™

R E A L K I D S • R E A L P L A C E SAMERICA’S NATIONAL MYSTERY BOOK SERIES

TM

C A R O L E M A R S H

The Mystery

in

LasVegas

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Copyright ©2008 Carole Marsh/Gallopade International/Peachtree City, GAAll rights reserved.First EditionEbook edition Copyright ©2011

Carole Marsh Mysteries™ and its skull colophon are the property of Carole Marsh andGallopade International.

Published by Gallopade International/Carole Marsh Books. Printed in the United Statesof America.

Managing Editor: Sherry MossSenior Editor: Janice BakerAssistant Editor: Susan WalworthCover Design: Vicki DeJoyCover Photo Credits: ©Lisa Gagne, istockphoto, ©Jupiterimages CorporationPicture Credits: Vicki DeJoyContent Design and Illustrations: Yvonne Ford

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ChristinaYotherAge 10

GrantYotherAge 7

LiamMachadoAge 11

MayaScarbrough

Age 10

about the characters

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As an eerie green glow began to illuminatethe stage, Christina watched a ghostly white fogroll toward her. The soft music was growinglouder. Christina could not only hear it, shecould feel it rumbling in her chest.

Suddenly, ice-blue eyes pierced the mist likeblazing sapphires, burning a path for twoslinking tigers. Completely white except fortheir black stripes, they looked more phantomthan feline.

Christina’s younger brother, Grant, yelped.“You pinched my arm!”

Tiger Tricks

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“Sorry,” Christina mumbled, “I thought it was the chair’s arm!” She brushed her longbrown hair over her shoulders and settled backinto her seat.

Christina knew this was only a rehearsal forthe Mysteries Hotel Magic Show, but shecouldn’t help gripping the arms of her front-rowseat in the darkness. This was her first trip toLas Vegas and it was exciting!

The owner of the hotel, Mr. Jenkins, was afriend of Christina and Grant’s grandfather,Papa. Mr. Jenkins invited them to see the magicshow rehearsal the minute they arrived at thehotel. They hadn’t even been to their rooms yet!

Christina jumped as a booming voiceannounced, “Rescued from the jungles of India,they’ve come to share their magic with you!Ladies and gentlemen, meet the world’s mostregal and rare twins—Soman and Shiba!”

“Those are the most beautiful creatures I’veever seen,” Christina said.

Grant’s jaw dropped open as he watched thestage through binoculars. “W-w-wow,” he stuttered.

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“My turn,” declared Mimi, the children’sgrandmother, peeking through Grant’sbinoculars. “Oh, my,” she added, “they are just magnificent!”

“Look!” Grant whispered to Christina, as agirl and boy entered from each side of the stageto meet the tigers. “They’re just kids!”

Spotlights focused on two large, mirrored,rotating globes that shot spears of pink light into the dark auditorium. The boy and girlcommanded Soman and Shiba to jump onto the globes.

“And now,” the announcer continued, “theonly one these royal tigers bow to—the Maharajaof Magic, Manendra!”

Out walked a man in a sparkling bluecostume and jeweled turban. Soman and Shibachanged from calm tigers to hissing, swattingbeasts as he approached.

Manendra thrust his hands into the air andthe fog crept back across the stage. Christinanoticed two silver rings floating from the ceilingtoward each of the tigers.

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“I don’t see any wires!” Grant exclaimed.“Do you see wires, Christina?”

As the rings neared the tigers, the musicgrew louder and a puff of silver smoke shot outof the globes where the tigers sat. The musicstopped suddenly and the rings hit the floor witha thud. The tigers were gone!

“How’d they do that?” Grant said, clapping. “Magic,” Mimi answered.When the music started again, Christina saw

something else descending from the ceiling. It wasthe tigers! They had reappeared and were beinglowered to the stage on small circular platforms.

“Come and bow!” the magician commanded.The tigers left their platforms obediently andbowed to Manendra. He patted each on thehead and motioned for them to leave the stage.

Christina noticed the tigers were once againvery calm. She expected the boy and girl toescort the tigers away, but two men who werenot in costumes led them offstage.

“Give me those binoculars!” Christinaordered, before Grant had time to take them offhis neck.

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“You’re choking me!” Grant exclaimed. “Oh! Sorry, Grant,” Christina said. It was hard to tell with the stage lighting, but

as Christina took a closer look at the tigers, theylooked different. She had the feeling somethingwasn’t right!

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“So, what did you think, kids?” Mr. Jenkinsasked, as soon as the house lights came on.

“It was awesome!” was Grant’s quick reply. Despite her strange feeling that something

was wrong, Christina agreed. “Mr. Jenkins,everyone will want to see Soman and Shiba!”

“I know you folks are tired and ready to get tobed,” Mr. Jenkins observed. “Your luggage androom keys are at the check-in desk. I’ll see youat breakfast tomorrow morning.”

