The Aldens sat on their front porch after dinner, talking softly. Watch was curled on a pillow, and Benny petted him as they talked.
“Mr. Munsey has been away,” said Jessie. “He couldn’t have tried to break into the house. And he didn’t tell Dirk Grey or Regina Lott or Coral about the quilts — not unless he’s a very good actor and is just fooling us.”
“I don’t think he is,” said Violet.
“If it’s not Mr. Munsey and not Coral,” said Henry, “that just leaves Mr. Grey.”
“He’s the best suspect,” said Jessie.
“Mr. Munsey thinks he could have overheard about the quilts at the museum,” said Benny.
“If Dirk Grey heard about the quilts,” said Henry slowly, “he must have told Coral and Regina.”
Violet was nodding. “I just remembered, Regina asked Mr. Munsey if he worked at the museum, too. Who else does she know who works at the museum?”
“Or worked at the museum,” said Henry.
They looked at one another.
“Dirk Grey,” said Jessie.
“Her face got very red when she heard his name,” Violet recalled.
“She must know him. He’s her source. He’s the one who tipped her off about the quilts,” said Jessie.
“So he’s definitely the one who tried to break in?” Benny asked.
“Maybe he is, Benny,” said Violet. “But why would he tell a reporter about the secret quilts he wanted to steal?”
“For that matter,” Jessie added, “why was Regina snooping around today when she knew Lina wasn’t home?”
“Regina has no reason to steal the quilts,” Henry said. “She just wants the story.”
“Stolen quilts would be an even better story,” said Jessie.
Benny was shaking his head in disbelief. “Why do so many people think old quilts are like treasure?”
They fell silent, thinking hard.
Benny kept petting Watch, who was sleepy after his big dinner.
“Watch’s pillow looks sort of like a quilt,” said Benny. “It’s covered in patches.”
No one answered. They were still thinking hard.
“You know what, Watch?” Benny said.
Watch wagged his tail just a little bit to show he was listening.
“You need a quilt of your own,” said Benny, “to cover your old dog bed and keep in the stuffing. A new patchwork quilt to cover the old patchwork quilt.” Benny laughed.
Violet looked up. She stared at Benny, then at Watch.
“What?” said Benny.
Violet said, “Benny… that might explain it!”
“Explain what?” said Henry.
“Explain where the hidden treasure is — where Hope hid her wedding quilt,” Violet said.
Jessie looked up, excitement in her face. “A quilt to cover a quilt,” she said.
“Like the quilt cover that Coral was making to cover the pillow,” Henry said, catching on. “Hope made a new quilt and hid her wedding quilt inside!”
“She did?” said Benny.
Violet jumped to her feet. “Well, if she did, we’ve found the most valuable quilt of all, Benny,” said Violet.
Now Jessie jumped to her feet. “And I think I’ve thought of a way to catch a quilt thief,” she added.
“How?” Benny said.
“We’ll need Coral’s help,” said Jessie. “Listen.”
She told them her plan.
“Those are good stitches, Benny,” Coral said. “You’re really getting the hang of this.” Coral was giving the Aldens a quilting lesson — and helping them set a trap to catch a thief.
Customers came into the shop as they worked, and Coral answered questions, sold sewing and quilting materials, and gave people advice. Meanwhile, the Aldens sewed and waited for their chance to act on Jessie’s plan.
Then, near lunchtime, Henry glanced up at the open door of the shop and saw what he’d been waiting for. He quickly looked back down at his sewing and said, in a loud, clear voice, “I can’t believe those letters had the clue to where the treasure is hidden.”
“I know,” said Jessie, just as loudly. “It was right there in the attic at the bottom of that trunk.”
“And I’m so glad we found the wedding quilt — it’s the most valuable quilt of all,” added Henry.
Benny wiggled in his seat, trying not to look up or say anything that would give the trap away.
“Wait until Mr. Munsey hears about this,” Violet said.
“I just hope it’s safe to leave the trunk with the treasure and the wedding quilt there in Lina’s attic,” said Henry.
“Sure it is,” said Jessie. “It’s been safe there all these years, hasn’t it?”
Coral had been straightening a display of thread. Now she turned to the doorway and said, “Oh! Dirk! I didn’t see you standing there.”
Dirk Grey stepped into the shop. “Hello,” he said, bouncing slightly. “Making quilts?”
“Yes,” said Benny, glad to be able to say something at last. “It’s fun.”
“Yes. We’ve even convinced Lina to try it. She’s going to come over this afternoon to join us,” said Henry.
“And she’s bringing pizza!” Benny added.
“That’s nice,” said Dirk, edging out of the shop. “Well, I just wanted to say hello, Coral. See you later.”
“See you later, Dirk,” said Coral cheerfully.
