Free Game Store Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Carter asked angrily.
    Tony nodded. “I saw you taking letters off that sign one night. And so did Bob. I thought people might believe you were the robber since a couple of people already knew you were sneaking around the mall late at night.”
    “I would never rob anyone,” Carter said.
    “No, I suppose you wouldn’t,” Tony said.
    They all heard sirens in the distance. The sirens grew louder and louder as two police cars zoomed around the corner and pulled into the alley.
    “This is Tony Silver,” Grandfather told the officers when they got out of their vehicles. “We just caught him breaking into the drugstore.”
    A white-haired officer stepped forward and took out his handcuffs. “Tony Silver,” he said, “you’re under arrest.”
    The Aldens didn’t get much sleep that night. They wanted to be at the mall first thing the next morning so they could see Queenie’s reaction to the sign.
    Queenie smiled when she saw them. “What’s all this?” she asked as she stepped out of her car. She hadn’t noticed the sign yet.
    “We just wanted to say good morning,” Carter said cheerfully.
    “And it is a good morning indeed,” Queenie replied as they all walked across the parking lot. “I understand our robber was caught last night and I have all of you to thank for that.”
    “You were right about Raina all along, Queenie,” Benny said. “She wasn’t the robber.”
    “Of course she wasn’t,” Queenie said. “Raina can be a little bit scatter-brained, and she doesn’t always make the best decisions when it comes to money. But she would never steal.”
    All of a sudden, Queenie stopped walking. Her bottom jaw dropped open and she looked at Carter.
    “D-did you do this?” she asked, her eyes darting back and forth between Carter and the sign.
    Carter took Queenie’s hand, then got down on one knee right in the middle of the parking lot. With his other hand, he reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box.
    “Oh, my goodness!” Queenie put her hand to her chest when Carter raised the lid of the box. A diamond ring gleamed in the sunlight.
    “You’ll make me the happiest man in the world if you say you’ll be my wife, Queenie,” Carter said.
    “I-I don’t know what to say,” Queenie said shyly. Her cheeks were glowing. A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
    “Say yes!” Benny blurted.
    “Benny!” Jessie hissed. She put her finger to her lips.
    But Queenie just laughed. “It’s okay, Jessie. Benny’s right. That’s exactly what I should say.” She turned to Carter, who was still down on one knee, and smiled. “Yes, dear. I’ll marry you.”
    Carter took the ring out of the box and slipped it on Queenie’s third finger. Then he stood up, and the two of them hugged.
    The Aldens clapped and cheered.
    A car that was trying to get past them honked.
    “We better get out of the way,” Carter said as the group moved quickly toward the sidewalk.
    “We’ve got a lot of planning to do,” Queenie said.
    “I’m looking forward to it,” Carter replied, smiling.
    On Saturday, the big Word Master tournament was held at the Game Spot. There was a children’s tournament and an adult tournament. More than fifty people had signed up for both tournaments, which made the store unusually crowded.
    Jessie had won all three of her games so far. So now she was seated at the yellow table in the Kids’ Korner playing for the championship. A crowd of children had gathered around Jessie and her opponent, a serious-looking boy named Andy.
    Andy was a little younger than Jessie, but he was good at finding words. He was fast, too. Jessie knew she’d have to concentrate if she wanted to beat him.
    While Jessie and Andy puzzled over the letters in round three, there was a sudden eruption of cheers from the front of the store.
    Carter and a woman with straight blond hair stood up and shook hands.
    “Congratulations, Carter,” Queenie said as she presented Carter with a