by Nydam, Anne
XXI. The Cat, the Book, and the Pizza
“Wait!” Polly cried, “Wait, I don’t think the game is over yet!”
“It’s over. Three people, three chances. I’m sorry you weren’t happy with your selections, but that’s the way the shell game goes.”
“But there were four of us and four Books. We still need to see the fourth choice.”
Ammon Blank raised an eyebrow. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness in including me, Miss Goggin, but consider this Book my choice.” He held up the last remaining Book, still wrapped in yellow silk.
“I don’t mean you. I mean Uber. Uber’s on our side and she’s here with us, so you need to give her a chance to choose a Book. Sit back down.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ammon Blank said dismissively, and he continued to back cautiously toward the doors behind him.
Raphael advanced on him. “You’d better wait, Mr Blank. The deal was that we’d all get a chance to choose, and Uber’s one of us. Besides, I’m sure you can cheat a cat easily enough. What have you got to lose?”
“All right, let’s get this joke over with,” Ammon Blank snapped. He crouched where he was and smacked the last Book down in front of him. “The cat’s job should have been to pick the fake book, but since that’s already sitting over there, it’ll have to be another.”
“Uber will pick the Dragon Book,” Polly said promptly, “The one you stole from Mr Salceda.” She set the cat down. “Okay, Uber, find your way home.”
Uber walked to the yellow-draped Book and sniffed at it.
“There, it’s made its choice,” Blank said, his hand reaching for the silk scarf.
“Uber’s not an it; she’s a she,” Polly replied automatically, “And she hasn’t chosen yet. She’ll sit down when she’s ready.”
Sure enough, the cat had now walked past the Book lying on the floor and begun to sniff at Ammon Blank’s knee. He watched uneasily as she moved around him, whiskers forward and neck outstretched, sniffing at his suit pocket, and on around to his back.
“What’s it doing? This is ridiculous,” he fumed, but the others ignored him as Uber picked her way delicately around him. When she reached his left elbow, she lifted her paw and poked tentatively at his side. A few more sniffs, a few more pokes, and she abruptly sat down, wrapped her tail neatly around her paws, and looked expectant.
Polly said, “There it is. She’s picked her Book.”
“What book?” retorted Mr Blank. “There’s only one Book here, and the cat isn’t even smart enough to find it. A cat doesn’t even know it’s supposed to pick a book. I told you this is stupid.” He leaned over and grabbed the Book once more.
“She has too found a Book,” Polly replied confidently. “There must be a Book right… here.” And she darted forward and jabbed Ammon Blank in the ribs, right where Uber was sitting.
The magician jumped up angrily, shoving Polly away so hard she fell over. Uber leapt to her feet and meowed indignantly.
“Hey!” Raphael boomed, “You do not touch Polly!”
“We’re done here!” Blank announced.
“Oh no we aren’t. Uber picked a Book and I want to see it. Open up your jacket and let’s see what you’ve got under there.”
“I felt it,” Polly said, sitting up and rubbing her elbow.
Raphael strode to the magician, seized the side of his suit coat and gave it a good hard shake. A Book came tumbling down. Uber jumped out of the way, and Polly scuttled forward to grab it.
“It’s the Dragon Book!” she called out triumphantly. “Uber picked the Dragon Book, so we get to keep it fair and square!”
In the moment that the others all turned to Polly and the Book she was happily waving, Ammon Blank took three steps to the nearest page. He stopped for an instant to snatch up the key that lay on the floor beside it, then he flung the door wide and disappeared through.
Polly stared in dismay as the huge paper door closed silently behind the thief.
Chen said quickly, “Polly, that was genius! Getting Uber to find a Book for us and making sure we got at least one back… You and Uber are awesome!”
“That is one slippery man,” Raphael remarked, “But at least we’re all safe. Now, how do we get out of this crazy place?”
“But he got the Wreath Book again!” Polly wailed, “We can’t go home without it or Mom’ll be so mad!”
“It’s okay, babe. We’ll call the police and report the theft, and they’ll get that book back no problem.”
