9. Nate Knows Something

Chapter 9 Nate Knows Something "Your sister?" Brian said. "Ruth Rose?" "I only have one sister," Nate said. He pointed to a small circle in the middle of one of the squares of snow. "See that? That's a thumbtack in the bottom of her boot. I saw it there this morning."

"Are you sure?" Bradley asked. "Positive," Nate said. "If we go home, I'll show you." "Ruth Rose snuck into our room?" Bradley said. Brian slid the paper back into the freezer. "Why would she steal our puppy?" he asked. Nate shrugged. "Maybe she didn't. There's no puppy in my house," he said. "Just one big cat with sharp claws." "I can't believe she'd take the puppy," Bradley said. "She's our friend!" "Bro, we know Ruth Rose was in our room, and the puppy is gone. Who else could have taken it?" asked Brian. "Let's go talk to her," Nate said. "I think she's at Dink's house." Bradley and Brian grabbed their jackets from the hallway. "Going for a walk, Mom!" Bradley yelled into the living room. "Take your dog," their father called. Bradley looked at the other three kids. "Do they know about…?" he whispered.

"Dad means take Pal," Brian whispered back. He called, "Here, Pal!" Pal came bounding to Brian, and he clipped on the dog's leash. They stepped outside and started walking. Pal sniffed the fresh snow. The houses on Farm Lane looked pretty. The roofs were covered with snow, and the kids could see Christmas trees through some windows. A man was out walking his dog. The dog was a greyhound, and it had a red scarf wrapped around its long neck. The two dogs woofed at each other. At the corner of Farm Lane and Woody Street, they turned right and came to Nate's house. He looked up and pointed. "That's Ruth Rose's room, but her light isn't on. She must be next door." The kids trudged to Dink's house. A lot of lights were on. Lucy opened the door, and they all hung up their jackets and kicked off their boots.

Nate picked up a blue boot from the pile under the coatrack. "This is my sister's," he said. He turned the boot over. Stuck in the sole was a thumbtack. "Same little squares," Brian said. "The frozen clue came from this boot!" Dink's mother came out of the kitchen. "Hi, kids," she said. She bent and patted Pal's head. "Merry Christmas, Pal!" "Hi, Mrs. Duncan," the kids said. "Is my sister here?" Nate asked. Mrs. Duncan nodded. "She and Josh are up in Dink's room with the door closed." She smiled. "Some big Christmas secret, they told me. Here, Lucy, take these up with you." She handed a plate of cookies to Lucy. The four kids climbed the stairs, with Pal leading the way. They walked down the hall to Dink's room. The door was closed. They heard music and laughing from inside the room. Lucy knocked. "Dink, it's Lucy," she said. "Your mom sent up some cookies." The door opened, but not all the way. Josh's face peered out. "I'll take them," he said. One of

his arms came through the opening to grab the plate. Before the door could close, a golden-brown puppy with white feet shot through the opening.