Chapter 8

Chapter 8 "Well, at least we know where the thief got the wood for the fire," Ruth Rose said. The kids were outside again, standing between the supermarket and the fire station. "So where did the guy take the duck bank in his jeep?" Josh asked. "Mr. Pocket said he was on Main Street, but we don't know which direction he was going." "Yes, we do," Ruth Rose said. Josh looked at her. "Ruth Rose, the guy could have been heading north or south."

Ruth Rose shook her head. "He couldn't have been heading south," she said. "Mr. Pocket told us the jeep passed him on the corner of Indian Way Road. If it was coming from the fire station, the jeep had to be going north." "She's right," Dink said. "And north is toward River Road." Josh looked in that direction. "So when he got to River Road, he either turned right toward Blue Hills, or left toward Hartford." "Let's go talk to Mr. Pocket," Ruth Rose suggested. "He might remember which way the jeep turned." "Where do we find him?" Dink asked. "He lives at number 10 Indian Way Road," Ruth Rose said. Josh laughed and shook his head. "How can you remember stuff like that?" he asked. Ruth Rose just smiled. The kids collected Pal from the bike rack, and then they cut behind the fire station to Indian Way Road. Number 10 was a small gray-shingled house behind a white fence. Rosebushes filled the yard and drooped over the fence. A stone path led from

the gate to the porch, where Mr. Pocket was sitting in a rocking chair. Randolph was on his lap. "Well, hello again," the elderly man called out. "Hi," Dink said, standing at the gate. "We had some questions about the jeep you saw last night. Could we talk to you?" "Of course," Mr. Pocket said. "Come on in! Mind the roses—those thorns love arms and legs!" Dink opened the gate and the kids stepped through. "Would you mind closing it behind you?" Mr. Pocket called. "Randolph thinks he can go exploring without me!" Ruth Rose smiled at Mr. Pocket. She pulled the gate shut and made sure the latch snapped into place. The kids walked carefully past the rosebushes and joined Mr. Pocket on his porch. Pal looked up at Randolph and wagged his tail. "Okay Randolph, you can visit your friend," Mr. Pocket said. He set his dog on the porch near Pal. Then he stood and removed a bunch of newspapers from a long bench. "Please sit," he told the kids.

The kids lined up on the bench and Mr. Pocket dropped back into his chair. A pair of eyeglasses lay on a low table next to the chair. Mr. Pocket put on his glasses and smiled at the kids. "Now, please tell me what's going on," he said. "Why all the interest in this jeep?" The kids told Mr. Pocket about the money being collected, the fire, and the theft of the duck bank. "That wasn't a passenger you saw in the seat next to the driver," Dink said. "It was the duck bank." "Well, I'll be pickled!" Mr. Pocket said. "I remember thinking it was strange how the moon reflected off his face. And all the time, it was a plastic duck!" "Um, you wouldn't happen to know which way he turned on River Road?" Dink said. "Did he have a blinker on?" Mr. Pocket shook his head. "Nope. Didn't have any lights on at all. That's why I didn't see him till he almost ran over my toes!"

Mr. Pocket leaned forward. "And if you want my opinion, the driver never meant to turn on River Road," he said. "I truly believe he aimed his jeep straight for the river!" Dink gulped. "Right into the water?" he said. The old man nodded. "Yep. Unless that jeep knew how to fly." "That would explain why the guys in the fire truck didn't pass the jeep," Dink said. "I'd like to make a donation for your duck bridge," Mr. Pocket said. He fished a small leather pouch from his pocket and took out four quarters.

He leaned over and handed them to Josh. "Always liked ducks." "Thanks a lot, sir," Josh said as he accepted the money. "If we find the bank, I'll put it in for you." The kids and Pal left Mr. Pocket sitting on his porch with his dog. They walked to the corner of Main, then turned left and headed for the river. Between the edge of River Road and the water, there was a patch of weeds. Some of them were crushed flat, lying toward the river. When the kids were close enough, they realized that there were actually two flattened strips, side by side. Josh bent over the smashed grass. "They sure look like tire tracks to me," he said. "Mr. Pocket was right!" Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose sat and looked out over the river. Pal put his front feet in the river and began lapping up water. Josh held the leash so Pal couldn't go out any farther. "Could the jeep drive right across the river?" Ruth Rose asked. "Sure," Josh said. "On TV I've seen guys in jeeps plow right through water deeper than this."