Check in to Danger

By Joan Lowery Nixon

While on vacation in Oregon, Chris and Sean encounter a meat-locker mystery
Piney Point is one of the most beautiful places Sean and Brian Quinn have ever seen, but as far as Brian is concerned, it’s not half as pretty as Jennifer Hicks. And getting to know the hotel manager’s daughter while his younger brother goofs off in the pool sounds like the perfect vacation. But when a string of thefts upset Brian’s new friend, vacation is over, and the Casebusters spring into action. Large amounts of expensive meat have been disappearing from the Piney Point kitchens, and Jennifer’s dad can’t figure out who’s the thief. Could it be the bellhop? The chef? Or even the security manager? Brian and Sean had better figure it out quickly, or they’ll end up just like the missing steaks—dead meat!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Release date: Oct 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781453282762

Joan Lowery Nixon

Joan Lowery Nixon (1927–2003) was a renowned author of children’s literature, best known for series like the Orphan Train Adventures and Casebusters. Born in Los Angeles, she began dictating poems to her mother before she could read. At the University of Southern California, Nixon majored in journalism, but took a job teaching the first grade upon graduating. In 1949, she and her husband moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, and in 1964 she published her first novel, The Mystery of Hurricane Castle. Nixon became a fan of mystery fiction when she was a child, and many of her most popular series incorporate elements of sleuthing. She won four Edgar Awards for best young adult mysteries, including prizes for her novels The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore (1979) and The Name of the Game Was Murder (1993). In addition to writing more than 140 young adult novels, Nixon also co-wrote several geology texts with her scientist husband.      

Book preview

Check in to Danger

Casebusters #4

Joan Lowery Nixon

Happy reading, Sean and Brian Quinlan—J.L.N.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Preview: The House Has Eyes

1

WHEN BRIAN QUINN CLIMBED out of the swimming pool at the Piney Point Resort Hotel, Jennifer Hicks smiled sweetly and held out an ice-cream cone. Here, she said. It’s on the house. That’s the good side of my dad’s job as manager of the Piney Point.

Good side? Brian said. I hope there aren’t any bad sides to the job.

He sat down next to Jennifer Hicks in one of the lounge chairs at the side of the pool and took a mouthful of the ice cream, which was melting fast. Jennifer, like Brian, was thirteen; he liked her big blue eyes and her friendly smile. He had met her earlier that afternoon. She had been standing in the lobby when he and his mom and his nine-year-old brother, Sean, had checked into the hotel. It didn’t take long for Brian to introduce himself.

Well, Jennifer said, it’s kind of strange living in a hotel with people all around, instead of in a house. But most of the time that’s okay. It’s just that …

She hesitated, and Brian said, It’s just what?

Well, sometimes the hotel has … problems. In February the main heating unit broke down and a convention group got out of hand and started smashing things. Dad always handles the problems, but it upsets him, and that makes Mom unhappy. Jennifer sighed. Now there’s a problem Dad can’t fix, and it’s been going on for more than three months.

That’s terrible, Brian said. Jennifer looked so concerned, Brian took her hand to comfort her. That’s when he realized that his hand was sticky with melted ice cream. Oops, he muttered, and blushed. He pulled his hand away quickly and wiped it on his wet bathing suit. Uh, what kind of problem is it? he asked, hoping Jennifer hadn’t noticed the sticky mess.

Thefts from the hotel’s kitchen, Jennifer answered, but not from hotel guests. We’re sure that the thief has to be someone who works at the hotel or has access to it, because the thefts have been going on for so long.

The police are on the case, aren’t they? asked Brian.

Jennifer shook her head. The hotel has a security chief, she said. His name is Mr. Otis. But we don’t have a police department out here. The nearest town is about five miles away, and it has a sheriff. Each time there’s been a theft, he’s come out to investigate, but so far he hasn’t been able to discover who the thief is. Mr. Otis hasn’t had any luck, either.

At that point Sean climbed out of the pool and rubbed his dripping hair with a towel. Hi, Jennifer, he said, but he laughed when he looked at his brother. You’re wearing an ice-cream mustache, Brian. Here. Have a wet towel. He flipped his towel at Brian.

Brian’s face grew hot with embarrassment, but he caught the edge of the towel, jerked it away from Sean, and wiped off his face and hands. Little brothers can be real pests, Brian mumbled.

Not Sean, Jennifer said sweetly. I think he’s cute.

Cute? Brian grinned wickedly at his brother. Yeah, maybe he is kind of cute.

Cut it out! Sean muttered.

Sorry, Sean, Jennifer said. I was just teasing.

But Brian said, Maybe I can help solve the problem of your hotel thefts, Jennifer. I’m not a licensed private investigator yet, like my dad, but I’ve solved a lot of important cases.

Sean threw him a sharp look, so Brian quickly added, With some help from Sean.

Jennifer perked up. Your dad’s a private investigator?

Yes, said Brian, but he’s not here. He’s working on a case back home in Redoaks, California. Mom’s on the committee putting on the artists convention that’s here all week, so she brought Sean and me with her.

No doubt about it, Brian thought, the Piney Point Resort Hotel was a great place for a relaxing vacation. The sun shone bright and warm, and the Oregon