The Celebrity Cat Caper by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2016-03-21T14:18:09+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Paw Print Photos

The next night Henry, Benny, Violet, and Jessie arrived at the mansion early so they could ride with Walter to the awards show. Grandfather drove them to the big house, then went to the kitchen to have a quick cup of tea with Geoffrey. Meanwhile, the children waited in the foyer with Robbie. Olivia, Natalie, and Matt were coming with them as well, but they were still

getting ready.

“I still don’t know why Geoffrey was so insistent that we come along,” Jessie whispered to Henry.

Henry nodded. “I know. But it’s fun to be part of the excitement.”

Olivia seemed to be running late. “I can’t find my medication,” she moaned, sniffling. “I think I am getting a cold.” She was wearing a mustard-colored dress that swept over one shoulder and reached to the floor. Her little matching purse was stuffed with tissues.

“Maybe you should stay here,” Robbie told her.

It was clear to the children that Robbie didn’t care for Olivia much, and the feeling was mutual.

“If you’re worried about catching my cold, maybe you should stay back,” she said, punctuating the thought with a loud sneeze.

“Ugh,” he said. “Get a mask.”

“Get a life,” she retorted. She turned toward the grand staircase and called for Walter. “Come!”

Violet couldn’t help but notice that Olivia was wearing a large blue sapphire necklace. “It doesn’t take an artist to know that pendant clashes with her dress,” she told Jessie in a whisper. “Olivia seems very fashion conscious. I’d have thought she’d pick something with bits of yellow, like topaz maybe.”

“I bet it’s real…isn’t it?” Jessie said.

Suddenly Natalie burst into the foyer, followed by Matt.

“You took it!” Natalie shouted, pointing at Olivia. She marched up to her cousin, high heels clacking on the marble floor, and grabbed the necklace.

Olivia coughed. “Stop it! You’re choking me.”

Natalie was wearing a blue dress. Violet was certain she picked it to match the sapphire necklace.

“That’s my aunt’s pendant and I was going to wear it tonight—you…you…thief!” She tightened her hands around the necklace. Olivia gasped for air.

“Whoa. That’s enough, Natalie.” Matt broke up the battle by dragging his sister away. “First, you can’t make accusations while the police are investigating missing jewelry. And second, if you choke Olivia to death, you’ll go to jail.”

“And then you’ll miss the awards show,” Benny added.

Natalie turned to glare at him.

Matt pointed a finger straight at his sister. “You need to lighten up, Natalie. I also lost everything when that will was read. But Auntie Beulah’s wishes are set. Nothing more to do about it. Go on, borrow another of Auntie’s jewels from Walter. I’m sure he won’t mind if you wear a necklace tonight. We will wait.”

“I wanted that necklace…” she said, growling at Olivia and muttering, “thief!”

“It all belongs to Walter now,” Olivia retorted, “And borrowing a necklace for the evening from my favorite cat does not make me a thief.” She turned to Matt. “Thanks for helping. Everyone around here acts like I am the bad guy. All I have done is to take care of the cat.

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