The Swimming Pool Mystery Read online

  GROSSET & DUNLAP

  Penguin Young Readers Group

  An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

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  Original title: Simborgarmysteriet

  Text by Martin Widmark

  Original cover and illustrations by Helena Willis

  English language edition copyright © 2015 Penguin Random House LLC. Original edition published by Bonnier Carlsen Bokförlag, Sweden, 2011. Text copyright © 2011 by Martin Widmark. Illustrations copyright © 2011 by Helena Willis. Published in 2015 by Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. Grosset & Dunlap is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

  ISBN 978-0-698-19755-8

  Version_1

  Contents

  Copyright

  Title Page

  Maps

  The Swimming Pool Mystery

  Cast of Characters

  1. The Big Holiday Swim

  2. On Your Mark

  3. He’s Disappeared!

  4. Something Awful

  5. The Thief Among Us

  6. Unmasking Santa

  7. Can I Go Home Now?

  8. Yes, Yes, Yes, I Confess!

  9. Catching a Thief

  10. No Time to Lose

  The Swimming Pool Mystery

  The books in The Whodunit Detective Agency series are set in the charming little town of Pleasant Valley. It’s the kind of close-knit community where nearly everyone knows one another. The town and characters are all fictional, of course . . . or are they?

  The main characters, Jerry and Maya, are classmates and close friends who run a small detective agency together.

  CHAPTER 1

  The Big Holiday Swim

  It was the middle of winter and Jerry and Maya were at the swimming pool.

  Out on Hospital Street, the snow swirled around.

  “Happy holidays,” said Maya as she checked in at the pool’s front desk.

  “Happy holidays,” repeated Jerry.

  “Thanks,” replied the receptionist. “And the same to you!”

  The receptionist took Maya’s money with a smile. There were lots of people in the pool’s entrance. They were brushing snow off their hats and coats as they came in. It seemed as if all of Pleasant Valley wanted to be part of the Big Holiday Swim.

  “We need to get a locker, too,” said Jerry. “Why don’t we share?”

  The receptionist gave Maya her change and handed her a locker key. Maya noticed that there were lots and lots of pictures taped all around the window of the desk.

  “Who’s that old guy in the pictures?” asked Maya.

  “Old guy?” asked the woman.

  “Yes, the one in the swimming trunks.”

  “Oh, him! That’s Rocky Bolinder,” said the woman with a smile. “And he is definitely not an ‘old guy.’”

  Jerry and Maya realized that the receptionist was a big fan of the man in the pictures.

  “Look,” she said proudly. “I’ve got his autograph. He even wrote me a personal note.”

  She pointed to a picture on the glass. In the picture Maya and Jerry saw a man with a big mustache. He was standing on a diving board and flexing his muscles.

  To Ellen Aspen, it said on the picture. With love, from Rocky Bolinder.

  “Is he a diver?” asked Maya.

  Ellen nodded. “Yup. Rocky has competed in the Olympics.”

  “Wow!” said Jerry. “He must be good.”

  “The best. He’s actually coming here today,” said Ellen with an excited clap of her hands.

  “He’s coming to Pleasant Valley?” asked Maya.

  “Yes!” Ellen said with a huge smile. “Can you believe our luck?”

  The door next to the front desk opened. The sign on the door said STAFF ROOM. The pool’s lifeguard, Kate Stanley, came out. Almost everyone in Pleasant Valley knew Kate—she had taught most of them how to swim and dive.

  Jerry turned back to Ellen and asked, “What’s Rocky doing in Pleasant Valley?”

  Kate heard Jerry’s question and snorted.

  “Yes, that’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question,” she said. “What is he doing here? We have plenty of our own swimming and diving champs in Pleasant Valley. I should know—they were taught by the best!”

  “He’s going to give a diving demonstration,” said Ellen, frowning at Kate. “It’s a very big deal. I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world!”

  Suddenly Jerry felt somebody poke him in the back. He turned around in surprise. Behind him was Bert Anderson, the hotel receptionist, who was always grumpy.

  “Are you going to stand there all day, or what?” asked Bert. “There’s a line here, you know. We’re all waiting to get in for the Holiday Swim.”

  Jerry and Maya moved out of the way and stopped by the lockers next to the desk. They locked up their wallets and phones.

  “Do you want to hold on to the key, or should I?” asked Maya.

  “I’ll take it,” said Jerry.

  “Don’t lose it,” said Maya. “I just got that cell phone.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about the key,” said the lifeguard behind them. “We keep a master key in the staff room.”

  Just then, the door to Hospital Street flew open. Jerry and Maya spun around. They were greeted by a strange sight: There in the doorway stood a man wearing nothing but a mask and swimming trunks.

  CHAPTER 2

  On Your Mark

  Although it was the middle of winter, the man in the doorway wasn’t wearing boots. Instead, he wore sandals. His face was completely hidden behind a Santa Claus mask. Big snowflakes blew in around him into the hall.

