Gertrude Warner - Mystery in New York

“Thank you,” said Violet.

The receptionist just stared at them.

“What’s this? You’ve found my diamond?” Mr. Pound called from the top of the stairs where he was waiting. He smiled, but his eyes looked worried.

“No,” said Jessie. “Not yet.”

“Ahh,” said Mr. Pound. “Well, why don’t you step into my office.”

In the office, which had windows that went from the floor to the ceiling, the Aldens sat down in chairs facing Mr. Pound across his large desk. On the wall behind him hung a familiar-looking portrait.

“That looks like the same lady as in the painting in your apartment — and she’s wearing the Elizabeth Star,” said Benny.

“Yes,” said Mr. Pound quietly. “That’s my late wife, Kathryn. She wore the Star as often as she could. She always said it was one of nature’s lovely things and shouldn’t be shut up. She thought everyone should have a chance to see it.”

“But no one will have a chance to see it again if we don’t solve this mystery,” said Violet softly.

Mr. Pound looked at Violet. Her words had made him suddenly quiet and thoughtful, and the children waited a moment before speaking again.

“We wanted to ask you a few more questions,” Henry said, breaking the silence.

“Ah,” said Mr. Pound. “Certainly. Go ahead.”

“Does anyone else know the security code?” asked Jessie.

“No,” said Mr. Pound. “Only me.”

“Do you know if anyone tampered with the alarm?” asked Henry.

Mr. Pound paused. Then he shook his head. “It’s very strange,” he said. “But the police don’t believe that there is anything wrong with the alarm. The security company doesn’t think so, either, although they are not so sure. A real expert might have been able to fix it so it didn’t go off while he took the diamond … but they don’t think it is possible. I don’t understand it.”

“Has anyone else been working on anything in your apartment?” asked Jessie. “Anyone who could have tampered with the alarm or found out the code somehow?”

Again Mr. Pound shook his head. “No. My housekeeper comes in every day, of course, but she’s worked for me for twenty years. She’s very honest. The police have already cleared her. She was with her son and his wife and her new granddaughter all night.”

“Did the police find any suspicious fingerprints?” asked Benny.

“No, Benny,” said Mr. Pound. “I’m afraid not.”

“Has Lydia Critt ever been to your apartment?” asked Jessie.

Now Mr. Pound looked surprised. “The dogwalker? No. She’d have no reason to. I don’t have a dog.”

The Aldens exchanged glances. Then Jessie said, “Mr. Pound. Could we go look at the scene of the crime again?”

“The scene of the crime? You mean the secret room where I kept the Elizabeth Star?”

“Yes,” said Jessie.

“Well …” said Mr. Pound. At last he said, “I don’t see why not. The alarm’s not on. No reason for it to be.” He looked at his watch. “My housekeeper is leaving in a little while, but I’ll call her and tell her to leave a spare key with Mr. Saunders for you.”

“Thanks,” said Jessie.

Standing up, Henry said, “Thank you for seeing us, Mr. Pound.”

“And don’t worry,” Benny added. “We’ll find the Elizabeth Star.”

Mr. Pound shook his head. But he looked less worried as he walked with them back to the stairs. “Well,” he said, “good luck.”

Since they were downtown, the Aldens walked over to the Staten Island ferry and rode it over to Staten Island and back, past the Statue of Liberty. Benny waved at the statue as the ferry went by. They admired the famous skyline of the city, with its skyscrapers and distinctive buildings sharp against the glowing sky.

“New York looks different,” said Benny.

“Different from what, Benny?” asked Violet.

“Different from the way it looked when we went to the top of the Empire State Building the last time we were here,” said Benny.

“Everything seems to change all the time in New York,” said Violet. “It’s very confusing.”

“Not as confusing as this mystery,” said Jessie a little crossly. “It looks different from every angle.”

Henry patted her shoulder. “It was a good idea to ask to visit Mr. Pound’s apartment again. Maybe we’ll find a clue there.”

Jessie looked a little more cheerful. “Maybe,” she said. “I hope so.”

“Thank you, Mr. Saunders,” said Benny as the doorman slid the key across the lobby desk.

“You’re welcome. Bring it back when you are finished,” said Mr. Saunders, “so I can give it to Mr. Pound. Those were my instructions.”

“We will,” Violet promised. “We just want to look for clues.”

“To solve the theft of the diamond?” asked Mr. Saunders.

“Yes,” said Henry.

“Well,” said Mr. Saunders. He paused. “It certainly makes this building look bad, a theft like that happening here.” He made a face. “It’s in all the newspapers. Reporters have been snooping around all day.”

“Did you talk to any of them?” asked Benny.

“No! Certainly not,” said Mr. Saunders. He looked past Benny. “Sign out, please,” he said.

Mr. Evans, who had come up behind the Aldens, said, “I know, I know,” and bent to sign the log.

“Hi, Mr. Evans,” said Benny. “Are you finished work for today?”

“For today, yes,” said Mr. Evans. “But an electrician is never short on work.” He looked at Benny. “That’s a joke.”

“Oh,” said Benny.

“Very amusing,” said Mr. Saunders without smiling.

Mr. Evans rolled his eyes.

“Come on, Benny,” said Violet. “Let’s go to Mr. Pound’s apartment.”

The apartment was dark and quiet. “It’s scary in here,” said Benny. “What if the thief is hiding somewhere, waiting for us?”

“Don’t worry, Benny,” Jessie told her younger brother. “The thief doesn’t know we are here. How could he?”

“He could if he was Mr. Saunders,” said Benny stubbornly.

“Even if he is Mr. Saunders, he can’t do anything to us,” said Jessie. But she looked around nervously and all four of the Alden children moved closer together.

Henry turned on the light in the hall, and then he turned on the light in the closet. Just as Mr. Pound had said, the alarm wasn’t on. He pushed open the secret door and Jessie turned on the single spotlight that illuminated the room. The glass from the broken case covered the floor.

Henry went over and carefully lifted the shattered glass lid.

“Be careful not to cut yourself,” Jessie warned.

“I will,” he said, frowning. “Why—” he began.

But he didn’t get to finish his sentence.

The door of the secret room slammed heavily shut behind the Aldens.

“Hey!” said Benny. He ran to the door and hit it with his fists. It didn’t budge.

“There’s no doorknob,” said Violet.

“It must have a hidden catch, just like on the other side,” said Henry.

But before they could look for the hidden catch that would unlock the door, the light went out.

They were locked in the secret room in total darkness.

“Oh, no!” cried Violet.

“Help!” shouted Benny. “Help! Help!” He hit the door with his fists.

“That won’t work, Benny,” said Jessie as she walked forward and bumped into something soft.

“Ow!” said Violet.

“It’s me,” Jessie said. “Sorry, Violet.”

Violet held on to Jessie’s arm. “Benny,” said Jessie.