Free Beware the Pirate Ghost by Joan Lowery Nixon Page A

danger!”
    “Does Lester know this?” Mrs. Quinn asked.
    “No,” Mr. Hopper admitted. “Lester gets upset easily, and we didn’t want to frighten him.”
    He looked pleadingly at John Quinn. “We’re desperate, John. Please take the case,” he said. “We’re counting on you to find Lester.”

2

    M RS. QUINN LEFT TO GET dressed, and Mr. Quinn opened his notebook. Brian and Sean sat very quietly, hoping that no one would notice they were in the room. They wanted to hear the questions their dad would ask the Hoppers, and they especially wanted to hear the answers. “Let’s go over your activities last night,” Mr. Quinn said to Mr. and Mrs. Hopper. “Were there any problems?”
    “Oh, no,” Mrs. Hopper said quickly. “None at all,” Mr. Hopper added.
    “You gave Lester his medicine?”
    “At nine o’clock.”
    “Did he take it without complaint?”
    Mr. Hopper hesitated. “He didn’t like the taste of the medicine, but …”
    Mrs. Hopper interrupted. “He’s a very dear, obedient little boy. He took a spoonful of his medicine. Then I tucked him into bed myself. He smiled and settled down without a fuss.”
    Sean glanced at Brian and slowly shook his head. That didn’t sound like the Lester he knew.
    “Have you called Lester’s grandmother?” Mr. Quinn asked.
    “Yes. She’s the only one we’ve told, besides you. But she hasn’t heard from Lester,” Mr. Hopper said.
    Mrs. Hopper clasped her hands to her cheeks. “Why ask about his grandmother?” she cried. “I know! It’s because of what happened last year. You don’t believe that Lester was kidnapped, do you?”
    “As a private investigator, I keep an open mind while I collect facts,” Mr. Quinn answered calmly. “I’d like to see Lester’s room and examine your house.”
    “The house … yes.” Mr. Hopper gripped the arms of his chair. “We didn’t get around to telling you that Lester’s window was open, and the screen was lying on the ground. Whoever kidnapped Lester must have got in through his bedroom window.”
    “I’ll check the windowsill and frame for fingerprints,” Mr. Quinn said, “and the kidnappers’ note, as well.”
    He stood up and said to the Hoppers, “Please give me your address and telephone number. I’ll dress and meet you at your house within a half an hour.”
    Brian motioned to Sean, and they hurried upstairs.
    “Do you think the Hoppers were telling the truth?” Sean asked.
    “I don’t know, but there’s one way to find out,” Brian answered.
    Sean heard the shower turn on in his parents’ bathroom. “Are we going to ask Dad if we can go with him?”
    “No,” Brian answered. “We aren’t going to learn anything new talking to the Hoppers. I’d rather talk to the kids who live in the neighborhood. Kids pay attention to what’s happening. They make the best witnesses.”
    Sean sniffed the air. The fragrance of French toast drifted up from the kitchen. “Bri, could we have breakfast first?” he begged.
    Brian hesitated only a second. “Remember that Lester has to take his medicine before three o’clock, or his life’s in danger,” he said. “It’s nearly seven o’clock. We haven’t got much time, so we’ll have to eat fast.”

3

    B RIAN AND SEAN HOPPED on their bikes and got to the Hoppers’ home just a few minutes behind their dad. “You didn’t tell me the Hoppers live right behind Debbie Jean Parker,” Brian said.
    “It’s okay. She won’t know we’re here,” Sean said.
    “That’s not what I meant. If anyone notices things, then blabs about them, it’s Debbie Jean,” Brian said. “I want to talk to her.”
    At that moment Debbie Jean appeared. “Hi,” she said. “I saw you ride past my house.”
    “We’re here on official Casebusters business,” Sean said.
    “You don’t look very official,” She said to Sean. “You’ve got syrup on your chin.”
    She laughed as Sean wiped his chin on the sleeve of his T-shirt, but Sean groaned. Why did Debbie