The Absent Author Read Free Page B

Linkletter pointed toward a bank of elevators. “He went to his room. We offered to have his suitcase carried, but he preferred to do it himself.”
    “Have you seen Mr. Wallace yet today?” Mavis asked.
    “No, madam, I haven’t seen him. Mr. Wallace is still in his room.”
    Still in his room!
    Suddenly Dink felt relieved. He felt a little foolish, too. Wallis Wallacehadn’t been kidnapped after all. He was probably in his room right now!
    “Can you call him?” Dink asked.
    Mr. Linkletter tapped his fingers on the closed hotel register. He patted his mustache and squinted his eyes at Dink.
    “Please?” Dink said. “We just want to make sure he’s okay.”
    Finally Mr. Linkletter turned around. He stepped a few feet away and picked up a red telephone.
    As soon as his back was turned, Josh grabbed the hotel register. He quickly found yesterday’s page. Dink and the others crowded around Josh for a peek.
    Dink immediately recognized Wallis Wallace’s signature, scrawled in big loopy letters. He had checked in to Room 303 at five after eight last night.
    Dink pulled out his letter from Wallis Wallace and compared the twosignatures. They were exactly the same.

    Josh dug his elbow into Dink’s side. “Look!” he whispered.
    Josh was pointing at the next line in the register, room 302 had been printed there. Check-in time was 8:15.
    “Someone else checked in right afterWallis Wallace!” Ruth Rose whispered.
    “But the signature is all smudged,” Dink said. “I can’t read the name.”
    When Mr. Linkletter hung up the phone, Josh shoved the register away.
    As Mr. Linkletter turned back around, Dink shut the register. He looked up innocently. “Is he in his room?” Dink asked.
    “I don’t know.” Mr. Linkletter tapped his fingers on his mustache. “There was no answer.”
    Dink’s stomach dropped. His mind raced.
    If Wallis Wallace had checked into his room last night, why hadn’t he shown up at the Book Nook today?
    And why wasn’t he answering his phone?
    Maybe Wallis Wallace had been kidnapped after all!

Dink stared at Mr. Linkletter. “No answer? Are you sure?”
    Mr. Linkletter nodded. He looked puzzled. “Perhaps he’s resting and doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
    “Can we go up and see?” Ruth Rose smiled sweetly at Mr. Linkletter. “Then we’d know for sure.”
    Mr. Linkletter shook his head. “We cannot disturb our guests, young miss. We have
rules
at the Shangri-la. Now good day and thank you.”
    Ruth Rose opened her mouth. “But, Mis—”
    “Good day,” Mr. Linkletter said firmly again.
    Dink and the others walked toward the door.
    “Something smells fishy,” muttered Dink.
    “Yeah,” Josh said, “and I think it’s that Linkletter guy. See how he tried to hide the register? Then he turned his back. Maybe he didn’t even call Room 303. Maybe he was warning his partners in crime!”
    “What are you suggesting, Josh?” Mavis asked.
    “Maybe Mr. Linkletter is the kidnapper,” Josh said. “He was the last one to see Wallis Wallace.”
    A man wearing a red cap tapped Dink on the shoulder. “Excuse me, but I overheard you talking to my boss, Mr. Linkletter.Maybe I can help you find Wallis Wallace. My kids love his books.”
    “Great!” Dink said. “Can you get us into his room?”
    The man shook his head. “No, but I know the maid who cleaned the third-floor rooms this morning. Maybe she noticed something.”
    With his back to Mr. Linkletter, the man scribbled a few words on a pad and handed the page to Dink. “Good luck!” the man whispered, and hurried away.
    “What’d he write?” Josh asked.
    “Outside,” Dink said.
    They all shoved through the revolving door. In front of the hotel, Dink looked at the piece of paper. “The maid’s name is Olivia Nugent. She lives at the Acorn Apartments, Number Four.”
    “Livvy Nugent? I know her!” Ruth Rose said. “She used to be my babysitter.”
    “The Acorn is right around the corner on Oak Street,” Dink