Read Finders Keepers Mystery for Free Online Page B

arrive. He got out of her car, and she drove away.”
    “Benny, are you sure?” Violet said.
    Benny nodded firmly. “I remember her red hair.”
    “Well, Coral did know that the quilts were in the attic,” Jessie said. “If she and that man are in this together, that explains it… unless it was a lucky guess.”
    Lina sighed. “A crazy quilt lady, a bouncy snoop, a mysterious wannabe burglar, and a news reporter who won’t take no for an answer,” she said. “Maybe I should just call Mr. Munsey and tell him to take the quilts, at least for now.”
    “But what if Mr. Munsey is the one who told the burglar about the quilts? Or what if he is the burglar?” Violet said. “Remember, he’s the only one we told — and then Regina showed up.”
    “Let’s try to talk to Mr. Munsey,” said Henry. “We’ll visit Coral at her shop, too, and see if we can pick up any clues.”
    “Meanwhile, I think we should hide the quilts,” Jessie said, “to keep them safe.”
    “Where?” asked Violet.
    “I think I have an idea,” Jessie said. “Come on!”
    A short time later, she was smoothing one side of the old hops quilt while Violet tugged and straightened the corner of the other side.
    All six quilts had been layered on the bed in the room across the hall from Lina’s. The old hops quilt was spread out over them.
    “No one will think to look for more quilts underneath this old one,” said Lina. “Good idea, Jessie.”
    “And no one will be able to sneak by, even if they do get in to steal the quilts,” said Benny. “This floor is nice and creaky!”
    “Yes,” agreed Jessie. “One way or another, the quilts will be safe.”
    As the Aldens walked home from Lina’s, they discussed what to do next. “The museum closes early on Saturdays,” Jessie said. “That means Mr. Munsey won’t be there now.”
    “Then we can’t ask him any questions, at least today,” Henry said.
    Violet sighed. “And we don’t know who Mr. Bouncy is,” she said, “or where to find him.”
    “The crazy quilt lady does,” Benny said.
    “You’re right, Benny,” said Jessie. “She does. Let’s hurry down to her shop before it closes for the day.”
    “Come on!” said Henry.
    The Aldens ran the rest of the way home and hopped on their bicycles. Pedaling fast, they were soon downtown.
    “There’s Weaver Stitch Shop,” Violet said. She led the way to a bike rack on the corner.
    “Look!” said Violet. “Mr. Bouncy.”
    The Aldens stared as a neatly dressed man in a polo shirt and khakis walked out the door of the Stitch Shop. He bobbed across the street, pushed open the door of another shop, and went inside. Jessie looked at the fancy gold lettering on the shop’s window and read aloud, “Grey’s Fine Antiques.”

    “You were right, Benny. Coral does know that man,” Henry said.
    “But who is he?” asked Benny.
    “Let’s go find out,” Jessie said.
    They went into the Stitch Shop to find Coral sitting in a worn overstuffed chair with the basket of scraps at her feet. There were no customers.
    Coral looked up and gave a little start as they came in.
    “Oh!” she said. She laughed but it sounded forced. “You came to visit a lot more quickly than I expected.”
    “Have you found any good scraps?” asked Violet.
    “Good scraps? Oh, these.” Coral looked down at the basket, then looked away. She seemed jumpy.
    “Is everything okay?” asked Jessie.
    “Of course, of course,” said Coral. She nudged the basket to one side with her foot and stood up. “How do you like my shop?” she asked.
    They looked around. It was a colorful place with cozy chairs, a bright quilt on one wall, racks of thread and sewing supplies, a cabinet labeled PATTERNS, another labeled PROJECTS , and lots and lots of cloth.
    “What’s that up there?” asked Benny, pointing to a large wooden frame that looked sort of like a bed frame. It was suspended from the ceiling above them.
    “That? That’s a quilting frame,” Coral