“What’s that, Henry?” asked Benny as he fell into step beside his brother.
“The clue must have something to do with the cats,” Henry reasoned.
“That makes sense,” Jessie said after a moment’s thought. “After all, there’s nothing else in the—”
Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted their conversation. When they looked over, they saw Max standing on his porch with his back to them. He was talking on a cell phone. The children couldn’t help overhearing bits and pieces of the conversation.
“No, no! It’s important to keep this hush-hush. I don’t want Abby to find out what I’m up to … I’m not sure. Maybe gold.”
The children looked at each other. They didn’t like the sound of this.
When Max turned and saw the Aldens, he looked startled as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. “Oh, hi there!” he said, quickly pocketing his cell phone. “I was just, um …” His voice trailed away. “Guess I’d better get back inside. Got something on the stove.” He was gone in a flash.
“What was that all about?” Jessie said, with a puzzled frown.
“I’m not sure,” said Henry. “But it sounds like Max is up to something.”
“He was talking about gold,” added Benny. “Do you think he’s after Patch O’Brien’s treasure, too?”
“We can’t be sure what Max was talking about,” Violet was quick to point out.
“That’s true,” said Henry. “I guess we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions.”
“One thing’s for sure,” said Benny. “Things are getting more and more mysterious!”
For the rest of the day, the Aldens puzzled over the photograph. But by the time they went to bed, they were still no closer to solving the mystery.
Around midnight, Violet awakened from a dream about Ogopogo. When she couldn’t get back to sleep, she slid out of bed. She made her way over to the window and peered out at the moonlit lake. Suddenly, she gasped.
“Jessie!” she cried. “Come quick.”
“What is it?” Jessie asked in a sleepy voice.
“Hurry!” Violet cried. “You’ve got to see this!”
Curious, Jessie threw back her covers and jumped out of bed. “See what?” she asked, coming up behind her sister.
“Look over there,” Violet said in a hushed voice. “By the dock.”
“I can’t see any—oh!”
Violet looked over at her sister. “You can see it, too, can’t you?”
Jessie nodded her head slowly, too astonished to speak.
CHAPTER 6
Who Goes There?
“That’s what I saw last night,” Benny told them, his eyes wide with excitement. “It’s Ogopogo, isn’t it?”
Violet and Jessie had woken up Benny and Henry. Now they were all peering out of the bedroom window at the strange creature swimming by the dock.
“I’m not sure what it is,” said Jessie.
Henry frowned. “It’s kind of weird that a monster would be in the same spot two nights in a row.”
“Do you think it’s more than a coincidence?” asked Violet.
Henry nodded. “A lot more!”
“It does seem suspicious,” said Jessie.
Henry headed for the door. “It’s time to find out what’s really out there on Okanagan Lake.”
“Ogopogo Lake!” insisted Benny.
“We’ll go with you, Henry,” said Violet. Jessie and Benny were quick to agree.
Henry slipped quietly out of the room. So did everyone else. Henry grabbed a flashlight from the kitchen, then led the way outside. Everything was quiet and still. The only sound was the chirping of the crickets.
After tiptoeing quietly down the creaky porch steps, they hurried past the line of cabins. With the flashlight beam sweeping across the path, they headed single file down through the trees to the beach. The Aldens peered out at the dark lake. There wasn’t a ripple. The strange creature had vanished.
Henry was about to say something when Benny grabbed his arm. The youngest Alden had seen something the others hadn’t.
“There’s somebody over there,” he whispered, pointing.
Sure enough, a shadowy figure was standing near the boat.
As Henry beamed his flashlight towards the dock, Benny called out, “Who’s there?”
Suddenly the figure was racing full-speed along the dock towards the water’s edge. The Aldens gave chase, but it was too late. Whoever it was quickly disappeared into the trees.
They headed back to the cabin. “I don’t understand it. Somebody’s going to a lot of trouble to make us think there’s a monster out there,” said Henry.
