“The sign reads, ‘Locker is available when green light is lit.’ The light is red. It must be already rented out,” Shaniqua said, frowning.
“Maybe someone rented it out for us. If we can figure out how to get it opened, our clue may be inside,” Raphael suggested. He eased Mr. Gibbons’s head back inside the baby carrier.
“The sign says, ‘Please use right index finger and press gently on scanner.’ It seems like an index finger is actually the key to the locker. But how could that be? They don’t have our fingerprints, do they? So how will we get in?” John asked.
“Well, first I guess we can try our fingerprints, just in case it works. I’ll go first.” Annabelle pressed her finger against the scanner. “Nothing.”
“Let me try,” Shaniqua said. “Nope. Not me either.”
Raphael took a turn next. “It’s not me or Mr. Gibbons.”
“Well, it couldn’t possibly be mine. I’ve only been a part of Team Liberty for a few days. I don’t think they could have somehow gotten my print that quickly,” John said.
“Give it a try anyway. It can’t hurt,” Annabelle urged.
John pressed his finger against the scanner. His finger couldn’t possibly be the key, could it?
Annabelle swung open the door to number 231. “It worked.”
John took a step back. “That’s just downright creepy. I’m glad my fingerprint worked, but I don’t understand why.”
“What’s in there?” Shaniqua asked, straining forward to get a glimpse inside the locker.
Annabelle slid out a small rectangular-shaped brown metal box. On the top of the box was a digital screen, and at the top of the screen was a start button. At the bottom of the screen were buttons labeled A, B, C, and D. “My guess is that once we press the start button, we’re going to have to take some sort of quiz.”
Raphael moved to an out-of-the-way corner. “Well, let’s get started, then. No time like the present, as my dad likes to say.”
Annabelle gingerly pressed the start button. This message appeared on the screen:
You have five minutes to successfully complete the following quiz.
You must score 100% to continue with your mission.
“I wonder what the quiz is about,” Shaniqua said. “Math? Science? Riddles?”
Annabelle chewed her bottom lip. “It’s multiple-choice questions about the Statue of Liberty. We have to get them all right.”
Team Liberty huddled together so that they could all see the questions.
1. How many steps are there from the pedestal to the head of the Statue of Liberty?
A. 154 B. 150 C. 152 D. 153
2. What date is etched on the tablet in the Statue of Liberty’s left hand?
A. October 28, 1886 B. July 3, 1776 C. July 4, 1776 D. July 4, 1766
3. How many rays are on the Statue of Liberty’s crown?
A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8
4. What do each of the rays symbolize?
A. Each ray symbolizes one of the seven dwarves. B. Each ray symbolizes one of the seven planets in a solar system. C. Each ray symbolizes one of the seven national parks. D. Each ray symbolizes one of the seven continents/seven seas.
5. When was the official dedication ceremony for the Statue of Liberty held?
A. October 1, 1887 B. October 28, 1886 C. November 1, 1886 D. November 28, 1887
6. How tall is the Statue of Liberty from the base of the pedestal to the tip of the torch?
A. 305 feet B. 306 feet C. 306 feet, 6 inches D. 305 feet, 6 inches
7. How wide is the Statue of Liberty’s waistline?
A. 35 feet B. 36 feet C. 34 feet D. 33 feet
8. How much does the Statue of Liberty weigh?
A. 225 tons B. 220 tons C. 230 tons D. 223 tons
9. How thick is the copper covering of the Statue of Liberty?
A. 1/32 of an inch B. 2/32 of an inch C. 3/32 of an inch D. 4/32 of an inch
10. Why is the Statue of Liberty light green?
A. It was painted light green. B. It is the result of natural weathering of the copper. C. It was sprinkled with lime juice. D. It turned green from a hurricane.
