The Monkey Howled at Midnight Read Free Page B

trying to run down Mr. Estevez.”
    â€œThe same thing happened last week, Dad,” said Pino. “Remember when we came out of the bank?”
    â€œWell, that car wasn’t going as fast as this one,” said Mr. Estevez. “It was just a coincidence.” He took a couple of deep breaths. “There are some crazy drivers in this city.”
    â€œWhat about that disgruntled employee?” asked Otis. “Maybe he followed you. Or maybe it was someone else who knew you had gone into the museum.”
    â€œI think we should tell the police,” said Pino.
    â€œNo! No police.” Mr. Estevez waved his hand. “I don’t think anyone is trying to kill me. My former employee is no murderer. Besides, he’s in Rio de Janeiro, where most of his family lives. I know, because I paid for his plane ticket and saw him board. I drove him to the airport.”
    â€œOh, come on,” said Aldo. “It was just a crazy driver heading for an accident.”
    â€œIt better have been an accident.” Luis glared. He clenched his fists at his side. “Anyone who deliberately tried to hurt my father would have to tangle with me.”

    Later, back at the Estevez mansion, the twins and Rae took a walk in the garden. They wanted to talk over what had happened that afternoon.
    â€œI’m not so sure it was an accident,” Otis said. “That car was heading straight for Mr. Estevez.”
    â€œI still think that employee he fired could be the culprit,” said Cody. “Maybe he wasn’t in Rio de Janeiro at all. Maybe he came back to take revenge on Mr. Estevez.”
    â€œMaybe he did,” Rae agreed. “You know, I’m always telling you not to look for mysteries everywhere, but I have to admit that it looks like something is going on here.”
    â€œThe numbers in Luis’s phone may not be a clue after all,” Cody said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I noticed that Pino and Mr. Estevez had exactly the same model. Maybe they got them mixed up. If the phone I saw Luis pick up really belonged to Mr. Estevez, it’s probably perfectly reasonable to have all those numbers since he does business all over the world.”
    He stroked his chin. “Actually, it might be reasonable if the phone belonged to Luis, also. Both brothers are in the coffee business.”
    â€œMaybe Mr. Estevez is mixed up in something shady,” Rae said.
    â€œExcuse me.”
    Rae and the twins jumped. It was Pino. He had crept up behind them so quietly they hadn’t heard a thing.
    â€œI couldn’t help but overhear you talking about something going on. Nothing is going on here, I can assure you.” He smiled a smile that didn’t make it to his eyes. “My father isn’t the kind of man to get mixed up in something shady . There is no need to worry him about a plot on his life. I don’t want my father scared.”
    â€œWe aren’t going to do anything to scare your father,” Cody said.
    Then Pino smiled a real smile. “Good,” he said. “I’ve heard that you three like mysteries. You’ve obviously gotten carried away. No harm done.”
    But before they turned in for the night, Cody, Rae, and Otis gathered in the twins’ room and shut the door. “I don’t care what Pino says. There is something going on here,” Otis said in a hushed voice.
    Outside the door, a floorboard creaked. There was the sound of footsteps hurrying away. Had someone been listening?
    Moments later, they heard the voice of Mr. Estevez. He was talking to someone on the telephone, and he sounded very angry.
    â€œListen to me. I think you were responsible for what happened today. You aren’t going to threaten me and you aren’t going to scare me. I am not going to sell you that land in the rain forest.”

[ Chapter Six ]
    T he next morning they all met in the garden to have breakfast before the trip. Rae and