The children had gathered in the room that Jessie and Violet were sharing. “Are you cold, Benny?” Jessie asked.
Benny, who was sitting beside Jessie on the quilted bed, was shivering. “You don’t think there’s really a monster out there? Do you?”
“No, that wasn’t a monster, Benny.” Henry sounded very sure.
“But how come it looked just like Ogopogo?” Benny asked as Jessie pulled a pine needle from his hair.
“I don’t know how it’s being done,” Henry admitted. “But I’m certain it’s a hoax.”
Jessie agreed. “Somebody’s trying to fool us.”
“What I can’t figure out,” said Violet, perched on a trunk at the foot of the bed, “is why someone would want us to believe it was Ogopogo out there.”
“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling Adam set it up,” said Jessie. “This hoax, I mean.”
Violet looked over at her sister. “Why would he do something like that?”
“I think I know what Jessie’s getting at,” said Henry. “A report of an Ogopogo sighting always brings the tourists into town, remember?”
Violet nodded her head in understanding. “You think he’s hoping Abby won’t sell the resort if business picks up?”
“Could be,” said Jessie. “Max and Adam get a free cabin for the summer in exchange for giving boat tours. A new owner might not be willing to go along with that.”
“His whole attitude changed,” Jessie went on, “right after Abby said they needed a good Ogopogo sighting. Did you notice?”
Benny nodded. “He said he wasn’t feeling well and hurried away.”
“Exactly,” said Jessie. “And then on the boat ride, he was suddenly talking as if a monster really existed.”
“You know, Adam isn’t the only suspect,” said Violet. “I think we should add Rilla Washburn to our list.”
Benny looked confused. “But … Rilla wants Abby to sell. Doesn’t she?”
“Yes,” said Violet. “But that won’t happen if we find the treasure.”
“You think Rilla’s trying to distract us?” asked Henry. “Is that what you mean, Violet?”
“It’s possible,” said Violet. “Maybe she figures we’ll start hunting for Ogopogo and forget all about the treasure.”
“But Rilla doesn’t believe that Patch left a treasure,” Benny pointed out, looking even more confused.
“Maybe that’s just what she wants us to believe,” Henry said. He was leaning against the pine dresser, his arms folded. “Maybe she’s afraid the treasure might be worth enough to save the resort.”
Benny spoke up. “I know somebody we should put at the top of our list of suspects.”
“You’re thinking of Max, right?” guessed Jessie.
“I bet he’s the one trying to distract us,” Benny said, nodding. “He wants to beat us to the treasure.”
Jessie had to admit Benny had a point. “Max did say something about gold when he was talking on the phone.”
Violet frowned. “We want to be sure he was talking about the treasure.” She liked Max and couldn’t imagine him trying to take Abby’s treasure from her.
“Oh, Max is up to something, all right,” insisted Henry. “I’m just not sure it has anything to do with the treasure.”
“But it’s true, Henry,” said Benny, who wasn’t
about to let go of his idea. “Max wants the treasure for himself.”
“If we prove it, it’s true, Benny,” Jessie corrected. “Until then, it’s just a theory.”
Violet let out a sigh. “It’s hard to know who to trust.”
“I think we should watch them closely for a while,” suggested Henry. “Max, Adam, and Rilla.”
“But let’s keep a lid on this for now,” Jessie said with a yawn. “We’ll try to figure out a few things on our own.”
With that, they put the mystery out of their minds as they went back to bed and drifted off to sleep.
The four Alden children were up bright and early the next morning. Remembering their promise to Abby to paint the signs, they headed off to town right after breakfast.
“What do you think of purple for the lettering on the signs?” Violet asked as they browsed around the paint store.
“Sounds good,” said Jessie, who was looking at a color chart. “How about this one? It’s called Lavender Mist.”
“Plum Delight is really nice, too,” put in Violet. Purple was her favorite color, and she almost always wore something purple or violet. “There are so many colors, it’s hard to choose.”
