Mystery on the Ice (7 page)

Mr. Murray studied the gems. “These
are
our jewels,” he announced. “Each one has been removed from its setting and put into a clasp that holds buttons, then sewn onto the costume.”

Benny’s mouth formed a big O. “You mean the jewels were in plain sight all the time — the buttons are the jewels!”

“That’s right,” Alex said. “Violet thought it was strange that Marcia was so careful of her costume, checking the stones to be certain they were secure.”

“When I saw Marcia without her crutches,” Violet said, “and then saw her study her costume, I became suspicious.” She glanced at Marcia. “You see, I was sewing in a corner in the back when you came into the dressing room today and leaned your crutches against the wall.”

Marcia’s expression was grim. “So you saw me walk and look at my costume.” She shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I’m a thief!”

“Don’t forget you used green ink!” Benny shouted. “That was another clue!”

“Yes,” Alex said, smiling. “But I wrote in green ink, too! And so did Ollie.”

“I knew you couldn’t steal anything!” Benny answered.

“Green ink?” Marcia repeated. “What are you talking about?”

Henry pulled papers from his pocket. “You used green ink on this map and also on the newspaper article.” He put a hand on Benny’s shoulder. “When Benny got your autograph, he realized that you and Alex and Ollie had pens with green ink.”

Sighing, Marcia dropped into a chair.

“We decided to play a trick on you,” Alex said.

Marcia stared at Alex. “Do you mean your costume wasn’t torn?”

“Not even a little,” Alex replied. “But we needed to look at yours. We suspected you’d sewn on the real jewels.”

The man in black stepped forward, smoothing his mustache. He cleared his throat and spoke in a deep voice: “Marcia Westerly, you’ve not only stolen Mrs. Murray’s jewels, but also robbed homes in Albany, Philadelphia, and Pittsburg!”

“Who are you?” Benny asked, surprised the man knew so much.

Janet O’Shea spoke up. “This is Adam Hooper, a detective I hired.”

Suddenly two policemen squeezed into the room.

“This is the thief!” Adam Hooper announced, pointing at Marcia. “We’re waiting for her explanation.”

“I’m Officer Mylansky,” the bigger of the two men said, “and this is my partner, Officer Greene.” He flipped open a notepad. “Who found the jewels?”

Adam Hooper sheepishly turned to the Aldens. “I can’t take credit. The Aldens pieced together the whole thing.”

Marcia’s mouth became a thin line, and she said in a cold tone, “Yes, the clever Aldens! If it hadn’t been for them, I’d have been on a plane tomorrow, and no one would have been the wiser. I’ve always wanted to have money. I was going to sell the jewels when I got out of this town.” She added bitterly, “The blizzard was against me, too! Snow closed the airport, or I would have left town the day after the robbery!”

“Did you really burglarize homes in those other cities?” Henry asked, disbelief on his face.

“Yes, I did!’ Marcia stood up, facing her accusers. “It was easy. My crutches gave me the perfect excuse.” She paused, glancing at the waiting officers. “The Murrays’ house was going to be my last robbery with the troupe. I knew I couldn’t stay on crutches forever!”

“No, you couldn’t!” Janet exclaimed. I was beginning to wonder when you were
ever
going to put on a pair of skates! To think I hired you!”

“I wondered about you, too, Marcia,” Jessie said, “when you didn’t know a simple skating term or who Valentina Markov was!”

Marcia gave a bitter laugh. “I guess I gave myself away in more ways than one!”

“Come along, Miss,” Officer Greene said, leading Marcia out of the room.

Mrs. Murray clutched the green dress, examining each gem. “Every diamond and ruby has been fastened on this dress.” Tears filled her eyes. “How can I thank everyone!”

For a moment all that was heard was the police siren fading into the distance, then Benny spoke up, “You could buy the rest of our cookies!”

Mr. Murray put his arm around his wife. “We will, we will!” he promised, laughing.

“And we’ll put on the best ice show you’ve ever seen!” said Carl. He touched Alex’s hand, and she smiled at him. “I’ll be ready in five minutes,” she said.

