Check in to Danger by Joan Lowery Nixon Page A

row of hills.
    But this was a case he and Sean might be able to solve on their own. What could be better? he thought. I want to try, Brian decided. Besides, it looked like Jennifer really needed his help.
    “How about it, Jennifer? Will you give us a chance to solve the case?”

2

    “W E’RE ON VACATION, BRIAN, remember?” Sean complained. “And this case sounds like it could involve a lot of hard work.”
    Brian tried to look solemn. “I don’t mind all the hard work, if it will help Jennifer,” he said.
    Sean made a gagging face and rolled his eyes.
    Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “Brian, do you really, honestly think you can solve a case that the authorities haven’t been able to solve?”
    “We’ve done it before,” Brian said.
    Jennifer glanced at Sean. “Is Brian kidding, or is what he says really true?”
    “Brian’s telling the truth,” Sean said. “We’ve helped my dad on some of his most difficult cases. We broke up a gang of burglars, and we even caught a guy pretending to be Bigfoot.”
    “Neat,” said Jennifer.
    Sean laughed. “Besides, Jennifer, if Brian wants us to work on your case, there’s no way you’re going to be able to talk him out of it.”
    Jennifer’s eyes sparkled. “If you take the case, can I help?”
    “Are you hiring us?” Brian asked.
    “How much will it cost?”
    Sean gave a bounce. “How about a thousand dollars?”
    “No charge,” Brian said. “We’ll be glad to do what we can.”
    “You’re hired!” Jennifer said.
    Brian smiled. “Then okay. You can help us.”
    “I don’t think she should, Brian,” Sean blurted out. “She’s not an experienced investigator, like us.” Girls, Sean thought. Yuck! Then he made a face at Brian.
    Brian ignored him. “Just one thing, Jennifer. Grown-ups think that kids don’t know what they’re doing. So if you tell your parents, they might keep us from investigating. We’ll have to keep the case strictly between the three of us. Okay?”
    “Okay,” Jennifer said.
    “We’ll change clothes and meet you at that garden behind the hotel in fifteen minutes,” Brian told her.
    By the time Brian and Sean changed and returned, Jennifer had already settled on a bench in a shady spot under a tree. She greeted them eagerly.
    From a pocket in his shorts, Brian pulled out the notebook and pen he always carried with him. “Okay,” he said to Jennifer. “Let’s get some basic information. What kinds of things have been stolen?”
    “Meat,” she said.
    “You mean like hot dogs and hamburgers and stuff?” Sean asked.
    “No,” Jennifer said. “I’m talking about huge and very expensive roasts and hams and packages of steaks. It’s like the thief keeps getting more and more greedy and more sure he’ll get away with it.”
    “Well, we know one thing for sure,” said Sean. “The thief is definitely not a vegetarian!”
    Brian frowned. “Be serious, Sean.”
    “Okay,” he said. Boy, Sean thought, Brian was turning into such a grouch! And all on account of Jennifer Hicks. “I don’t get it,” Sean said. “Why would anybody want to steal so much meat?”
    “To sell it,” Brian answered. “Isn’t that right?” he asked Jennifer.
    Jennifer nodded. “And, as I said before, the thief is probably someone who works at the hotel.”
    “I’m guessing that the thief is reselling the meat to another hotel,” added Brian. Jennifer nodded again.
    “Do the people who work at the hotel live here?” Sean asked.
    Jennifer shook her head. “No. Only Dad, Mom, and me. We have an apartment on the second floor, but most of the other employees live in town.”
    Sean jumped to his feet. “Solving this case is going to be easy,” he said excitedly. “All we have to do is watch the employees when they leave, and if one of them is carrying a big package, we can open it.” He waved his arms. “Ta-da! And find a ham!”
    “You’re the ham,” Brian said. “Sit down and stop jumping around.”
    “Sorry, Sean,”