The Secret of Willow Lane by Virginia Rose Richter Page A

starter kit today.
    It contains everything you will need to
    become a Private Eye. Included in this offer
    are the following items: fingerprinting
    material; instructions for making listening
    devices; casting components for creating
    footprint impressions; camera with telephoto
    lens (film included); And much more!
    Detailed instructions come with a custom
    fitted carrying case for easy transport to the
    Crime Scene!
    Send your name and address plus $50.00 and
    $10.95 for Shipping and Handling to: Chase
    Novelty Company; Box 433; New York, NY
    10107. (Please allow eight weeks
    for delivery)
    Jessie lay thinking. Her eyes traveled over her room papered in blue and white striped wallpaper. The bookshelves above her desk held her most precious possessions. There was the little picture of Jessie and her parents when she was a baby. Another framed snapshot showed Jessie and Tina clowning for the camera the last day of second grade. There was the pink cut glass perfume bottle her mom brought her from a trip to Chicago. Phillip’s one-year-old portrait sat in the center of the middle shelf. On the top were all her favorite books, mostly mysteries. She studied all the pictures. She was the only blonde in the family. Mom and Daddy and Phillip all had brown curly hair and were tall. Sometimes she wondered if she was even related to them.
    At the end of the room, a big bow window with a blue cushioned seat looked out over Willow Lane.
    A silver dolphin mobile dangled from the ceiling above her bed, motionless now in the still summer air. She stretched up her arm and gave it a whirl. I’ll wait for Tina. We’ll open the box together.
    Outside, a car door slammed. Daddy’s home. She raced down the stairs in time to hold open the screen door.
    “Such service! What did I do to deserve this ?” He reached out and gave a friendly tug to her braid.
    She thought he looked tired. His tan trousers and blue shirt were rumpled. He held his suit coat and necktie draped over his arm. It didn’t matter though because Jessie thought he was the most handsome dad in town. She threw her arms around his waist. “Daddy, my detective stuff came! I’m so excited. Wait ’til you see!” she let go of him and hopped up and down.
    “No kidding? It finally got here? Let’s…”
    Phillip tore into the hallway. He held up his chubby arms. “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy…” chanted the toddler.
    Mr. Hanson picked up the child and raised him high over his head. “Phillip!” he said with a grin. “How’s my boy?”
    Phillip squealed with joy.
    “Daddy,” interrupted Jessie. “I was trying to tell you something.” Behind her father’s back, Jessie looked up at Phillip and stuck out her tongue.
    The baby stopped giggling and stared at her. He tried to stick out his own tongue.
    He’s just like a monkey in the zoo, she thought.
    “You’re right, Jess,” said her dad. He lowered Phillip to his feet. “Now tell me when I get to see this Wonder Kit that you’ve worked for all summer.”
    Phillip attached himself to his father’s leg and dragged along behind singing, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy…”
    Jessie raised her voice above the chatter. “I guess I’ll wait ’til Tina gets here. We’ll show you then.”
    In the kitchen, her dad gave her mother a kiss. “You look beat. I’m afraid to ask about your day.”
    Her mom gave a weary nod and said nothing. Phillip wrapped his free arm around his mother’s leg so he had both parents entrapped. It was his favorite position. He beamed up at them.
    Jessie stooped down, disengaged her brother and swung him up into his highchair.
    “NO! NO!” he shouted.
    “Thanks, Jess,” said her mother. “Look, Carl, we can walk again.”
    Jessie kissed the top of the baby’s head as she tied his bib. “Time to eat. You’re cute even if you are a pain.”
    Phillip grabbed at her braid.
    Jessie pulled back just in time. “Hah! Missed!”
    Phillip stuck out his tongue like a pro.
    “Oh no!” said her mother.