Chapter 10

Chapter 10 "We can't just show up at the guy's house," Josh said. "He'd just deny the whole thing." "But we have this X-ray for proof," Dink said. "And that autograph book." "Get real, Dink. We're kids and he's a grownup," Josh said. "He'll just tell us to get lost." "I know one person he won't tell to get lost," Ruth Rose said as she reached for the telephone.

Twenty minutes later, Officer Fallon was sitting in Dink's living room. The kids told him the whole story. "I'm glad you called me," Officer Fallon said. "George Shill might still have the pendant. He hasn't had much time to get rid of it." He placed a call to the Hartford chief of police. They agreed to meet near Georgie's house in forty-five minutes. "Dink, you should come along to identify this guy," Officer Fallon said. "Are your folks home?" "They went out," Dink said. "But I could leave them a note telling them I'm with you." Dink looked at Josh and Ruth Rose. "Could they come, too? They solved the mystery," he said. Officer Fallon grinned. "Sure, we'll all go," he said. "I wouldn't want to break up the gang!" Two Hartford police cruisers were waiting when Officer Fallon pulled up to the corner of Laurel Street. The kids waited in the backseat as Officer Fallon talked with the Hartford officers.

"You ready, Dink?" Officer Fallon asked when he came back to his cruiser. Dink nodded. His stomach was flipping like a fish on a line. "Let's go," Officer Fallon said. "The other guys will be around back, in case Georgie decides to leave that way." Officer Fallon drove slowly up Laurel Street and stopped at number 13. The house was old and made of brick. One shutter was hanging crooked and the lawn needed mowing. All the shades were pulled down. Officer Fallon and Dink walked up to the door. Dink was holding the envelope with the X-ray inside. His legs felt like cooked spaghetti. The man who answered the door was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He was barefooted and eating a doughnut, but Dink recognized him. It was the "doctor" who had been in the first-aid tent the day before. "It's him," Dink whispered.

"Mr. Shill, is it?" Officer Fallon said. George Shill swallowed nervously. "What … who …?" Officer Fallon held out the autograph book. "Did you lose this?" Georgie looked at the book. "I … I think so. Where did you find it?"

"Penelope Gwinn had it," Officer Fallon said. "She was signing it for you when you grabbed her diamond pendant yesterday. Then you hid the jewel in this boy's bandage so you could sneak it past the cops in Bushnell Park. You removed it at the hospital when you took X-rays." George Shill nearly dropped his doughnut. His mouth opened and shut, but no words came out. "Nothing to say, Mr. Shill? Or should I call you Dr. Fleming?" Officer Fallon said. "Maybe this will help you find your tongue." Officer Fallon nodded to Dink, who held up the X-ray. "Mr. Shill, if I searched your house, would I find Miss Gwinn's pendant?" Officer Fallon asked. "Would I find the jacket you stole from Dr. Fleming's office?" Georgie found his voice. "I—I can explain everything," he stammered. "Yes, I'm sure you can, but let's save it till we get to the station," Officer Fallon said, pulling out his handcuffs. Officer Fallon handed Georgie over to the Hartford cops. Then, with the pendant safe in his

shirt pocket, he drove the kids to the Parkview Hotel. Officer Fallon parked, then pulled the diamond penguin and its chain from his pocket. He passed it over to the backseat. "I called ahead, and she'll be waiting in the lobby." Dink took the pendant and the kids walked into the lobby. Penelope Gwinn and her manager were sitting together. "Here, you should give it to her," Dink said, handing the pendant to Ruth Rose. "You found Georgie's name in the autograph book." Ruth Rose took the pendant, then she gave it to Josh. "You figured out how to find him," she said. "Go ahead, Penelope is waiting." Penelope Gwinn and Hans stood up and smiled. Josh gulped and handed the diamond penguin to Penelope. "Thank you so much!" she said. "How did you ever find it?" "We found a name inside the autograph book," Ruth Rose explained. They told the whole story, and Dink showed her the X-ray. Officer Fallon was on his telephone. He hung up and stepped forward. "Georgie Shill got tossed