“Can you believe that?” Jessie said as they headed down the street. “Rilla acts like we’re doing something wrong.”
“She doesn’t want us hunting for the treasure,” Henry added as they stepped inside the diner. “That’s for sure.”
Violet nodded. “She’s afraid Abby won’t sell the resort if we find something valuable.”
Jessie nodded. “And that means Rilla would be runner-up again for the top sales award.”
As they settled into a booth, Benny said, “She was wondering if we gave up already. We never give up.”
“Rilla sure doesn’t know us very well.” Henry smiled over at his little brother.
Jessie passed out the menus. “Did you notice that Rilla called us gold hunters?”
“Hey, Max was talking about gold when he was on the phone!” Benny realized.
“Could just be a coincidence,” said Henry.
But Jessie wasn’t so sure. Her mind was racing. “Unless—”
“Unless what, Jessie?” Henry questioned.
“Unless Max and Rilla are working together.”
The others looked at Jessie in surprise. “You think it was Rilla on the other end of the line?” Violet asked.
“It’s possible.” Jessie nodded. “If Max finds the treasure first, he’ll make some quick cash, and—”
“And Abby would have no choice but to sell the resort!” Henry finished his sister’s sentence for her. “It would work out very well for both Rilla and Max,” he added.
Benny folded his arms, “That means there’s only one thing to do,” he said in a very serious voice. “Find the treasure first!”
“You’re right, Benny.” Jessie pulled the photograph of Patch O’Brien’s cats from her backpack. “But we won’t find it until we figure out what this photograph is trying to tell us.”
Just then, a young woman with a cheery smile came over to take their orders. “What’ll it be, kids?”
Henry chose a ham sandwich and lemonade. Violet and Jessie both ordered grilled cheese sandwiches, coleslaw, and milk. Benny decided on chicken nuggets, fries, and a root-beer float.
Jessie couldn’t help noticing that the waitress kept looking over at the photograph as she took their orders. Why was she so interested in a picture of seven cats curled up on a bench?
“That should do for starters,” said Benny, closing the menu.
The other Aldens looked at each other and smiled. They could always count on their little brother to have a big appetite.
The waitress gave Benny a wink. “Our chocolate cream pie is a big favorite around here.”
“Do we have enough money for dessert, Henry?” asked Benny.
“Are you sure you’ll have enough room?” Henry smiled as he waited for his younger brother’s answer, even though he knew what it would be.
“I always have room for dessert,” said Benny, who had a sweet tooth.
At this, the waitress couldn’t help laughing. She added chocolate cream pie to their order, then walked away.
As they waited for their food to arrive, the Aldens turned their attention to the photograph of Patch O’Brien’s cats.
“Just what are those cats trying to tell us?” Henry wondered. He was still convinced they were some kind of clue.
Benny had an opinion. “I think I know what they’re saying. They’re saying—meow!”
They all burst out laughing at Benny’s joke. “I have a feeling there’s more to it than that, Sherlock,” Henry said.
The four Aldens were quiet for a while as they peered long and hard at the photograph. There were seven cats altogether, and each one was different. One was black, one was charcoal-gray. One was small and honey-colored, one was big and brown. One had white-tipped ears, one had a striped tail. And there was one that was a big ball of orange fur.
“I don’t get it,” Violet said at last. “Do you?” She looked around at the others.
Benny shook his head. “I don’t see anything that looks like a clue.”
“I’ve drawn a blank, too,” Henry admitted. “This is going to be a tough one to figure out.”
Jessie agreed. “All we really know is that Patch loved cats.”
“He sure did.”
The children turned to see the waitress standing over them, looking at the photograph.
“I couldn’t help noticing,” she said as she placed their food on the table. “Aren’t those Patch O’Brien’s cats?”
“Yes,” Jessie said in surprise. “Did you know Patch O’Brien?”
“Everyone around here knew Patch,” said the waitress. “Real outdoorsy type. He stopped by the diner every now and again.” She laughed a little. “Always ordered a slab of apple pie and a cup of coffee. My name’s Tory, by the way. Short for Victoria.”
Jessie returned Tory’s friendly smile. “I’m Jessie, and this is Violet, Henry, and Benny.” She pointed to her sister and brothers in turn.
After saying hello, Tory went on, “When Patch died, I took in Chad and Coco.” She pointed to the photograph. “Chad’s the one with the white tips on his ears. And see the big brown one? That’s Coco.”
“Cute names for cats,” said Jessie.
Tory nodded. “My sister adopted Custard and Charlie. Custard’s the black one, and Charlie’s the one with the striped tail. Now, the gray cat—that’s Crumpet. The owner of the gas station took her in.”
“Chad, Coco, Custard, Charlie, and Crumpet.” Benny was counting on his fingers. “That makes five,” he pointed out. “What about the other two?” The others were wondering the same thing.
Tory thought for a moment. “I believe the orange cat and that little honey-colored one both went to a family on the edge of town.”
Benny had another question. “What were their names?” he asked. “The cats, I mean. Not the family.”
“Hmm, now just what were their names?” Tory was tapping a pen thoughtfully against her chin when a young couple came into the diner. As she hurried off, she called back to the Aldens, “Don’t worry, it’ll come to me. It’s on the tip of my tongue!”
Benny was just dipping his last french fry into ketchup when Tory came back. “Clem and Chelsey,” she said, looking pleased with herself. “Clem was the orange cat, and Chelsey was the honey-colored one.”
Violet giggled. She couldn’t help it. “They all have names beginning with the letter C.”
“We always thought it was strange.” Tory chuckled. “But the names are fun to say all together—Clem, Chelsey, Custard, Charlie, Coco, Chad, and Crumpet.”
“I wonder why Patch did that,” said Jessie. “Gave all his cats names beginning with the letter C, I mean.”
“Well, he always did like the sea,” Tory said, her eyes twinkling.
Everyone laughed—except Benny.
“I don’t get it,” he said, as the waitress walked away.
“Tory was making a joke,” Henry explained to his little brother. “Patch liked the kind of sea you go sailing on. Maybe that’s why he liked the letter C.”
“Oh,” said Benny, who still wasn’t sure what was so funny.
“Seven cats—all with names beginning with the letter C,” said Henry. He was deep in thought as he pushed the salt shaker around on the table.
Violet looked at him. “Do you think it means something, Henry?”
“I have the weirdest feeling that we’re close to figuring something out.” Henry paused for a moment to sort out his thoughts. “I just can’t quite put my finger on what it is.” |