Mr. Anderson approached the group. “Everything okay, Elizabeth?” he asked.
“Oh. Hi, Dad. Yes. This little girl was in our Bible camp this morning, and I guess Biscuit recognized her. He seems to like her!” Elizabeth smiled at the little girl, who was peering through her curls.
“Dan Anderson.” Elizabeth’s dad held his hand out to the woman.
“Teresa Lopez,” the woman replied, returning his handshake. “And this is Annie.” She gestured to her daughter, who was now squatting, rubbing Biscuit behind the ears. James knelt, too, and spoke softly to the dog and the girl.
Annie turned her head to the side, and for just a moment, her thick curls fell away from her face to reveal a large red birthmark. It covered the entire left side of her face. James didn’t seem to notice, but smiled and looked directly into the girl’s eyes. “Biscuit really likes you. He likes me, too. He’ll be at Bible Camp tomorrow. Are you coming?”
In that moment, Elizabeth wanted to pick her little brother up and hug him.
He is such a great kid! she thought. Lord, I take back every bad thought I’ve ever had about my little brother. He is the best little guy in the world!
Annie’s mother noticed, too, and looked at Mr. Anderson. “What a nice boy you have,” she whispered. “Annie’s birthmark is called a strawberry hemangioma, and many of the children make fun of her. At home, she’s outgoing and playful. Unfortunately, she has learned to be afraid of people she doesn’t know.”
Mr. Anderson nodded. “She’s a beautiful little girl, even with the birthmark. Is it possible to have it removed?”
The woman looked close to tears. “Yes, it is possible, but not probable. It’s an expensive operation, and I don’t have medical insurance. I’m afraid Annie will have to live with her birthmark. At least until she’s older.”
Mr. Anderson smiled compassionately. Looking at the girls and James, he said, “We’d better head back to the café. Your mother will wonder where we are.”
Elizabeth knelt and whispered to Annie, “I hope you’ll come back tomorrow. I was lonely after you left today.”
Annie looked into Elizabeth’s eyes for just a moment. A smile crossed her face, but was gone in an instant.
“I’ll bring her,” said Mrs. Lopez, “but I can’t promise she’ll stay.”
Elizabeth, her brother and father, and Kate went back to their table, where they found Mrs. Anderson munching tortilla chips.
“There you are!” she said. “I knew this was your table, because I saw Kate’s backpack, so I sat down and started eating. I knew you’d be back. But then, I started wondering what would happen if someone else had a backpack like Kate’s, and I was sitting here eating some stranger’s chips.”
“I see it didn’t stop you.” Her husband laughed.
“Well, I thought about leaving the chips alone until I knew for sure, but I was too hungry. Where did y’all go?” she asked.
They took turns telling about Biscuit and the little girl, and Mrs. Anderson listened intently. Finally, she said, “I have a cousin who had something like that. Her mother told her it was where an angel kissed her, and she seemed to accept that when she was very young. But as she got older, she became more self-conscious. Some children made fun of her, and made her life miserable.”
“Did she ever get it fixed?” Elizabeth asked her mother.
“Yes. There was some organization…. I can’t think of the name right now. But a charitable group helped finance surgeries like that for children. Perhaps you could do research on it, girls. I know how you like to chase down mysteries and such,” she said.
The girls looked at each other, but said nothing. This was just one of the mysteries they were facing. And quite frankly, the other mystery had them a little nervous.
Morning came a little too early for the girls. They had stayed up late talking and doing Internet research. They’d wanted to update Kate’s blog, but decided against it. “It’s probably better if they think we haven’t checked the blog in a few days. Let them think we don’t know anything about their threats,” Elizabeth had suggested, and Kate grudgingly agreed.
But in spite of their tiredness, the girls and Biscuit were at the appointed place at a quarter to eight, ready to help with Bible Camp. Mrs. Anderson agreed to drop James off at eight o’clock.
“Elizabeth! Glad you’re here. Could you lead the kids in songs again?” Gary asked her.
Elizabeth eyed the keyboard set up to one side of the steps. “May I use the keyboard?” she asked.
Gary looked hesitant. “It’s borrowed, and I promised the owner I’d take good care of it….”
Kate stepped forward. “Gary, you don’t have anything to worry about. When it comes to keyboards, Elizabeth knows her stuff.”
Gary lifted his eyebrows then grinned. Moving his arm in a grand, sweeping gesture, he said, “In that case, be my guest.”
Elizabeth smiled and moved to the keyboard. She hadn’t played one for several days, and she missed the feeling of her fingers on the piano keys. She adjusted the volume then played through a few scales. Finally, she began playing the tune of one of the songs she’d taught the children the day before.
