"Martin, Ann M - Baby-sitters Club Mystery 011 - Claudia and the Mystery at the Museum" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin Ann M)

"Same thing with this museum in Oregon," I said. "They had the biggest art robbery that had ever taken place in that state. And guess who was the curator?"
"Nothing on the museum in California," said Mary Anne. "It just says that Mr. Snipes bought a lot of paintings that completed their collection."
"But this museum in New Jersey was robbed when he was there," said Kristy, sounding excited. "The thieves got away with thousands of dollars worth of antiquities. What are antiquities?"
"Old stuff," said Mallory. "Valuable old stuff."
"We should go to the police," said Stacey. "It's obvious that this guy is a criminal. I mean, robberies happened in three out of the four museums he worked at."
"I don't know," said Kristy thoughtfully. "I mean, we don't actually have evidence that he was involved in all these robberies. Maybe he just has bad luck."
"Maybe, but I doubt it," I said. Personally, I was feeling kind of happy about finding all
this evidence. I was glad I had swiped the resume. I knew that guy was sinister. And now we practically had proof he was an art thief.
Practically. Not really, though. Kristy was right. It wasn't time to go to the police. Not yet. Not until we were positive.
Chapter 9.
"Hey, Kristy!" Adam jumped out of a tree in the Pikes' yard as Kristy dashed up the front walk. Jordan and Byron were right behind him.
"We're going to build a tree fort," said Jordan importantly. "If s going to be like a castle, with towers and places to pour boiling oil out of, and we're going to dig a moat around the bottom of the tree, too!"
"Plus we're going to hang a big flag from it," added Adam. "It's going to tell the name of our club and say that no girls are allowed."
"But we'll let you up in it," said Byron generously. "There's going to be a rope ladder, and we'll let you climb it."
"It sounds great," said Kristy. "Do you already have all your wood and nails and everything?"
"Wood?" asked Byron.
"Nails?" asked Adam.
"Well, no," said Jordan, "but as soon as the plans are ready, then we'll get the stuff we need to build it. If s going to be awesome!"
The triplets climbed back up into the tree. Kristy smiled. She wondered if they would actually build the tree house. It almost didn't matter, since planning it was obviously as much fun as playing in it.
Kristy rang the doorbell. She was looking forward to her sitting job that day, watching four of the Pike kids. The triplets would be going to soccer practice, which left Vanessa, Margo, Nicky, and Claire in Kristy's care. Mal wasn't sitting for them that day Ч she was taking it easy, since she hadn't been feeling well.
"Kristy's here!" yelled Claire, flinging the door open. "Hi, Kristy-silly-billy-goo-goo!"
"Hi, Claire, you little bear," said Kristy playfully.
"Hi, Kristy," said Margo, following Claire into the hallway. "Did Claire tell you yet?"
"Tell me what?" asked Kristy.
"You tell her," said Claire, suddenly shy.
"No, you," said Margo.
"I'll tell her," said Nicky, who had just joined them. He was holding a sandwich Ч peanut butter on a pumpernickel bagel. He took a big bite. "Wfmph vronna ghaf uh schoe," he said.
"What?" Kristy asked.
"He said we're going to have a show," explained Margo.
"A show!" echoed Claire, looking very excited. "And we're going to invite all the neighbors."
"A show?" repeated Kristy. "I didn't know
you guys had been rehearsing a show. Mal didn't mention it. You're inviting the neighborhood over?"
Margo nodded.
"When are you planning to put on this show?" asked Kristy, hoping it wouldn't be for a week or so.
"Today," said Margo.
"Today? This afternoon?" Kristy groaned.
Just then, Mrs. Pike came bustling into the room. "I've got to run," she said to Kristy. "Thanks for being on time. I'll be back by six."
"Fine," said Kristy. "Oh, uh, Mrs. Pike?" She wanted to ask Mrs. Pike whether the kids could put on their show, but Mrs. Pike was on her way out the door, calling to the triplets. She didn't hear Kristy at all.
"LetТs go, boys!" called Mrs. Pike. "If you want a ride to soccer practice you have to come right now. Otherwise you can walk." The triplets made a break for the car. Mrs. Pike waved to Kristy and the other kids as she climbed in and started the engine.
"Bye," said Kristy, almost to herself. Now the issue of the show was up to her. Mal was napping, and she didn't want to wake her up just to ask her opinion. She turned to Margo. "Where's Vanessa? Is she in your show?"
Margo nodded. "I think so. She was upstairs in her room writing something for it. A 'poetic
Interlude,Т she called it. Something like that."
"Oh, dear," said Kristy, imagining Vanessa reading an epic poem as all the neighbors watched politely. "Tell me more about what you're planning," she said. "Is there going to be singing? Dancing? Are you going to put on skits?"
Margo and Nicky exchanged looks. "If s just a show," said Margo. "It'll be fun, we promise. And it's all ready."
"Please can we do it?" begged Claire. "Please?"
"Well, I guess itТll be all right if everyone stays outdoors," said Kristy, figuring that if the actors Ч or the audience Ч got wild they would be better off outside where things wouldn't get broken.
"No!" howled Claire. УIt can't be outside. It has to be in the rec room!"
"Claire's right," said Margo. "It has to be inside."
"We can fit a lot of people in there," said Nicky thoughtfully. "I figured it out once. That room can probably hold fifty people. As long as some of them are kids, that is."
"Fifty people?" said Kristy, shocked. "No way, Jose! We are not going to crowd fifty people into your rec room to see something you just planned today." She envisioned a huge audience making a commotion when