Finders Keepers Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

couple of hours after I came here,” Mr. Munsey said impatiently.
    “Did you see Dirk Grey before you left?” asked Henry.
    Regina had gotten quiet and was listening intently.
    “Dirk Grey! You haven’t told him about the quilts, have you?” Mr. Munsey said.
    “We didn’t tell him, but we think he knows,” said Jessie.
    “Worse than telling a reporter,” Mr. Munsey muttered.
    Regina’s face had suddenly turned red.
    “Oh, dear,” Mr. Munsey went on. “Dirk Grey. That spy. He must have overheard someone at the museum. Oh, dear.”
    “You worked at the museum, too?” Regina asked.
    “I’m an expert on textiles. I specialize in quilts,” said Mr. Munsey. “Oh, dear.”
    “You’re a quilt expert?” asked Regina, holding out her microphone. “And in your expert opinion, are the quilts extremely valuable?”
    That seemed to shake Mr. Munsey out of his mood. He gave Regina a cold look. He turned to Lina. “I’m going,” he said. “But I’ll be back.”
    Mr. Munsey marched to his car and drove away.
    “Okay, time for my story,” said Regina.
    “Not now,” said Lina.
    Regina’s sharp eyes focused on the large envelope Lina was clutching. Coral had put the quilt pattern in there for safekeeping.
    “What’s that? More letters?” Regina asked.
    “Not now,” said Lina, unlocking the door.
    “But…” Regina said.
    The Aldens followed Lina inside. Lina closed the door.
    “Tomorrow,” Regina shouted from the porch.
    After a long wait, they heard her car drive away.
    “Tea,” said Lina, sounding a little tired. “And cookies.”
    “Yes,” Benny agreed. “Cookies.”

CHAPTER 9
A Quilt Trap
    The Aldens sat on their front porch after dinner, talking softly. Watch was curled on a pillow, and Benny petted him as they talked.
    “Mr. Munsey has been away,” said Jessie. “He couldn’t have tried to break into the house. And he didn’t tell Dirk Grey or Regina Lott or Coral about the quilts — not unless he’s a very good actor and is just fooling us.”
    “I don’t think he is,” said Violet.
    “If it’s not Mr. Munsey and not Coral,” said Henry, “that just leaves Mr. Grey.”
    “He’s the best suspect,” said Jessie.
    “Mr. Munsey thinks he could have overheard about the quilts at the museum,” said Benny.
    “If Dirk Grey heard about the quilts,” said Henry slowly, “he must have told Coral and Regina.”
    Violet was nodding. “I just remembered, Regina asked Mr. Munsey if he worked at the museum, too. Who else does she know who works at the museum?”
    “Or worked at the museum,” said Henry.
    They looked at one another.
    “Dirk Grey,” said Jessie.
    “Her face got very red when she heard his name,” Violet recalled.
    “She must know him. He’s her source. He’s the one who tipped her off about the quilts,” said Jessie.
    “So he’s definitely the one who tried to break in?” Benny asked.
    “Maybe he is, Benny,” said Violet. “But why would he tell a reporter about the secret quilts he wanted to steal?”
    “For that matter,” Jessie added, “why was Regina snooping around today when she knew Lina wasn’t home?”
    “Regina has no reason to steal the quilts,” Henry said. “She just wants the story.”
    “Stolen quilts would be an even better story,” said Jessie.
    Benny was shaking his head in disbelief. “Why do so many people think old quilts are like treasure?”
    They fell silent, thinking hard.
    Benny kept petting Watch, who was sleepy after his big dinner.
    “Watch’s pillow looks sort of like a quilt,” said Benny. “It’s covered in patches.”
    No one answered. They were still thinking hard.
    “You know what, Watch?” Benny said.
    Watch wagged his tail just a little bit to show he was listening.
    “You need a quilt of your own,” said Benny, “to cover your old dog bed and keep in the stuffing. A new patchwork quilt to cover the old patchwork quilt.” Benny laughed.
    Violet looked up. She stared at Benny, then at