Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery (3 page)

“And books,” Sam Pearl said. “We are giving the school one thousand new books.”

The governor, Dr. Prell, and the others applauded.

“Something strange is going on here,” Cam told Ms. Benson. Photographers took pictures of Governor Zellner, the Pearls, and Dr. Prell.

Dr. Prell said, “Let’s get some children and books in the picture.”

She asked Cam, Eric, Danny, and Beth to stand beside the Pearls.

“Smile!” one photographer told the children.

“Say, ‘Cheese’!” another said.

Cam, Eric, and Beth said, “Cheese.”

Danny said, “Parmesan and Muenster.”

Lightbulbs flashed.

“Thank you,” Dr. Prell told the children.

“I have to show you something,” Cam told Dr. Prell. “It’s very important.”

“Not now,” Dr. Prell said to Cam. “You’ll show me later.”

“But I have to show it to you now.”

Dr. Prell didn’t answer Cam. Instead, she stood beside Governor Zellner and posed for another picture.

One of the newsmen asked Dr. Prell if she remembered when the Pearls were second-graders.

“Of course not,” Dr. Prell said. “That was more than fifty years ago! I haven’t been principal here that long. I’m not even that old.”

“Please,” Cam said. “I need to show you something.”

Another newsman asked the principal, “What will this new library mean to your students?”

“This library is one of the most important rooms in our school. I’m glad it’s big and
beautiful and filled with books.”

The reporters thanked Dr. Prell. They turned and spoke with Governor Zellner.

Ms. Benson tugged on Cam’s shirt and whispered, “Talk to Dr. Prell later.”

“This can’t wait,” Cam said.

“I can’t wait, either,” Danny told Ms. Benson. “I have to go somewhere, and I have to go now. I have to go to the bathroom.”

“What is it?” Ms. Benson asked Cam.

Danny was standing now, and hopping around.

“This is not a joke,” he told Ms. Benson. “I
really
have to go.”

“I have to show Dr. Prell something,” Cam said. “It’s about the loud noise.”

Ms. Benson told Danny he could go. Then she whispered to Dr. Prell that Cam had something important to show her.

“Watch this,” Cam told Dr. Prell. Then she pushed the large yellow book off the desk. It fell to the floor, but it didn’t fall flat. First the edge of the book hit the floor. Then it landed on its side.

Dr. Prell was annoyed. She told Cam to pick up the book and get back to her seat.

Cam picked up the book and said, “Didn’t you see what happened? Books don’t just fall. They must be pushed. And when they do fall, they don’t fall flat and don’t make a loud noise.”

Dr. Prell looked at Cam. Then she looked at the book. She pushed it off the desk. It didn’t fall flat.

“I think you’re right,” she told Cam. “Come with me. We’ll talk to one of the Secret Service agents.”

Dr. Prell whispered to the female agent with long blonde hair. Then Cam followed Dr. Prell and the agent into the library office.

Cam told the agent what she had just told the principal. Then she took a book and pushed it off the desk, and again, it fell on its side.

“You’re a smart little girl, aren’t you?” the agent said, and smiled. “Of course, you’re right. We know someone dropped the book to cause a disturbance. But we checked the room, and there’s no one here who’s a danger to Governor Zellner. We’re sure it was just one of the children in the back who did it to be funny.”

Cam thought of Danny.

Dr. Prell smiled and told Cam, “You see. It was just one of those little things that happen in schools.”

It wasn’t such a little thing
, Cam thought.
The governor was scared. We all were
.

Cam reluctantly returned to her seat.

“You missed meeting the governor,” Eric said. “We got in line and shook his hand. He even signed my notebook.”

Eric showed her the governor’s autograph.

“One day, this might be really valuable. He might be president.”

Mr. Tone’s class was in line now. Each child in turn shook hands with Governor
Zellner. The Pearls shook hands with the children, too.

Mr. Tone had brought along a camera. He stood nearby and took photographs of each child with the governor.

Cam told Eric what the agent had said.

“I don’t think someone would do that just to be funny,” Eric said. “Even Danny wouldn’t do it. It’s too scary with all these Secret Service people and police around.”

“I think you’re right,” Cam said. “I think someone had a reason to drop that book. I just wish I knew what it was.”

Newspeople were still gathered around the governor and the Pearls. They were asking questions and taking photographs.

“Maybe one of the newsmen did it,” Eric said. “Maybe he thought it would make a good story—‘Governor Frightened by Loud Noise!’ or ‘Book Scares Governor Zellner!’”

“Maybe it was one of the photographers,” Cam said. “I bet they all got lots of good pictures of the governor and the Pearls hiding behind the desk.”

“What about
your
pictures?” Eric asked. “What about the ones you took with your mental camera?”

Cam closed her eyes. She said,
“Click!”
She tried to remember everything she had seen that morning.

“Smile,” Mr. Tone told the child standing with the governor.

“I am smiling,” Governor Zellner joked. “I always smile.”

Mr. Tone pressed the button on his camera.

Click!

Cam said,
“Click!”
too.

“What are you looking at?” Eric asked.

“There are so many pictures in my head. So much has happened today. Right now I’m looking at pictures of those long black cars, of the doors being opened. You should close your eyes, too,” she told Eric. “Try to remember what you’ve seen.”

Eric closed his eyes.

“Do you remember when we looked through the window?” Cam asked Eric. “First those four Secret Service agents got out of the car.”

“Yes,” Eric said. “I remember, but I can’t
see it like you can. I remember we saw the governor, the Secret Service agents, and the Pearls.”

“Me, too,” Cam said. “Now, I’m looking at the Pearls.”

Cam said,
“Click!”
again. Then she said, “Hey! That may be it.”

Cam opened her eyes.

“It may be the pearls.”

“What did they do?” Eric asked. “They didn’t drop the book. Someone in the back of the library did.”

“I’ve got to see Mr. and Mrs. Pearl.”

Children had surrounded the front desk. The short Emma and Sam Pearl were mostly hidden behind them. Cam could see their faces, but nothing more.

“Please,” Mr. Tone said, “squeeze closer together. I want to get everyone in the picture.”

Mr. Tone was standing right behind Cam and Eric.

Cam stood. She tried to look over the heads of the children.

“You’re in the way,” Mr. Tone told her. “Please, sit down.”

“But I must see Mrs. Pearl.”

“I have to see her, too,” Mr. Tone said, “and with you standing there, all I see is the back of your head.”

“But this is important.”

Mr. Tone was a tall man. He looked down at Cam and told her, “This picture is important to me and to every child in my class. You will just have to wait.”

Cam sat. She watched and waited while
Mr. Tone told one child after another to move either to the left or to the right. He told some to crouch down a bit and others to stand taller. Then he told them to smile.

Click!

“One more,” Mr. Tone said.

Click!

Mr. Tone thanked everyone. Then he told his students to return to their seats.

The children moved away from the desk.

Cam stood. She looked at Mrs. Pearl.

“That’s it,” she said. “Now I know
why
someone dropped that book. I just have to find out
who
.”

“Why?” Eric asked.

“I already told you. The pearls.”

Eric looked at Mr. and Mrs. Pearl.

“They dropped the book?” Eric mumbled. “But why?”

Cam told Ms. Benson, “I have to speak with Mrs. Pearl and the Secret Service people.” Then she grabbed Eric’s hand and pulled him along.