Free Vampire Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

CHAPTER 1
The Greenfield Vampire
    “Just this one book please,” six-year-old Benny said. He gave The Legend of the Vampire to the librarian. On the cover was a picture of a scary man in a dark cape. He had two sharp teeth and blood red lips.
    “Oh, Benny, are you sure that is a good book for you?” asked twelve-year-old Jessie. She was twelve and kept an eye on her younger brother. “I could help you pick out another.”
    “No, I want this one, Jessie,” Benny said. “Henry found it in the local author’s section.”
    “It was written by Mr. Charles Hudson,” explained Henry. At fourteen, he was the oldest.
    “Oh!” exclaimed ten-year-old Violet. “Is that the author Grandfather told us about this morning?”
    “I think it is,” Henry said.
    Mrs. Skylar, the librarian, smiled at the four Alden children. “Mr. Hudson is a local author who has written many exciting books. The Legend of the Vampire is one of his best selling stories. It’s set right here in Greenfield.”
    Violet shivered. “A vampire in Greenfield?” she asked.
    “Vampires aren’t real, Violet,” Jessie said. She put her arm around her sister’s shoulders.
    “Are you sure?” asked Benny.
    “We’re sure,” Henry said. “Vampires are not real. They’re just part of scary stories that people like to read for fun.”
    “Not real—like ghosts and monsters under your bed?” asked Benny.
    “Yes, exactly like that,” Jessie said.
    “I like scary stories,” Benny said. “They always have mysteries in them!” He opened the book to the first page. “‘The cem … cem …’” Benny was just learning how to read.
    “Cemetery,” Henry helped.
    “‘The cemetery on …’” Benny scratched his forehead.
    Violet looked over his shoulder at the page. “Whittaker Street,” she told her little brother.
    ‘“Was … dark … and …’” Benny sounded out the words. He sighed. “It’s too hard for me. Can you read it to me, Henry?”
    “Sure, Benny,” Henry said. “But it’s getting late now. We promised to meet Grandfather at eleven o’clock.”
    Jessie looked at her watch. “You’re right, Henry.” She handed her library card to Mrs. Skylar and checked out her novel. “Grandfather said that he wanted us to meet an old friend of his.”
    “Do you have the address where Grandfather wants to meet us?” Violet asked.
    Henry patted his pocket. “Yes, I have it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s very far. It’s on the east end of town.”
    “Will we be passing any places to eat on the way?” Benny asked hopefully.
    “Oh, Benny!” Jessie laughed. Benny had a big appetite. “How can you possibly be hungry after all those pancakes Mrs. McGregor made for you this morning?”
    Mrs. McGregor was the Alden’s housekeeper. She was a wonderful cook as well.
    Benny patted his growling stomach. “I don’t know, Jessie,” he said. “I guess that’s one mystery I’ll never be able to solve!”
    The Alden children laughed and hopped on their bikes. In ten minutes they found 52 Whittaker Street. It was an old, quaint house with a small lawn and a blooming flower garden. Grandfather’s car was parked out front. He stood on the pale lavender porch talking to a tall man with white hair and a white mustache.
    “What a beautiful house!” Violet exclaimed. She was wearing a pale purple top that matched the color of the porch almost exactly. It was her favorite color.
    “Why, thank you,” the man said, smiling at Violet.
    Grandfather rested his hand on Benny’s shoulder. “Mr. Hudson, I would like to introduce you to my family. This is Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.”
    After their parents died, the Alden children ran away. They lived in an abandoned boxcar in the woods until their grandfather found them. He brought them to live with him in his big, white house in Greenfield.
    “We’re very pleased to meet you,” Jessie said.
    “Mr. Hudson?” Violet’s face flushed red. “The famous author?”
    Mr. Hudson