Chapter 9

Chapter 9 "Maybe Sammi thinks Joan knows who the kidnappers are," Ruth Rose said. "Maybe," Dink said. "Or maybe Joan is the kidnapper!" Josh and Ruth Rose looked up from their Jell-O.

Josh had Cool Whip on his nose. "His tutor?" he asked. "Think about it," Dink went on. "Sammi wakes up in the middle of the night. Someone's in his room. He recognizes Joan and grabs a pile of glass. Yellow glass, because he remembers how much her name sounds like the French word for yellow. And he knows I know that!" "But how could she be the kidnapper?" Ruth Rose asked. "She's Sammi's friend. She came here to help him." "Yeah, and you saw how upset she was this morning," Josh said. "That couldn't be an act. I still think Sammi just grabbed the first pile of glass his hand landed on in the dark." Ruth Rose stood up. "There's one way to find out," she said. "Let's go to the hotel and talk to her." "Okay," Dink said. "But she's not at the hotel. My mom said she was meeting Joan at the diner." "Good!" Josh said, gulping down the last of his Jell-O. "I can get an ice cream while we talk!" The kids took Pal and hurried to Ellie's Diner on Main Street. Dink glanced through the window, but he didn't see Joan Klinker or his mom.

"I wonder where they are. Mom's car isn't here either," Dink said, looking up and down Main Street. "Let's ask Ellie," Ruth Rose suggested. Josh pushed the door open and the kids stepped inside. Two teenagers were eating scrambled eggs, but no one else sat in the booths or at the counter. "Hey there, kids," Ellie said. "Hi, cute poochie!" She bent down and patted Pal, then stroked his ears. "Shall I scoop up three cones?" she asked. Dink shook his head. "No, thanks, I'm looking for my mom," he said. "Have you seen her? She was supposed to meet someone here a little while ago." Ellie shook her head. "Nope, haven't seen your mother in a few days," she said. "Maybe they're at the hotel," Ruth Rose said. Dink nodded. "I guess it's worth a try," he said. They thanked Ellie and headed for the Shangrila Hotel, two blocks up Main Street. "Why couldn't we at least get cones to go?" Josh asked. He placed one hand dramatically across his forehead. "I think I feel faint."

"Later," Dink said. "After we find Sammi." And after we find my mom, he thought. Three minutes later, they walked into the hotel. Mr. Linkletter was sitting on one of the lobby chairs, eating a doughnut and sipping coffee. "Well, hello there," he said when the trio approached him. He glanced at Pal. "Joshua, I assume your dog is, um, house-trained?" Josh grinned as Pal flopped down at Mr. Linkletter's feet. "Yep, and he's hotel-trained, too!" Mr. Linkletter twitched an eyebrow. "Well, then," he said, "how can I be of service today?" "I'm looking for my mom," Dink said. "She was supposed to meet Joan Klinker at Ellie's, but they're not there. Have you seen them?" Mr. Linkletter set his coffee down. "I didn't see your mom, but Ms. Klinker left the hotel a short while ago." "Did she say where she was going?" Mr. Linkletter shook his head. "Not a word." Dink glanced around the hotel lobby. Where could his mother be? She always let him know if she had to change her plans. Always! "She didn't leave a note or anything?"

"I'm sorry, Donald," Mr. Linkletter said. "Perhaps she's gone back home. Would you like to call her?" Suddenly, Dink felt sick. He blinked back tears. Something was wrong! First Sammi disappeared, and now his mother was gone! And she'd been on her way to see Joan Klinker with the yellow glass! Mr. Linkletter wiped his fingers on his napkin and stood up. "Come, you can use my phone," he said. He took Dink over to the counter. Pal followed Mr. Linkletter, sniffing at his heels. Dink dialed and listened for his mother's voice on the other end. But no one answered. He set the phone down and looked up at Mr. Linkletter. "Where could she be?" he asked.