#18
Stacey and the Mystery at the Empty House
by Ann M. Martin

While the Johanssens are away, Stacey's in charge of walking their dog, Carrot, and watching their house.

After breakfast, I realized that I'd better hurry if I wanted to finish my chores at the Johanssens' and still make it to school on time. I ran to the closet and grabbed my new coat. Then I couldn't resist modeling it for my mom. "First day for the new coat!" I said.

"It really is a lovely one," said my mom, reaching out to touch the furry rim. "You look gorgeous in it, too."

"Thanks," I said. I grabbed my shoulder bag. "See you tonight!"

I ran out the door and started to jog toward the Johanssens', but after about half a block I was already way overheated. That coat is warm! I slowed down to a fast walk,a and arrived a few minutes later.

The Johanssens' newspaper was sitting on their front doormat. "We could stop delivery," Dr. Johanssen had said, "but we'd rather not broadcast it around that we're going to be away for so long." That had made sense to me, and I'd promised to bring it inside first thing every morning.

I stood on the front porch, rummaging through my pockets again for that key. I expected to hear Carrot start barking any minute, the way he had the day before, but there was no noise from inside.

Suddenly, I felt a little nervous.

Maybe I'd relaxed too soon about that escaped prisoner. What if - what if he had ended up at the Johanssens' the night before, and discovered that their empty house made a perfect hiding place? What if he was in there right now, waiting for me to walk in? What if he had done something horrible to Carrot?

Finally, I found the key. My hand shook as I put it into the keyhole and turned it. Then I pushed open the door. "Carrot?" I called. My voice came out all quavery.

There was no response.

"Carrot?" I called again, a little more loudly. I stepped to the left and peeked into the living room. No Carrot. I walked to my right and checked the dining room. Carrot was nowhere in sight.

I felt a shiver go down my spine, and pulled my coat closer around me.

Stacey and the Mystery at the Empty House
Published by Scholastic Inc. 1996
ISBN: 0590482335