The Mystery of the Black Birds: The Mystery Quad

By Anston Hawking

The year is 1976, two hundred years after American Independence. Siblings Jack, Jim, and Rose Brown discover that the British want to steal America again and, before they can notify the authorities, they get kidnapped. With everything on the line, the trio escape and, in doing so, they meet a friend who joins them on their quest.

Follow the siblings in this exciting mystery to find out what happens to the U.S.A.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anston Hawking
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393656920

Anston Hawking

Anston Hawking is an 11-Year-Old Author. He goes to Jl Stanford Middle School in Palo Alto. He did not like writing before Middle School. Though, after reading some Mysteries, he developed a liking for reading and writing. His hobbies include Video Editing, Writing, Reading, and Playing Outside.

Book preview

Prologue

GUYS, LET’S PLAY MONOPOLY! Jack said, an eleven year old boy who loved to goof around.

Don’t we have to go to your friend’s birthday party? Rose asked, she was ten years old, and much wiser than Jack.

Yep. But we still have some time, Jack replied. He glanced at his watch. Tyler’s party doesn’t start for a while.

I’ll get the Monopoly! Jim said, running down to their games cupboard; he was a year older than Jim, a few inches taller and black hair.

Last one to the playroom is a stinky, rotten egg, Jack yelled, and he and Jim hurried off to the playroom downstairs.

Hey! Wait for me! Rose shouted. Jim and Jack always pampered Rose because she was the youngest, but she was much smarter than them.

Ha, ha! You are a rotten child, Jim teased her once she reached the playroom.

Whatever, let’s just play until we have to go, Rose said, dismissing the tease. They played for about half an hour until their mom came in.

Come on, Jack, Jim, and Rose! We need to get going for the party, she said.

Fine, Jack muttered. They all went outside and climbed into the Black Lexus.

They drove peacefully until they reached the Treat-Clayton Junction, where six or seven police cars zoomed past, turning onto Treat Blvd, towards the U.S. Embassy. They all stared at the blue and red sirens and until the sound faded and the cars disappeared.

They motored off for five more minutes. They stopped right in front of a ‘Pump it Up’ building. When they got out of the car, they caught sight of a man carrying three white sacks and loading them into a truck that said ‘San Pedro Fishermen.’

The three kids and their mom got out of the lexus once it was parked, and took a breath of fresh air. Just when they started walking a man appeared out of nowhere and came up to them.

May I help you? he growled.

No, we are just here for Tyler Jones’ Birthday party, Mrs. Brown said.

All of you get in the truck. the man growled suddenly, and pulled a gun out of his pocket.

I’m sure none of this is necessary, Mrs. Brown said quickly, trying to weasel out, but the man waved his gun and they all hurried to the truck. He gestured them through the back doors of the armored vehicle. Still stunned by the sudden turn of events, they saw a stack of bags on the floor. Not a minute after the heavy door banged shut; the vehicle started moving.

I think all these bags might be full of loot, Jim said.

No one replied because they were all wondering what would happen next. Suddenly, without warning, the truck swerved to the left.

I think I hear police sirens! Rose said. But soon, the sirens faded, and everyone went back to looking gloomy.

They had been sitting in the truck for six hours when Jack finally said what they were all thinking.

Hey, let’s see if this is actually fish or not.

But before they could agree, the truck stopped.

Soon the driver came and said, You are going to an island called Santa Catalina, and then you are free to go back home.

Chapter 1

_______________________________

The Escape

THEY WAITED FOR A LONG time until the man walked over to them.

Hurry, he grumbled, We need to get going.

The family eyed the sacks while the men were loading them into the boat, trying to see through the brown material. Soon the driver had finished loading the bags in the boat.

All right, we should go in the boat, their mom said. They all nodded and went into the boat obediently.

The boat arrived at the island, and before the men could stop them, Jack, Jim, and Rose jumped up out of their seats and ran towards a big bush. One of the men yelled out something inaudible to the trio.

We should go into the boat and look if the sacks have money or something in them., Jim said.

But one of them is standing guard, Jack said.

We can distract him, Rose said.

Okay, wait for me until I tell you that the coast is clear, Jim said.

Sure, the others replied.

When Jim reached a bush near the boat, he looked for a rock and then found a gem with gold sparkles. He knew this would distract the man. He aimed as far as he could, swung his arm with all his might and watched the sparkly rock flying through the air. When the man saw the gold glinting, he jolted to the rock. Jim quickly told the others that the coast was clear.

As soon as they reached the boat, they quickly took a sneak peek at one sack. What they saw inside was not what they were expecting. It was full of tons of rolled paper. They promptly tried to take the bags, but one man spotted them and yelled out. They ran as fast as they could back to their hiding spot.

We need to find a boat. Let’s check the other side of the island, Jack stated. They went to the other side of the island,