“Why is Dr. Lin researching lake monsters,” asked Jessie, “if she doesn’t believe Lucy is real?”
As they walked back toward the health food store, the Aldens discussed what they had learned.
“If Lucy is real,” said Violet, “why didn’t Nora know anything about her? If she is a relative of a dinosaur, like some of the books thought Nessie might be, she would have had to be in Lake Lucille a very long time.”
“True,” Henry said.
“Maybe Nora did know about Lucy,” said Violet. “Maybe she didn’t want other people to know because she was afraid of driving away business.”
Jessie shook her head. She said, “I hate to say this, but if Lucy had been around for very long, other people would know about her. There would be stories and legends, just like there are about Nessie and Champ.”
“If Lucy’s not real, who is making her real?” asked Benny.
“That’s a good question, Benny,” Henry said. “Who wants us to believe that Lucy is real, and why?”
“Drew,” said Violet. “He wants to sell Lucille Lodge and leave. Maybe he’s trying to scare Nora into agreeing. Or scare off so many people that they go out of business and have to sell the lodge.”
“Maybe. I’m not so sure about that,” said Henry. “But you are right. We have to count Drew as a suspect.”
“And Geena Bush,” said Violet. “She wants to buy Lucille Lodge.”
“Of course she’s a suspect. And of course she and Drew might be working together,” Jessie said.
“Don’t forget Carl,” said Henry. “Remember what Nora said when we first told her about the monster. ‘I don’t understand why Carl picked this summer to make up all these crazy stories about a monster in the lake?’ ”
“But why would Carl want to scare people away?” asked Violet.
“Carl doesn’t like many people, I think,” said Benny. “Maybe that’s why.”
“Yes,” agreed Jessie. “And Carl knows the mountains better than anybody. It would be easy for him to sneak up on shore in the night and leave a fake footprint.”
“And make fake monster calls in the night,” said Benny.
“And he was right there when the canoe turned over. Maybe he did it,” said Henry. “Maybe that’s how he got wet — turning over the canoe, not trying to save Jason.”
“But don’t forget, he was shocked when he saw the bite in the paddle,” Jessie said.
“He was,” Violet agreed. “I don’t think he was just pretending.”
“What about Dr. Lin?” asked Henry.
“But she’s never believed Lucy is real,” said Violet.
“She could be saying that to keep from seeming suspicious. She could be trying to make everyone think there is a monster, because then she could write a paper on it. It would make her famous,” said Jessie.
“She’s pretty familiar with the woods around here from her research,” said Violet. “She could have done all those things herself.”
“But where was she when the canoe turned over?” asked Benny. “We didn’t see her anywhere.”
“She could have swum away while everybody was looking at Jason,” suggested Henry.
Jessie looked doubtful. “Maybe,” she said.
They walked into the health food store and stopped in surprise. Drew and Geena Bush were sitting at a table by the window drinking tea. As the Aldens walked toward the table, Drew got up. “Come up to the lodge for dinner sometime,” he said. “When you find out what a great cook I am, you can tell all your clients and then they’ll come to the lodge, too.”
“I just wish I could convince you to sell it,” said Geena. “But you’re right. It’s beautiful just the way it is.”
Drew smiled slightly. “I have to admit, I don’t always like it. It isn’t the place I imagined ending up as a chef. But I’m beginning to like it.”
They shook hands and the Aldens exchanged glances. Each knew what the other was thinking. Two suspects had just been eliminated from their list.
“Did you find any new clues?” Grandfather Alden asked them when they returned.
“Yes,” said Henry. He, Benny, Violet, and Jessie filled their grandfather in on what had happened during their visit to Saranac Lake.
“Sounds like you are down to two suspects,” said Grandfather Alden. “That’s progress.”
Henry nodded. But he was worried. How were they going to prove that Dr. Lin or Carl was behind the mystery of the lake monster?
The Aldens had just finished dinner and were about to start on dessert when Dr. Lin walked up to their table.