11. What lies at the feet of the Statue of Liberty?
A. Broken sandals B. Broken feet C. Broken ships D. Broken shackles of oppression and tyranny
12. What is the height of the Statue of Liberty from the top of her head to her heel?
A. 111 feet B. 112 feet C. 111 feet, 6 inches D. 112 feet, 6 inches
13. How tall is the face of the Statue of Liberty?
A. More than 8 feet tall B. More than 9 feet tall C. More than 10 feet tall D. More than 11 feet tall
“We need a strategy,” Annabelle said. “Raphael, Shaniqua, can you try to find some of these answers online? Start with the harder ones, like question 5. John and I will see if we already know any.”
They all agreed, and Shaniqua and Raphael pulled out their phones.
“I’ll start with question 5,” Raphael said.
“I’ll take question 1,” Shaniqua said.
“Okay, John, what about the second question? What date is etched on the tablet?”
“July 4, 1776,” John said, happy that he could contribute.
“Okay, then, that’s letter C. How many rays are on her crown?”
“Seven,” Raphael said, glancing up from his phone. “I counted them when we first got here.”
John pointed at the next question. “That’s right. And the fourth question actually gives away the answer.”
Annabelle pressed the corresponding key on the small tablet.
“Got question 1,” Shaniqua said. “154 steps. Answer A.”
“Great,” Annabelle said. “We have about three and a half minutes left. I know the next answer is D. Some say the rays symbolize the seven continents and others say the seven seas. Raphael, did you find when the dedication ceremony was held?”
“Yeah. Answer B. October 28, 1886.”
“Okay, then, how tall is she from base to torch?”
“I’m on that. Can you go to the next?” Shaniqua said.
“Here’s a page with the next couple of answers,” Raphael said. “How much time do we have left?”
“A little less than three minutes. What did you find?”
“Question 7 is A—35 feet. Eight is 225 tons.”
“And I have question 6,” Shaniqua said. “It’s D—305 feet, 6 inches.”
“The next one is definitely A. I know she weighs 225 tons,” John said.
They skimmed the next question. “I know the copper covering is less than the thickness of two pennies,” John said. “But what is that in inches?”
“Here,” Shaniqua said. “C—3/32.”
“Now we’re up to question 10,” Annabelle said.
“Well, it sure isn’t green because someone sprinkled it with lime juice,” John said. “I know copper naturally turns light green as it weathers.”
“Yeah, it reacts with air and water over the years to form a patina,” Annabelle agreed.
“We have less than a minute left. What lies at her feet?” Shaniqua asked.
“That must be D, the broken shackles of oppression and tyranny,” Annabelle said, punching in the corresponding letter. “Did anyone find how tall she is?”
“111 feet, 6 inches. Letter C,” Raphael said.
“We’re down to our last fifteen seconds. How many feet tall is her face?” Annabelle asked.
“Looking!” Shaniqua said.
“We’ve come this far. We’ve got to get it right. I think it’s more than eight feet or more than nine feet. A or B,” John said.
“We’re running out of time. Which letter should I press? Shaniqua? Raphael?” Annabelle asked.
At that moment, Mr. Gibbons’s arm shot out and pressed one of the buttons. “Oh no. I’m so sorry. What did he just press?” Raphael asked. “He pressed A. I guess Mr. Gibbons thinks her face is more than eight feet tall. Let’s hope he’s right, because it’s scoring our quiz now.”<
br />
An hourglass appeared on the screen with the word Calculating. They held their breath.
What happens if we got one wrong? Do we call Mr. Jorgenson? Will we have to go back to the school? Will Mrs. Waldorf-Ellingston expel me?
“100! We got all the questions right.” Annabelle cheered.
The box made a soft clicking noise and unlocked a compartment beneath the screen.
What could be inside?
CHAPTER 14
Annabelle slid the compartment fully open and whistled. “Four tickets to the Statue of Liberty, with access to her crown. Each ticket has one of our names printed on it.”
“Now we know where to go next,” Shaniqua said. “But wait a second. There are strict rules about going up into the crown. We’ll have to rent a locker to hold our backpacks. I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to keep locker 231 in case Team Mischief can somehow access it.”