Walking from the hotel theater to the deskwas a new experience for Grant and Christina.Following a red, tiled path, they moved into ahuge room as dark and cool as a cave. On eachside, coins clattered, bells clanged and lights

tracking the tears

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flashed. The constant hum of people talking wasoccasionally interrupted by joyous screams.

“What is this place?” Grant asked, his blueeyes opened wide. “I’ve never seen so muchbling-bling! And it’s so loud in here!”

“This is the hotel casino,” Mimi said.“Almost every hotel in Las Vegas has one.” Sheslung her beaded red shawl over her shoulders.“I’m too tired to explain tonight. I’ll tell you allabout it later, OK?”

“Yep, little doggies,” said Papa, looking talland rugged in his black cowboy hat and chocolate-brown leather boots. “It’s time to hit the sack!”

Christina knew how Mimi felt. She had feltlike she was coming down with a cold since theyleft their home in Georgia. But Christina didn’twant anyone to know she didn’t feel well. Sheand Grant had worked too hard to be included on this trip.

Christina and Grant often traveled with Mimiand Papa. Mimi wrote mysteries for children,and often traveled to do research for her books.But this trip to visit Papa’s old friend, Mr.Jenkins, and one of the country’s largest air

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shows, Aviation Nation, at Nellis Air Force Basenear Las Vegas, was a different story. Mimi hadto be convinced it was a good idea!

Christina remembered the conversationalmost word for word.

“Las Vegas is not a place for kids,” Mimi had said.

“But, Mimi,” Christina had replied, “it’s notan adults-only town like it was when you were akid. Now, there are roller coasters, chocolatefactories, magic shows and lots of other thingskids love. It’s educational, too. We can evenvisit King Tut’s tomb!”

Grant had also done his homework. “Did youknow there are hotels in Las Vegas that look likeNew York, Paris and lots of other places?” hehad piped in. “It’s like every place in one place!”

Impressed by all the things the kids hadlearned, Mimi finally declared defeat. “Youwin!” she had told them. “Besides, a hotel called‘Mysteries’ is the perfect place for a family ofmystery solvers to visit,” she added, referring tothe kids’ uncanny ability to get mixed up in amystery wherever they traveled!

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Grant and Christina dragged their luggageinto the suite they were sharing with Mimi andPapa. Grant immediately started makingfootprints in the freshly vacuumed carpet.

“Do you think Clue could follow this trail?”he asked, thinking of their dog they had leftat home.

Christina shuffled into the bathroom tobrush her teeth. When she stopped to rinse, sheheard a strange noise on the other side of thewall. The way it was echoing, she guessed it wascoming from the stairwell next to their room.

“Did you hear that, Grant?” she asked herbrother, who was now drawing tic-tac-toe shapesin the carpet.

“Hear what?” he asked, annoyed with theinterruption.

“Come in here!” Christina said.

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Sad time in the stairwell!

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“It sounds like someone is crying,” Grantobserved. “I wonder what’s wrong. Do youthink someone fell down the stairs?”

“I didn’t think of that!” Christina said. “We’dbetter go and see if they’re OK.” Christinagrabbed their room card-key and they rushed tothe stairwell.

A girl about Christina’s age sat near the topof the stairs. Long ebony hair fell around herface like a black waterfall, almost touching thestairs as she rested her head on her knees. Shewore a sparkling, ice-blue outfit.

“Are you all right?” Christina asked. “Did you fall down the stairs?” Grant added.“No, I didn’t fall,” the girl answered, lifting

her head. Mournful brown eyes peered up atthem. Her thick accent was a clue that she wasprobably not from Las Vegas.

“Did my crying wake you?” she asked. “We weren’t in bed yet,” Christina answered.

“We just got here.”“Why are you crying?” Grant asked, tired of

chit-chat and wanting to get to the point.

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“You’re lucky,” she said. “You just got here. I have to leave in a few short days. That’s why I’m crying.”

“Has your family been on vacation?” Christina asked.

“No,” the sad girl answered. “My fatherworks for a tiger rescue organization in India.We brought two rare, white tigers from India tostar in this hotel’s magic show. My fatherbrought my brother and me along because wehelped raise the tigers from cubs. They feelsafe and calm with us around. That’s why I amso sad to leave them here all alone in thisstrange country.”

“You’re the girl from the magic show!”Christina observed. “The tigers are amazing!”

“Why can’t you just stay here?” Grant asked. “My father has to get back to India, where he

has other tigers to care for,” the girl replied.“My mother is taking care of everything whilemy father’s away. I am sad to leave the tigers,but I am ready to see my mother again.”

The girl wiped the tears from her flushedcheeks. “There is a woman who will take my

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place when I go back to India,” she added, “butFather said the tigers would be more comfortablewith me at first. I have to wear this sparklycostume so they can get used to all the glitter.”

