“And she was acting strange when we were in her shop,” agreed Jessie.
“Coral has a nice smile,” said Benny. “I like her.”
“But everyone is a suspect, Benny,”
Henry said firmly. “Coral did seem to know about the quilts in the attic.”
“Maybe Mr. Munsey told Dirk Grey, and he told Coral, and she’s the one who’s after the quilts!” said Jessie.
“It does seem like a stretch,” Jessie said. She sighed.
“We have suspects and clues, but nothing that puts them together,” Violet said.
“It’s like a quilt without a pattern,” said Benny.
“Exactly like that,” said Henry. “A crazy quilt mystery.”
CHAPTER 8
Hide-and-Seek
“We’ve only got a few more signs to take down and then we’ll be finished,” said Henry. He handed Jessie one of the yard sale posters they’d put up only a few days before.
“Good,” said Benny. “I’m tired.”
Just then, a familiar green van pulled up.
“I thought I’d find you somewhere around here,” Lina said, leaning out the van window. “I’m glad I caught you.”
“Hi,” said Benny.
“Is everything okay?” asked Jessie. “Did someone try to break in again?”
“No, nothing like that. Coral Weaver called and said she needed to talk to me about something important, something to do with the yard sale. I thought you might like to come along.”
“Yes,” said Henry instantly.
“We’ll get the rest of the signs later,” agreed Jessie, crumpling up the one she was holding and dropping it into the recycling can at the curb.
The Aldens jumped into the van and headed for Coral’s store. The door was propped open, and Coral called from inside the store as they walked up, “Come in, come in.”
Coral was perched on one of the store’s comfy chairs, focusing on a small square of quilted fabric in her lap.
“Are you making a quilt?” Violet asked politely.
“A quilted cover for a pillow,” Coral said. “To protect it and keep all of the feathers from leaking out. It’s a gift for a friend.”
“What a nice gift,” said Lina.
Coral looked up. “Yes,” she said. She set her quilting work to one side. She took a deep breath.
“I have something I think you should see,” Coral said quietly. She got up and went to the back of the shop. When she returned, she was holding the old basket she’d bought at the yard sale.
“The scrap basket,” said Jessie.
“That’s right,” Coral said. “But it had more than scraps in it.”
“Treasure!” said Benny hopefully.
“Of a sort,” said Coral.
She reached into the basket and brought out a few folded sheets of yellow paper.
“More letters?” Lina said, her voice going up in excitement.
“No,” said Coral. “Look.”
Carefully, she unfolded the fragile papers and spread them out on a nearby table. The papers were full of lines and drawings, notes and sketches.
“These papers were Hope’s,” Violet said. “Look, she signed her name in that corner.”
Lina looked bewildered. “What does all this mean?” she asked.
“It looks like… is it a quilting pattern?” Henry asked.
“Yes, a Wedding Ring quilt pattern,” said Coral. She pulled a book from the shelf by her chair and flipped it open. “Like this one.”
Lina was looking at Hope’s signature. “It’s dated,” she said. “This pattern has a date on it. It must be the pattern for Hope’s wedding quilt.”
“The missing quilt,” Violet said softly.
“I found it underneath the scraps, right after I got home,” said Coral. “I wanted to keep it. I thought how wonderful it would look hanging in my store, framed. But that would have been wrong. It belongs to you.”
Lina stared down at the pattern unfolded on the table in front of her. “Thank you,” she said.
They all stood silently for a minute, looking at the pattern. Then Lina spoke softly. “Everything but the quilt itself,” she said. “What happened to that quilt?”
A shadow fell across the open doorway. They all looked up. Dirk Grey was standing there.
“Hello,” he said. “Coral, I saw your door was open and thought you might like a sweet roll for breakfast. I’m just taking a quick walk to the bakery.”
Coral, sounding surprised and pleased, said, “How nice. But no, thank you, I’ve had breakfast.”
Dirk nodded and turned away.
“That was thoughtful of him,” said Coral. “When he first opened up his shop, he wasn’t very friendly, but he’s been coming around. I think he’s even beginning to like quilts. He’s been so much more pleasant since he quit his job at the museum and started working in his shop full-time.”
“Museum!” exclaimed Jessie.
“What museum?” asked Henry at almost the same time.
Looking startled, Coral said, “The State History Museum. Why?”
“Did he work on the quilt exhibits?” Violet asked.
“Oh, no,” Coral replied. “He worked in what I call the china department. But he quit last week.”
Henry said, “Will you excuse us for a minute, please? We’d like to catch up with Mr. Grey. We’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” said Lina. She was stroking the pattern as if it were an actual quilt.
As they hurried out of the shop, they heard Coral say, “So you think this was made into a wedding quilt?”
“Yes,” Lina answered. “Let me tell you the story.”
They didn’t hear the rest. They were running down the street after Dirk Grey. They caught up with him right outside the door of the coffee shop.
“Excuse me,” Jessie said breathlessly. “Excuse me, Mr. Grey?”
Dirk paused, raising his eyebrows. “Yes?” he said.
“Why did you tell us you didn’t know Mr. Munsey?” Henry asked. “You worked at the museum together.”
Dirk frowned. “So what if I did?”
“So you must have known him,” Jessie said.
“We can ask Mr. Munsey,” said Violet, “if you won’t tell us.”
That made Dirk Grey frown harder. “Okay,” he snapped. “I know Mr. Munsey.” He started to turn away.
“Why didn’t you tell us the truth?” Benny asked.
