The Secret at Jefferson's Mansion Read Online Free

paced.
    â€œI’ve been thinking, Marsh. What if there were two glass cases, exactly alike?” she asked. “The crook could have stolen the case with the horses in it and replaced it with an empty case. Then he wouldn’t have needed the key.”
    â€œKC, the horses got taken while wewere upstairs with Mrs. Cross,” Marshall reminded her. “It was only about twenty minutes. How would the crook have made the switch? Where was the other glass case hidden? And where did he hide the one with the horses in it?”
    â€œI don’t know,” KC said. She threw herself into a chair. “But if the crook didn’t have a key to the case, he must’ve done it some other way.”
    â€œMaybe it was magic,” Marshall said, making his voice sound mysterious.
    â€œYeah, right,” KC said.
    â€œSure,” Marshall went on. “The crook was a magician like that guy on TV who makes tigers disappear. Only this guy made horses vanish!”
    KC counted out seven Scrabble tiles. “I think he had a key,” she said. “Dr. Spendertold us the security guard might have held on to a second key.”
    â€œYou think the guard stole the horses?” Marshall asked.
    KC shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “But it’s weird that the guard was gone while a robbery was taking place.”
    â€œMrs. Peeps said he was doing something for Dr. Spender,” Marshall reminded her.
    â€œI remember, Marsh,” KC said. “I just think it’s strange, that’s all.”
    â€œWhat’s even more weird is his name,” Marshall continued.
    KC looked at him. “His last name is lea.
    â€œAnd his first name is Gil,” Marshall said. “Gil Tea. Get it?”
    â€œHa, very funny,” KC said.
    Marshall selected his tiles. “I go first,” he said.
    â€œWhy?” KC asked.
    â€œBecause I won last time, remember?” Marshall said.
    â€œWrong! I beat you by thirty-seven points last time!” KC said.
    â€œOh yeah, you’re right,” Marshall said.
    KC stared at her tiles, but her mind was back at Monticello. Those twelve little horses had been lost for two hundred years. Would they be lost again, this time forever?
    â€œAt least we know the crook isn’t Mrs. Cross,” Marshall went on. “She was with us when the horses were taken.”
    KC thought about the time they’d spent with the tall deep-voiced woman. “I wonder why she kept checking her watch,” she said.
    â€œLet me guess,” Marshall said, rolling his eyes. “To see what time it was?”
    â€œMarsh, she peeked at her watch about ten times while we were with her,” KC said. “It was almost like she was waiting for something.”

5
The Stranger’s Face
    The rain had stopped during the night, but the morning was damp and foggy. They waited on the front porch until a green taxi pulled up to the Virginia House. Lois and KC put their bags in the trunk, but Marshall kept his pack with him.
    â€œWhat’re you hiding in there, Marsh?” Lois teased.
    â€œHis snacks, Mom,” KC answered before Marshall had a chance.
    The cab drove slowly through deep fog. “Like driving in clam chowder,” the driver muttered.
    He dropped them at Monticello. KC could hardly see the building through thefog. Pearl Peeps opened the door as they trooped up the brick walkway.
    â€œGood morning, Mrs. Peeps,” Lois said. “Have the detectives arrived yet?”
    â€œI don’t know about any detectives,” Mrs. Peeps said. Her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. “We had the police, though. They came yesterday right after you left and searched the house and grounds.”
    â€œDid they find the horses?” Lois asked.
    â€œI’m afraid not,” Mrs. Peeps said.
    â€œI see,” Lois said. “My husband is sending detectives from the FBI office. They should be here