Cam Jansen and the Mystery Writer Mystery by David A. Adler Page B

looking at books. Cam’s mother was still standing by the history table. She was holding an open book and reading it. Beth’s father was by the biography table.
    “There he is,” Beth said. “Eric is by the easy-to-read table. One of his sisters is with him, but I’m not sure which one.”
    Eric has twin sisters, Donna and Diane.
    Cam waved to Eric. He saw her and waved back.
    Danny’s father came over. He was holding a large stack of books. “Give me your joke books,” he told Danny. “I’ll pay for them and put them in the car. Then we can get more.”
    Danny gave him his joke books.
    “Waiting is boring,” Beth complained. “This line isn’t even moving.”
    “Yes it is,” Danny said. “The back of the line is moving. It’s getting longer. Even more people are waiting to get their books signed.”
    Some children from the front of the line walked past.
    “He wrote, ‘Happy Reading, Virginia,’” one of the children said. “He signed it, ‘De tective James E. Winter.’”
    Cam and everyone behind her took a few steps forward.
    Cam said, “If we read our books while we wait, we won’t be bored.”
    Cam opened My Name Is Blake and the Scary Movie Mystery . She started to read it to herself.
    In the first chapter, Barry Blake is waiting on a long line, too. He and his mother are waiting to see a scary movie. Then, just as they are about to buy tickets, a woman comes to the ticket office.
    “Someone stole my purse,” the woman in the book says. “I was watching the movie and someone stole it.”
    “Don’t worry,” Barry Blake tells her. “I’ll find your purse. I’ll solve this mystery. I’ll solve it fast and be back in time to see the movie. After the movie, I’ll go home in time to help my mom prepare dinner.”
    In the second chapter, Barry Blake walks into the theater. The woman shows him where she was sitting.
    The people on line ahead of Cam moved up. Cam and the others moved one step closer to Jim E. Winter.
    “I’m still bored,” Beth said, and closed her book. “What’s taking so long?”
    Cam stepped off the line. She looked at the table.
    “He’s not just signing books,” Cam told Beth and Danny. “He’s talking to people. He’s posing for pictures.”
    Eric, his sister Diane, and their father walked over.
    “Hi,” Eric said. “Are you waiting for Jim Winter?”
    “No,” Beth told him. “We’re waiting for Jim E. Winter. Don’t forget the E !”
    The line moved again. Cam and the others took a few steps forward. Now they could hear Jim E. Winter. He thanked a girl for reading his books.
    “What is your name?” he asked.
    “Gina,” the girl answered.
    Jim E. Winter signed her book.
    Cam and the others took one more step forward. It was their turn to meet the author.
    Just then Danny’s father came back. He was wearing his raincoat and carrying an umbrella. Both were wet. He was also carrying a large bag of books. He hurried to the front of the line.
    “It’s gone,” he told his wife and Danny. “I paid for the books. Then I went outside to put them in the car, and the car was gone!”

Chapter Three
    “Is this a joke?” Mrs. Pace asked.
    “No,” Danny’s father answered. “It’s not a joke. I went to where I parked the car, and it’s not there.”
    “You stay here with Danny,” Mrs. Pace said, and took the umbrella. “I’m going out to check.”
    Mrs. Pace walked quickly out of the gym. Mr. Pace stood there. Water dripped off his raincoat.
    “This is exciting,” Jim E. Winter said. “This is just the sort of mystery I like to solve. Please, tell me what happened.”
    “I went to put these books in my car,” Danny’s father told Mr. Winter, “but my car was gone. I had parked it on the side of the school between a yellow van and a white car. I wouldn’t forget that. I have a good memory.”
    “You may have a good memory,” Eric said, “but Cam has the best memory. She can say, ‘Click!’ and remember everything. She can say,