Chapter 5

Chapter 5 "Who's Marion Unkenholz?" asked Josh. "I wonder if she's related to Pete," Dink said. "I think Marion is a man's name," Mrs. Mackleroy said. "The female Marian has an a instead of an o." Ruth Rose glanced at the monitor again. "The reporter who wrote the story is Susan Greene. Maybe she knows this Marion Unkenholz. Could we call her?" Mrs. Mackleroy picked up her phone and dialed information. She asked for the Coast Press in

Penobscot, wrote down the number, and handed the phone to Ruth Rose. Ruth Rose punched in the number, then listened. A second later, she asked to speak to Susan Greene. After a pause, she said, "Well, is there anyone else who can tell me anything about Marion Unkenholz? Your paper reported that he stole a van." Ruth Rose waited and then listened to someone else. "It is?" she said. "Oh. Well, thank you."

Ruth Rose handed the telephone back to Mrs. Mackleroy. "Susan Greene moved to California," she said. "But I spoke with another reporter. He remembered the stolen van because his sister works in Sugar's Bakery." "Did you find out if Pete is related to Marion?" Josh asked. Ruth Rose nodded. "Pete is Marion," she said. "Huh?" said Josh. "The reporter said the thief's full name is Marion Peter Unkenholz," Ruth Rose said. "I guess he goes by Pete." Dink just blinked at the news. He felt numb. "Could it be a different Pete Unkenholz?" he asked. Josh grinned. "Yeah, like there are a bunch of Unkenholzes running around in Pen … that place in Maine." "I'm sorry you had to get this bad news," Mrs. Mackleroy said. She took her purse from a drawer. "You're welcome to stay, but I have to get some lunch now." "Us too," Josh said. He looked at Dink and Ruth Rose.

"Okay," Dink said. "I don't know what else we can do." "Well, I have an idea," Ruth Rose said. The kids thanked Mrs. Mackleroy and left the library. "Does your idea have anything to do with lunch?" Josh asked Ruth Rose. "I'm so hungry I could eat a spider!" Ruth Rose headed down West Green Street. Dink and Josh shrugged, then followed her across Main Street. "Where are we going?" Dink asked. "To the river," Ruth Rose said, heading past the empty baseball field. "I want to check out Pete's trailer." "Why?" asked Josh. "Because I don't believe Pete is the kind of person who would take someone's van for a joyride," Ruth Rose said. "But you just told us that reporter said Pete did it!" Josh said. Ruth Rose shook her head. "I just have a feeling there has to be some other explanation," she said. "I guess I agree," Dink said. "It almost seems like Pete is two different people."

The kids followed a sunny path toward the river. In a clearing they saw picnic tables and fireplaces. Only one campsite was occupied. Under a tree was a small white trailer, the kind you pull behind a car or truck. A few yards away the Indian River sparkled in the sunlight. "Cool trailer," Josh whispered. "It would be fun to sleep here. You could fish from your bed!" Three aluminum steps led up to a door. Under a window was a lawn chair. A red-and-blue flannel shirt was draped over its back. The spot was quiet except for birdcalls and squirrels scampering in the leaves.

Josh picked up the shirt, then put it back on the chair. "How do we know if this is Pete's trailer?" he asked. Dink walked around the trailer. "I think it is," he said. "Look at this." Josh and Ruth Rose followed him. Dink pointed to the license plate. It was from Maine.