For a few moments, she became absorbed in the keyboard. She pressed a few buttons, and before long, she had added drum rhythms, bells, and even a comical whistling sound. People stopped what they were doing and gathered to listen to her music.
Elizabeth was surprised when she looked up and realized she had an audience. Normally she was self-conscious when she played in front of people. But this was such a relaxed atmosphere, it didn’t feel like a recital or a concert. She smiled and spoke into the microphone Gary had placed in front of her.
“Good morning everyone, and welcome to Bible Camp! Do you remember the song I taught you yesterday? Sing it with me now!”
The children gathered at the church steps began singing loudly, and the teenagers and adults joined in. This continued for several songs until Elizabeth looked up and saw Joe smiling at her from the back of the crowd. She immediately missed a note and forgot the words. She finished the song as gracefully as possible, then handed the microphone to Gary and moved to the side of the crowd.
“Thank you, Elizabeth,” Gary said. “Isn’t she great? Let’s all give her a hand!”
The crowd erupted in applause, and Elizabeth turned beet red. Then, she felt someone crowding against her leg. She looked down to see a mop of familiar curls. Forgetting herself, she hugged the little girl. “Annie! You came!”
The girl smiled shyly and took hold of her hand. Biscuit appeared at the girl’s feet, wagging his tail. Annie reached down and petted him gently.
When Gary dismissed the crowd to go to their sessions, Elizabeth took Annie into the church and sat down. The children were still getting settled in their seats when Elizabeth heard a voice behind her.
“Are you some teen prodigy or something?”
Elizabeth turned to look at Joe, trying not to blush. “No, I just like music. I’m usually nervous in front of people, but this was just a bunch of little kids. I didn’t feel as nervous as I usually do.”
“I play the guitar a little, but not as well as you play the piano. Still, we should get together and jam sometime,” he said.
The Bible story teacher called the group to attention, and Elizabeth faced the front. He wants to jam with me? Oh, Lord, what do I tell him? I wish he would leave me alone. Actually, I don’t want him to leave me alone. What in the world is going on here, Lord?
Her thoughts swirled, and she didn’t catch a word of the Bible story. Oh my goodness, Kate is right. I am swooning. I’ve never swooned over a boy. What is getting into me? She was painfully aware of Joe’s presence right behind
her. Lord, help me to know how to act. I don’t even know if he’s a Christian! And I’m only fourteen.
The rest of the morning flew by. Joe, Maria, and Pedro jumped in to help where they could, and they seemed to really listen to the Bible stories and verses. Annie relaxed some and even talked to James as they worked together on a craft.
When it was time to clean up, Gary called Elizabeth to the front. “Why don’t you play the keyboard for us while we work. I’ll put this sign advertising our camp next to you, and as people walk by, maybe they’ll notice and send their kids tomorrow. Here, I’ll put up this sign for our mime show this evening, too.”
Elizabeth agreed, and for the first time noticed the symbol at the bottom of the sign. “Gary, what is that?” she pointed.
“Oh, that’s the symbol for the Kiwanis Club. They own the Fiesta Noche del Rio, the outdoor theater where we are performing each night. They like for their symbol to be on everything that advertises the theater. It helps with donations.”
“Donations?” she asked.
“Yeah, they’re a charity,” Gary said, then called out some instructions to a couple of teenagers who were cleaning up.
Elizabeth turned and began playing the keyboard. She noticed Joe and Pedro talking to Gary and pointing to a guitar case. Gary smiled, nodded, and then knelt to openthe case. The two of them approached the soundboard behind Elizabeth, and she tried to ignore them. People passing stopped and read the signs. Many of them stood for a few minutes, enjoying her upbeat music. The teenagers and some of the children sang along as they worked.
After a few moments, Elizabeth heard a bass guitar coming from behind her. Turning her head just a little, she saw it was Joe. A rhythmic clicking noise from the other side of her was Pedro. A drummer? He had two pencils, and was clicking away on the stair railing. It sounded good.
The three of them continued playing for a half hour. Surprisingly, Elizabeth didn’t feel self-conscious. She got caught up in the music and just enjoyed herself.
Finally, they wrapped up their little concert and received light applause from the people gathered around. Unplugging the keyboard, she heard Pedro say, “That was so cool! We need a keyboardist for our band, Elizabeth. Too bad you don’t live here.”
“You have a band?” she asked, and Joe laughed.