“How is the monster hunt going?” she asked.
“Ah, fine,” said Jessie.
Dr. Lin smiled. “I hear you went into Saranac Lake to the library. It’s a nice library. I did a little research on the possibility of a monster when I first arrived at Lake Lucille. But I reached the conclusion that Carl’s stories were just that — stories.”
Jessie was so surprised, she didn’t know what to say. Without realizing it, Dr. Lin was eliminating herself as a suspect in the lake monster mystery.
“I wish there had been a monster,” Dr. Lin went on. She shook her head regretfully. “Think of what a great discovery that would be!”
“Yes,” agreed Henry, managing to speak at last. “You’d be famous.”
Violet spoke up boldly. “Dr. Lin, where were you the night before last? When you said you were out camping and doing research?”
Without hesitation, Dr. Lin answered, “Near a place called Frozen Gap. I’m not exactly sure how to get there, but Carl could tell you. He’s my guide on my overnight expeditions. I almost never go alone.”
Once again the Aldens were struck speechless. They barely managed to say good-bye when Dr. Lin walked away.
“What’s the matter?” Grandfather Alden asked, looking around at their unhappy faces.
“Oh, Grandfather,” cried Jessie. “If Dr. Lin and Carl were out camping the night the monster footprints were made, then we don’t have any suspects at all!”
“Is something wrong?” asked Nora just then, coming up to their table to refill their water glasses. “You’ve barely touched your desserts.”
“Oh, no,” said Violet quickly. She didn’t want to hurt Nora’s feelings — or Drew’s. “It’s delicious.” She picked up her fork and took a bite of chocolate cake. She smiled. It really was good.
“I’m glad you like it,” said Nora. She glanced across the room toward the table where the Duboises were sitting. “Someone was complaining tonight that we only had chocolate cake for dessert. But when I offered him ice cream, he said he didn’t want that, either. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. He’s been complaining ever since he got here.” She shook her head. “Poor kid. He’s as bad as Drew was when he first got here. He just wants to go back home.”
Nora walked away.
Jessie said in a low, excited voice, “That’s it!”
“What?” asked Benny.
“I think I know who’s been making a monster appear at Lake Lucille. And I think I have an idea of how to catch the culprit!”
CHAPTER 9
A Monster-Maker
Later that night, the Aldens were setting up their trap on one of the paths by Lake Lucille.
“I’m tired of waiting,” said Benny.
“Shhh,” said Jessie.
“I hope Nicole is doing her job,” said Henry. “Otherwise we won’t catch anyone.”
“I put a new roll of film into my camera,” said Violet. “That way we can have lots of evidence.” The Aldens had decided that the best way to catch a monster — a photograph — was the best way to catch their culprit, too.
Watch pricked up his ears and whined slightly. “Is that — ” Benny began.
But a moment later, Nicole came down the path. “I think he fell for it,” Nicole reported breathlessly. “I told him I had heard Nora and Drew talking and that Nora had said that if they had just one more monster incident, she was going to
close the lodge for the summer — even if it’s just more footprints on the beach. I said that she said, ‘In fact, if I had seen those footprints, that would have been enough for me.’ ”
“That’s great, Nicole,” said Violet admiringly.
“I know,” said Nicole. “And I pretended to be really upset.”
“Excellent,” said Jessie.
“Now, when he leaves tonight, follow him, but be careful not to get caught,” Henry said.
“And don’t forget your camera,” Benny reminded her. “Just in case something goes wrong with Violet’s.”
Nicole nodded. “I won’t,” she said. “This time, we’re going to have some solid proof of who the real monster of Lake Lucille is.”
The night grew steadily darker. Stars appeared in the black sky. From far away, a bear hooted and a bear cub answered.
“Don’t worry, Watch,” Benny whispered. “They won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.”
As the lights up at the lodge and in the cabins went out one by one, the whole world seemed to be going to sleep. Quiet and calm lay over the lake and the mountains.
