Free The Case of the Missing Dinosaur Egg by Martha Freeman Page A

“And when was that?”
    â€œIt was Thursday, one week ago. I had just said my prayers that night, and I looked up at my collection andsaw it. I had seen the picture on Jan and Larry, so I knew immediately what it was.”
    I was scribbling as fast as I could and trying to think at the same time. Thursday was the same day the dinosaur egg’s crate was scanned at the airport here in Washington, the same day Mr. Valenteen bought the ostrich egg at Mega Bird Farm and the same day Mr. Valenteen—pretending to be Red Heart Delivery—took the ostrich egg to the museum.
    Just in case, I asked Toni if she had ever heard of Red Heart Delivery, and she said, “Yes! I saw a van with that name on our street. I noticed because I wondered if they only delivered flowers and chocolate and diamonds.”
    â€œWhen was that?” Tessa asked.
    Toni frowned. “It was that same Thursday. I remember I was still wearing my clothes from horseback riding—and my lessons are on Thursday.”
    Tessa nodded. “So Mr. Valenteen must’ve replaced the dinosaur egg with an ostrich egg and brought the dinosaur egg here. After that, he must’ve brought it upstairs to put in Toni’s collection.”
    Toni shook her head. “No, no—only the family and our guests may come upstairs in the residence! Mr. Valenteen would never be allowed.”
    â€œIn that case, he gave it to somebody, and
they
brought it upstairs,” Nate said. “But why? And who did he give it to?”
    â€œIt cannot have been my father,” Toni said, “because he was away last week. But wait—I am forgetting.There is the housekeeper, Mrs. Casera. She is permitted upstairs because of course she must do the cleaning.”
    â€œThere you go,” said Tessa. “I think Mr. Valenteen was working with Mrs. Casera, and he gave the egg to her.”
    I thought that might be right. “But why did she put it in Toni’s rock collection?”
    â€œAnd if Mrs. Casera was working with Mr. Valenteen,” said Nate, “why did she have to go back to Mega Bird Farm to ask about the ostrich egg? There’s something we’re not getting here.”
    I thought of how Mrs. Casera and Toni’s
abuelita
looked a little bit alike. “Toni,” I said, “did Mr. Valenteen know your grandmother by sight? Or Mrs. Casera?”
    Toni shrugged. “Perhaps not. As I told you, my abuelita does not like publicity, so she rarely appears on TV or in magazines.”
    â€œThen maybe,” I said, thinking out loud, “Mr. Valenteen was supposed to give the egg to Mrs. Casera, and she was supposed to get rid of it—all to preserve the legend for President Alfredo-Chin. But instead, Mr. Valenteen gave the egg to your grandmother.”
    Toni said, “You mean it was a case of mistaken identity!”
    I nodded. “And Mrs. Casera—when she didn’t get the egg like she was supposed to—she went to Mega Bird Farm to check up.”
    â€œIf you are right, it was my abuelita who put the egg in my rock collection,” Toni said. “Maybe she did notknow what it was, or maybe she did know and wanted a hiding place. . . .”
    Tessa jumped up. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go ask her!”
    Toni remained seated. “If I may—there is something more important right now even than solving this mystery. You see, I asked you here today for a particular reason. I believe the First Kids are the only people in the world who can help me do what is right. We must return the dinosaur egg to its rightful owners at the museum, but we must do this without embarrassing my uncle, my father or anyone else from my nation. Is this possible? Will you help me?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

    Nate and I looked at each other. We wanted to help—but how?
    Tessa’s reaction was different. She sat back down, rubbed her hands together and said: “
No