Free The Black Widow Spider Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

window.
    â€œYou see,” Mrs. Blackwell said. “No secret cameras.”
    Suddenly, Benny frowned. “There’s one part of this mystery I still don’t get,” he said, crossing his arms.
    â€œWhat part is that?” asked Mr. Blackwell.
    â€œPart two,” said Benny. “Joe Toll.”
    â€œPart two …” echoed Violet, her face lighting up with excitement. “Benny, that’s it!”

CHAPTER 10
    Movie Stars
    Henry, Jessie, and Benny stared blankly at Violet. “That’s what ?” Benny asked.
    â€œThat’s the answer — that’s what Joe Toll and his friend are doing,” Violet explained.
    â€œYou’ve lost us, Violet,” Henry said. “Go back to the beginning.”
    â€œRemember how you figured out that Joe might have a connection to that movie, Beware the Spider’s Bite ?” Violet said.
    Henry nodded.
    â€œWell, I think you’re right,” Violet continued. “I think Joe Toll made that movie. And I think he’s planning to make another one — Spider Two , like it says on the license plate.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” Jessie said. “But why have they been hanging around the Blackwells’ house?”
    â€œThey haven’t,” said Violet. “They’ve been hanging around the Blackwells’ gate. My guess is that they want to use the gate in their spider movie — that they want to film a scene here.” Violet looked at Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell. The Blackwells looked impressed.
    Before Violet could continue, Benny jumped in. “So when Joe was talking about setting a trap and catching someone in a web, he was describing what will happen in the movie,” he said.
    Henry looked at the Blackwells. “But you don’t want them to film here,” he guessed. “You told Joe and his friend you weren’t interested.”
    The Blackwells looked at each other. Henry couldn’t read their expressions. Mr. Blackwell turned back to the Aldens. “We told them we would think about it,” he said, “that we’ll consider their offer. But—”
    Just then, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Blackwell lifted an eyebrow. “That’s probably them now,” she said. She walked downstairs to open the door. The Aldens and Mr. Blackwell followed.
    Sure enough, there were Joe Toll and his friend standing on the doorstep. Joe was carrying a briefcase and a large piece of posterboard. Both men were wearing Beware the Spider’s Bite jackets.
    â€œCome in,” Mrs. Blackwell said, leading them into the living room. “Please sit down.” She motioned for the children to join them also. “I understand you have already met the Aldens,” she said.
    â€œWell, hello,” Joe said to the children. “Nice to see you again. This is my brother Vince.”
    Vince nodded hello.
    â€œWe’ve seen you before,” Benny said to Vince, “when you were checking out the Blackwells’ gate.”
    Vince smiled. “That gate is exactly what we’re here to talk about,” he said.
    â€œWhen Vince drove by and saw that spider gate, he told me this was the perfect place to film our next movie,” said Joe. “I agree. We’d like to film Beware the Spider’s Bite II right here in Greenfield — and the most important scene in the movie would take place in front of that gate.”
    â€œSo that’s why you asked us all those questions about the neighborhood,” Jessie guessed. “You were trying to find out if this would be a good place to film, weren’t you?”
    Joe nodded. “We want to film in a friendly neighborhood. It’s more pleasant to work someplace when the people who live there are nice about having you around.”
    â€œIt would be exciting to have a movie filmed on our street,” said Henry, glancing at the Blackwells.
    â€œI’ve brought a diagram to show how great the