Mystery in New York Read Online Free PDF Page B

taken the diamond then.”
    â€œWe’ll meet out front in twenty minutes,” said Jessie as the elevator doors opened on the third floor.
    â€œOkay,” said Henry.
    Henry and Violet walked to 3W and knocked on the door. A moment later, they heard small bodies thumping against the door and the muffled sound of barking. But no one answered.
    Henry knocked again, harder. The barking grew louder. But still no one answered.
    â€œI guess whoever lives there has gone to work,” said Henry. “We’ll have to come back later to ask about Lydia.”
    Meanwhile, Jessie and Benny had found someone home in Apartment 6E. A sleepy-looking man with shaving cream on half his face opened the door. He yawned when he saw them and said, “What is this? Halloween trick or treat?”
    â€œNo,” said Jessie. “We’re visiting Mrs. Teague on the ninth floor.”
    â€œCongratulations,” said the man. He yawned again and started to close the door.
    â€œWait,” said Benny. “We want to ask you a question.”
    â€œAh,” said the man. “Trick or question . Okay, ask your question.”
    â€œDid you order pizza last night?”
    â€œI did. Everything, hold-the-anchovies. My usual from the corner pizza. Why?” Now he didn’t look quite so sleepy.
    Jessie explained about the missing diamond. “We’re trying to help Mr. Pound find out who took it,” she said. “And we wanted to make sure that someone really delivered pizza to your apartment.”
    â€œHe sure did. Leo. He’s been delivering pizza to me for a few years now. Paying his way through college. He had to wait while I found money to pay for it. That’s why it took him so long,” the man said.
    â€œThank you,” Jessie said.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” the man said, and closed the door.
    Downstairs, Jessie and Benny found Henry and Violet sitting on the low wall around one of the flower beds outside the building.
    â€œThe pizza man didn’t do it,” said Benny. “He’s a real pizza man, not a diamond thief.”
    â€œNo one was home where the French bulldogs live,” reported Henry. “So we couldn’t find out if Lyd—”
    â€œShhh,” said Jessie. She waved. “Hi, Lydia,” she said.
    They all looked up and saw Lydia striding down the sidewalk.
    â€œGood morning,” said Lydia. “Can’t stop to talk. The dogs are waiting.” She hurried by.
    When she passed, Henry said, “I know what we should do. Let’s follow Lydia after she walks the dogs. Maybe she will act suspicious.”
    â€œLet’s go across the street to the park,” suggested Violet. “We can watch for Lydia there and she won’t see us.”
    So that is what they did. They waited until Lydia had returned from walking the five French bulldogs. Then they followed her as she left Mrs. Teague’s building.
    The Aldens trailed after Lydia as she strolled along the park. At the bottom of the park she turned left. She walked across to Fifth Avenue and turned right, heading downtown. A few blocks later she stopped to stare into a window.
    â€œTiffany’s,” said Jessie. “It’s a very famous jewelry store.”
    Sure enough, even from where they stood, hiding behind a mailbox and lamppost, the Aldens could see lots and lots of diamonds and pearls and all kinds of precious jewels on display in the windows of the store.
    â€œMaybe she is going to try to sell the diamond to them,” said Violet.
    But Henry shook his head. “No. A famous store like Tiffany’s would never buy a stolen diamond. Lydia would have to sell it secretly to someone dishonest.”
    â€œMaybe she wants to buy fancy jewelry when she sells the diamond and she is just window-shopping now,” Jessie said. “Something even nicer than her crystal necklace.”
    â€œOr maybe she’s just trying to figure out