“We want to have a band. So far it’s just me with my borrowed guitar and Pedro with his pencils. We’re both in the band at school, but we use the school’s instruments. During the summer, we have trouble finding good instruments to play.”
“What kind of music do you like to play?” Elizabeth asked.
“All kinds,” said Joe. “Mostly rock ‘n’ roll. But I really like what you’re playing. I never knew Christian music could be so cool.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Being a Christian is pretty cool,” she told him.
Joe looked at his feet. “Yeah, my mom’s always trying to get me to go to church. Maybe I’ll have to try it.”
Kate approached, Biscuit at her heels. “So, did you talk to them about…you know?” she asked Elizabeth.
Her question immediately got his attention. Maria and Pedro approached and joined the conversation.
“Talk to us about what?” asked Joe.
Elizabeth shot Kate a frustrated look, but Kate simply adjusted her glasses and smiled.
What is she up to? Elizabeth wondered. We’re supposed to check with Uncle Dan before we make any more plans.
Just then, Elizabeth’s mother waved to her. James was seated on the ground beside her, dangling his feet into the river. “Elizabeth, what are you girls planning to do for lunch? Your father and I want to go to the mall, if you’re interested.”
“Well, we told Uncle Dan we’d meet him after Bible Camp. If it’s okay, we’d like to hang around here for a while,” she told her mother.
“Okay,” Mrs. Anderson said. She made sure Elizabeth had money for lunch, and waved good-bye. “We’ll meet you back at the hotel at two o’clock,” she called over her shoulder.
When she was gone, Joe asked her once again. “Talk to us about what?”
Kate spoke up. “We may need your help with a little project we’re working on. But right now, Elizabeth and I have to meet someone. Why don’t we meet you in an hour at the Rio Rio. You can order us some of those great tamales your mom was making yesterday.”
The threesome agreed, and Elizabeth and Kate headed toward the hotel. “What was that about?” Elizabeth questioned. “I thought we were supposed to keep our mouths shut until we talked to Uncle Dan again!”
“My mistake,” Kate apologized. “I saw you all deep in conversation and assumed that’s what you were talking about. What were you talking about, by the way?”
Elizabeth smiled. “We were talking about music. Did you hear Joe playing the guitar? He’s good.”
“It’s a match made in heaven,” Kate teased, and Elizabeth reached over and pulled Kate’s pink ball cap over her eyes. “Hey, stop that!” Kate called, straightening her cap.
Uncle Dan was waiting for them when they entered the lobby, and wasted no time in small talk. “I’ve been thinking about how we can catch these guys,” he said. “Kate, didn’t you say you brought a bag full of spy gizmos and gadgets?”
Kate nodded. “I have a bug we can plant to listen in on conversations. We thought we’d start with that.”
“Perfect,” said Uncle Dan. “I talked to Lyndel this morning—he’s the owner of River City Cruises. He said the problems started a couple of weeks before Santa Anna Tours opened for business. I also found out that the owner of Santa Anna Tours has a history of illegal behavior. I’m not sure what he’s capable of, so you girls need to stay safe. Don’t go wandering off into any lonely alleys or tunnels. Stay on the Riverwalk, stay together, and stay where there is a crowd.”
Elizabeth felt chills go up her spine. “This guy sounds dangerous.”
“He’s never been accused of anything violent—mostly petty theft and vandalism—but the bottom line is, he can’t be trusted. We don’t know what he’s capable of. Can I trust you girls to act responsibly?”
The girls nodded, wide-eyed.
“Okay, then. Here’s the plan,” he said, and the three spent the next half hour plotting and planning.
At 1:15 p.m., Kate and Elizabeth spotted their friends seated at the Rio Rio.
Joe smiled at Elizabeth. “We were about to give up on you,” he said. “Mom made this huge plate of tamales just for you, and I thought I would have to eat them myself.”
“Don’t you dare!” Elizabeth told him, and the group laughed. They made room for the two girls to sit down and politely joined Kate and Elizabeth as they prayed over their food.
Then, Maria leaned her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands. “Joe said you wanted to talk to us about something,” she said.
Elizabeth took a bite of the delicious tamales, and closed her eyes. “I have dreamed about these tamales. These are the best things I have ever tasted. Joe, do you think your mom would give me the recipe?”
He smiled. “We might be able to work something out. But first, you need to tell us what Kate was talking about earlier. What’s the big secret?”
Kate swallowed her bite of tamale then leaned back in her chair. “Well, you remember those guys who chased us yesterday? We think they’re the ones who are sabotaging the River City Cruise boats. But we may need your help to catch them.”