“Hallelujah for that!” Mr. Wheeler exclaimed. “Let the police take care of them, Trixie. Remember the roadblocks that have been put up.”
“I remember that we’re working with the slipperiest crooks in the world,” Trixie said sadly.
“I’d settle for finding the diamond, sis,” Mart told her. “Boy, you’re good—really good! Keeping after that stone like you did till you found it!”
Trixie’s eyes brightened at Mart’s praise. It never was too plentiful. “Of course I’m glad the diamond has been found. I can just see Blinky’s face when he finally grabbed that idol, then got it outside and found the stone was missing! Jeepers, look at the time. I wish you didn’t have to take that plane!”
“There’s no other way out,” Ned said. “It’s a good thing we packed our bags last night.”
“You haven’t had anything to eat!” Diana wailed. “Nobody ate breakfast at that coffee shop.”
“Who cares?” Bob spoke for the Iowans. “We’ll get something on the plane. I don’t know about Ned and Barb, but I couldn’t choke a thing down. I’m too excited. Gosh, Trixie!”
“There’s never a dull moment around Trixie, Bob. I never thought I’d have a Sherlock Holmes—or should I say Dr. Watson—in my family, either.” Mr. Wheeler looked at Honey fondly. “I guess I’d better find some cabs. Is everyone going to the airport?”
“Of course,” Trixie said. “If we hurry like everything, maybe there’ll even be time to meet the Wellingtons on the plane from Paris.”
“That will be simply wonderfully wonderful!” Barbara said blissfully. “Hurry, everyone!”
“Simmer down, Barb,” Bob advised. “We’ll make it okay. Gosh, just think, those friends of yours were in Paris this morning and now New York for lunch!”
“We’ll keep these same cabs,” Mr. Wheeler said as they stopped at the apartment. “If your bags are packed, Bob and Ned can pick them up.”
“Good!” Trixie clapped her hands. “Then we’ll be sure to see the Wellingtons’ plane come in. Hustle!” she called to Ned and Bob.
“Before we go back to Sleepyside, we must take the diamond to the police,” Mr. Wheeler reminded her.
“And Trix can collect the loot,” Mart said.
“We’ll have to call Dr. Reed, too,” Mr. Wheeler said. “We promised to keep him up to date. Mart, I think you’re a little premature about that ‘loot,’ as you call it. Things don’t move that quickly.”
Trixie’s sparkling blue eyes saddened. “Things probably won’t move toward that station wagon at all. Those Peruvian police aren’t going to think I’ve done my work when Blinky, Big Tony, and Pedro are still loose. There are the boys with your bags. Come on. Let’s go!”
The cabs sped quickly out the crowded expressway toward Kennedy International Airport in the borough of Queens.
It was a gay and laughing crowd that disembarked, quickly checked the Maine-bound bags, and boarded a bus for the International Arrivals Building. There they huddled together against the rail on the observation deck to watch for a glint of the plane from Paris.
“Oh, I do hope it’s on time!” Barbara’s feet fairly danced. “Did anyone check?”
“I glanced at the board as we passed,” Mr. Wheeler told her. “It’s on time.”
“Doesn’t it seem as though everyone but us is going to some strange place in the world?” Trixie mourned. “See all that crowd down there! See the people in foreign clothes. Look at those Indians, for instance. Look at—great Christopher’s aunt! Mr. Wheeler, hurry, hurry—hurry! Police! Police! It’s Blinky and Pedro and Big Tony! I’m positive! They’re going out to that plane about to take off. Police! Do you see them, Mr. Wheeler?”
“I do,” Mr. Wheeler answered. “Here’s a policeman, Trixie. Officer! Listen to this young lady and act quickly. It’s a matter of vital importance! Thieves are making a getaway!”
The policeman, reacting quickly, called the control tower to hold the plane. Trixie, Honey, and their friends watched, fascinated, as far below them a patrol car roared out to the runway. Uniformed men poured out, surrounded the three thieves, and herded them into the waiting car.
“Jeepers, that’s that!” Trixie cried exultantly. “We have the diamond. Blinky, Big Tony, and Pedro are on their way to jail. Now, Mr. Wheeler, we’ll see what they have to say at the police station when we go back to the city.... Heavenly day, where’s the plane from Paris with the Wellingtons?”
“We’ve missed them,” Ned said. “The plane was due several minutes ago. How could we help missing them in all this excitement? But we can find them at the baggage pickup. Boy, is this a day! Stand over there, Trixie, facing the sun. Honey, too, I want to take a picture of the best girl detectives in the United States of America!”
“Don’t forget that we almost lost this case,” Trixie said modestly. “Why not have everyone in the picture? That means all the Bob-Whites and Mr. Wheeler and Miss Trask. Ned, you’ll be the only one missing.”
“I don’t care about that,” Ned said and clicked the camera. “What makes you look so serious all of a sudden, Trixie?” He looked at Trixie curiously.
“The plane’s wings shining in the sunlight down there,” Trixie answered, “like silver!”
“The last part of the prophecy!” Honey exclaimed. “Oh, Trixie!”
“You’re right.” Trixie quoted:
“All is not lost, though, little friend;
Rejoice, for peril, danger end
Near silver wings, past river’s bend.
Fortune is yours, fit for a king,
And hearts of little children sing.”
“Wow!” Bob cried. “If that doesn’t mean a reward and that station wagon for the handicapped kids, I miss my guess. Hurrah for the Mexican woman!”
“I hope Trixie and Honey do get a reward, and I hope they can help buy the wagon for the children,” Miss Trask said, “but I still say—”
“That it was all a string of coincidences.” Trixie finished Miss Trask’s sentence. “Maybe you’re right, but, jeepers, what if it was? We all had a lot of fun.”
“Boy, we sure did,” Bob cried. “Our whole visit was tops!”
“It was too wonderfully wonderful!” Barbara sighed ecstatically. “We’ve had the best time in the whole world! Thanks a million!”
“That goes for me, too,” Ned echoed. “Holy cow, Barb and Bob, let’s go! We’ll miss our plane!”
A Strange Beginning ● 1
Good-Luck Piece • 2
The Paper Prophecy ● 3
A Treacherous Trip ● 4
“It Isn’t Any Joke!” ● 5
“The Idol Is Worthless!” ● 6
Break-In ● 7
Wrong Number • 8
A Queer Coincidence ● 9
Trapped! ● 10
Showstoppers • 11
Close Call ● 12
Dr. Joe ● 13
A Mysterious Call ● 14
Trixie’s Secret Meeting ● 15
Lost Forever • 16
The Big Search • 17
The “Obvious” Answer ● 18
Table of Contents
A Strange Beginning ● 1
Good-Luck Piece • 2
The Paper Prophecy ● 3
A Treacherous Trip ● 4
“It Isn’t Any Joke!” ● 5
“The Idol Is Worthless!” ● 6
Break-In ● 7
Wrong Number • 8
A Queer Coincidence ● 9
Trapped! ● 10
Showstoppers • 11
Close Call ● 12
Dr. Joe ● 13
A Mysterious Call ● 14
Trixie’s Secret Meeting ● 15
Lost Forever • 16
The Big Search • 17
The “Obvious” Answer ● 18
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