The kids heard a door slam on the floorbelow and boots thumping up the stairs.Christina knew stairwells were not safe placeslate at night. Before she could herd Grant backto the room, a man appeared at the bottom ofthe stairs.

“Hello, Asha,” he said. He too was dressed ina sparkling blue outfit. Christina recognized himas the magician from the show.

“I just tucked in your tigers,” he said with asmile. “I think they’re starting to like me.”Christina noticed that Asha lookeduncomfortable and did not return his smile.

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Before she knew it, Christina sneezed. As theman walked by, he reached in his pocket andhanded her a tissue. “It’s clean,” he promised.

Asha stood up to leave. “Would you like tomeet the tigers and my brother?” she asked.

“Are you kidding?” Christina replied, despiteher stuffy nose. “You bet I would!”

Grant was just as excited. “Sure!” he said.

“ “

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Christina and Grant followed Asha down anarrow alley. When they came to a locked gate,she pulled a key from around her neck andunlocked it.

“Whose house is that?” Grant asked, staringat what looked like a white palace.

“That’s where Soman and Shiba live,” Ashasaid. “Chandu, come and meet my new friends!”

There was no answer.“Soman, Shiba, come!” Asha called out.

Again, there was no response. “That is strange,” Asha said. “Soman and

Shiba always come when I call.” Movement in the shadows caught Grant’s

eye. “Is that them over there?” he asked.

kidnapped Kitties

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Asha walked to the other side of theenclosure and squinted through the chain-linkfence. Two white tigers looked at her curiously,then hissed and growled.

“Look at his paw!” Asha exclaimed, pointingat the largest tiger’s back foot. “I see orange!This is not Soman and Shiba! Someone haspainted these imposters white!”

A muffled tapping sound drew Christina’sattention. “Did you hear that?” she asked.

“I think it’s coming from that direction,”Grant said, running around the corner of a smallstorage building.

“I’ll bet this is locked,” Christina said,twisting the nearest door handle.

“This is Las Vegas,” Grant replied. “Let’stake a chance!”

To their surprise, the door opened! In thedarkness, they could smell musty mops and

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cleaning supplies. They could also hear thenoises they heard before, only louder.

“I can’t see a thing!” Christina said. “Grant,open the door wider and let some light shine in.”

With the light, Christina could see a shinysilver object on the other wall. It was anotherdoorknob.

Startled by a loud noise, Christina andAsha turned to see Grant straddling a mop.“Grant to the rescue!” he cried, chargingforward. He misjudged the distance andslammed into the door.

“Oh, Grant!” Christina said. “Let’s hope ourluck is still good,” she added, as she twisted theknob. “Nope, out of luck.” The door refused toopen, but Christina’s effort had caused thenoises inside to grow louder.

“Can I help you?” a voice said from the opendoorway. Grant, Christina and Asha jumped, butwere relieved when they turned to see Mr. Jenkins.

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“What are you kids doing here at this time ofnight?” Mr. Jenkins asked.

“Our tigers have been stolen!” Asha exclaimed. “What?” Mr. Jenkins said in disbelief. “Someone has taken Soman and Shiba!” Asha

explained. “We had just discovered theimposters left in their place when we heardnoises in here.”

“Yes, I hear it too,” Mr. Jenkins remarked. “I’vegot a key. Let’s see what’s going on in there.”

When Mr. Jenkins opened the door, Christinasaw a familiar sparkle in the faint light. As soonas Mr. Jenkins flipped the light switch, she knewwhat it was—the same sparkling blue cloth thatmade up Asha’s costume was peeking betweenstacked cardboard barrels!

“Chandu, is that you?” Asha asked. “Yes!” Chandu said, running around the

barrels. “I was afraid you might be those men!”Christina could see that Chandu looked a lot

like his sister. She could also see the fear in hisdark eyes.

Suddenly, they heard another muffled voice.“Don’t forget me!”

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“Our father is locked in that closet,” Chandusaid. As soon as Mr. Jenkins opened the door, the children gripped their father, Mr. Patel, in abear hug.

“Who did this?” Christina asked.“We were set for the end of the magic show,”

Chandu explained, “when a man told us we wereneeded here right away. When we got here, twomen pushed us inside and locked the door.”

“Did you see what they looked like?” Mr.Jenkins asked.

“We didn’t see their faces,” Mr. Patelanswered. “It was too dark. But I think one ofthem was in a suit. I caught a glimpse of sequinson the other one’s clothes and he had a very deep voice.”

“That could describe almost anyone in LasVegas,” Mr. Jenkins remarked, whipping out hiscell phone. “I’m calling the police.”

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WORDS TO KNOW

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and more!

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Grant, Christina, Mimi, andPapa wing their way to LasVegas! What’s not to love?Neon lights! A rollercoaster on top of a hotel!Humongous Hoover Dam!Elvis! But there’s a mysterytoo—with missing tigers,two new friends, andquirky clues! Let’s go—it’sshow time!