Polly looked unconvinced, but Chen said, “We’d better get back to the others. I kind of grabbed the Dragon Book without Mr Salceda’s permission to come after you, Polly. He’s probably pretty mad at me. How long have we been here, anyway?” He looked at his watch. “Oh man, it’s 7:22 already. Definitely time to go… except I’m not quite sure how to get back to the museum. Let me think a minute. I came here through the portal to the Wreath Book, but that was such a weird thing, bringing us all here at once, I don’t know if it’ll work to get us back where I came from. And I don’t want to risk going wherever the Wreath Book is now and messing with Ammon Blank again.” He pulled the Dragon key out of his pocket and gazed at it indecisively.
Polly, stubborn as ever, urged, “But if we go to the Wreath Book we can retrieve it for my mom. And maybe stop Ammon Blank from going to Boston and claiming the Fortunate Richard fund.”
Chen shook his head. “No, we should get back to the others. I don’t know how to get to the museum, but we can go straight to Mr Salceda’s house through the page in the Dragon Book. And then he’s probably got a phone we can use to call my parents and ask them to get in touch with him at the museum… Hmm, my parents are going to think it’s pretty bizarre if Mr Salceda’s not there with us when he’s supposed to be hosting us for the night, but does anyone have a better idea?”
“Yeah, go get the Wreath Book back,” Polly muttered under her breath, but Chen could tell she didn’t really expect anyone to take her seriously.
He said hesitantly, “I’m sorry I said you were like Ammon Blank. You’d never really be like him, would you?” He added with a tentative smile, “And no one could ever accuse you of being nondescript.”
Polly returned the smile sheepishly. “Yeah, I’m sorry I yelled at you, too. I guess I did go a little too far wanting to get rid of him. But I didn’t want him to die, honestly. I just didn’t believe anything bad had actually happened to him. I thought you were just, you know, worrying again.”
“I do tend to worry, don’t I.”
“A little. But I guess sometimes it’s good, isn’t it? Because you were right this time.”
“But you were right about all the other doors we’ve gone through. More or less.”
Polly grinned. “And you’re probably right that we’d better get back to Cleveland.”
“Plate forty-seven it is, then,” Chen said, and turned to the last page in his Book.
“Who’s shaking the table?” growled Tobal irritably, his eye pressed to the eyepiece of the scrying scope.
Matias whooped and shouted, “It’s Chen and Polly!”
Tobal’s head jerked up. “You’re okay? Thank God. I thought I was going to have to tell your parents I’d lost you.” His relieved smile turned to a frown. “Give me back my Book this instant! Don’t you ever steal my Book and dash through it like that again. That was totally irresponsible!”
Head hanging, Chen handed over the Dragon Book without a word, but Polly leapt to his defense. “He came to rescue me, Mr Salceda! And he helped rescue Raphael, too, but it was Uber who got the Book back when Mr Blank stole it again, and we need a big glass of water for Raphael, please.”
“Whoa, slow down. Matias, get a glass of water for our guest, and then let’s hear the whole story.”
“And speak clearly, please, my dear. My hearing’s not what it was, you know.”
After Chen and Polly had explained all that had happened in the room of many doors, and after Raphael had been introduced to th
e others, he explained how he and Miranda Goggin had discovered Mr Blank in their back office, searching through the boxes of Franklin papers.
Tobal said, “I guess he must have been looking for more information to help him figure out that last clue.”
Polly nodded. “That’s right, because remember he took a cab away from the Old South Meeting House after he couldn’t find the hidden box? He must have had the cab take him to Goggin Antiques so he could search all the Franklin stuff again.”
“And when I tried to grab him he ran through this… strange door…” Raphael rubbed his forehead, still looking a little dazed. “I chased him through a few doorways – I didn’t even really see where we went. But we ended up in this bank vault, and he slammed the door on me and there I was, locked in, in the dark. He managed to pickpocket my wallet and cell phone, too. As he left he said, ‘You’d better hope your friends think you’re worth more than a few million bucks,’ or something. I didn’t know what was going on.”
“Well, you’re okay now, Raphael. We just have to figure out how to get home.”