It took awhile, but the four Aldens finally decided on Lavender Mist, Goldenrod Yellow, and Dragonfly Blue.
“Is it lunchtime yet?” Benny asked as they stood at the check-out.
Henry looked at his watch. “Close enough,” he said. “I noticed a diner on our way over here.”
No sooner had they stepped outside than Rilla Washburn came round the corner. She was wearing a green dress and matching earrings. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but when she caught sight of the Aldens, she slowed down.
“Well, if it isn’t the gold hunters,” she said, “or have you thrown in the towel already?”
Henry shook his head. “We don’t give up that easily.”
Rilla’s smile disappeared. “You’re wasting your time,” she said. “Look, I know what I’m talking about. There’s no treasure. End of story.”
“But we already figured out something,” Benny piped up. “Jessie, show Rilla the photograph of Patch’s cats in your backpack. There’s a clue hidden in the photograph of—” Just then, he noticed Jessie’s warning frown. He’d forgotten they weren’t supposed to talk about the mystery.
Rilla caught the look. “Oh, come now,” she said. “You can tell me about it. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“We have to go,” said Jessie, pointing to her watch. “Sorry.”
“You’re getting Abby’s hopes up for nothing with this little game of yours!” Rilla snapped at them.
This was too much for Jessie. “We’re trying to help,” she said, looking Rilla straight in the eye.
“Well, you’re not!” Rilla shot back, getting more annoyed by the minute. “You’re not helping one bit!” With that, she hurried off.
CHAPTER 7
Meow!
“Can you believe that?” Jessie said as they headed down the street. “Rilla acts like we’re doing something wrong.”
“She doesn’t want us hunting for the treasure,” Henry added as they stepped inside the diner. “That’s for sure.”
Violet nodded. “She’s afraid Abby won’t sell the resort if we find something valuable.”
Jessie nodded. “And that means Rilla would be runner-up again for the top sales award.”
As they settled into a booth, Benny said, “She was wondering if we gave up already. We never give up.”
“Rilla sure doesn’t know us very well.” Henry smiled over at his little brother.
Jessie passed out the menus. “Did you notice that Rilla called us gold hunters?”
“Hey, Max was talking about gold when he was on the phone!” Benny realized.
“Could just be a coincidence,” said Henry.
But Jessie wasn’t so sure. Her mind was racing. “Unless—”
“Unless what, Jessie?” Henry questioned.
“Unless Max and Rilla are working together.”
The others looked at Jessie in surprise. “You think it was Rilla on the other end of the line?” Violet asked.
“It’s possible.” Jessie nodded. “If Max finds the treasure first, he’ll make some quick cash, and—”
“And Abby would have no choice but to sell the resort!” Henry finished his sister’s sentence for her. “It would work out very well for both Rilla and Max,” he added.
Benny folded his arms, “That means there’s only one thing to do,” he said in a very serious voice. “Find the treasure first!”
“You’re right, Benny.” Jessie pulled the photograph of Patch O’Brien’s cats from her backpack. “But we won’t find it until we figure out what this photograph is trying to tell us.”
Just then, a young woman with a cheery smile came over to take their orders. “What’ll it be, kids?”
Henry chose a ham sandwich and lemonade. Violet and Jessie both ordered grilled cheese sandwiches, coleslaw, and milk. Benny decided on chicken nuggets, fries, and a root-beer float.
Jessie couldn’t help noticing that the waitress kept looking over at the photograph as she took their orders. Why was she so interested in a picture of seven cats curled up on a bench?
“That should do for starters,” said Benny, closing the menu.
The other Aldens looked at each other and smiled. They could always count on their little brother to have a big appetite.
The waitress gave Benny a wink. “Our chocolate cream pie is a big favorite around here.”
“Do we have enough money for dessert, Henry?” asked Benny.
“Are you sure you’ll have enough room?” Henry smiled as he waited for his younger brother’s answer, even though he knew what it would be.
