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said, “No. Well . . .”
    â€œWait,” said Violet. “Please wait. We need your help. We think Spotzie isn’t lost after all. We think she was stolen. If you know anything that can help us find her, please tell us!”
    The professor hesitated. She half turned, as if she were about to go back inside without answering. Then she turned back around.
    â€œOkay,” she said. “You’re not the only one looking for a lost cat that matches the picture you showed me. The day before you came over, someone else was here looking for a lost cat. He’d gotten my name from the animal shelter as someone who had a lot of cats and might have taken his in.”
    â€œWhat happened?” asked Jessie eagerly.
    â€œI showed him the cat I gave to you. He said she was his cat and made a grab for her. She hissed and tried to get away from him. That made me suspicious.”
    â€œWhy would his own cat do that?” Benny’s eyes were wide.
    â€œI don’t think it was his cat.” Professor Madison went on, “I became really suspicious when he offered me a large reward for the cat — a great deal too much money — if I’d just hand her over. When I wouldn’t, he became very angry and almost threatening. I made him leave.
    â€œThat same night, someone tried to break into my house. Fortunately, I have an alarm system and it scared off whoever it was. But I’m sure it was the same man.”
    â€œIt could be the same man who called us, too,” said Henry.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” the professor asked.
    â€œLast night, someone called us and told us to stop looking for Spotzie if we knew what was good for us. That’s what made us think she was stolen,” Henry explained. “What did the man who came here look like?”
    Professor Madison answered, “It was hard to tell. He was wearing a hat and dark glasses and a coat with the collar turned up — almost like a disguise. That made me suspicious, too.”
    The Aldens exchanged glances. It sounded like the man who had followed them outside the animal shelter!
    â€œI think you’re right,” Professor Madison continued. “I think it might be the same man that called you.” She reached out and took the photograph of Spotzie that Jessie was holding. “They do look alike, don’t they. But I don’t understand it. Why would someone steal a cat like this?”
    No one could answer that.
    The professor gave the photograph back to Jessie. “Anyway, I’m glad she’s in a safe place now. That’s why I insisted you take her. I know that man wasn’t her owner and I didn’t trust him.”
    Jessie put the picture carefully in her pocket. “Thank you, Professor Madison,” she said.
    â€œGood luck,” said Professor Madison. “If anything else happens, or I can think of anything to help, I’ll let you know.”
    She went back into her house and the Boxcar children went down the stairs and got back on their bicycles.
    â€œWho could have taken Spotzie?” wondered Violet.
    â€œAnd why?” added Jessie.
    â€œThat’s the biggest mystery of all,” said Henry. “Spotzie looks like an ordinary cat.”
    â€œMaybe she’s not,” said Benny. “Maybe she’s a rare and valuable cat.”
    â€œOh, Benny,” said Jessie. “Spotzie isn’t like those cats we saw at Mr. Allen’s. Those cats are like the dogs we saw at the dog show. They are very valuable.”
    â€œBut Watch isn’t a show dog, and he’s valuable,” said Benny.
    â€œThat’s true, Benny,” Violet said. “And Spotzie isn’t a show cat, but she is valuable to Mr. Woods, too, because he loves her, the same way we love Watch.”
    â€œThat makes Watch and Spotzie the most valuable dog and cat of all,” declared Benny.
    â€œYou’re right,” Violet said to her little