The children hurried to Mr. Fambles’s office. They knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Mr. Fambles said.
The police officer was still talking to Claire. He looked surprised to see the children.
“Officer Bob Small,” Mr. Fambles said, “these are the Alden children. They’ve been acting as extras in the movie.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Officer Small said with a nod.
“We found the ring,” Jessie said.
“And we know who took it and why,” Henry added.
“You found the ring!” Mr. Fambles said. “That’s wonderful news! Where is it?”
“It’s right here,” Amy said as she walked through the door, followed by Bob Branson and Roger Martin. She handed the ring to Mr. Fambles.
“Here they are, Grandfather,” Benny said as he came running into the room.
Grandfather followed Benny into the room. “What in the world is going on here?”
“A valuable ring was stolen,” Officer Small said. “But it looks like it’s been found.”
“Bob took it on purpose so that Claire would lose her job,” Jessie said. “He’s working with Nolan, Claire’s agent. Someone is going to pay them both a lot of money if they can get Claire back to California in time to star in a big movie.”
“Nolan and Bob planned all this?” Claire asked.
“That’s right,” Henry said. “Nolan said you’d never break your contract. That’s why he tried to get you fired.”
“So that’s why I’ve been having so much trouble,” Claire said. “Did they let that mouse loose, too?”
“I let the mouse loose,” Roger said. “I was feeling angry because I thought I deserved your part. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Of course I forgive you, Roger,” Claire said.
“Thank you,” Roger said. He hung his head as he left the room.
“You see,” Bob said. “You’re trying to blame me for everything.”
“That’s because you’re responsible for most of the mischief,” Jessie said.
“We think you purposely put ragweed in Claire’s bouquet and broke the supports under the steps,” Violet said.
“I’ll bet you were also the one who unplugged Claire’s hair rollers while she was in the costume tent,” Henry said.
“Bob also disguised his voice and used the pay phone across from the lemonade stand to call Claire late that night,” Henry said. “He knew you’d be in a lot of trouble if you were late to work,” he said to Claire.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bob said.
“Antonio saw you using that phone,” Henry said. “And we all saw you meeting Nolan.”
“May I use the telephone in your secretary’s office?” Claire asked Mr. Fambles.
“Of course,” Mr. Fambles said.
“I’m going to tell Nolan to get over here right now. He has a lot of explaining to do.”
“Bob switched the real ring with a fake one this morning,” Violet explained. “Then he made it look like Claire stole it.”
“I didn’t do that,” Bob said angrily. “Besides, you can’t prove a word you’ve said.”
“Yes, I can,” Violet said. “Grandfather, do you have my pictures?”
“They’re right here,” Grandfather said. He handed Violet a large white envelope. Violet quickly flipped through the pictures until she found the one she was looking for.
“I took this picture of Claire right before Bob asked to look at her necklace,” Violet said.
Mr. Fambles looked at the picture. He took a magnifying glass out of his desk drawer. “She’s right! Claire is wearing the real ring in this picture!”
“Now I remember Bob asking Claire if he could look at the ring,” Amy said. “But I never thought he would steal it.”
“I didn’t steal it,” Bob began. “I was going to give it back.” He stopped talking when he realized what he had said.
“Nolan is on his way,” Claire said. “He thinks I want to talk to him because I’ve been fired for misplacing the ring.”
“Boy,” Jessie said. “He’s in for a big surprise.”
“I think I’d like to have a private talk with Bob while we wait for Nolan to arrive,” Officer Small said. “Thanks, children, for solving this mystery.”
“You’re welcome,” Benny said. “It was fun and I didn’t even have to miss lunch.”
Everyone laughed.
“I guess we’d better get back to work,” Amy said. “We’ll use the fake ring for any scenes we need to shoot in the future.”
“Good,” Mr. Fambles said. “Because I don’t think I’ll ever loan this ring out again.”
“Are you coming, Claire?” Amy asked. “We can’t start without the star of our film.”
“I’m coming,” Claire said with a big smile. “Thanks for everything,” she said to the children. She hugged Violet, then Jessie, Henry, and Benny. “I don’t know what I would have done without your help. You have some wonderful grandchildren, Mr. Alden.”
“I know,” said Grandfather.
Grandfather and the Boxcar Children walked back toward the movie set.
“Well,” Henry said, “that mystery is solved.”
“There’s Antonio!” Jessie said.
“There you all are!” Antonio said. “Amy just told me what happened.”
“Yes,” Henry said. “The mystery is finally solved.”
“I have a surprise for you,” Antonio said, holding up a paper bag.
“We have one for you, too,” Violet said.
“You go first,” Antonio said.
Violet quickly found the picture they had taken at the wax museum.
“This is for you, Antonio,” Violet said shyly. “It’s something to remember us by.”
“Oh, thank you,” Antonio said. “Now it’s my turn to surprise you.” He took an eggcarton filled with cascarones out of the bag he was carrying. “This is what we do with a cascarone!” He quickly smashed the decorated eggshell on top of Henry’s head. Confetti spilled everywhere.
“Hey!” Henry said, laughing. “So that’s why you fill them with confetti.”
“That’s right,” Antonio said. “I guess you could say it’s a smashing custom we have here in Texas.”
“It sure is,” Henry said, his head covered with confetti. Everyone laughed as Henry broke into a run, chasing Antonio across Alamo Square. |