The Pet Show Mystery

Paul Gale, because if you were there the same day we were, Paul Gale wasn’t around,” Honey said. “His assistant was there alone.”
    “He was around,” Norma said. “He was in the back room. His assistant was, too. When I walked into the office, there was nobody in the main room. The door to the back room was open, so I went over to it, thinking I’d just clear my throat to get someone’s attention. I heard two people talking, though, so I decided to wait until they were finished with their conversation.
    “First I heard a man’s voice say, ‘There sure are a lot of pigeons here in Sleepyside.’ At the time, I thought he was talking about real pigeons. I was surprised at the remark— why would a stranger notice something like that about a town? Now, though, I think he meant—”
    “Pigeons!” Trixie exclaimed. “Of course! That’s what swindlers call their victims. He meant lots of people in Sleepyside are giving money to his phony foundation!”
    Norma continued, ignoring the outburst. “Next, a woman’s voice said, ‘Well, it isn’t pigeon feed that you’ll be taking to Thailand next month.’ I assumed she meant they were feeding people—not birds—because on TV he’d criticized feeding the birds. But—”
    “But really that’s the term swindlers use for a lot of cash,” Trixie said. Realizing she’d interrupted again, she clapped her hand over her mouth.
    Norma went right on. “Then, the man’s voice said, ‘Yeah, but it’s a lot of ice I’ll be bringing back.’ Now that really confused me, because I always thought it was hot in Thailand, so you wouldn’t think they’d be exporting ice. Besides, ice is so easy to make, I couldn’t imagine anyone importing it, and—” Trixie had to speak up or burst. “Ice! Gems! He was admitting he buys gems with the money!”



13 * The Evidence on Ice

    “WE HAVE TO TELL David Llewelyn about this,” Trixie told Norma. “Is there a phone down here?”
    As soon as Norma pointed out the phone, Trixie bounded to her feet. Reddy, who had been waiting patiently, bounded up right with her.
    In seconds, Trixie was back. “David Llewelyn isn’t around,” she said, “so I left a message. I can’t wait to tell him about this!”
    “Then let’s not wait,” Honey said. “I bet we can find him down by the foundation office.”
    “Good idea,” Trixie said. “Except for one thing.” She cast a pointed look at Reddy. “We can’t take him downtown with us. He’d call attention to us and to David Llewelyn.
    “Okay, here’s what we’ll do,” Trixie continued. “You and Norma head downtown. Brian and Jim are at the sign-up table at school, so I’ll drop Reddy off there. I’ll tell the boys I have to meet you, so I can’t stay.”
    “Will they buy that?” Honey asked.
    “It doesn’t matter,” Trixie said. “Even if they take me home, you and Norma will still be able to get to David Llewelyn with the evidence against Paul Gale. Let’s go.”
    The three girls split up a couple of blocks before the school, with Honey and Norma heading downtown. Trixie hurried on, with Reddy bounding along at her side. “Bobby will be so happy to see you,” she told the Irish setter. She felt a slight twinge as she realized that she’d miss the reunion. But I ’ ll be there to give the good news to David Llewelyn, she thought. That will be just as exciting.
    At school, she tied Reddy’s leash to the door handle of the Bob-Whites’ station wagon, then ran into the building to find the boys.
    She found Brian and Jim just finishing up at the sign-up table. “You’ve got to come with me,” she said. “Right now. One of you, at least.”
    Brian and Jim looked at her, then at one another. Then Jim put the money they’d just collected into his shirt pocket, while Brian grabbed the coats that were lying on the floor.
    Seeing that they were about to follow, Trixie headed back to the parking lot. Reddy was still tied to the station wagon, but when he saw Trixie, he broke loose and ran toward her. Then, seeing Jim and Brian come out of the building, he ran past her to give the boys an enthusiastic greeting.
    “Where’d you find him?” Brian asked. It was clear that he was too happy to really care about the answer. Jim, however, gave Trixie another close look.
    “He just kind of—uh—turned up,” she said lamely.
    “So,” Brian said, “your suspicion turned out to be without foundation.”
    “Foundation?” Trixie started