儿童英语读物 The Ice Cream Mystery CHAPTER 10 The Mystery Ice Cream

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Brianna’s eyes widened in amazement¹. “Help us? You call fake deliveries and ‘Out of Business’ signs helping² us, Jean?”

“Don’t forget the suggestion box and the stolen posters,” said Jessie.

“And the stolen horse,” said Violet. She had gone over to Butterscotch. The big horse had heard voices and put her head over the stall door. Now she lowered it to let Violet scratch her silky ears.

Jean Johnston looked around as if she wanted to escape. But there was no way out. She took a step back, then sank down onto a bale of hay.

“Why don’t you tell us about it,” said Brianna in a more gentle tone of voice.

Jean looked up. “I wanted to be the manager of the Ice Cream Barn. I knew I could make it great. With a few changes and the right approach, you could have become a big chain.”

“Like the Sugar Shop?” asked Jessie.

“Yes. But Katy kept saying no. I had to do something to make her change her mind,” Jean went on. She looked at Brianna. “I thought if Katy started losing money, she would see that she needs me to help run things.”

“Is that when you started playing tricks on the Ice Cream Barn?” asked Violet.

“Yes,” admitted Jean. “But it wasn’t working. Then I heard the National Sugar Shop Corporation was interested in getting into the ice-cream business in Greenfield. I thought if I took Butterscotch, I could upset business enough so that Katy would want to sell the Ice Cream Barn. Then maybe the National Sugar Shop Corporation would hire me,” Jean said.

“You kept coming to the shop and eating ice cream,” said Benny.

“Sampling the new flavors, taking notes,” said Jean.

“Spying,” said Henry.

“Companies do that all the time. It’s how business works,” said Jean.

“Not at the Ice Cream Barn,” said Brianna.

“We saw you meeting with Mr. Smithers at the new Sugar Shop in Silver City,” said Jessie.

Brianna said, “To apply for the manager’s job there.”

“Yes. From that job, I could move up in the corporation— especially if I could put the Ice Cream Barn out of business,” Jean explained. “That’s when I thought up the plan to hide Butterscotch for a little while—right after the interview.”

“You know, you didn’t have to do all these awful things,” Brianna said. “Your business plan and your ideas were very good. I’m sure the Sugar Shop would have hired you just because of that.”

“I didn’t think good ideas were enough,” said Jean bitterly. “Sometimes you’ve got to be ruthless to get ahead.”

“I’m sorry,” said Brianna, “but I don’t think your terrible behavior got you anywhere.”

Then Jean said, “What are you going to do now? Are you going to call the police?”

Brianna shook her head slowly. “No. Not this time. But I am going to call Mr. Smithers to tell him what you did.”

“What you did was wrong,” said Violet.

“I know,” Jean said softly. She wouldn’t meet their eyes.

“Don’t come back to the Ice Cream Barn,” said Brianna.

Jean stood up. “All right,” she said, and walked slowly out of the barn. At the door, she stopped and turned. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“If you’re really sorry,” said Violet, “you’ll never do anything like this again.”

Without answering, Jean went out to her car. A minute later they heard it drive away.

Brianna let out a long breath. “Well,” she said. “That’s that.”

Shortly after that, the farmer came into the barn. “Well,” he said, “do you and the horse need a ride?”

Brianna smiled broadly. “Yes, thank you. Butterscotch is going home.”

The Aldens were sprawled³ in the grass in the shade outside their big old white house. Playing soccer had made them hot and tired. Watch had rolled over on his back with all four feet in the air and was panting in his sleep.

Suddenly Benny sat up. “Did you hear that?” he said.

“What?”

Watch woke up and rolled to his feet. He gave a quick bark.

“That!” said Benny, jumping to his feet, too. “The ice-cream wagon⁴.”

“It is!” said Violet.

“Oh, good,” said Jessie. “I could use some ice cream right now.”

“Me, too!” said Henry.

Butterscotch and the ice-cream wagon came into sight and all four Aldens waved enthusiastically.

Brianna waved back and guided the wagon into the driveway.

“Look who is with her! It’s Preston!” said Jessie.

Preston jumped down from the driver’s seat to tie up Butterscotch. He grabbed the bucket from the side of the wagon.

“You can fill it up from the hose over at the side of the house,” offered Henry.

“Thanks,” said Preston with a big grin.

“Who wants ice cream?” asked Brianna, flinging the window of the wagon open.

“I do!” said Benny, hopping⁵ up and down. He wasn’t hot and tired any longer.

Preston came back and set the bucket down. “I heard you were the ones who found Butterscotch,” he said admiringly. “That was great! How did you figure it out?”

“Jessie did, mostly,” said Violet.

“No, we all did,” said Jessie. “We’d eliminated all our suspects and I’d just about given up. Then I remembered a clue and it all came together.”

“The thief kept buying ice cream and not eating it,” said Benny disapprovingly⁶.

“But we set a trap and caught her,” Violet said.

“Found your horse, did you?” called a familiar voice.

Everyone looked up to see Mr. Bush standing⁷ on the sidewalk.

“We did,” said Brianna.

“So you’re detectives,” said Mr. Bush.

“We are,” said Jessie.

“Hmmm,” said Mr. Bush.

“Would you like some ice cream?” asked Brianna.

“Maybe I would,” said Mr. Bush.

“You would?” Benny’s eyes got round.

“I said I don’t like horses, not that I don’t like ice cream,” said Mr. Bush. He almost smiled. He walked around the wagon, staying well away from Butterscotch, and went up to the window. “I’d like a sundae, with raspberry ice cream and hot fudge, whipped cream, no nuts, and extra cherries,” he said.

“Wow,” said Violet softly.

“Good ice cream,” said Mr. Bush, after he’d tasted his sundae. Then, still giving Butterscotch plenty of room, he walked on.

“Double wow,” said Jessie.

“Who else wants ice cream?” asked Brianna.

“All of us,” said Henry.

“Good, because I’ve got just the flavor for you. And it’s on the house. Or the wagon,” said Brianna.

She made four enormous ice-cream cones⁸.

Each of them took a taste.

“Butterscotch,” said Violet.

“And fudge,” said Henry.

“And salted nuts,” said Benny.

“Cashews, right?” guessed Jessie. “And something else, too, but I don’t know what. It’s awfully⁹ good, though.”

“Mmm. What is it?” asked Violet.

“Our newest flavor,” said Brianna. “Mystery Ice Cream for the Ice Cream Mystery.”

“It’s great,” said Henry.

“What do you think, Benny?” asked Brianna.

Benny grinned. “I think that when I grow up I’m going to be a detective—and drive an ice-cream wagon!”