  There was complete silence.

  “Who is that?” Maya whispered to Jerry.

  Jerry shook his head. It was impossible to tell.

  “Are there any good children here?” the masked man asked in a squeaky voice.

  He was carrying a sack packed full with something and wearing a pair of blue swimming trunks covered with yellow crosses. He repeated his question:

  “I said, are there any good children here?”

  “I’ve been good,” a girl next to Maya mumbled bravely. And then more loudly she asked, “But aren’t you cold?”

  The mysterious Santa Claus didn’t answer the girl’s question but instead asked another: “I’ve heard we have an unusual guest in Pleasant Valley today. Is it true that Rocky Bolinder is going to dive?”

  Ellen, Rocky’s biggest fan, nodded.

  After that, Santa Claus walked silently past the desk.

  “Hey! Wait a minute,” Ellen protested. “You forgot to pay!”

  Santa Claus didn’t answer. He had already disappeared into the changing room.

  “I’ll see you inside,” said Maya to Jerry. “Keep an eye on Santa,” she whispered, nodding toward the men’ s changing room.

  While Jerry got ready to swim, he kept an eye open for the mysterious Santa Claus. Santa’s outfit and his behavior were a bit odd. I wonder what he’s up to, Jerry thought. But Jerry di
dn’t see him anywhere.

  Once by the pool, Jerry took a careful look around. He didn’t see Santa anywhere here, either. He did, however, see the police chief. He was standing next to the big Christmas tree and waving to Jerry.

  The swimming pool looked very festive. Every year they decorated a giant Christmas tree and there were multicolored lights hanging all over the place.

  Holiday music played from the speakers.

  “Happy holidays,” said Jerry to the police chief.

  “Happy holidays, yourself, Jerry,” replied the police chief. “Where’s Maya?”

  “She’s coming,” said Jerry.

  Maya soon came out of the girls’ changing room. She waved to Jerry and the police chief. All of a sudden, the mysterious Santa Claus popped up in front of Maya. She was so startled, she jumped! Santa Claus laughed until his shoulders shook. Then he picked a present out of his sack and gave it to Maya.

  Maya thanked him and joined Jerry and the police chief.

  “Who is that disguised as Santa Claus?” asked Jerry.

  “I have no idea,” replied the police chief.

  “Look,” said Maya. She had opened the package.

  “A little picture,” said Jerry.

  “It looks like a bird sitting on a cloud,” said the police chief.

  “It’s sweet,” said Maya. “I like it.”

  Jerry, Maya, and the police chief saw Santa Claus going around and giving small packages to all the people at the pool. What’s his story? wondered Jerry.

  “Now then, kids,” said the police chief finally. “It’s time to start the swim meet, don’t you think?”

  He climbed up on the tiled benches. From his bathrobe pocket he took out a whistle and blew it.

  “My dear Pleasant Valley residents!” he began. “Welcome to the Big Holiday Swim!”

  The swimmers in the hall clapped and cheered. Kate the lifeguard stood next to the police chief.

  “We want everyone to have fun,” she shouted. “And to have fun we must stay safe: no running, and no diving in the shallow end.”

  The police chief nodded in agreement. He then took a glittering medal from his pocket and held it high.

  “Everyone who swims four laps without stopping will earn a swimming medal. This year’s medal is blue with silver lettering,” he said.

  “Oooooh,” said a man in brown swimming trunks. “Oh, it’s lovely!”

  The admirer was none other than Bert Anderson. He raised his hand and asked, “Is there any other way to earn a medal?”

  “What do you mean, Bert?” asked the police chief.

  “I’ve had a cold, you see, and, well . . . ,” tried Bert. “Couldn’t I get the medal without swimming?”

  Jerry and Maya looked at one another and smiled. The grumpy receptionist from the town’s hotel collected all sorts of things. He must collect medals, too!

  “That is out of the question,” said the police chief firmly. “The swimming medal is awarded to anyone who can swim four laps without stopping—and nobody else! Now, please line up at the edge of the pool.”

  Maya and Jerry saw that Santa Claus had now popped up behind the police chief.

  “On your mark,” called the police chief. “Get set . . .”

  But before he could finish, Ellen Aspen hurried in from the reception desk.

  “He’s arrived!” she shouted.

  The swimmers looked at her in surprise.

  “He’s here!” Ellen sighed. “The diving champion is here!”

  “At last!” yelled Santa Claus, so loudly that the police chief jumped. “Hallelujah!”

  Hmmm, thought Maya. Something about Santa Claus’s voice sounds familiar . . .

  CHAPTER 3

  He’s Disappeared!

  A man in a dark swimsuit entered the pool area. He had a big mustache.

  “May I present,” shouted Ellen, “the one, the only, Rocky Bolinder!”

  “Yuck,” scoffed Kate. “That goof. I don’t understand what Ellen thinks is so great about him. To top it off, he’s conceited: He has to have his own personal locker in the staff room. Because he can’t get changed in the changing room with all the regular swimmers. Snob.”

