Free The Mystery of the Hichcocke Inheritance by Mark Zahn

nailed
down!”
    “Look for the catch” urged Jupiter.
    It didn’t take long for Bob to find it. By
rotating a small can of bolts and washers, a mechanism inside the
wall released a catch, and the entire shelf swung open on hinges
like a door. Cold, musty air blew past the boys as Jupe shined his
light into the creepy space. A narrow passageway lined in
crumbling, moss covered stone, led to a flight of steep steps made
of cobblestone.
    “This wall is part of the foundation,”
nodded Jupiter. “Those steps must lead outside. And look at these
cobwebs, they’ve been swept aside. The ‘ghost’ obviously used this
as an exit. Bob, stay in the room until I’ve got the door leading
outside open – we don’t want to get trapped in another
passageway.”
    Bob looked nervously behind him. He hadn’t
considered that the ghost might still be in the room somewhere.
    “Don’t worry, Records, the cobwebs were
disturbed, so he probably went through this door,” Jupiter pointed
out.
    The stocky boy went up the stairs until he
reached a small door in the ceiling. Putting his shoulder against
it, he heaved until the heavy trap door creaked open. Another
whoosh of cold air blew past Pete and Bob.
    “This door does lead outside,” reported
Jupiter. “Come on up, fellows.”
    Pete and Bob hurried up the stairs and
looked around them. A cool fog rolled in from the moors, and the
sun was just beginning to rise, signaling the start of a new day.
Bob examined the three foot by three foot trap door and noticed
that it had been sodded over, so that it blended in perfectly with
the grass of the yard.
    “You wouldn’t know a trap door was here even
if you were standing on top of it,” he said in genuine
admiration.
    “We’re behind the house,” whispered Pete. He
looked up at the foreboding stone structure. It seemed to tower
over them – looming ominously, like it wanted to swallow them
up.
    “Look at this,” said Jupiter, pointing to
the turf at the foot of the secret doorway. Pete and Bob looked
closely at the ground. In the dew covered grass was the
unmistakable imprint of a large man’s shoe!
    “But there’s only one!” said Pete. “Where’s
all the rest?”
    Jupiter stepped out of the trap door and
placed his foot directly on top of the shoe print. It was much
bigger than his own. He balanced himself for a moment and then
leaped sideways onto a stone path a few feet away.
    “Our ‘ghost’ paused on one foot long enough
to shut the trap door,” Jupiter explained. “Then leaped over to the
stone path so as not to leave any more footprints than necessary.
The act of an experienced criminal.”
    Pete and Bob came up from the secret door,
closing it behind them. They stood on the ancient stone path,
shivering in the misty morning air.
    “Where does the path lead?” asked Pete.
    “I was back here all day long,” exclaimed
Bob, “I know exactly where it goes! The Abernathys’ cottage!”
    “Come on,” said Jupiter grimly, “it’s time
to give the Abernathys a wake-up call!”

Jupiter Has A Plan
    THE THREE INVESTIGATORS
followed the stone path that led to the Abernathys’ cottage, but
before they reached the front door, Jupiter stopped
short.
    “Hello,” he said. “What have we here?” The
stocky boy bent over and picked up a white piece of cloth.
    “It’s a handkerchief!” said Bob.
    Jupiter turned the material over in his
hands and examined it closely. “A monogrammed handkerchief,” he
said, holding it up for Pete and Bob’s inspection. In fine
stitching they could clearly read the letters: “S.F.”
    “Stella Fitchhorn!” Pete cried.
    But Jupiter shook his head. “That footprint
was too big to be hers,” he reminded them. “You’ll recall she’s a
very slight woman, and that footprint was larger than my own.”
    “Mr. Fitchhorn?” asked Bob.
    Jupiter pulled his bottom lip and was quiet
for a moment. “Possibly,” was all he would say. Without saying
another word, the stocky First