Wilson’s, and it mentioned a secret plan,” Henry said.
“And then we figured out who J was, but you kept saying you didn’t know him,” Violet put in.
“But you didn’t really do it, did you?” Benny asked.
Emily had been listening to the children quietly. Suddenly she burst into laughter. “Oh, my goodness, you are detectives, just as your grandfather said. I guess I have been acting a little strange lately, but I can explain. Hold on a minute.”
Emily walked away and came back a moment later with the man in the baseball cap. “I guess I should have introduced you guys sooner. This is John,” she said. “And these are the Aldens.”
The Aldens said hello.
“John is my … fiancé,” Emily said, taking his hand. She and John smiled at each other.
“Your what?” asked Benny.
“John and I are going to get married,” Emily explained. “But I haven’t told anyone here yet.”
“That’s such wonderful news,” Violet said. “Why not share it?”
“Remember, I told you Ms. Carver said I wasn’t focusing enough on my work?” Emily said. “Well, I didn’t want her to think I have my mind on John instead. So when I’m at work, I try to pretend he’s just a regular visitor, instead of my fiancé. I don’t want to lose my job.”
“But I just can’t stay away,” John said, putting an arm around Emily. “I love watching Emily work.”
“What was that note all about?” Jessie asked.
“Oh, that,” said Emily. “When John and I had decided to get engaged, he left that note for me to follow—like a treasure hunt.”
“We love those,” said Benny.
Emily glowed with pleasure as she told the children what had happened. “It was fun. I followed the directions and found myself at Wilson’s, where we picked out the most beautiful diamond ring.” She and John smiled at each other.
“So the engagement was your secret plan,” said Jessie.
“Why did you want the note back?” Henry asked.
“I’m going to put it in my scrapbook to remember always,” Emily explained. “When I realized I’d accidentally given it to you, I was so upset.”
“Can we see the ring you picked?” asked Violet.
“It’s still at the store, being sized to fit my finger,” Emily said. “That’s why I was worried when you told me that the diamond jewelry had been stolen.”
“I stopped by yesterday,” John told Emily reassuringly. “Mr. Wilson said your ring is safe.”
“So that’s why you were there,” said Benny.
“Emily, maybe you lost your key when you were ring-shopping,” Jessie suggested.
“No, the key you found wasn’t mine,” Emily said. “It didn’t have my initials on it.”
“Why not just get another key from Ms. Carver until yours turns up?” asked Henry.
“If Ms. Carver knew I’d lost my key, she’d take that as proof I wasn’t paying enough attention to my work,” Emily said.
“Now that we’ve answered all your questions, how about explaining that petition?” John said.
“Oh, that,” Jessie said. “We thought you might be the one who’d written the note to Emily. I figured I could help the manatees—and also see your name and handwriting.” Jessie smiled, proud of her plan.
“Very clever,” said John.
“But we still don’t know whose key we found,” said Henry.
“Or who robbed the jewelry store,” Benny added.
“But at least we know you’re not the burglar,” Violet told Emily.
“No, I’m an animal trainer,” she said, smiling broadly. “And I’d better get back to work.” She gave John a quick kiss good-bye and headed back into the arena. John waved to the kids and walked off.
“At least part of the mystery is solved,” said Violet.
“Let’s go see if Mac has heard from Ms. Carver,” suggested Henry, leading the way to the shark area.
When they got there, they were surprised to find not only Mac, but also Ms. Carver.
“I have some exciting news,” she said. “We’re bringing a new attraction to the park—an
“And then we figured out who J was, but you kept saying you didn’t know him,” Violet put in.
“But you didn’t really do it, did you?” Benny asked.
Emily had been listening to the children quietly. Suddenly she burst into laughter. “Oh, my goodness, you are detectives, just as your grandfather said. I guess I have been acting a little strange lately, but I can explain. Hold on a minute.”
Emily walked away and came back a moment later with the man in the baseball cap. “I guess I should have introduced you guys sooner. This is John,” she said. “And these are the Aldens.”
The Aldens said hello.
“John is my … fiancé,” Emily said, taking his hand. She and John smiled at each other.
“Your what?” asked Benny.
“John and I are going to get married,” Emily explained. “But I haven’t told anyone here yet.”
“That’s such wonderful news,” Violet said. “Why not share it?”
“Remember, I told you Ms. Carver said I wasn’t focusing enough on my work?” Emily said. “Well, I didn’t want her to think I have my mind on John instead. So when I’m at work, I try to pretend he’s just a regular visitor, instead of my fiancé. I don’t want to lose my job.”
“But I just can’t stay away,” John said, putting an arm around Emily. “I love watching Emily work.”
“What was that note all about?” Jessie asked.
“Oh, that,” said Emily. “When John and I had decided to get engaged, he left that note for me to follow—like a treasure hunt.”
“We love those,” said Benny.
Emily glowed with pleasure as she told the children what had happened. “It was fun. I followed the directions and found myself at Wilson’s, where we picked out the most beautiful diamond ring.” She and John smiled at each other.
“So the engagement was your secret plan,” said Jessie.
“Why did you want the note back?” Henry asked.
“I’m going to put it in my scrapbook to remember always,” Emily explained. “When I realized I’d accidentally given it to you, I was so upset.”
“Can we see the ring you picked?” asked Violet.
“It’s still at the store, being sized to fit my finger,” Emily said. “That’s why I was worried when you told me that the diamond jewelry had been stolen.”
“I stopped by yesterday,” John told Emily reassuringly. “Mr. Wilson said your ring is safe.”
“So that’s why you were there,” said Benny.
“Emily, maybe you lost your key when you were ring-shopping,” Jessie suggested.
“No, the key you found wasn’t mine,” Emily said. “It didn’t have my initials on it.”
“Why not just get another key from Ms. Carver until yours turns up?” asked Henry.
“If Ms. Carver knew I’d lost my key, she’d take that as proof I wasn’t paying enough attention to my work,” Emily said.
“Now that we’ve answered all your questions, how about explaining that petition?” John said.
“Oh, that,” Jessie said. “We thought you might be the one who’d written the note to Emily. I figured I could help the manatees—and also see your name and handwriting.” Jessie smiled, proud of her plan.
“Very clever,” said John.
“But we still don’t know whose key we found,” said Henry.
“Or who robbed the jewelry store,” Benny added.
“But at least we know you’re not the burglar,” Violet told Emily.
“No, I’m an animal trainer,” she said, smiling broadly. “And I’d better get back to work.” She gave John a quick kiss good-bye and headed back into the arena. John waved to the kids and walked off.
“At least part of the mystery is solved,” said Violet.
“Let’s go see if Mac has heard from Ms. Carver,” suggested Henry, leading the way to the shark area.
When they got there, they were surprised to find not only Mac, but also Ms. Carver.
“I have some exciting news,” she said. “We’re bringing a new attraction to the park—an
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