Ann Martin - Claudia And The Mystery At The Museum

of "'Row, row, row your boat." She was glad Claire still liked to sing, even if she didn't want to do it professionally anymore.

The museum was full that afternoon. Every room was packed with loud, happy kids. "It made the museum seem so alive," said Jessi later.

Jessi and Mrs. Arnold let the girls decide where to go and what activities to do. They followed them from room to room and watched as the girls discovered exhibits they hadn't seen yet.

After awhile, Jessi asked Mrs. Arnold if she could sneak off to check out the Don Newman exhibit, since she had heard so much about it from me. Mrs. Arnold said she'd be glad to watch all the girls for a few minutes, so Jessi found her way to the sculpture gallery.

She loved the show, she told me later. But the most important thing about her visit to the Newman exhibit was what she found out when she started talking to one of the guards there. She told him how much she liked the PLEASE TOUCH signs, and that Don Newman must be a very cool guy. The guard agreed. He was excited because the entire museum staff had been invited to Friday's party. "Not many artists would have thought of inviting the staff, but Newman did," he said.

"What about security, if you'll all be at the party?" Jessi asked.

"Oh, they're not so worried about that anymore," said the guard. "Security has been really tight for a week, and nothing has happened, so they're loosening up a little. Say, you're not planning a robbery, are you?" He grinned at Jessi.

"No way," she said, grinning in return. Then she headed back to the kids' area to find Mrs. Arnold and the girls. By the end of their afternoon at the museum, Claire seemed to be feeling a lot better. In fact, she seemed to have decided on a new career. At least, that was what Jessi thought when Claire asked her seriously, "Do scientists have to audition?"

Chapter 13.

"So anyway, it sounds like security isn't going to be so tight anymore," said Jessi. It was Friday afternoon, and my friends and I were gathered in my room for our BSC meeting. Jessi was telling us what she'd learned at the museum the day before. "The guard I talked to was really nice," she added.

"Most of the people who work at the museum seem nice," mused Kristy.

"Except for Mr. Snipes," I muttered. "He's a big creep. And maybe a thief, too."

"Maybe," said Mal. "But not definitely."

"I know," I said. "I'm planning to keep an eye on him when I'm at the party tonight, but I plan to watch everybody closely. The thief could be any one of the museum's employees. The guards, the maintenance crew, the salespeople in the shop. As far as I'm concerned, everybody's a suspect. I still think the thief is

in

Mr. Snipes, but until I'm positive I'm not counting anyone out."

"Good thinking," said Kristy approvingly. "While we're waiting for calls, why don't we go over the facts of the case one more time? Maybe we'll think of something new, the way you did the other day."

"All right," I said. "Well, let’s see. First of all, the coins were stolen last Thursday."

"Can you believe if s only been a little over a week since that happened?" interrupted Stacey. "It feels like years. Sorry, Claud. Go on."

"Okay," I said. "On Friday, the newspaper had an article about the robbery. On Saturday, five of us went to the museum to do some investigating, but we didn't find out much until later in the day when I noticed that the Newman sculpture felt funny. Then Stacey and I met Mr. Snipes and decided something was strange about him. I snagged his resume. On Sunday, we went to the library and found out about robberies that took place at other museums he's worked at. On Wednesday, I figured out that the coins must have been stolen by an insider — somebody who works at the museum."

"Brilliant deductive reasoning, Miss Nancy Drew of Stoneybrook," Kristy spoke up, with a grin.

I smiled. "Wednesday was also the day I called Don Newman and he invited me to the party. And on Thursday, Jessi found out that the museum is planning to cut down on security." I took a deep breath. "Is that everything?"

Everyone nodded.

"I have to say," said Mal, "that Mr. Snipes looks awfully suspicious. There have been robberies at other museums where he's worked, he definitely qualifies as an insider, and he seems like a creepy guy."

"I know," I replied. "But what about the man with one blue eye and one green eye? Let's not forget about him. He was at the museum the day of the robbery, and at the museum again when we went back the next day."

"But does he work for the museum?" asked Jessi. "Would he have had a key to that case?"

"Who knows?" I said, shrugging.

"That Brownie troop you told us about was there, too," said Mary Anne with a giggle. "Are they still suspects?"

We all cracked up. "I haven't heard any reports of ancient coins being used to buy Gummi worms at the candy store," said Stacey.

At that point, the phone began ringing with parents calling to arrange jobs. We were pretty

busy for awhile, and we were surprised when Kristy pointed to the dock. "Meeting's over," she said. It was six o'clock.

"Oh, my lord!" I said. "I'm supposed to be at that party in three hours. Forget about the mystery! This will be my first formal party, I'm going to meet a famous artist — and I have no idea what to wear!"

"You look nice in what you have on now," said Kristy. "Why don't you just wear that?"

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a pair of bright red leggings topped by a white man-tailored shirt and a vest that used to belong to my father. Oftly Kristy would think my outfit qualified as "formal." I shook my head and smiled at her. "I don't think so," I said. I jumped up to look into my closet for the millionth time in two days. "You guys have to help me," I said. "This is an emergency!"

Unfortunately, Kristy, Jessi, Mal, and Shannon had to leave, emergency or not. But Mary Anne and Stacey agreed to stay and help me.

"Have fun," said Kristy as she left with the others. "Don't be nervous. I know you'll have a blast."

So far, I hadn't been too nervous. But suddenly, I began to feel flustered. What if I couldn't find anything decent to wear? What

if I made a fool of myself in front of Don Newman? How would I know how to act at such a fancy party? Mary Anne must have seen the look on my face.

"It'll be fine," she said soothingly. "We'll get you all set."

The three of us agreed that we should eat something first, so we trooped downstairs and raided the kitchen. (My parents were at a meeting, and Janine was working away on her computer.)

Stacey made herself a cheese sandwich. Mary Anne heated up a can of soup and found some crackers. But I didn't feel hungry at all. "I wouldn't even be tempted by a bag of Cheez Doodles," I said. "Not that I would ever find a thing like that in this kitchen."

Mary Anne made me eat a small bowl of chicken noodle soup and two crackers. "If you don't eat, you might pass out from hunger in the middle of the party," she said. That image was enough to make me drain my bowl to the last noodle.

After we ate, we headed back upstairs. "All right," said Stacey. "Now, what kind of look were you thinking of?" She threw open my closet door and stood staring at my clothes. "Sophisticated? Arty? Trendy?"

"I don't know," I said miserably. "A combination of all those things would be good, I guess. I mean, I want to look like myself, only more dressed up, you know?"

Stacey pulled out a black velvet dress. "How about this?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Boring," I said.

She nodded and threw it on the bed. "What about these silk pants?"

"Are pants okay at a formal party?" asked Mary Anne doubtfully. "You don't want to look like a kid who doesn't know how to dress."

"Ditch the pants," I said immediately.