儿童英语读物 The Mystery at the Crooked House CHAPTER 9 Partners in Crime

“Maybe Mrs. McGregor decided 1 to put the note somewhere else,” suggested Violet. “You know, for safekeeping. We can ask when she gets home.”



Henry agreed. “I guess we shouldn’t suspect people until we’re certain it was actually stolen.”



“And no matter what,” declared Benny, “I’m not going to fall asleep by the fire tonight!” This was immediately followed by a huge yawn.



Violet smiled at her younger brother. “I have an idea. Why don’t we all go outside and hang the cranberry 2 and popcorn 3 strings 4 for the birds? The fresh air will keep us awake!”



Benny didn’t need to be coaxed 5. They quickly bundled up and went outside.



“What’s the matter, Benny?” asked Jessie, when she heard her younger brother’s sigh.



Benny was standing 6 in the middle of the front yard with his hands on his hips 7. “Our crooked 8 snowman looks lonely out here in the dark.”



“I know just the thing!” replied Violet. And she proceeded to tie a string of cranberries 9 around the neck of the snowman.



Benny grinned. “Now he looks as if he doesn’t have a care in the world!”



“Our snowman doesn’t have a care in the world,” agreed Henry. “He knows it won’t be long before the birds arrive. Then he’ll have lots of company.”



They were busy looping a string of popcorn around a fir tree when a car pulled into Madeline’s driveway.



“I bet that’s Mrs. McGregor!” Benny stepped out from the shadows. Then he quickly jumped back again, shaking his head. “It’s Nola Rawlings.”



Madeline’s houseguest was so unfriendly, the Aldens preferred to keep out of her way. They were surprised when Nola got out of her car and headed straight for the Spencers’ house without noticing the children in the shadows behind the fir tree.



“What’s she doing?” Benny whispered.



Violet shrugged 10. “I don’t know.”



They watched as Nola knocked on the door. The children didn’t mean to eavesdrop 11, but they were standing very close to the Spencers’ house. They couldn’t help overhearing bits and pieces of the conversation.



Nick looked surprised when he opened the door. “What are you doing here?”



Nola didn’t answer right away. She was too busy glancing nervously 12 over her shoulder. When she turned to face Nick, her back was to the Aldens. They couldn’t make out what she said. But then Nick nodded and replied, “Sure thing. After all, we are partners in crime.”



Jessie and Benny looked at each other, horrified 13.



“Did you hear that?” Benny gasped 14, forgetting to lower his voice.



Violet put a finger to her lips. But it was too late. Nola had already whirled around. The children stood perfectly 15 still, holding their breath. Then Nick said, “Come on in, Rebecca.”



Benny’s big eyes got even bigger. Had Nick just referred to Nola as Rebecca?



The moment the door closed, Violet grabbed Benny’s hand, and the Aldens raced across the yard to the Crooked House.



As they sat by the fire, they discussed everything they’d overheard.



“She’s just pretending to be Nola Rawlings!” said Benny. “Her real name is Rebecca!”



Violet nodded. “Rebecca Flagg. That was the name on the book I found. The one about Amelia Quigley Adams.”



“That means Nick isn’t the nice person we thought he was,” Jessie said sadly. She could hardly believe that Nick was anybody’s partner in crime.



Violet was frowning. “What I can’t figure out is why Nola—I mean, Rebecca—was reading all about Amelia Quigley Adams.”



“And why did she make such a secret of it?” demanded Benny.



Violet said in a quiet voice, “It’s the oddest thing.”



Henry had been thinking. “Unless ...”



“Unless what, Henry?” Jessie wanted to know.



It took Henry a few moments to answer. “Unless the Mystery Lady wasn’t tricking Mrs. McGregor, after all,” he finally said. “Maybe Amelia Quigley Adams really did sign that mystery book.”



Benny said, “But Jessie said the handwriting was just like the Mystery Lady’s!”



“What if it looks the same because—” began Henry.



Jessie’s eyes widened as she caught Henry’s meaning. She finished her brother’s sentence for him. “Because the Mystery Lady was none other than Amelia Quigley Adams herself!”



“You think the famous author hid the treasure?” asked Benny in amazement 16.



Henry nodded. “And I’m almost certain that Rebecca Flagg and Nick Spencer are looking for it, too!”



They all thought Henry might be right. “That would explain Rebecca Flagg’s interest in Amelia Quigley Adams,” admitted Violet.



“But we can’t be sure that the Mystery Lady really was Amelia Quigley Adams,” Benny pointed 17 out.



Henry couldn’t argue. “Mrs. McGregor just has the one photograph of the Mystery Lady,” he said. “And her face is hidden under that big hat.”



Jessie stared at Henry. Then her mouth dropped open.



“What’s wrong?” Violet asked her sister.



Jessie spoke 18 up. “A hat gives shade from the sun!”



“And it hangs on a tree,” added Violet in surprise. “A hat tree!”



Benny almost shouted with excitement, “Then the answer to the riddle 19 is ...”



“A hat!” the Aldens all cried out at once.



“Of course!” said Henry. “Mrs. McGregor told us that the Mystery Lady never went anywhere without a hat to keep her face shaded from the sun!”



“That’s true,” observed Jessie. “And remember what else Mrs. McGregor said? Her hat was packed away in its hatbox and taken up to the attic 20!”



“What are we waiting for?” cried Benny. “Let’s go up and take a look!”



So once again, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny climbed the creaky stairs to the cold, dark attic. It took them a while, but they finally found the hatbox tucked away behind a standing mirror. Inside was the same wide-brimmed hat that the Mystery Lady had been wearing in the photo. Except for the hat, though, there was absolutely nothing else in the box.



“I don’t get it,” said Benny. “An old straw hat isn’t much of a treasure!”



“But the riddles 21 have led us right here,” Jessie pointed out.



“What do we do now?” asked Violet.



Henry shrugged. “It’s a mystery, that’s for sure!”