Finders Keepers Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.”
    “Maybe not, but it didn’t do any harm,” said Mr. Grey. He didn’t sound at all sorry.
    “You don’t know anyone named Edward Munsey, do you?” Jessie asked suddenly.
    “Munsey?” Mr. Grey repeated. His eyes shifted. Then he said, “Antique dealer?”
    “No,” said Jessie. “He works for the state museum.”
    “Ah. I thought the name sounded slightly familiar,” said Mr. Grey. “I have friends who own antique shops near that museum. That’s probably where I heard it.”
    The phone on Mr. Grey’s desk rang. He reached for it. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said to the Aldens. “Have a nice day.”
    There was nothing to do but leave.
    Henry, Jessie, Benny, and Violet headed for home. They didn’t pedal as fast this time. They didn’t have to hurry. They could talk as they rode their bikes.
    “I don’t like Mr. Grey,” said Benny.
    “He doesn’t seem very honest,” Henry agreed.
    “He admitted to sneaking into Lina’s house to look around,” Violet added.
    “But was he really looking for the quilts? I didn’t notice any quilts in his shop, just furniture and lots of china and glass,” Jessie said.
    “You’re right!” said Violet.
    “Maybe he was searching for the hidden treasure,” Benny said.
    “I think he does know who Mr. Munsey is,” Henry said. “I don’t think he told us the truth.”
    “Do you think Mr. Grey and Mr. Munsey could be working together? Mr. Grey could have been the one who tried to break in…” Jessie’s voice trailed off.
    “To get the quilts for Mr. Munsey,” Henry finished for her. “But how does Regina Lott fit in all this? How did she hear about the quilts and the treasure?”
    “And what is the treasure?” Benny added.
    “What about Coral?” asked Violet. “She’s a quilt expert, too, but she doesn’t know Mr. Munsey. Or at least she says she doesn’t.”
    “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