When he was gone, Jessie let out a sigh. “I hope it works,” she said. “I hope so, too,” said Henry.
“Where’s the van?” Jessie said in a low voice as Lina joined them where they were waiting by the back wall of her house.
“I parked it at your house,” Lina answered, “then walked back using the shortcut.”
Lina and the four Aldens dashed through her backyard and in the back door of her house. Moving as quickly and quietly as possible, they hurried up the stairs to the attic.
“Good thing we didn’t clean out everything for the yard sale,” said Violet.
“Let’s hide,” Henry urged. “We may not have much time.”
The five of them scattered around the attic. Jessie stepped behind an old wardrobe. Benny slid behind a chair. Violet crouched beneath a desk. Henry pulled an old blanket over him and huddled in the darkest corner of the attic. Lina hid behind an old door propped against one wall.
Then they waited.
Before long they heard footsteps moving quickly but quietly up the stairs.
Benny held his breath and hoped he wouldn’t sneeze. He clamped two fingers over his nose, just in case.
The attic door swung open. Brisk, sure footsteps crossed the room. They were going straight for the trunk.
The lid of the quilt trunk creaked open. “What is this rag?” a voice muttered. “Where is the wedding quilt? And…”
Henry stood up. Lina stepped out from behind the door. At the same moment, Jessie, Benny, and Violet came out from their hiding places, too.
“May I help you find something?” Lina asked in a cool voice.
Regina Lott gave a small shriek as she jerked upright in surprise. She almost fell over backward. She took a few quick steps toward the door, then stopped when she saw that Henry was blocking the way.
“What — what are you doing here?” Regina stammered.
“Waiting for you,” said Jessie.
“You came to steal the treasure,” Benny couldn’t stop himself from blurting out.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Regina almost shouted.
“Yes, you do,” Violet said quietly.
“Your source told you we’d found the treasure and that it was still in this trunk. He also told you the house would be empty this afternoon,” said Henry.
“Mr. Grey,” said Benny. “He told you. We let him listen to us, and he believed us!”
Regina’s face turned dull red. For once, she seemed to have nothing to say.
“Mr. Grey is the one who told you about the quilts in the first place, isn’t he?” said Jessie.
“He — it was just a news tip,” said Regina. “We’re old friends.”
“A news tip — or was he trying to help you steal the quilts?” asked Violet.
“No!” gasped Regina.
“Yes,” said Henry. “And this isn’t the first time you’ve tried to take them.”
Regina’s face crumpled. “I just wanted to make it a better story,” she explained. “Just imagine the news hook: ‘Valuable Quilts Found — Then Stolen!’ I would have brought them back after I’d aired the story.”
“You sent Mr. Grey to look for the quilts while we were distracted with the yard sale,” said Violet. “But Henry and I caught him.”
Regina looked down. “That was his idea. He’d heard you might give the quilts to Mr. Munsey for the museum. Dirk hates Mr. Munsey, so he wanted to stop you.”
“But he never made it to the attic,” Violet finished. “He stopped to look at china along the way.”
Regina nodded her head.
“He must have called you yesterday right after he saw us in the shop, getting the pattern from Coral. That’s why you were here when we got back,” Henry said.
“You were going to try to sneak into the house while we were away, weren’t you?” Jessie asked. “But Mr. Munsey stopped you.”
“No, it wasn’t like that,” said Regina.
Lina spoke up. “I think it was exactly like that. You wanted a story — and a treasure. What were you going to do with the quilts?”
There was a long silence. Then Regina said quietly, “I wanted to sell them. They’re worth so much money. I didn’t think. I just acted. I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were. So was Mr. Grey,” said Benny.
Regina’s shoulders slumped. “What are you going to do to me?” she asked.
Lina stared at the reporter. Then she shook her head. “Just go,” she said. “You’ve lost your story. My quilts are safe. But if I hear of you doing anything like this again, I’m going to tell my story — about what you did — to another reporter. I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”
Regina cast one more look at the trunk. “I’m not a very good reporter, to fall for a trick like that, am I?” she said in a dull voice. “There’s no hidden treasure and no special wedding quilt, is there?”
“Time to go,” said Lina, standing aside and motioning toward the attic door. “I’ll show you the way out. And I’ll be speaking to Mr. Grey.”
Regina nodded in defeat. She walked slowly out of the attic. The Aldens listened to her plodding footsteps as she went downstairs with Lina.
A few minutes later, Lina returned. She sighed and sank onto an old stool. “The trick worked,” she said. “I didn’t think it would. I wonder what she thought when she saw that old hops quilt in the trunk.”
Violet leaned over to lift out the old quilt. She smoothed its worn surface.
“It’s not just an old hops quilt,” said Violet. “Let us show you something, Lina.” |