儿童英语读物 The Cupcake Caper CHAPTER 9 Mystery Solved?

As soon as Mama Tova arrived at the tent with Grandfather, the Aldens told her what they had discovered. Together they walked over to the judging table.



“What are you doing here?” Mr. Kandinsky asked Mama Tova. “If you have changed your mind about selling your cupcake recipe, it’s too late.” He pointed 1 at the BakeMart judges who were talking amongst themselves in a corner. “My judges have tasted all the cupcakes and are going to announce a winner any minute now.”



“I have not changed my mind,” Mama Tova said, with her hands on her hips 2. “I am here on more important business.” She looked Mr. Kandinsky right in his eyes and said, “I am here to stop a thief. One of your contestants 4 wanted to win so badly that they tried to steal my family cupcake recipe.”



Benny came to stand next to Mama Tova, saying, “We tricked the thief. She thought she was stealing Mama Tova’s secret recipe, but it was really a fake.”



Mr. Kandinsky’s face changed. Now he looked worried. “I can’t have a thief win my contest,” he said. “Do you know who stole the recipe?”



“We do!” Benny told him. “Follow us.”



Henry led the way across the tent. His siblings 5, Grandfather, Mama Tova, and Mr. Kandinsky followed. They all stopped underneath 6 the Number Six sign.



Jessie stepped forward. “Gretchen,” she said. “We need to talk to you.”



Gretchen looked up at the group. She’d been talking to Contestant 3 Number Five and laughing about something. When she saw the group standing 7 in front of her, her grin turned to a frown. “What’s going on?” she asked.



“We know you stole Mama Tova’s recipe,” Henry said. He explained about the trap they’d set with the chili 8 powder recipe.



Gretchen was confused. “Yes, there’s chili powder in my recipe, but I didn’t steal anything from Mama Tova.” She held up her hand and vowed 9, “I swear.”



“I tasted your cupcake and it was spicy 10!” Benny told her. “We invented the recipe with chili powder in it and you used it.”



“It is obvious that your cupcakes were made from the fake recipe,” Mama Tova said.



“My recipe is your fake recipe?” Gretchen said slowly. Then, “Oh no!” Gretchen said, lightly touching 11 the letter A on the chain around her neck. “But I didn’t take it!” Gretchen said.



“Really?” Henry said, considering Gretchen’s statement. “You really didn’t take it?” he asked her.



“I didn’t,” Gretchen said. “I didn’t even know the recipe was stolen. I promise—I’m not a thief!”



“Then who is?” Mama Tova asked.



Before Gretchen could answer, Violet exclaimed, “I knew there was something funny about that necklace!” Her eyes grew big as the answer came clear.



Benny and Jessie suddenly understood, too.



“A … A … A …” Benny said, pointing at Gretchen’s neck.



Jessie announced, “The real thief’s name begins with the letter A.”