“The only things we can bring are water, a camera, cell phone, and our tickets. Medication too, if you need an inhaler or EpiPen or something like that.” John pulled a water bottle from his bag and shoved it in his pocket.
“And you have to be at least four feet tall, but I’m sure we’re all taller than that,” Annabelle said.
“Uh-oh. Not all of us. Are babies allowed?” Raphael patted Mr. Gibbons.
“Not unless it’s a baby that’s more than four feet tall,” Shaniqua replied.
“What am I going to do with Mr. Gibbons? Should I stay behind?”
“But we need you. You can’t stay behind. We have to think of something. I wonder if there’s someone here who could watch him for us. Like a security guard.” Annabelle took one step back toward the gift shop but then halted.
The guard won’t know what hit him.
“What if they confiscate him? Or tell our school? We’ll be in big trouble.” Mr. Gibbons, as if sensing the discussion, began wiggling within the carrier.
“We don’t have much choice. We’ll have to give him to one of the park rangers for now. Hopefully, they’ll understand. I’m pretty sure I saw one outside the gift-shop doors when we came in. Maybe while you ask about watching Mr. Gibbons, the rest of us can take a ten-minute break,” Annabelle said.
A break sounds like a wonderful idea. John nodded as he shoved a handful of trail mix into his mouth. He pulled out his cell phone, anxious to check for messages from Grandma about Ranger.
John scanned a text from his grandmother. I wish I had good news about Ranger, but he’s still at the vet. So far, the tests are negative. We love you and I’ll keep you posted. Hugs, Grandma
John’s stomach twisted. He wished he could give Ranger a tummy rub right now.
He had a text from his father too: We landed safely in London but missed the connecting flight to Tanzania. We were delayed many hours but are now finally getting ready to board. We’ll text you when we land. Sorry to hear about Ranger, and we’ll pray he feels better soon. We hope you’re enjoying your trip out west. Love, Dad and Mom
His parents may have wished him well out west, but he bet they’d be surprised to know he currently stood only a few hours from their home on the East Coast. He supposed his grandma must have told his parents about Ranger. He texted a reply and told them he missed them.
Then he read a group text from Chloe and Jackson.
Lounging in Chloe’s pool this morning. What’s up with you?
John texted, Ranger is sick at the vet. Wish I was there with him.
Chloe and Jackson would understand. They loved his dog almost as much as he did. He knew he couldn’t tell them about his mission at the Statue of Liberty, so he skipped over that news.
“Mr. Gibbons, no!” Raphael cried out.
John looked up to see the monkey scurrying along the floor before disappearing in a crowd of people in line for security screenings to enter the statue’s crown.
“We need to get a locker and follow him. Stick together,” Annabelle said.
Raphael turned ghostly pale. “What if someone hurts him?”
“I’d be more worried for the people in there than for Mr. Gibbons,” Shaniqua said, trying to make him feel better.
Raphael shuddered. “I guess, but if Devlin somehow gets hold of him…”
They could each imagine the horrible things Devlin might do.
After Annabelle shoved their backpacks into a locker, they hurried to the security line.
John scanned the area. No sign of Mr. Gibbons. He could be virtually anywhere inside the statue by now.
“Okay, I know everyone is worried about Mr. Gibbons, but we need to refocus. Remember, our primary objective is to figure out what Team Mischief is planning to do. Keep your eyes open. I’m sure they’re already in there somewhere. Our job is to stop them before they can carry out their plans,” Annabelle said.
They slipped past a glass door into a room with a large display in its center protected by a circular guardrail. John blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. “Wow, what’s that?”
“It’s the statue’s original torch. After Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi died, they asked Gutzon Borglum to improve the lighting of the statue. He replaced numerous copper components with glass panels,” Annabelle said.
John skimmed his hand along the wooden rail that surrounded the torch. “The same Gutzon Borglum who designed Mount Rushmore?”
Annabelle nodded. “The very same. Funny how we just spent the last several days talking about him at Mount Rushmore, and here we are all the way across the country and it turns out he worked on the Statue of Liberty too.”
