Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 When the kids stepped out of the elevator, Uncle Warren was waiting in the hallway. "Thank you for leaving me a note, but it's past your bedtime, Donny" "Is the detective still here?" Dink asked. "No, he left a few minutes ago," his uncle said. "He checked for fingerprints and took samples of the orange peels and juice." They walked into the kitchen. The orange peels were gone, but the floor was still sticky. Patches of white fingerprint powder made blotches on the

counter and kitchen table. The empty fruit bowl was in the sink. "Do you know Mrs. Cornelius?" Dink asked his uncle. Uncle Warren smiled. "A lot of people know Corinne Cornelius," he said. "She was a Broadway actress years ago. She lives in the apartment right below this one. We have tea together all the time. Why do you ask?" Dink told his uncle what they'd learned from Roger. "Mrs. Cornelius might have seen the thief on her balcony" he said. "Maybe she can tell us what he looks like!" "Donny Mrs. Cornelius is quite old," his uncle said. "And I'm afraid her eyesight is failing." Uncle Warren looked around his kitchen and sighed. "I should clean up, but I'm exhausted. This mess will have to wait till morning," he said. "Now off to bed, kiddos." "We'll help you tomorrow," Ruth Rose said. "Thank you, my dear. Sweet dreams, everyone," Uncle Warren said as he padded toward his bedroom. "I don't know about you guys," Ruth Rose said, "but I couldn't sleep a wink right now."

"Me either," Dink said. The three headed for the living room. Ruth Rose sat next to Dink on the sofa, and Josh plopped down on the carpet. "I've been thinking," Ruth Rose said. "How many people knew your uncle had a valuable painting in his apartment?" "Roger might have known about it," Dink said. Josh sat up. "Of course!" he said. "Roger's the crook!" "But he was at the door all night," Dink said. "That's what he told us," Ruth Rose said. "He could have been lying. Does Roger have the key to this apartment?" "Guys, my uncle and Roger are friends," Dink protested. "Plus, he's worked in this building for ages." "Don't you watch TV?" Josh asked, wiggling his eyebrows up and down. "The butler—I mean, the doorman—did it!" Dink laughed. "You're crazy. No way Roger snuck up here and stole that painting." Josh got up and walked into the kitchen. Dink heard the refrigerator door open and close. "Well, who else knew about it?" Ruth Rose asked.

"How about Miss Booker?" Josh said when he came back. He was carrying a handful of grapes. "She told us she used to swing on a trapeze. Maybe she climbs buildings now. Plus, she knew we were all out of the apartment during the block party." Ruth Rose nodded. "She's the building manager, so I'll bet she has keys to all the apartments. She wouldn't have to climb the building!"

"But how would she know my uncle even had the painting?" Dink asked. "Dink, remember your uncle said one of Miss Booker's jobs is delivering packages?" Ruth Rose said. "Maybe she brought the painting up to your uncle. He might have told her what was inside the wrapping." "And she might have told Roger," Josh said. "Heck, maybe they did it together. Roger could've been the lookout while she was up here stealing the painting!" "And tossing orange peels all over the place?" Dink said. "Wouldn't that be kind of dumb?" "Maybe she did that on purpose," Ruth Rose said. "Leaving orange peels on the balcony would make it look like the crook climbed down the building." "Yeah," Josh said, "and that would make us think it was someone who didn't have keys." "Okay, but what about the juice all over the kitchen?" Dink asked. "Why would Miss Booker do that?" "Easy" Josh said, "she wanted to confuse the cops."

Dink yawned, then stood up and stretched. "Well, whoever it was did a good job confusing me!" He walked out to the balcony and looked up at the stars. High in the sky, he made out the blinking lights on an airplane. He wondered where the plane was coming from. Josh and Ruth Rose came and stood next to him. "I thought of someone else who might have known about the painting," Ruth Rose said. "Who?" Dink asked. "Mrs. Cornelius," she answered. Dink stared at her. "But she's old and can't see well," he said. "My uncle told us that a little while ago." "He also told us she used to be an actress," Ruth Rose said. "Besides," Josh added, "you don't need perfect eyesight to steal a painting." "But if Mrs. Cornelius is the crook, why would she tell Roger she saw someone on her balcony?" "Maybe she did it to keep anyone from suspecting her," Ruth Rose said.