  “Hallelujah!” yelled Santa Claus again. “Finally!”

  The diver, Rocky Bolinder, looked happy to hear Santa Claus’s enthusiasm.

  Maya whispered to Jerry, “I don’t think the lifeguard likes Rocky.”

  “But Santa Claus seems pleased that he’s here,” said Jerry.

  Rocky walked back and forth along the edge of the pool.

  “Okay!” called the police chief. “Now that everyone seems to be here, perhaps we can begin.”

  “Then I’ll go and lock the doors,” the lifeguard said to the police chief. “So that nobody else can come in.”

  “On your mark,” the police chief started again. “Get set! Go!”

  The police chief blew his whistle, and the swimmers jumped into the water with a splash.

  Maya and Jerry looked over their shoulders and saw Bert Anderson hesitating. Then he went over to the steps and climbed down into the water. When the others swam off, Bert stayed in the shallow end. He walked back and forth through the water.

  Jerry swam beside Maya.

  “Look,” whispered Jerry, nodding toward Santa Claus.

  Jerry and Maya saw that the mysterious Santa Claus was sneaking out of the pool area.

  The lifeguard returned and put a bunch of keys in her pocket.

  A moment later, Santa Claus also came back to the pool area.

  One after another, the swimmers climbed out of the pool. And everyone who had swum four laps without stopping, including Jerry and Maya, received a shiny swimming medal from the police chief.

  Maya and Jerry sat down on the benches to catch their breath. Maya placed her medal on the bench to her left.

  Rocky Bolinder walked over to Ellen Aspen. He whispered something in her ear. Jerry and Maya saw her smile. Then he left the pool area.

  Bert Anderson climbed happily out of the water. He walked over to the police chief and put out his hand. But the police chief shook his head and said:

  “You have to swim Bert. You were walking on the bottom.”

  “But that’s what you said!” Bert protested.

  “What do you mean?”

  “‘On your mark, get set, go,’ you said! I did what you said. I went! Please may I have a medal now?”

  The police chief shook his head again.

  “It’s called a swimming medal,” he said. “Not a walking medal!”

  Disappointed, Bert sat next to Maya. Then the holiday music stopped and the speakers crackled. Everyone heard Ellen Aspen’s solemn voice ring out through the speakers:

  “And now . . . ladies and gentlemen . . . and children.”

  “And Santa Claus,” yelled the man in the Santa Claus mask.

  “And Santa Claus,” said Ellen. “It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: The Olympic diving champion Rocky Bolinder will now show us some of his award-winning dives.”

  The celebratory sound of trumpets and horns rang from the speakers and Rocky marched in. The spectators applauded and Rocky climbed up to the one-meter board. He walked right out to the end and raised his arms above his head.

  “What a superstar,” Ellen said with a sigh into the microphone.

  The receptionist hadn’t switched off the microphone. But nobody noticed her. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the man on the diving board.

  “What a show-off,” groaned Kate, who was standing next to the police chief. “He’s not that special. We have plenty of good divers here in Pleasant Valley.”

  Rocky stood swaying for a long moment. Then he jumped up and down. He jumped higher and higher, rising toward the ceiling.


  “Go, Rocky!” shouted Ellen excitedly into the microphone.

  And with one final bounce, he flew in a high arc out from the board.

  He spun around three times in the air—and then rushed down like an arrow into the water.

  “That was fantastic!” said the police chief.

  “Rocky is the best!” Ellen squealed.

  The swimmers clapped and cheered for a long time. They were waiting for Rocky to come to the surface again.

  “What a champion!” shouted Ellen. “Isn’t he great?”

  “But . . . ,” said the police chief. “Where is he? He’s disappeared!”

  CHAPTER 4

  Something Awful

  “There!” said Maya, pointing into the water.

  But it wasn’t Rocky. Maya had spotted Rocky’s black swimming trunks floating on the surface of the pool.

  “No, there!” said Jerry. He pointed to Rocky bobbing at the edge of the pool.

  “I’ve lost my swimming trunks,” whispered the diver.

  The police chief jumped to action and fished the swimming trunks out of the water. As he was about to pass them to Rocky he noticed something.

  “Strange,” he said to Maya and Jerry. “It looks as though somebody has cut the waistband.”

  This made Kate laugh out loud.

  “Something tells me that it was the lifeguard who messed with Rocky’s swimming trunks,” Maya whispered to Jerry.

  “I wonder why,” Jerry whispered back.

  Santa Claus hurried over to Rocky and placed a Christmas present on the edge of the pool.

  “I don’t want your silly present,” shouted Rocky. “I want my swimming trunks back! Give them to me so that I can get out!”

  “That was the last Christmas present,” shouted Santa Claus. “Now I have to hurry home to my elves.”

  “Just a moment, Mr. Santa Claus,” said the police chief.