Something rustled in the underbrush.
“What was that?” said Violet.
“Just an animal — a raccoon or opossum,” Jessie whispered to her. “Carl told us they liked to go out at night.”
“Oh, yes,” said Violet.
“Shhh,” said Henry very, very quietly.
Everyone froze in their hiding place. Benny put his hand over Watch’s muzzle so Watch wouldn’t bark.
Then a thin beam of light pricked the darkness. It came down the trail. The Aldens could see that someone was walking, half covering the beam of the flashlight with one hand so that it wouldn’t be as bright. Whoever it was wanted only enough light to see — and didn’t want to be seen.
Turning on their flashlights, the Aldens leaped out from their hiding places and ran toward the light.
“Smile!” Violet said as she took a picture.
Jason Dubois was standing in the middle of the path, wearing an awful scowl. Nicole was right behind him.
He held up his hand to shield his eyes. “Nicole? Was this your idea? You’re in big trouble!”
“I’m not in trouble. You are,” Nicole answered.
Then for the first time, Jason realized that Nicole wasn’t the only one on the path with him.
“Who — It’s the Aldens,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“Catching a monster,” said Benny.
“That’s right,” said Nicole.
By the beams of their flashlights, they saw the frightened look that suddenly crossed Jason’s face. “W-What are you talking about?”
“You,” said Henry. “You’re the one who’s been trying to make everyone think there is a monster around here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jason said.
“If you’re not the monster, why are you carrying a monster foot around with you in the middle of the night?” asked Jessie. She pointed to the ground next to Jason’s feet. There was a pair of flippers, the sort of flippers that swimmers use when they go snorkeling. But these flippers were different. They had metal nails taped to the ends of them with silver electrical tape.
Jason said, “I don’t know where those came from. I’ve never seen them before.”
“Then why does one of the flippers have your name on it?” asked Violet.
“Uh . . .” said Jason. “Uh . . .”
“Admit it,” said Henry. “You’re the lake monster. You’re Lucy.”
Suddenly Jason’s shoulders slumped. “Okay, I am. At first I just did it for fun. I found an old air horn in the storage shed that was almost worn out. I wrapped a couple of towels around it and snuck out one night and used it to make sounds like I thought a lake monster would make. And you guys fell for it!
“That’s when I got the idea of trying to make everybody believe there really was a monster. I thought if I could scare Mom and Dad, they’d take us home.”
“That was rotten, Jason,” said Nicole angrily. “When you fell out of the canoe, I thought you were really in trouble!”
“How did you do that?” asked Henry.
“I borrowed a jigsaw from the toolshed when no one was around and cut teeth marks in the paddle. Then I used it to paddle out onto the lake not too far from where you guys were having your picnic.” Jason made a face. “I didn’t count on Carl being around. I was afraid he’d catch on. That’s why I was so rude to him.”
“And the footprints — how did you leave footprints on the beach without leaving any others?” asked Jessie.
“I knew that since it had been raining, the ground would be soft, so I waded all the way over to where I got out of the water. Then I put on the flippers and walked up on the beach to make the footprints. Afterward, I waded back,” said Jason.
“That’s why Watch went to the other end of the porch. He could smell you, or hear you, as you waded back,” said Jessie.
“I guess,” said Jason. “But tonight I didn’t have to wade, because it hadn’t been raining and so the ground was dry and firm. I didn’t know that Nicole was making up everything about Nora being ready to leave.”
“And you kept saying there was no monster so that no one would suspect you,” said Violet.
“But we caught you!” cried Benny. “We tricked you and trapped you and you have the monster feet.”
“Okay, okay,” said Jason. “I did it. What are you going to do about it?”
“Either we tell Nora or you do,” said Henry. “She and Drew are the ones who lost business because of what you did. You at least owe her an apology.”
“I know,” said Jason. Then he said, “I’m sorry. You know, I’m almost relieved it didn’t work. Once I started going out in the canoe and walking around the lake and all that, I started kind of liking it here.”
