Downtown With the Book of Renown: Question Mark

By Tom Hendricks

Bradley gets his hands on a treasure map, and he and his friend Tom have one big adventure from there on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781682227275

Book preview

#2.

Chapter One. The Signal.

Upstairs in his room, Tom had just opened a new mystery book. He read the first line, a grabber, ‘It was a dark and stormy night…’ Three pebbles hit his window. The signal! Tom tossed his book aside and rushed to open the window. Down below, beyond the hedge, looking up, was his friend Brad. He looked like he had been beat up!

Tom: What happened to you?

Brad: I’ve been beat up by a gangster. Then he got murdered. But I’ve got bigger news! Go to the front door and let me in.

Tom closed the window and tiptoed down the stairs. Before he could go two steps the doorbell rang. How could Brad get round the house that fast! Both his parents were dressed up and heading for the door. They got to it first and opened it. Under the porch light was Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Brad’s parents.

W. Hendricks: Welcome folks. Glad to see you. (He ushered them inside. Brad came round the corner of the landing and followed his parents into the house.)

Rose Hendricks: (When she saw Bradley, she gasped, and turned to his mother.) What happened to Bradley?

Mrs. Baker: You won’t believe the day this boy’s had…

Brad: (Interrupted his mom.) I’ll go find Tommy. (Brad headed up the stairs, saw Tom, and went with him back into his room. The four parents went into the living room and sat down.)

Chapter Two. Mr. Baker’s Version.

Mr. Baker: That kid is lucky to be alive. We were eating at this little cafe in the city. It was one of those under the street places, part of an old skyscraper where you walk down a flight of stairs, then down a narrow patio walkway, and enter. Kind of a dump, but they always have good food. I’ve been there many times, but never with the family. So I took everybody.

The lunch was good. Betty and I were having a second cup of coffee, but Bradley was getting antsy and ready to go. He asked us if he could walk around while we finished, so I said OK. Then not three minutes later, we saw this burly guy running full speed from behind us toward the front door. He slammed into it, and raced up the stairs to the street. That’s the last we heard