Free Kate’s Vermonth Adventure by Janice Hanna Page B

think they were doing here?” Kate asked. “Do you think they put the rats in the store the other day? Seems pretty obvious, if they did!”
    â€œI don’t know, but it sure is suspicious!” Sydney said. She glanced Kate’s way, still looking nervous. “Oh, by the way, who called?”
    Kate glanced at the caller ID on the phone. “Bailey. I’ll call her back later. No time to talk right now!”
    â€œJust wait till she hears what she interrupted!” Sydney said.
    The girls heard a horn honk again.
    â€œThat’s my dad,” Kate said. “He’s probably getting worried. Let’s make a run for it!”
    Sydney took off running and Kate followed. As always, she could barely keep up with her friend. “I’ve…been… eating…too…much…cheese!” she said as she slid back and forth across the slippery pavement. “It’s…slowing… me…down!”
    â€œJust…keep…going!” Sydney called out. “You’ll make it!”
    As they rounded the front of the building, the girls saw the Olivers’ car. Kate was never so happy to see her parents. She opened the car door and climbed in, happy to find it warm inside. Biscuit jumped in on top of her, his wet paws making her colder than ever. “Sit, boy!”
    He curled up next to her on the seat, panting.
    â€œI th–thought I w–was going to f–freeze out there!” she said with chattering teeth. Her hands were shaking so hard, she could barely close the door.
    â€œSo, any more suspicious stuff to report?” Dexter asked, looking up from his handheld video game.
    â€œIs there ever!” Kate told the whole story about the man and the woman.
    Her mother gave her a stern look.
    â€œKate Oliver, this is getting dangerous. You’re in over your head. I think it’s time to call the police.”
    â€œI understand your concerns.” Kate’s father reached over to pat her hand. “But let’s not get too worked up. It was just a car in a parking lot. No one set off any alarms or anything. And the girls are fine.” He looked at them both. “You are fine, aren’t you?”
    Kate nodded and Sydney muttered a quick, “Uh-huh.” However, inside, Kate still felt like a bowl full of jelly! She quivered all over! Was it from the cold…or fear?
    â€œWe’d better get Biscuit back to the inn,” Kate’s mother said. “He looks tired.”
    Minutes later, they dropped him off at the inn. The adults chatted all the way to the restaurant, but Kate couldn’t seem to say a word. Instead, she just kept thinking about the man. Why was he scoping out the building? Were the footprints his? He was wearing tennis shoes, after all.
    They arrived at the restaurant in just a few minutes. As they started to get out of the car, Kate’s father turned her way.
    â€œBefore we go inside, give me your digital measuring tape and I’ll measure my feet,” he said.
    â€œWhy in the world would you do that?” Kate’s mother asked. “And in a restaurant parking lot, of all places!”
    â€œI’m trying to help Kate solve a big case!” He pulled off his shoes and Kate handed him the measuring tape. After a moment, he said, “My feet are 10.7 inches long and I wear a size ten. So I’m going to guess your suspect is probably a size nine in a men’s shoe.”
    â€œWhat makes you think it’s a man?” Aunt Molly asked. “Maybe that woman with the white coat has extra-large feet!”
    â€œGood point.” Kate shrugged. “We really don’t know.” As they walked into the restaurant, she leaned over and whispered to Sydney, “Hey, what size feet do you think that man had? The one behind the creamery, I mean.”
    â€œI wasn’t looking at his feet, Kate,” Sydney said, shaking her head. “Honestly! I was too busy