4. Weirder and Weirder

Chapter 4 Weirder and Weirder "An ax!" Brian said. "What's that for?" "And it's real sharp!" Nate said. "I watched the salesman show Mr. Sargent. He shaved some hair off his own arm!" Bradley studied the receipt. "And what's with the rope ladder?" he asked. "I don't get it." "They're coming back!" Lucy said. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent walked past the kids' hiding spot. Now they weren't carrying anything except the clipboard.

"They must have put the stuff in their car," Bradley said. "Where are they going now?" Nate asked. "Let's follow them," Brian said. The four kids fell in behind Mr. and Mrs. Sargent. The couple walked into the gas station, and the kids hid behind some bushes. They had a perfect view of their neighbors as they chatted with Mr. Holly, the owner. They watched Mr. Holly pull something off a shelf and hand it to Mr. Sargent. "What is it?" Brian whispered. "I don't know," Lucy said. "I'll find out!" Nate said. He dashed up to a window. Nate was only six feet away from the Sargents and Mr. Holly. A minute later, he came racing back. "It's some kind of motor," he said. "He's telling them how it runs." "An ax and a rope ladder and a motor?" Bradley said. "Very weird!" "Watch out. Here they come!" Lucy said. The four spies ducked as the Sargents strolled past them. Mr. Sargent carried a box.

The kids followed, tiptoeing and silent. Bradley tried to figure out what the Sargents could be building that needed a motor. A submarine? A car? An airplane? The Sargents left the motor in their car, then walked up Bridge Lane to Bill's Bikes. The kids heard a little bell jingle as the neighbors stepped inside Bill's door. "Maybe they're buying a bike," Nate said. "They have a plan," Bradley said. "We just don't know what it is. But do you think they bought the ax to cut down that tree?"

"I don't think they can cut down that huge tree with an ax," Lucy said. "It would take them a year!" "I hope you're right," Bradley said. Then the door of Bill's Bikes opened with another jingle. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent came out, carrying two large bags. Once again, they headed for their car. "I wonder what's in those bags," Brian whispered.

"I'll find out!" Bradley said. He ran up to Bill's and entered the shop. The jingling bell sounded again. Bill smiled at Bradley. "Hey, what's up?" he asked. Bradley went over to the counter. Bill was squirting oil onto a bike chain. "You know that couple who were just in here?" he asked. "Yep, Mr. and Mrs. Sargent. Real nice people," Bill said. "They told me they just moved up here from Florida." "They bought the house next to ours," Bradley informed Bill. "And they're building something in the backyard. My friends and my brother and I are trying to figure out what it is." Bill raised his eyebrows. "Why do you want to know?" he asked. "We're playing detectives," Bradley said. "It's kind of a mystery and we're looking for clues." Bill grinned. "They bought a bunch of bike parts: couple of seats, some chains, and half a dozen pedals," he said. "Do you think they're building bikes?" Bradley asked.

Bill laughed. "That's what I asked them," he said. "They told me they were working on a secret project." Bradley thanked Bill and hurried out the door. He ran back to the other kids. "They bought bike parts," he said. "For a secret project!" "Weirder and weirder," Brian said. "There they go," Nate said. They all watched the green car pull out of the parking lot.