Mystery in San Francisco (3 page)

“Oh, Andy,” Aunt Jane said, “she probably didn’t see us.”

“Maybe it wasn’t Kate,” Violet suggested. “Jessie is right. She was too far away to tell for sure.”

“What about the red hair?” Benny asked.

“A lot of people have hair that color,” Violet said.

“Well, she sure did look like Kate,” Benny said.

Aunt Jane stood up. “How about lunch? I know the perfect place. Follow me.”

A few minutes later, the Aldens entered a crowded restaurant and forgot all about the young woman they had seen. They took seats and looked around.

“Where are the menus?” Jessie asked.

“There are no menus here,” Aunt Jane answered.

“How do we order?” Benny asked.

A woman pushed a cart to their table. On it were many small dishes with food on them.

Cart after cart rolled up. The Aldens and the Beans took some of the small dishes off the carts and sampled everything.

Benny sat back. “I’m full,” he said. He noticed a sign. It read DIM SUM. “What does that mean?” he asked.

Uncle Andy shrugged. “Little . . . things.”

“I think it means ‘little delights’ or ‘little pleasures,’ ” Aunt Jane said.

“Whatever it means, it sure tastes good,” Benny said.

Violet said, “I’ve never been to a restaurant that didn’t have a menu.” She was wondering how they would pay for their lunch. There were no prices listed anywhere.

Uncle Andy seemed to read her mind. “We pay according to the number of empty plates on our table,” he explained.

Benny’s eyes widened. He began to count the small dishes. When he reached twenty-five, he said, “Wow! This could be expensive!”

But to the Aldens’ surprise, the food wasn’t expensive at all.

W
ith the afternoon still ahead of them, they returned to Fisherman’s Wharf. “Let’s take a boat ride,” Aunt Jane suggested.

“Oh, yes, let’s!” Violet said. A boat ride was what she most wanted to do.

“But Violet, it’s not your turn,” Benny protested. “We didn’t pick your paper out of Uncle Andy’s hat.”

“Your paper wasn’t chosen, either,” Jessie reminded him. “But we’ve already been on the cable cars three times.”

“Besides,” Henry added, “we’re at the wharf. It would make sense to take a boat ride now.”

“I guess you’re right, Henry” Benny agreed.

Aunt Jane smiled. “You children always work things out,” she said proudly

“There’s Charlie,” Uncle Andy said. “Let’s ask him which boat to take. I’m sure he knows which sightseeing business has the best tours.”

Charlie was on the dock beside his boat. When he saw them, he waved.

“He seems friendly today,” Benny said.

“The trouble must be over,” Violet decided.

Charlie met them on the walkway. “I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon,” he said.

“We’re going to take the children on a boat trip,” Aunt Jane told him.

“We thought you’d know which is the best,” Uncle Andy added.

“Sightseeing tours?” Charlie said. “That’s no way to see the bay. The best way to see it is on a working fishing boat.”

“Like yours?” Benny asked. He couldn’t imagine anything more fun than a trip on
Charlie’s Chum.

“Like mine,” Charlie said. He smiled broadly. “Would you like to come fishing with Kate and me tomorrow morning?”

The Aldens didn’t have to think about it. They all said, “Yes!”

“It’s hard work,” Charlie warned.

“We like work,” Benny said.

Just then, Kate Kerry came up to them. She was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. Her red hair was braided. “Charlie, I have to talk to you,” she said. Then she smiled at Aunt Jane and Uncle Andy. “Oh, hello.” She looked at the children.

“These are the Aldens,” Charlie said.

“They’re my brother’s grandchildren,” Aunt Jane said.

Kate shook hands with each of the children. “Didn’t I see you here yesterday?”

“Yes,” Violet answered.

“And today!” Benny said. “We saw you today, too.”

Kate frowned. “Today? Where?” she asked.

Just as Benny said “Chi — ” a tall, dark-haired man ran up.

“Charlie!” he said. “What’re you trying to do? Ruin my business?”

Charlie looked flabbergasted. “Vito . . . I . . . I . . .”

“Fresh fish! That’s what I need! Not rotten fish!”

