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could’ve told your parents how you felt,” he said.
    “They wouldn’t have listened,” Melinda said. “They never listen.”
    “So you just took it?” Frank asked.
    “When they left the room Friday afternoon, I took it from the case. Then when they were talking to Ollie and Margaret, I told them I needed something in the room. I used that time to get dressed, go down to the game room, and hide it. I know how crazy it must seem, but I didn’t know what else to do,” Melinda said.
    “Well, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see it again,” Joe said. “Why don’t we all go to your parents’ cabin and talk about this? We know you’re upset, but your parents are upset too. You need to tell them the truth.”
    Melinda bit her lip. Her eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t want to,” she said. She wiped her cheeks off as she spoke.
    “I think there is something you need to give back,” Frank said. He held out his hand. “We’ll help you.”
    Slowly, without saying a word, she gave the watch to Frank. Then she followed them up the stairs to the family’s cabin, where her parents were waiting to hear news of the stakeout.
    •  •  •  •
    “Melinda dear,” Mrs. Heartpence said. “We just wish you would’ve told us you were upset. We had no idea.”
    She and Sir Reginald sat on the couch in their cabin. Mrs. Heartpence held her daughter’s hand.
    “I wanted to, but I didn’t know how,” Melinda said.
    Her brother, Andrew, just shook his head. “We’ve had the whole ship looking for that watch! I can’t believe you did this, Mel.”
    “It’s all right,” Mr. Hardy said. He stood beside Mrs. Hardy and the boys, looking on. “We were all happy to help. We’re just glad we found it.”
    “Melinda, we don’t want to get rid of the watcheither, but we have to. It’ll help pay for the house, and for your and Andrew’s college education. Your grandfather would’ve wanted to help us do that,” Sir Reginald added.
    “But if we sell it, I won’t have anything to remember him by,” Melinda said sadly.
    “That’s the thing, though,” Mrs. Heartpence replied. “We’ll have our memories of him. And pictures. Remember that time he took you to the zoo? You were in love with the bears, and he sat there with you for hours, just watching them. He loved being around you.”
    “Or the time he brought you to the sweetshop in the city?” Sir Reginald continued. “You two had frozen hot chocolate. You talked about that for months afterward. You had the greatest time.”
    Melinda sniffed back tears. She smiled at the memory. “That was the best day.”
    “See, dear?” Mrs. Heartpence said. “It doesn’tmatter if we have the watch or not. Your grandfather will always be with us. We think about him all the time. How could we not?”
    Sir Reginald gave his daughter a big hug. For the first time Joe noticed that the red scarf Melinda had worn as a disguise was Sir Reginald’s scarf. It was the same one he’d worn the first day of the cruise.
    Then Sir Reginald turned away and stood up from the couch. He clapped Frank and Joe on their backs. “You boys did an amazing job,” he said. “If it weren’t for you, we never would’ve talked about this. We might not have found the watch at all. I can’t thank you enough.”
    “We’re happy we solved the case,” Joe said. “And the watch is back to its rightful owner.”
    Frank and Joe turned to leave, their parents right behind them. Before they could reach the door, Sir Reginald called out to them, “Tomorrow, when we pull into the harbor, I’d like you tobe my special guests at the auction. They’ll be a huge party afterward. A giant feast with music and dancing! Will you join us?”
    Mr. Hardy looked at the boys. Frank and Joe smiled. A party sounded like the perfect reward for their hard work.
    •  •  •  •
    The band played a fast song, and Frank and Joe danced on the open roof deck. From the top of the tallest building