“He was one busy man. Hey, look straight ahead. I think we need to go up that flight of stairs.” Shaniqua pointed to the far side of the room.
When they reached the top, a sign indicated right for the elevator and left for the stairs.
“We’re going all the way to the crown, so we need to take the stairs. The elevator only goes to the pedestal,” Raphael said.
They proceeded up another short flight of stairs and continued down a hallway. John saw six plastic chairs tucked into a cubby on the left side of the hall, but they were empty. Nothing suspicious so far. And no sign of Mr. Gibbons anywhere. A wave of uncertainty washed over him. How will I know if something looks suspicious or out of the ordinary? I’m not even sure what I’m looking for.
They passed through another glass doorway.
“We need to keep right and start climbing. I think off to the left is a museum or observation area or something,” Annabelle said.
“357 steps,” Shaniqua read the sign out loud. “Yikes.”
John had expected the area to be crowded but instead found it quiet. They started climbing. One flight, two flights. A small white hallway branched off to the left side with a glass door at the end, allowing sunlight to stream in. I wonder if that leads to some sort of observation deck. They kept climbing. The light cast a yellowish glow on the walls and stairs.
“Only 290 more steps to go. We’ve already climbed 67,” Shaniqua said.
They continued, the sounds of echoing footsteps and heavy breathing keeping them company.
“That’s 150. We’re getting there,” Annabelle said.
Raphael sighed. “But still no sign of Devlin. Or Mr. Gibbons.”
“We’ve reached 5P. I think we’ve almost reached the pedestal,” John said.
They rounded a corner, climbed another flight of stairs, and entered an open area with many people milling around. Some rested in chairs.
Multiple doors led outside.
“I think it’s a good idea to check out the views from the pedestal. We can give our legs a little break from climbing and see if Devlin is out there,” Annabelle suggested.
John pushed open the heavy door and took a deep breath of fresh air. He marveled at the sparkling blue water and beautiful view of the New York City skyline. Okay, enough sightseeing. I need to keep an eye out for Devlin.
They circled the narrow platform that surrounded the Statue of Liberty. John stud
ied the other people, looking for anyone or anything that could be suspicious.
“Let’s take photos if we have time later,” Shaniqua suggested. “My grandmother would get such a kick out of me being here.”
“Good idea,” John agreed. “I could send it to Aunt Martha.” I can’t send it to Jackson and Chloe. They wouldn’t understand what I was doing here.
“I guess we better keep climbing. There’s no one from Team Mischief out here.” Annabelle pulled the door back open so they could continue.
As they approached the stairs that led to the crown, a friendly park ranger greeted them. “The stairs get much narrower from here. You have about ten more stories to go. Before you start, take off your wristbands and throw them out.” He pointed to a nearby trash can.
John slipped the band off his wrist and tossed it into the garbage can. Ten more stories? His legs grew heavy. He saw Annabelle start to pull a photo of Team Mischief out of her pocket. Would Annabelle ask the rangers whether they’d seen them? But she must have thought better of it because she shoved the photo back in her pocket. John figured the rangers saw so many people pass by, it would probably be impossible for them to recall specific teenagers.
They began to climb a spiral staircase wide enough to fit one person at a time. The stairs that went upward formed a double helix with the staircase going down. A system of cast iron and stainless steel supported the statue from within.
John took care so that his feet wouldn’t slip off one of the wedge-shaped steps. As he caught sight of the inside of the statue’s tablet, a sense of wonder filled him.
“Everyone, stop and be quiet for a second. I think I just heard Slade’s laugh. I’d recognize it anywhere,” Shaniqua said.
Raphael craned his neck and gazed upward. “I think you’re right. And I think I just saw Malicia.”
Sweat trickled down John’s face, and he took a few gulps of water from his bottle.
“If that’s them, they can’t be very far ahead of us. Let’s keep going. We need to push harder.” Annabelle began trekking up the stairs again.
Saving the Statue of Liberty Page 7
