. Did you know he made the first bifocal eyeglasses?”
    “Mom,” Cam said, “Mr. Shelton’s car was stolen. I want to help look for it.”
    “Oh, my,” Mrs. Jansen said to Eric. “Your father should call the police.”
    “He already spoke with the police. They said they’ll do what they can.”
    Mrs. Jansen told Eric, “We can give you a ride home.”
    “Please,” Cam said. “Maybe I can help find the car. Let me go with Eric.”
    Mrs. Jansen returned the book about Benjamin Franklin to the table.
    “I’ll go with you,” she told Cam. “I’ll make sure you don’t do anything dangerous. And if you go outside, I want to be sure your put on your raincoat and hat.”
    Cam returned her three My Name Is Blake mysteries to the table by the entrance to the gym.
    Jim E. Winter walked past them. “I’m finished,” he told Dr. Prell. “There’s no one left on line.”
    The principal introduced the writer to Officers Gray and Oppen.

    “I read your books when I was a child,”