The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar by Martha Freeman Read Free Book Online

answering. “You see, the Hope Diamond is worth two things at once: everything and nothing.”
    â€œHuh?” said Tessa.
    Mr. Rubio explained. “Looked at one way, the Hope Diamond is worth so much money it can’t even be calculated. There is not another like it in the universe! But looked at another, it’s worth nothing. That’s because it’s so famous, it couldn’t possibly be sold. Any buyer would recognize it and know it had been stolen.”
    I thought of something. “Is El Brillante the same amount famous?”
    â€œThe diamond that disappeared in a certain nearby nation?” said Mr. Rubio. “I would say so, yes.”
    â€œSo same thing,” I said. “No one could sell it. And if that’s true—why would anybody steal it?”
    Mr. Rubio shrugged and shook his head. “That’s one question I can’t answer.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    THAT night it was Dad who came in to give us our kisses.
    â€œWhere’s Mom?” Tessa asked.
    â€œShe’s sorry, girls,” Dad said. “Something came up.”
    â€œSomething more important than us?” Tessa said.
    â€œNothing’s more important than you,” Dad said. “But some things are more urgent.”
    â€œHmmph,” said Tessa. “Hey—did you hear Cammie got a
letter
? From Paul
So-o-o-ong
.”
    â€œAren’t there any secrets in this house?” I said.
    Dad smiled. “What did the letter say? Or don’t you want to tell?”
    â€œI’ll tell!” Tessa said. “He can’t even spell, and besides that—”
    Dad held up his hand. “All right, Tessa. Cammie’s entitled to some privacy. But, uh, sweetie . . . do you think you’ll write him back?”
    â€œMaybe,” I said. “But not right away. Tessa and I have a mystery to solve.”

    Tessa woke me before I knew I was asleep.
    She was bouncing on my bed. “
Cammie!
”
    â€œGo away.”
    â€œNo,
seriously!
I thought of something! We have to do some detecting!”
    I didn’t want to, but I opened my eyes. It was still dark. “What time is it?”
    Tessa didn’t answer, just pulled me out of bed. A weird dream had woken her. In it, Hooligan’s diamond collar was on display in the Hope Diamond’s case. Mr. Rubio was there, and he wrote on the foggy glass with his finger: “Are they real?”
    â€œDo you get it, Cammie?” Tessa asked.
    I shook my head to clear the sleep out. Then . . . “Oh—you mean the breath test? You want to do it on Hooligan’s collar!”
    I had to give Tessa credit. Why hadn’t I thought of that?
    Without another word, we tiptoed out of our room and down the hall. Hooligan’s own bedroom is next to the elevator. It’s a room some first ladies have used for doing hair and makeup, but a long time ago a president’s dog named Millie had her puppies here. Now it’s where Hooligan goes to bed in his crate.
    Tessa whispered, “You block him in, and I’ll get the collar.”
    Hooligan’s crate has a black wire gate at the front. I crouched down, unlatched it and pulled it partway open. Tessa slid her hand in to unbuckle the collar. All the time my heart was pounding.
    â€œGot it!” Tessa whispered.
    Hooligan snuffled and shifted, and I thought my heart would stop. We weren’t doing anything wrong, but if he woke up, he’d wake the whole house.
    Back in our room, I breathed again. Then I turned on the lamp. In the light, the collar seemed extra sparkly, and I couldn’t help wondering how much it would be worth if the diamonds were real. Was I holding millions of dollars?
    â€œYour breath or mine?” Tessa asked.
    â€œIt was your idea,” I said.
    Tessa made her mouth into an
O
.
    â€œWait a sec,” I said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIf it’s real, we’re gonna want to scream,