Free Kate’s Vermonth Adventure by Janice Hanna

a men’s shoe,” Kate said, putting the digital measuring tape away. “But we can ask my dad later.”
    Her cell phone rang, startling her. Kate looked at the number and smiled when she saw it was her dad. “Hi, Dad! Wow, that’s a crazy coincidence! I was just talking about you.”
    â€œYou were?” He laughed. “Good things, I hope.”
    â€œI need your help. We’ve measured some footprints. They’re 10.31 inches long. What size man’s shoe would that be?”
    â€œHmm. I might have to look that one up on the Internet,” he said. “Or, measure my own feet! But before I do that, let me tell you why I’m calling. We’ve decided to go to the restaurant in town for lunch. Want me to swing by and pick you girls up?”
    â€œOh, we can walk,” Kate said, her teeth chattering.
    â€œNo, honey. The temperature has really dropped. Your mother is worried you and Sydney will get frostbite. We’re coming by that way, so meet us out front. Besides, we’ll need to drop Biscuit back off at the inn before going to the restaurant. Oh, and Kate…”
    â€œYes, Dad?”
    â€œHow’s the investigation going?”
    She sighed. “Other than a few footprints, we haven’t found anything suspicious. This case might just turn out to be a dead end. Maybe the creamery isn’t being sabotaged, after all.”
    â€œWell, don’t sound so depressed about that!” He laughed. “We want a happily-ever-after ending to this Christmas vacation, don’t we?”
    â€œSure. But if there’s really no case to solve, then I’ve wasted a lot of hours on our family vacation when I should have been hanging out with my family. And I’ve spent way too much time outdoors when I could have been sitting next to the fireplace drinking Aunt Molly’s hot cocoa.”
    â€œAw, honey, your mother and I know how much you girls love to investigate. So you go right ahead and do what comes naturally.”
    â€œAre you calling me a natural-born snoop?” Kate asked.
    â€œIf the shoe fits…” He laughed again. “But I am a little concerned about how much time you kids have been spending outdoors in this weather. I don’t want you catching cold…especially right before Christmas!”
    â€œYes, and poor Biscuit is shivering,” Kate said. “I feel bad for him. We should buy him a sweater!”
    â€œWe’ll do that,” her dad said. “In the meantime, we’ll be by to pick you girls up in about ten minutes.”
    â€œOkay, Dad. Oh, and Dad?”
    â€œYes, honey?”
    â€œI love you. Thanks so much for understanding.” “Love you, too, kiddo.”
    As they ended the call, something caught Kate’s attention. A car pulled around the back of the creamery through the alley. She and Sydney slipped behind a Dumpster and watched. Kate did her best to keep Biscuit quiet, but he kept whimpering. “Hush, boy!” she whispered.
    â€œWow, that’s a great car. A Jaguar!” Sydney whispered, her eyes wide with excitement. “Do you suppose the Hamptons own a car that fancy?”
    Kate shook her head. “They don’t seem the type. Besides, I saw Mr. Hampton drive away in an SUV the other day, not a Jaguar.”
    â€œSeems kind of weird that a fancy car like that would be in an alley behind a creamery,” Sydney said. She peeked out once again, then pulled her head back with a worried look on her face. “We’d better be careful. I think they’re slowing down.”
    The tires crunched against the icy pavement, finally stopping. A woman stepped out and looked around in every direction, then signaled and a man got out. Biscuit began to growl. Kate pulled on his leash to get him to stop, but he refused.
    Kate gasped. “Do you see who that is?” she whispered. “It’s the woman who fainted the other day…and her