“I always have room for dessert,” said Benny, who had a sweet tooth.
At this, the waitress couldn’t help laughing. She added chocolate cream pie to their order, then walked away.
As they waited for their food to arrive, the Aldens turned their attention to the photograph of Patch O’Brien’s cats.
“Just what are those cats trying to tell us?” Henry wondered. He was still convinced they were some kind of clue.
Benny had an opinion. “I think I know what they’re saying. They’re saying—meow!”
They all burst out laughing at Benny’s joke. “I have a feeling there’s more to it than that, Sherlock,” Henry said.
The four Aldens were quiet for a while as they peered long and hard at the photograph. There were seven cats altogether, and each one was different. One was black, one was charcoal-gray. One was small and honey-colored, one was big and brown. One had white-tipped ears, one had a striped tail. And there was one that was a big ball of orange fur.
“I don’t get it,” Violet said at last. “Do you?” She looked around at the others.
Benny shook his head. “I don’t see anything that looks like a clue.”
“I’ve drawn a blank, too,” Henry admitted. “This is going to be a tough one to figure out.”
Jessie agreed. “All we really know is that Patch loved cats.”
“He sure did.”
The children turned to see the waitress standing over them, looking at the photograph.
“I couldn’t help noticing,” she said as she placed their food on the table. “Aren’t those Patch O’Brien’s cats?”
“Yes,” Jessie said in surprise. “Did you know Patch O’Brien?”
“Everyone around here knew Patch,” said the waitress. “Real outdoorsy type. He stopped by the diner every now and again.” She laughed a little. “Always ordered a slab of apple pie and a cup of coffee. My name’s Tory, by the way. Short for Victoria.”
Jessie returned Tory’s friendly smile. “I’m Jessie, and this is Violet, Henry, and Benny.” She pointed to her sister and brothers in turn.
After saying hello, Tory went on, “When Patch died, I took in Chad and Coco.” She pointed to the photograph. “Chad’s the one wit
h the white tips on his ears. And see the big brown one? That’s Coco.”
“Cute names for cats,” said Jessie.
Tory nodded. “My sister adopted Custard and Charlie. Custard’s the black one, and Charlie’s the one with the striped tail. Now, the gray cat—that’s Crumpet. The owner of the gas station took her in.”
“Chad, Coco, Custard, Charlie, and Crumpet.” Benny was counting on his fingers. “That makes five,” he pointed out. “What about the other two?” The others were wondering the same thing.
Tory thought for a moment. “I believe the orange cat and that little honey-colored one both went to a family on the edge of town.”
Benny had another question. “What were their names?” he asked. “The cats, I mean. Not the family.”
“Hmm, now just what were their names?” Tory was tapping a pen thoughtfully against her chin when a young couple came into the diner. As she hurried off, she called back to the Aldens, “Don’t worry, it’ll come to me. It’s on the tip of my tongue!”
Benny was just dipping his last french fry into ketchup when Tory came back. “Clem and Chelsey,” she said, looking pleased with herself. “Clem was the orange cat, and Chelsey was the honey-colored one.”
Violet giggled. She couldn’t help it. “They all have names beginning with the letter C.”
“We always thought it was strange.” Tory chuckled. “But the names are fun to say all together—Clem, Chelsey, Custard, Charlie, Coco, Chad, and Crumpet.”
“I wonder why Patch did that,” said Jessie. “Gave all his cats names beginning with the letter C, I mean.”
“Well, he always did like the sea,” Tory said, her eyes twinkling.
Everyone laughed—except Benny.
“I don’t get it,” he said, as the waitress walked away.
“Tory was making a joke,” Henry explained to his little brother. “Patch liked the kind of sea you go sailing on. Maybe that’s why he liked the letter C.”
“Oh,” said Benny, who still wasn’t sure what was so funny.
“Seven cats—all with names beginning with the letter C,” said Henry. He was deep in thought as he pushed the salt shaker around on the table.