“Rotten fish?” Charlie said. “What are you talking about, Vito?”

“Yesterday’s order. Half of it was rotten. You think my customers want rotten fish?”

Charlie straightened his shoulders. He stood up tall. “My fish are always fresh,” he said. “Always. In all my years, no one has ever complained about my fish.”

“Well, I’m complaining,” Vito shot back. “And if it ever happens again — ”

“Listen here, Mr. Vito Marino, maybe it’s
you
,” Charlie interrupted. “Maybe you don’t know a fresh fish when you smell one.”

Vito’s mouth dropped open. He seemed to be searching for words. Finally he turned on his heel and stalked off.

“Who was that?” Henry asked.

“Vito Marino,” Charlie answered. “He owns a restaurant on the wharf. It’s called Vito’s Vittles.”

“Vito’s Vittles,” Benny repeated. He thought that was a funny name. He was about to laugh when he saw Henry’s warning glance.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Kate said. “Vito’s been telling everyone on the wharf that you sold him rotten fish.”

“What? That’s not true,” Charlie said.

Another man joined the group. He was tall and blond. “Great day for fishing, wasn’t it?” he asked. Then, noticing Charlie’s worried expression, he asked, “What’s the problem, Charlie?”

“Oh, Joe,” Charlie said. Then he told Joe about Vito. “Can you believe it?” he concluded. “Me, selling rotten fish?”

Joe shook his head. “Nobody needs this,” he said. “If I’d been at it as long as you, Charlie, I’d be thinking of pulling in my nets.” Still shaking his head, he wandered off.

“Now, who was that?” Benny asked.

“Joe Martin,” Kate answered. “He’s a fisherman, too.”

“He looks very young,” Uncle Andy observed.

“He’s new to the business,” Charlie said. “But he’s a good man. With a little time, he’ll be a good fisherman.”

Jessie saw someone else — another man — down the way. Although he was dressed casually, she was sure he was the man they had seen lurking here yesterday. She was about to ask if Charlie recognized him when he disappeared behind a building.

“Charlie, perhaps we should wait a day or two before the children go out on your boat,” Aunt Jane said.

Charlie looked at her. “Why should we wait?”

“Well, with this trouble and all,” Aunt Jane explained. “I just thought that maybe — ”

Charlie waved that away. “I’m not the first fisherman to have trouble,” he said. “And I won’t be the last. Besides, the routine doesn’t change.” He glanced at the children. “With all this sightseeing, do you think you’ll be up to it?” he asked them. “We sail before dawn.”

The Aldens looked at Uncle Andy. He would have to drive them to the pier.

“Is that too early, Uncle Andy?” Jessie asked.

Uncle Andy took a deep breath. “Before dawn? That
is
awfully early.” He sounded serious, but there was a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh, you’re teasing,” Benny said.

Before Uncle Andy had a chance to answer, Kate spoke up. “I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t you children stay with me.”

Aunt Jane said, “That’s nice of you, Kate, but we wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble,” Kate assured her. “I’m right over there.” She pointed behind her. “It’d be fun having company and it’d save time in the morning.”

Benny was staring off into the distance. “I don’t see any houses,” he said. “Just boats.”

“I live on a boat,” Kate said. “That red and white one right down there.”

“It doesn’t look like a houseboat,” Violet said.

“It isn’t,” Kate said. “It’s a sport fishing boat. But there’re plenty of bunks. Would you like to stay with me?”

“Oh, yes!” Jessie said. She paused before adding, “If it’s all right with Aunt Jane.”

Kate said, “Well, Mrs. Bean, what do you say?”

Aunt Jane laughed. “I haven’t much choice,” she said. “Not with these children. Once they’ve made up their minds, there’s no arguing with them. Just like their grandfather.” There was pride in her voice.

“Well, that’s settled,” Uncle Andy said. “Let’s go back home, Jane, and get these new fishermen a change of clothes.”

“Give me your packages, children,” Aunt Jane said. “We’ll take them back home.”

The Aldens handed her the things they had bought.

“Bring jackets,” Charlie said. “It can get mighty cold out there some mornings.”