He pointed to Violet’s camera. “How did you think of that?” he said.
“We did what you did,” said Jessie. “We listened to Carl’s stories. That’s what gave us the idea of taking a picture. Carl’s stories started the lake monster mystery — and they helped solve it, too.”
CHAPTER 10
Who Loves Lucy?
“I don’t want to leave tomorrow,” said Benny. “Watch and I want to stay here forever.”
“I wish we could stay too, Benny,” Grandfather Alden said. “But it’s time to go home. We’ll come back again, though.”
“You are always welcome,” Nora said. “In fact, I’m thinking of renaming Black Bear Cabin. I thought I might call it Lucy’s Cabin.”
The Aldens all laughed. So did the rest of the crowd assembled on the porch of the lodge after dinner. They were waiting for Drew to serve a special cake that he had made just for the occasion.
“Am I too late for cake?” a gruff voice asked from the darkness outside the screened porch.
“Not at all, Carl,” Nora said. “Come on up.”
Carl came up the stairs, pushed open the screen door, and walked onto the porch with Wildman at his heels. He pointed to a place by the door. “Wildman, stay,” he said.
Wildman wagged his tail slightly, lay down, and put his head on his paws.
“We should have brought Watch to dinner,” said Benny.
“That’s okay, Benny. I think Drew made a special treat for Watch. And for Wildman, too,” said Nora.
Just then the lights in the dining room behind them dimmed. They turned to see Drew and Jason walking toward them, holding between them a huge cake decorated with candles. They put the cake on the porch table and said, “Everybody blow out the candles for luck.”
So everyone blew out the candles. Then Drew cut the cake and passed the pieces around.
“This is delicious, Drew,” said Dr. Lin. “What do you call it?”
“It’s the new specialty of the lodge,” said Drew. “Monster cake!” Everyone laughed again — even Jason, who looked a little sheepish. Nora and Drew had forgiven him — and given him
a job helping them with the lodge for the rest of the summer. He was already working in the kitchen, learning how to cook. He looked happier than the Aldens had seen him look since they’d arrived at Lake Lucille.
“I like it!” Benny declared.
Everyone agreed with him.
Nora came over to stand next to the Aldens. “Thank you for solving the lake monster mystery,” she said softly.
“We didn’t solve the whole mystery,” said Jessie. “I still don’t know who erased the footprints.”
“Or who turned over Carl’s canoe,” added Violet.
Nora looked a little embarrassed. “I’m the one who erased the footprints,” she said. “I was afraid there really might be a monster — and I didn’t want any proof around.”
“Oh!” said Violet.
A gruff voice said, “And I guess I never really had the monster turn me over in my canoe.”
“You didn’t?” Henry asked. “You made that up?”
“Well, I’ve turned over in my canoe before,” said Carl. “But I made up the story because I was afraid the Parkers were gonna fancy up the lodge and have a lot of careless tourists who didn’t care about the wilderness come up here trampling things and scaring the animals.”
“But we weren’t, Carl. You knew I wouldn’t let that happen,” Nora protested.
Carl nodded. “I realized it after a while. That’s why it shook me up so much when I saw that paddle. I almost felt as if I’d made up a monster and then it had come to life.”
Suddenly a long, low sound echoed across Lake Lucille.
Everyone stopped talking. Wildman raised his head.
“A bear,” said Dr. Lin. “Right, Carl?”
The sound came again, more softly now, before it faded away.
Carl put down his cake plate in amazement. He stared out into the darkness. “It doesn’t sound like any bear I’ve ever heard — or any other animal around these parts.”
“No,” said Dr. Lin softly. “It doesn’t.”
Benny bounced up from his seat. “It’s Lucy,” he said. “See? I knew she was real. It’s Lucy and she’s saying she’s not a monster. She would never bite a paddle or turn over a canoe or hurt anybody.”