“That’s easy,” Matias said, and when Chen looked at him skeptically he insisted, “No, this time it really is easy. Ammon Blank’s going to go to the bank first thing tomorrow morning to claim the money, right? And the bank is in Boston, and that’s where Polly and Mr Green live, right? So all we have to do is wait until tomorrow morning, open the portal to the Wreath Book, and they’ll be back in Boston.” He paused for a moment and then added mischievously, “Can we order the pizza now?”
Tobal nodded. “Excellent idea. Is everyone good with pizza? But before I call to place the order, I want Polly to call her mother. She’ll be awfully worried about you and Raphael by now.” He handed Polly his cell phone.
“I’ll just text her. How do you type on this thing with just the number keys?”
“But hurry up,” Matias urged, “I’ve been waiting a long time for this pizza.”
“I am hurrying,” Polly replied, laboring over the tiny keys on Tobal’s cell phone.
“If I had an iPhone it would all be so much easier,” murmured Chen under his breath.
“Ha, quit distracting me!” Polly giggled, “If I make any more typos Mom won’t even know what I’m trying to say.”
She typed, “Hg Mom. Its Poljy. I wnnt be able to get home until tomorsow mornig when the thiff goes to the bank for money. but im here with Raphael and weve got some peoqle here helpimg us, so dont worry. o and Uber got out agin too but shes here with us too. Cam you meet us downtowm at Union bank tomorrow at about 8:15 because thats probablx when mr Blank wikl go so then well be able to get througg the door. Thanks! Bye!”
She pressed Send and handed Tobal back his phone. “There. Thanks. Now you can order Matias’s pizza.”
It was just before eight o’clock the next morning and Mr Salceda was once again peering through his spy key stuck into the keyhole of Plate XXXII. The others, all looking rather rumpled, were in the kitchen helping Matias clean up their hurried breakfast. The rest of the evening had passed quickly – there was a lot to talk about. Chen didn’t know what the three grown-ups had discussed, sitting in the living room in their grown-uppy way, but he, Matias, and Polly had talked about books, and Books, doors and travel, and plenty of other interesting stuff. Mr Salceda had found places for all of them to sleep, and had taken Chen home to check in with his parents and pick up everything he’d need to sleep over. Polly, Mr Green, and Ms Whitaker had to be content to borrow T-shirts to sleep in, and were back in yesterday’s clothes again this morning.
They were just loading the last of the cereal bowls into the dishwasher when Tobal called out to Polly from the living room.
“I just got a message on my cell phone,” he said sternly, “It’s from some random person who says he isn’t anybody’s mom, he doesn’t have a daughter, and he doesn’t know anyone called Uber, Raphael, or Poljy.”
“What?”
“In other words, Polly, you sent your text last night to a wrong number! This guy was nice enough to notify me, but not until just now. That means your mother never got that message from you last night. She must be going crazy by now!”
“Whoops. Can you just resend it so I don’t have to type it all again?”
“Give me her number.” When Tobal had typed it in and sent the message he added, “Once we reach Boston you need to call her properly, just to make sure.”
“Yeah, okay. When are we going? Is Ammon Blank there yet?”
“I’ll tell you when.” Polly went back to join the others and Tobal focused through his spy key again. About half an hour later he called out, “Here he is! Everyone ready? Get your shoes on. We need to move!”
There was a scramble as the children rushed into the living room to search under furniture for the socks and shoes that had been discarded last night. In just a short time Tobal had the Dragon Book’s key ready, and everyone else gathered around him, Pearl clutching her huge handbag and Polly clutching Uber.
There was another delay as Tobal found a box for Polly to carry Uber in. “I don’t think the bank will appreciate a cat running loose,” he said. “Now, when I open the door I want everyone to walk through calmly and without a fuss. We don’t want to draw particular attention to ourselves. We may come through into the lobby, but we might come through into the bank manager’s office again, and if Mr Blank sees us he could get violent. But we’re not there to interfere with Mr Blank or the Franklin fund. We’re just there to make sure Polly and Raphael get safely on their way home, understand?”