Kate led the children to her boat. On the way, Violet asked, “Have you lived here long?”

“On and off,” Kate answered. “The boat belongs to a friend of mine. He takes out fishing parties. When he’s away, he lets me live on the boat.”

“Charlie said you’re going to college,” Henry told her. “What are you studying?”

“Marine biology.”

“What’s that?” Benny asked.

“It’s the science of living things in the sea,” Kate explained. She stepped off the dock onto the deck of the boat. “Be careful,” she warned the others.

One by one, they jumped onto the deck. “Look around, make yourselves comfortable,” Kate said. “I have to go back to help Charlie.”

“May we help, too?” Jessie asked.

Kate shook her head. “Rest up. You’ll have plenty of work to do tomorrow.” She hopped back onto the dock. “Will you be all right?”

Henry nodded. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us.”

When she was out of sight, Benny said, “We forgot to ask her about Chinatown.”

“That wasn’t Kate we saw,” Violet said.

“What makes you so sure?” Jessie asked.

“Her hair, for one thing. Kate’s is braided. That woman’s wasn’t.”

“She could have braided it after we saw her in Chinatown,” Jessie said.

That was possible, Violet thought. “But what about the yellow slicker? Kate’s not wearing one.”

“Maybe it’s here,” Benny said, heading toward the cabin door.

Jessie called him back. “Don’t snoop, Benny.”

“Kate said to look around,” Benny reminded her.

“She didn’t mean we should go through her things,” Jessie said.

Sighing, Benny sank into a deck chair.

“It’s not important, Benny,” Henry said.

“Right,” Violet agreed. “And it has nothing to do with the trouble on the wharf.”

“I’ll bet that man has something to do with it,” Jessie said.

Puzzled, the other Aldens looked at her.

“You know — the man we saw yesterday, the man in the suit. He was here again today.”

Henry was surprised. “I didn’t see him.”

“He was in different clothes, but I’m sure it was the same man,” Jessie said. “He went behind a building when Joe Martin got close to him.”

“Maybe he added the rotten fish to Charlie’s catch,” Violet suggested.

“Somebody would have seen him do that,” Henry said. “Especially yesterday. In that suit, he really stood out. We all noticed him, didn’t we?”

“Not me,” Benny said. “I didn’t see him.”

They sat quietly, thinking. The boat rocked gently. Overhead, gulls called to one another.

After a while, Benny began to giggle. “Vito’s Vittles,” he said. “That is the funniest name for a restaurant.” No one else said anything.

Benny paused. Then he said, “What does that word mean:
vittles
?”

“Oh, Benny, you should know that word,” Henry said. “It’s your favorite thing.”

Benny frowned. “My favorite thing?” he said. “Let me see . . .” Slowly, his face relaxed into a big smile. “Oh, I get it. Vittles means food.”

Now everyone laughed.

“
A
unt Jane and Uncle Andy are already back with our clothes!” Violet said. “Let’s go meet them.”

She stepped off the boat onto the dock. The other Aldens followed her, excited that they’d be staying on Kate’s boat that night.

Their aunt and uncle were visiting with Charlie on the pier near
Charlie’s Chum.
Charlie was filling his fuel tank. Kate was checking the fish nets to be sure there were no big tears in them.

“Let’s ask Kate about Chinatown,” Benny whispered.

“Not now, Benny,” Jessie said. “She’s busy.”

Uncle Andy waved as the children approached.

Aunt Jane held up a duffel bag. “We brought your clothes. Nice warm ones.”

A man hurried toward them calling, “Charlie! Charlie!”

Charlie squinted in the man’s direction. “That’s Tony Gregor,” he said. “Looks like more trouble.”

“Someone untied my boat!” Tony said. “It floated away!” He gestured toward the bay.

“Who could have done such a thing?” Kate wondered aloud.

The children looked at each other. They thought they knew the answer: the mysterious man in the suit. But they didn’t say anything. They had no proof.

“Calm down, Tony,” Charlie said.

Tony walked in circles. “I don’t know how much longer I can take this.”

Charlie put his hand on Tony’s shoulder.

Tony stopped his nervous pacing. “What am I going to do?” he asked.