All at once, Janet O’Shea waved a paper overhead. “I have more good news! The tickets to our five Cincinnati performances are completely sold out!” She smiled. “It looks as if all my skaters will be paid, and get bonuses, too!”

Benny tilted his head. “It’s the first time I ever saw you smile, Miss O’Shea.”

Janet O’Shea chuckled. “I haven’t had much to smile about! I think, though, sunny skies are ahead!”

“Good!” Benny said. “Then you can smile all the time.”

Everyone laughed, and, except for the skaters, they hurried to take their seats for the performance.

Bugles blared. The arena darkened, then one spotlight shone. Ollie Olsen came careening out on the ice on his stomach, sliding across the rink.

Benny laughed the hardest at Ollie’s funny routine. The clown stumbled around the rink, stopping in front of Benny and doffing his hat. He shook his head from side to side, which caused his orange wig to slip over one eye. He pulled a fuzzy rabbit from his sleeve, then presented it to Benny.

Benny’s eyes shone. “Thank you!” he said, hugging the rabbit.

Ollie, plopping his hat back on, teetered back and forth. With a bow so low his round false nose touched the ice, he whirled about, tripping and tottering offstage.

Soft music played and the spotlight moved to a couple skimming around the rink. Alex and Carl, in red, glittering costumes, skated out to the middle. They did double and triple jumps, and when Carl lifted Alex high overhead, Jessie clapped the loudest. “Aren’t they wonderful?” she said to Henry.

“The best,” he replied.

More skaters came out. With the colored lights, music, and costumes, the show was one of the most beautiful sights the Aldens had ever seen. The performers’ intricate footwork and spins were breathtaking.

“I want to be an ice skater when I grow up!” Benny exclaimed.

Violet smiled. “Maybe you will, Benny. Maybe you will.”

Jessie and Henry smiled, too, knowing Benny would change his mind many times before he grew up.

On the way home, the children sat quietly in the car, enjoying the way the moonlight sparkled on the white snow.

In his pajamas, Henry touched his toes twenty-five times. It had been a busy day. A thief had been caught, the jewels had been returned to Mrs. Murray, and they’d seen an ice show more spectacular than any they’d ever imagined. Tomorrow, they’d meet Soo Lee. He switched off the light and climbed into bed. What could be better?

As the Aldens ate their breakfast, they admired the gifts they’d chosen for Soo Lee. Henry had bought a lovely illustrated Cinderella book; Violet, a doll dressed in a denim skirt and plaid blouse; Jessie, a soft teddy bear; and Benny, a bright red fire engine.

“Could I have another piece of toast?” Benny asked. “It’s a long way to the airport.”

“Sure,” Henry said, popping a slice in the toaster.

Grandfather pushed back his chair. “I’m proud of each of you for solving the Murrays’ robbery. Sara is very happy. Your ideas worked!”

“The green-ink idea was mine,” Benny said, heaping a tablespoon of jam on his toast.

“I won’t forget,” Grandfather said with a chuckle. He glanced at his watch. “We’d better leave for the airport. The Starlight Troupe will be leaving soon, and I know you want to say good-bye.”

Jessie jumped up. “I don’t want to miss Alex!”

Benny said, “I don’t want to see the ice skaters leave.”

“None of us do,” Jessie said softly.

“I’m sure they’ll come back,” Henry said in a reassuring tone.

Benny brightened again. “Really?”

“Really,” Jessie said. “And if they don’t, I’ll bet Grandfather will take us to a city where they’re performing!”

“Yes, Grandfather would do that, wouldn’t he,” Benny said, putting on his jacket. He felt better.

When they arrived at the airport, Alex and Carl rushed to meet them. “We were afraid you wouldn’t get here on time,” Carl said. He raised Benny high in the air.

Benny shouted with delight.

Alex turned to Jessie. “Will you write to me? I want to hear how your skating lessons are going.”

“Of course,” Jessie said, trying to swallow away the lump in her throat.

Alex hugged Jessie and Violet. She looked at Henry, reaching for his hands, and hugged him, too.

Henry’s ears reddened, but he smiled with pleasure.

Alex turned to Benny, but before she could hug him, he stuck out his hand. “Good-bye, Alex,” he said. “I don’t like mushy stuff.”