“And Uber,” Polly murmured.
“And Uber. Ready?”
XXII. The Awarding of the Fund
The door opened and everyone filed through, Pearl first and Tobal last. They appeared in the bank’s sleek lobby, just in time to see Mr Blank enter Mr Rajagopal’s office. The bank manager, holding the door open for his client, caught Polly’s eye for an instant. His eyebrows flicked up in the slightest indication of surprise as he pulled his office door closed behind him.
“Perfect timing. That makes things less awkward,” said Tobal, slipping the Dragon Book into a messenger bag slung over his shoulder. “Now, let’s get you back to Wellesley.” He looked at his watch. “It’s almost 8:25. In rush hour traffic your mother might not be here yet, Polly, but shall we see if she’s outside? There’s probably nowhere to park right around here, so she might be waiting in the car.”
Raphael nodded, and the whole group turned toward the main doors of the bank. However, they hadn’t taken a step toward the exit before the glass doors opened and two policemen came through. One of the bank receptionists must have been waiting for them, because she rushed forward to greet them.
All Chen’s recent criminal activity flashed through his mind. Had the police finally caught up with them for vandalizing the Old South Meeting House just a few blocks away? Or was this because he and Polly had been to the Louvre without paying admission? Or perhaps it had to do with the criminal investigation they’d fled from in Scotland, or the government offices they’d trespassed in in Germany, if that was even where it was? Or had Polly let her enthusiasm get the better of her in one of the other doors she’d visited? Chen glanced over at Polly nervously and met her eyes.
“Uh oh!” she mouthed, looking half concerned and half amused.
The receptionist turned and led the police toward them. Polly shrank back closer to Raphael.
“Excuse me,” said the receptionist briskly, and pushed past Tobal to Mr Rajagopal’s office. The policemen followed, not even glancing at the disheveled group in the lobby.
“He should be right in here,” the receptionist said in a low voice, gesturing to the office door.
Matias turned to Chen and Polly, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in astonishment. “Do you think they’re after Ammon Blank?” he whispered, “How would they even know about him?”
Before anyone could answer they were interrupted by another voice. This new voice shrieked, “Polly!” an
d Ms Goggin rushed across the lobby and engulfed Polly in an enormous hug.
“Hi, Mom! Watch out, I’ve got Uber in the box.”
“Oh, Polly, thank God you’re safe. Look at you – what did he do to you? How did you escape? I thought you were murdered! I thought I’d never see you again!”
“I’m fine, Mom!” Polly gasped when her mother had loosened her hug enough for her to breathe.
Ms Goggin wiped her eyes, and Polly realized with a jolt that her mother wasn’t wearing any makeup. In fact, her hair looked barely brushed and she was wearing a pair of old sweatpants. In public. And now that she was standing face to face with Raphael looking across the top of Polly’s head, her cheeks had turned bright pink and her hands were trembling.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
Ms Goggin looked back at her daughter with something that was half laugh half sob. “Oh, honey! Everything’s wonderful now.” She hugged Polly again quickly. “But last night… I’ve never been so worried in my life. When that thief kidnapped Raphael, and then I realized you were gone, too…” Her voice faltered for a moment. “The thought of you kidnapped, imprisoned somewhere, and no way to reach you… I was frantic! I called the police and they came and looked all over the office and asked a million questions, but they didn’t believe my account of how the thief and Raphael had simply disappeared. They said without a name or a good description, or any other evidence, there wasn’t much they could do… I was up all night just terrified for you. And then that text from you this morning, saying you’d try to escape… I drove here as fast as I could, worrying the entire time that he’d shoot you before he left for the bank, or that he wouldn’t leave after all, or that you’d try to escape and he’d kill you or torture you, or… Oh, my sweet Polliwog, thank God you’re safe.”
During this display the others stood awkwardly, feeling like they were intruding. Chen and Matias looked at each other in embarrassment, and Tobal was almost shamefaced, perhaps feeling guilty for not having made sure Polly talked with her mother the day before. But Pearl just watched the reunion with her hand over her heart and a radiant smile on her face.