The bouncy man didn’t look quite so bouncy as he turned back to face them. “Because Mr. Munsey and I don’t get along,” he snapped. “We’re not friends. We don’t like each other.”
“Oh,” said Benny.
“Have you talked to Mr. Munsey lately?” asked Jessie.
“No,” said Dirk Grey, “and if I’m lucky, I’ll never have to talk to him again. We had very different ideas about what a museum should exhibit. Okay?”
He spun around and walked into the coffee shop.
The Aldens didn’t try to follow.
“I think he’s telling the truth now, at least about not liking Mr. Munsey,” said Violet.
“Yes,” said Jessie. “And since Mr. Munsey and Mr. Grey don’t like each other, it’s not very likely that Mr. Munsey told him about the quilts.”
“Well, I’m sure he was looking for Lina’s quilts that day at the yard sale,” said Violet, “even though I don’t think he knows very much about them.”
“It’s enough that he knows they’re valuable,” Henry said. “Coral said he only stopped working at the museum last week. Maybe he overheard something before he left.”
Jessie nodded. “Yes,” she said slowly.
“Well, it’s not Coral,” said Violet as they walked back to the shop. “We know why she was acting so strangely when we visited her. It was because she’d just found the old quilt pattern and wasn’t sure what to do.”
“That leaves Dirk Grey, Regina Lott, and Mr. Munsey,” said Henry.
“And the hidden treasure,” Benny a
dded.
When the Aldens entered the shop, Lina was getting ready to leave. “Thank you again,” she told Coral.
Coral nodded. “I’m glad to give you another part of your great-great-aunt’s story — even if I did have to give up that quilt pattern.” She picked up her quilting and waved them toward the door. “I’d better get to work on this pillow cover if I ever want to finish it,” she said, and waved them out the door.
“Well, you’ve certainly helped me solve a mystery,” said Lina.
“We have?” asked Violet.
“Yes! I know what kind of wedding quilt Aunt Hope made. I know it had lots of green in it, to match her eyes. I even have the pattern for it,” said Lina. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have any of that.”
The Aldens were glad that they had helped Lina. But they knew the biggest mystery was yet to be solved.
“Let’s have some tea and cookies at my house to celebrate,” Lina went on.
“Okay,” said Benny promptly.
But the tea and cookies would have to wait. When they reached Lina’s house, two cars were parked out front.
“That’s Regina’s car,” said Jessie.
“And that’s Mr. Munsey on the porch,” said Benny.
“Regina’s on the porch, too,” reported Henry. “It looks like they’re arguing.”
The Aldens and Lina hopped out of the van and walked to the house.
“Why are you here?” Jessie blurted out.
“I drove up and saw this person snooping around the house. I thought she might be a burglar,” stated Mr. Munsey. “You’ve told a reporter about the quilts?”
“We didn’t tell her!” Benny said.
“Then who did?” demanded Mr. Munsey. “The more people who know about the quilts, the less safe it is for you to keep them in an old trunk in the attic!”
“But…” Benny began. He stopped when Violet squeezed his arm. He looked up and she put her finger to her lips. “Oh,” said Benny. He knew Violet was reminding him that where they’d hidden the quilts was a secret.
“I’m a reporter. I find things out. It’s my job,” Regina said. She glanced at Lina. “And I had an appointment with Lina.”
“No, you didn’t,” Lina said. “Not today. I told you to call first.”
“So what?” Regina hissed.
Mr. Munsey said, “It’s a good thing I decided to stop by here on my way home from the airport. Things are getting out of hand.”
“The airport?” Jessie asked.
“I’ve been at a conference in Canada,” said Mr. Munsey.
“When? When were you at the conference, I mean?” asked Jessie.
“Since last week. I left for it a couple of hours after I came here,” Mr. Munsey said impatiently.
“Did you see Dirk Grey before you left?” asked Henry.
Regina had gotten quiet and was listening intently.
“Dirk Grey! You haven’t told him about the quilts, have you?” Mr. Munsey said.
“We didn’t tell him, but we think he knows,” said Jessie.
“Worse than telling a reporter,” Mr. Munsey muttered.
Regina’s face had suddenly turned red.
“Oh, dear,” Mr. Munsey went on. “Dirk Grey. That spy. He must have overheard someone at the museum. Oh, dear.”
“You worked at the museum, too?” Regina asked.
“I’m an expert on textiles. I specialize in quilts,” said Mr. Munsey. “Oh, dear.”
“You’re a quilt expert?” asked Regina, holding out her microphone. “And in your expert opinion, are the quilts extremely valuable?”
That seemed to shake Mr. Munsey out of his mood. He gave Regina a cold look. He turned to Lina. “I’m going,” he said. “But I’ll be back.”
Mr. Munsey marched to his car and drove away.
“Okay, time for my story,” said Regina.
“Not now,” said Lina.
Regina’s sharp eyes focused on the large envelope Lina was clutching. Coral had put the quilt pattern in there for safekeeping.
“What’s that? More letters?” Regina asked.
“Not now,” said Lina, unlocking the door.
“But…” Regina said.
The Aldens followed Lina inside. Lina closed the door.
“Tomorrow,” Regina shouted from the porch.
After a long wait, they heard her car drive away.
“Tea,” said Lina, sounding a little tired. “And cookies.”
“Yes,” Benny agreed. “Cookies.”
CHAPTER 9
A Quilt Trap
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 p
lan.
“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.”