Sarahâs research project with her.â
âOh, sorry,â Jessie said, looking flustered.
âUh, we were just leaving,â Henry muttered.
âWhy is he always so rude to us?â asked Benny as the Aldens hurried down Jasper Lane.
âI guess he doesnât like to be interrupted when heâs talking to a student,â said Jessie.
âLetâs not think about him,â said Violet. She stopped in the middle of the street and pointed to a run-down house with yellow shutters. âThis is number 42.â
âThis house is not in very good shape,â Benny whispered as he climbed the sagging porch steps.
âNo, itâs not,â agreed Jessie. The paint was peeling. The shutters hung crookedly from their hinges. The doorbell wasnât working.
âKnock loudly,â Jessie suggested to Henry.
A tall, thin man with long red hair answered the door. He looked like he was in his early thirties.
âCould we speak to Adam Tormala, please?â asked Henry.
âYouâre speaking to him,â the man said gruffly.
âReally? Youâre Adam Tormala?â Henry asked. Adam did not look at all the way Sam had described him.
âIsnât that what I just said?â Adam shivered a little in the cold, but he did not invite the Aldens inside. âWhat do you need to speak to me about?â
âYou sold a ring that belongs to our family,â Benny blurted out.
âWhat?â Now it was Adamâs turn to look surprised. âWhat are you accusing me of?â
âYou see,â Henry began, âweâre relatives of Sophie Taylor, and weâre staying in her house right now.â
The man nodded. âYes, I heard you people were going to sell that old place. I knew Sophie Taylor.â He seemed a little less gruff now that he knew who the Aldens were.
âWould you like to come inside? Iâm getting cold talking to you in the doorway.â Adam held the door open wider.
The Aldens followed Adam through a small entryway and into the living room. Everywhere they looked, books and files were stacked against the wall. Adam did not own much furniture. The only two chairs in the living room looked like they would fall apart if anyone sat on them. Henry and Jessie sat on the lumpy couch. Violet and Benny sat on the wooden floor.
They told Adam about finding Emilyâs diary, about the clues she had left, and about the ring â the very same ring they had just seen in the pawnshop.
âIâm telling you, I donât know anything about your ring,â Adam said.
âWere you in Samâs Pawnshop recently?â asked Henry.
âWell, yes, but I was in there pawning some of my furniture. You see, Iâm trying to raise enough money to pay next semesterâs tuition. I hope to graduate this spring with my degree in history,â Adam said.
âHistory,â said Violet. âDo you know Professor Schmidt?â
Adam nodded. âYes, I know him. Heâs my adviser. I sometimes do research for him.â
âHeâs one of the tenants in our house,â Benny said.
âI know,â said Adam. âIâve been up there to deliver some of my papers to him.â
âOh, so youâve been in the house,â said Henry.
Adam leaned forward and frowned. âYes, Iâve been in the Taylor mansion. Most people in Brockton have, especially the ones who are interested in local history. That doesnât mean anything. How do you know the ring in the pawnshop is really Emilyâs?â Adam asked.
âThereâs a picture of it in the diary. The ring in the pawnshop looks exactly like it,â Henry answered.
âWell,â said Adam, âI was not the one who pawned it. Maybe you children should check your facts better. Sam has written records of whatever he buys.â
âIâm pretty sure he was checking his records when he gave us your address,â said
Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, Karin Tabke