The Hidden Treasure Mysteries

"Well . . . I have to call home and tell Dad we got here all right. And it’s already after four o’clock. Besides, I’ve been driving all day."

Elizabeth gave Jonathan a nudge. They had to do something. Fast. Before their mother said no. "A nice rest. That’s what you need. You just sit here, Mom." Elizabeth dragged a padded rocking chair next to the picture window. Jonathan handed Mrs. Pollack a glass of water and dropped a comic book into her lap. "We’ll finish unpacking the car, Mom. Then we can leave."

"Oh, all right." Mrs. Pollack leaned back with a yawn. Pop pointed up the stairs. "Elizabeth in the quilt room. Jonathan in the bedroom across the hall."

A few minutes later Elizabeth bounced her backpack onto a narrow bed topped with a worn patchwork quilt. The tiny room was her favorite spot -- windows on three sides and the best view of the lake. It felt as high and breezy as a crow’s nest.

Jonathan appeared in the doorway. "You can come in, Jonathan. But no grunting." Suddenly Pop’s voice boomed up the stairs. "Keep bedroom door closed! Do not let cat into room!"

Elizabeth pulled Jonathan into the room and whipped the door shut. She wrinkled her nose. Pop’s cranky black cat had some bad habits. Like using the bedrooms as a litter box.

"We’ll let Mom rest ten more minutes." Elizabeth knelt in front of a small bookcase and pulled a mystery story from the bottom shelf. Jonathan stared at the torn paper cover. A man in a black cape shined his flashlight on a ragged piece of map.

Jonathan grabbed the book. "A treasure map! That man who cleaned Pop’s painting. He could have found some kind of treasure map!"

"I don’t think so." Elizabeth grabbed the book back. "But there could be another painting. In this one mystery I read, there were two paintings in one frame. And the one hidden underneath was really old. And worth a lot of money."

A few minutes later, Elizabeth checked her watch. Twenty minutes to five. They could make it if they left now. "Mom! It’s time to go!" Elizabeth felt something soft as she opened the door, like a feather brushing her ankle. She looked down to see the tip of a fat black tail disappear under her bed. "Oh, great! The cat!"

Jonathan lifted the quilt and uncovered a pair of unblinking green eyes. Elizabeth peered at a stack of folding chairs stored under the bed. "Okay, Jon. Just don’t scare her. If she gets behind those chairs, we’ll never get her out! And if she makes a mess in there, we’re really in trouble."

Pop’s slow, heavy footstep sounded on the wooden stairs. "What are you doing up there? We’ve got to go! Right now!"

"Uh . . . we’re coming. You don’t have to come up here -- really!" Jonathan bent down. "Nice kitty. Come to Jonathan. I have a present for you." The cat narrowed her eyes and backed up farther under the bed.

Elizabeth wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Seventeen minutes to five. "Emergency plan number one!" Turning her head to the side, she dangled her long ponytail in front of the bed. Success. Jonathan untangled the chubby black cat from Elizabeth’s hair. He raced down the stairs and plopped the cat in the middle of Pop’s old red couch. Elizabeth glanced out the window at the top of the stairs. "Come on. We get to ride in the big car!" They rushed outside and scrambled into the back of Pop’s old blue Chevy. Mrs. Pollack helped Pop into the passenger seat. Elizabeth let out a long breath as she leaned back on the wide seat. On to the mystery.