SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
Black cats, broken mirrors, unlucky numbers—the Aldens know that superstitions aren’t real. But when they visit Grandfather’s friend at an art deco apartment building in Silver City, one unlucky thing happens after another. Even Henry and Jessie can’t deny the fact that there’s something strange about the old building.
Are the superstitions about the building true? Or is there another reason for the mysterious events on the thirteenth floor?
Albert Whitman & Co.
100 Years of Good Books
http://www.albertwhitman.com. • www.boxcarchildren.com
Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale
Copyright © 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
Printed in the United States of America
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME
THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES
THE SPY GAME
THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY
THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY
SUPERSTAR WATCH
THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS
THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW
THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY
THE CUPCAKE CAPER
THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN
MONKEY TROUBLE
THE ZOMBIE PROJECT
THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST
THE GARDEN THIEF
THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES
THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY
THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE
THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER
HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL
THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA
JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN
THE CLUE IN THE PAPYRUS SCROLL
THE DETOUR OF THE ELEPHANTS
THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE
THE KHIPU AND THE FINAL KEY
THE DO
UGHNUT WHODUNIT
THE ROBOT RANSOM
THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREWOLF
THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY
THE HUNDRED-YEAR MYSTERY
THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY
NEW! SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR
NEW! THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY
Copyright © 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company First published in the United States of America in 2019 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN 978-0-8075-0754-4 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0755-1 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0756-8 (ebook)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.
Printed in the United States of America
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Contents
1. A Good Coincidence
2. The Curse
3. Clue in the Ashes
4. A Crash and a Creature
5. In the Dark
6. Saucy Sal’s
7. The Big Spill
8. Smoky Secret
9. A Blue Clue
10. Good Luck at the Bixby
A Good Coincidence
It was a sunny day in early May. The trees were alive with birdsong, and the Alden children were hard at work in their front yard. Henry raked grass clippings into a large pile in the middle of the lawn. Then he tilted down a garbage can so his younger brother, Benny, could scoop them inside.
Near the front steps, Violet wore a pair of purple gardening gloves and used a spade to dig a row of evenly spaced holes in the dark soil of the garden beds. Her sister, Jessie, carried trays of flowers from their grandfather’s car around to the front of the house, carefully stepping around their dog, Watch, who lay snoozing in the sun. The plastic containers held snapdragons, geraniums, and pansies.
“I just love spring,” Violet said as she wiped a spot of dirt off her cheek with her forearm. She gazed at the collection of peach, red, yellow, pink, and white blossoms.
“Me too!” Jessie said. “It’s the most colorful season—that’s for sure.”
“I love getting outside after being cooped up all winter,” Henry added. As the oldest of the Alden children, at fourteen, he was getting stronger every month, and Grandfather appreciated his help with all the outdoor chores.
The Aldens hadn’t always spent their days this way. After their parents died in a car accident, the four children were supposed to go live with their grandfather right away. But they had been afraid he would be mean and that they wouldn’t like living with him. So instead, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny had run away to the woods, where they’d found an abandoned boxcar and made it into a home. They’d discovered Watch in the woods too and had made him part of their family.
When Grandfather Alden found them, the children realized he was not mean at all! They were excited to move into the house he lived in with his housekeeper, Mrs. McGregor. Of course, Watch came along too, and Grandfather Alden set the boxcar up in his backyard for the children to use as a playhouse. Now they loved living in a neighborhood.
Back in the front yard, Benny suddenly leaped to the side and sent his armload of grass clippings fluttering back down to the lawn. He covered his face and then peeked out through his fingers at something buzzing near his head. “Bees are the only bad news about spring,” he said.
“Don’t bother that bee, and he won’t bother you,” Jessie said. She was twelve and very sensible about things that worried some children, especially Benny. “Pollinators are a very important part of the ecosystem,” she added. “If we didn’t have bees, we wouldn’t have honey.”
“Not only that,” Henry added, “but seeing bees is a sign. Mrs. McGregor learned that from her aunt in Ireland. When you see bees buzzing around your house or near your windows, it means a visitor will soon arrive. And you should never try to kill the bee, because that means the visitor will bring bad news.”
Benny thought this over while he stood very still, watching the black-and-yellow creature zoom past his face. He didn’t like the idea of the bee being a sign. Soon the buzzing stopped. He waited another moment to be sure the bee was gone and then used the rake to gather the fallen clippings. The work seemed to go fast when he thought about good things—like the famous honey cake Mrs. McGregor liked to make in the summer.
“Is anybody else getting hungry?” Benny asked.
Henry smiled and looked at his watch. “It is almost lunchtime,” he said. “Maybe we should head inside and wash up.”