Alex smiled, gravely shaking his hand.

Janet O’Shea motioned to her skaters. “Hurry! They’ve called our flight. Ollie and the others are already on the plane.” With a wave, she hurried away.

Carl’s voice was firm. “We’ll never forget the Aldens!” He spun about, grabbing Alex’s hand. They disappeared down the ramp to the plane.

With sadness, Jessie watched the Starlight Troupe’s plane taxi down the runway, then lift into the air. But as soon as their plane was out of sight, another plane circled the airfield, then landed.

“Joe and Alice are on that plane!” Henry exclaimed.

“And Soo Lee!” Benny shouted.

At the gate, the Aldens watched eagerly as the passengers emerged. All at once, Joe and Alice came down the passageway holding the hands of a small Korean girl.

“Over here!” shouted Henry.

Joe and Alice hurried toward them.

They hugged each of the Aldens, then, smiling, said, “This is our daughter.”

Soo Lee’s big dark eyes were solemn as she gazed at the Aldens.

“Hi, Soo Lee,” Jessie said, bending over. “Did you have a good trip?”

“Yes, thank you,” Soo Lee said. She gave Jessie a shy smile.

“Let’s get your bags,” James Alden said. “I have the station wagon, and we’ll stop at our house for hot chocolate.”

“We’d have been here two days ago,” Alice said, “except for the blizzard.”

“Yes, but the blizzard helped us catch a thief,” Benny piped up.

Joe gave Benny a sharp look. “A thief?”

“We’ll tell you the whole story,” Henry said, “in the car.”

When James Alden pulled into the driveway, everyone piled out.

Joe said, “What an adventure you had, Benny!”

“It was exciting!” Benny exclaimed, “but I’m glad we found out who robbed the Murrays, and I’m really glad you’re home!”

“So are we!” Alice said emphatically. “It was a long trip.”

Over hot chocolate and cookies, Joe told of their wait in Seoul, Korea, for Soo Lee.

“You should have seen the papers we signed,” Alice said, shaking her head. She reached over and put her hand over Soo Lee’s. “But it was worth it.”

Benny, sitting next to Soo Lee, turned to her and said, “Do you play Monopoly?”

“No, but thank you.”

“I don’t think Soo Lee knows what Monopoly is,” Joe said.

“Is it food?” Soo Lee asked.

“Monopoly is a game,” Benny said with an encouraging smile. “I’ll teach you.”

Soo Lee smiled and her dark eyes shone. “Good. I would like that.”

“She learns fast,” Joe warned. “She’ll beat you soon.”

Jessie presented Soo Lee with a package. Opening the box, Soo Lee smiled. She held the teddy bear tightly in her arms.

Henry and Violet gave her their gifts. “For me?” Soo Lee pointed at herself.

“Yes,” Grandfather said. “The children wanted to make your homecoming special.”

Soo Lee admired the doll and the book. When she opened the fire truck Benny had given her, her smile broadened. “I like this,” she said, getting off the chair and rolling the truck back and forth on the carpet.

“I’m glad you like it,” Benny said. He laughed when Soo Lee pushed a button and the fire truck’s siren went off. “We’re going to have lots of fun together,” he said.

Jessie, Henry, and Violet thought so, too.

G
ERTRUDE
C
HANDLER
W
ARNER
discovered when she was teaching that many readers who like an exciting story could find no books that were both easy and fun to read. She decided to try to meet this need, and her first book,
The Boxcar Children,
quickly proved she had succeeded.

Miss Warner drew on her own experiences to write the mystery. As a child she spent hours watching trains go by on the tracks opposite her family home. She often dreamed about what it would be like to set up housekeeping in a caboose or freight car — the situation the Alden children find themselves in.

When Miss Warner received requests for more adventures involving Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden, she began additional stories. In each, she chose a special setting and introduced unusual or eccentric characters who liked the unpredictable.

While the mystery element is central to each of Miss Warner’s books, she never thought of them as strictly juvenile mysteries. She liked to stress the Aldens’ independence and resourcefulness and their solid New England devotion to using up and making do. The Aldens go about most of their adventures with as little adult supervision as possible — something else that delights young readers.