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radio script during the day,” DeeDee said.
    Frances lowered her voice, but the Aldens could still hear her. “Don’t tell anyone, but I worked on my movie script today. Usually I write that at home, but I had this really great idea for a new script and couldn’t wait to start working on it.”
    “What’s it about?” DeeDee asked.
    Frances sounded excited. “It’s a mystery. I got the idea from the children’s show we’re doing this week, which is about a ghost dog. And of course we have that old ghost story at the station —”
    “Are you sure it’s just a story?” DeeDee said mysteriously. The Alden children looked at each other.
    Frances paused, then went on. “Anyway my movie will be about a long-dead radio actor who comes back to haunt the station. I’m sure Hollywood will snap up my script! I’ll be rich!”
    DeeDee gave a short laugh. “Yeah, right!”
    “You laugh now,” Frances said haughtily. “But one day I’ll be famous! People won’t laugh then. And I’ll be through writing silly radio jingles.”
    “I wouldn’t mind writing for the radio,” DeeDee said wistfully. “It would be better than waitressing.”
    “When I quit, you can have my job,” Frances said. “But until I have enough money to go to California, I’ll have to stay here.”
    The children waited until Frances left the diner, then paid their bill. They walked slowly toward the Hawley house.
    “Frances really wants to be rich and famous,” said Jessie.
    “Who doesn’t?” Benny asked.
    “I’d rather be happy,” Henry said. “Money doesn’t always make a person happy. But Frances needs enough money to move to Hollywood. She could be stealing the equipment and selling it.”
    Jessie nodded. “That makes sense. It could easily be Frances. The thief obviously knows his — or her — way around the station.”
    “The ghost either works at the station,” Henry added, “or used to.”
    “Daphne Owens wanted to be rich and famous,” Violet said. “She was going to be a star.”
    Jessie stopped. “Do you think there’s a connection between Daphne and Frances?”
    “How could there be?” Henry asked. “Daphne worked at WCXZ a long time ago and then she disappeared. Frances probably wasn’t even born then.”
    “Do you suppose Frances is haunting the station to get a good story for her movie?” Jessie suggested.
    “Maybe,” said Violet. “We’ll have to keep an eye on her.”
    Benny was staring at something. “There’s Frances,” he said, pointing to someone sitting on a bench in the park they were passing. “And isn’t that Gwen hiding behind a bush?”
    “It is Gwen,” Henry confirmed.
    “What is she doing?” Jessie wondered. “She said she was going back to the station for her backpack.”
    “She looks like she’s spying on Frances,” said Violet.
    Benny cupped his hands around his mouth. “Gwen!”
    Gwen stood up, looking around nervously. Frances hadn’t noticed her. Gwen crossed the street and walked toward the Aldens. “I thought you guys would be home already,” she said, scowling.
    “We thought you went back to the station,” said Jessie. “Why were you in the park?”
    “I was taking a shortcut home,” Gwen answered huffily. “Look, there’s my grandmother’s car. They must be back.” Without waiting for the Aldens, she ran toward the house.
    “That’s weird,” said Henry. “She’s not carrying a backpack.”
    “Gwen is definitely up to something,” Benny said. He opened the front door of Jocelyn’s house and they went inside.
    “Did you get the new turntable?” Gwen asked her grandmother.
    “Yes, and it cost even more than I thought it would,” said Jocelyn. “I’m going to make some hot tea. Are there any of those oatmeal cookies left?”
    “I’ll make the tea,” Gwen offered. “You go relax in the living room.”
    “May we take a walk?” Henry asked Grandfather. “It’s such a nice evening.”
    Grandfather checked the mantel clock. “It’s