Just as he was leaning the rake up against the front porch, a white van pulled up in front of their house.
Benny’s eyes went wide, and he looked at Henry. At the same time, they both said, “A visitor!”
“Hello, children!” called Ms. Singleton, getting out of the van. Ms. Singleton was the mail carrier assigned to the Aldens’ neighborhood. Like most mail carriers, she wore navy blue shorts, but on her feet were bright-pink hiking boots. She also wore a pink scarf tied inside the collar of her blue work shirt.
“You are earning your keep today, I see,” Ms. Singleton said when she saw all the work the Aldens had done on the yard.
“We don’t mind,” Jessie said. “Especially on such a beautiful day.”
Ms. Singleton shuffled through a pile of mail she held under her arm and pulled out a catalog and two letters. “Not too much today,” she said, then tapped the letter on top. “But this one looks pretty official.”
Jessie took the mail. The return address on the letter said COUNTY COURTHOUSE, and there was an official-looking seal stamped below marked URGENT. “We were just about to go inside for lunch,” she said. “We’ll make sure Grandfather sees this.”
“You picked a good time to go inside,” Ms. Singleton said, pointing to the eastern sky. An enormous gray cloud was moving in. Soon it would cover the sun and bring a soaking spring rain. “I’d say that’s a bad sign.”
“Yikes!” Henry said. “Might be a good afternoon for reading a book.”
The children waved good-bye to Ms. Singleton. “I wonder why she said that the cloud was a bad sign,” Violet said. “A cloud is just a cloud…isn’t it?”
Inside, Jessie ran straight to Grandfather’s study, with the letter in her hand. Seeing the words about the courthouse had made her nervous. “This just came for you, Grandfather,” Jessie said. “You aren’t in trouble, are you?”
Grandfather took the letter and chuckled. “I sure hope not,” he said. “How about I open it at the table?”
He and the children washed up for lunch, and Mrs. McGregor carried a platter of turkey sandwiches and a fruit salad to the table. Henry poured lemonade, and they all sat down.
Grandfather put on his reading glasses, opened the envelope, and scanned the letter. After a moment, he grinned. “Well, would you look at that.”
“It’s not trouble, then?” Jessie asked.
Grandfather shook his head. “Nothing to worry about, but it is important. This is an official jury summons.”
“What’s that?” Violet asked.
Grandfather took off his glasses. “Every citizen in our country who is over the age of eighteen has a responsibility to serve on a jury when he or she is called. A jury is just a group of regular people who play an important role in court cases. They listen to the facts and make a decision about whether someone who has been accused of a crime is guilty.”
“Wow,” Henry said. “That sounds like a big
job.”
“It can be,” Grandfather said. “But I have never done it before. Even as old as I am, I’ve never been called for jury duty. My friend Sam, on the other hand—that young man who owns the car wash downtown—he just told me last week that he’s been called five different times!”
Violet popped a strawberry into her mouth. “Why do they keep calling him instead of you?” she asked.
“They aren’t doing it on purpose,” Grandfather said. “People are chosen for jury duty at random. So it’s just a coincidence that he has been called so many times.”
Benny’s forehead wrinkled, and he twisted up his mouth. Jessie could tell that he was confused.
“Benny,” Jessie said, “a coincidence means something that happens by chance, not for any reason. The people in charge didn’t call Sam so many times on purpose.”
“Hmm,” Benny said. “Well, either way, jury duty sounds pretty boring if you have to sit in a room and listen to a lot of people talk. Unless they have snacks.”
Grandfather laughed. “Actually, they do sometimes, if the case goes on a long time. The judge makes sure the jury gets to take breaks for meals, and sometimes they even order food for the jurors to eat if they can’t leave the courthouse.”
“Like pizza?” Benny asked, his eyes brightening.
“Probably,” Grandfather said. “But even without pizza, I am happy to do my duty now that it’s my turn. I have to go to Silver City to do it.”
“I love Silver City!” Jessie said.
“Yes, me too,” said Grandfather, “and come to think of it, this jury summons might be a good coincidence. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get to Silver City to visit my friend Gwen. We went to high school together, but I haven’t seen her in years. She has been going through a bad few months. This could be excellent timing.”
Violet looked concerned. “What happened to her?”
“There was a fire in the apartment building Gwen owns—the Bixby,” Grandfather said. “Fortunately, no one got hurt. But the building was damaged. It’s almost one hundred years old, and it’s built in a style called art deco, which was popular in the 1920s.”
“What’s art deco?” Henry asked, taking the last bite of his sandwich.
“That means the design contains all kinds of interesting decoration,” Grandfather said, “like silver and gold and tiles in bright patterns. The whole building is a work of art. It’s going to take a lot of careful work to bring it all back to the way it used to be.”
“Maybe we could help,” Henry said.