The Shockhoe Slip Gang: A Mystery by Patricia Cecil Hass & Illustrations by Laura Corson

Author:Patricia Cecil Hass & Illustrations by Laura Corson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patricia C. Hass
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I hear you’re the brave soul who rescued me,” Professor Saunders said.

“Me and my friends,” Henry answered, startled at how pale the professor looked, propped up in his hospital bed. An IV was taped to his arm.

The professor gestured at the two chairs in his room. “Please, sit down,” he said. “I want to explain.”

Henry and Mrs. Morrison sat, and the professor leaned back against his pillow.

“Sir, I saw you online,” Henry said. “You said the guys who started this country – you call them the Founding Fathers – had to meet in secret because the British were trying to catch them. When they sent each other messages, sometimes they hid them in their kids’ toys.”

The professor smiled. “You learned my theory.” Then he sighed and stared into space. “But you don’t know how hard it’s been to prove. People who own old toys don’t want them pried open, especially by some crazy professor with a crazy theory. Although,” he sat up straighter, his voice firm, “It’s not so crazy. I’ve done the research.”

He looked around the room, but Henry could tell he wasn’t seeing the TV in the corner or the hosptal’s helicopter pad outside the window. He was miles away in another world, the world of history he loved. Henry shifted in his chair, and the professor started talking again.

“Last year,” he said, “one of my graduate students heard about the toy exhibit coming to the museum. That student knows my theory, and said he knew a staff member who might let us borrow a few toys for a day. I became so excited, I lost my common sense and didn’t ask any questions. Considering what happened, I should have.” He stopped to sip some water and took several deep breaths.

“Are you sure you want to talk this much now?” Mrs. Morrison looked worried. “We can come back later.”

The professor shook his head. “I’m fine.” He put down the glass and leaned back. “I never dreamed my student, Jason, was going to rob the museum. He was my top scholar.” The professor sounded proud. “Always buried in a book and a little naive, but a fine young man.”

Mrs. Morrison leaned forward, “Maybe you inspired him, so he was willing to do anything to help you.”

“And maybe he wanted to prove your theory too,” Henry added.

The professor stared at them. “Those are lovely ideas. But they don’t change what happened.”

“So what did happen?” Henry tried not to sound impatient, but he couldn’t help wondering what Sally and Andrew were doing. The professor must have noticed because he hurried on. “The night of the robbery, Jason called to tell me he had to work — he’s a clerk in a tire store — but two of his friends would bring the toys to my house.”

Henry nearly jumped from his chair. The tire store! So it was the right place! And this guy Jason probably was the clerk the owner had told Sally about!

“Shortly afterwards two men arrived at my door,” the professor continued.

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