The Mystery in the Snow by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

Violet asked, “Why are we in such a hurry?”
    â€œWe have a new suspect,” Henry told them.
    â€œNot another one,” Benny groaned. “There are already too many.”
    â€œBut this might be the right one,” Jessie said.
    They wouldn’t say another word until they were settled back at the cabin with a fire burning in the fireplace.
    Then, Henry said, “So far the clues have pointed to Freddy and Pete.”
    â€œAnd all of us,” Jessie added.
    â€œWatch, too,” Benny put in.
    â€œWe know it wasn’t Watch or us,” Violet said.
    â€œIt looks as if it wasn’t Freddy or Pete either,” Henry said.
    Violet and Benny couldn’t stand the suspense. “Then who was it?” they both asked.
    â€œViolet, remember what you said?” Jessie asked. “That it might be someone we hadn’t even thought about?”
    Violet nodded.
    â€œWell, you were right,” Jessie said.
    â€œIt’s the last person we would have thought,” Henry added. He paused to let that sink in.
    â€œDon’t tell me it was Mr. Mercer!” Benny exclaimed.
    They all laughed.
    â€œNo, no, Benny,” Henry said. “Jessie and I think it was…Jimmy.”
    â€œJimmy?” Benny repeated.
    â€œBut why?” Violet said.
    Henry glanced at Jessie.
    â€œDon’t look at me, Henry,” she said. “I don’t have the answer to that question.”
    â€œWe’ll leave the why till last,” Henry decided. “Maybe it’ll come to us as we answer the other questions.”
    â€œWhat made you think of Jimmy in the first place?” Violet wanted to know.
    â€œHe asked Mr. Mercer to cancel the ski race at breakfast ,” Henry explained, “but not even Matt knew his skis were missing until after lunch.”
    â€œThe only way Jimmy could have known is if he took them,” Violet concluded.
    â€œWhat about our snowpeople?” Benny asked. “Freddy came late for supper. She had time to smash them.”
    â€œJimmy was late, too,” Jessie remembered.
    â€œThere’s the ice sculpture,” Violet said.
    They fell silent trying to figure out when and how Jimmy could have done that.
    Suddenly, Benny knew the answer. “The pail!” he said.
    They looked at him curiously.
    â€œDon’t you remember? We were going for a snack and Jimmy came along carrying a pail.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Jessie said. “He told us he’d found it by your snow sculpture, Benny.”
    â€œBut Alan and Debbie brought our pails back to the kitchen,” Benny said. “I’m sure of it.”
    â€œJimmy must have carried hot water in it,” Henry concluded. “He probably poured it on the ice castle to melt it.”
    â€œThere’s still the ice rink,” Jessie reminded them.
    â€œEveryone was too busy today to do much skating,” Henry said. “Jimmy could’ve chopped up that ice any time.”
    â€œHe left the ski hill after his turn,” Benny said. “He probably did it then.”
    â€œBefore he melted the castle,” Jessie added.
    â€œWhat about the missing keys?” Violet asked.
    â€œAnd the flat tires?” Benny added.
    â€œI’m not sure about those things,” Henry said. “Jimmy did have the chance to do them, but — ”
    â€œThat’s right!” Benny interrupted. “Mr. Mercer said he parked the truck by the ice rink. Jimmy went skating that morning — before breakfast!”
    â€œThe keys disappeared the first day,” Violet said. “Jimmy could have taken them when he signed the guest book.”
    They decided to take a break from thinking. Jessie got out their homemade cookies and poured juice. Benny unwrapped his cake. They ate in silence.
    Finally, Violet said, “I guess we’ve answered all the questions.”
    â€œExcept the most important one,” Henry responded. “We