Mystery at Mavadi!

Chapter 11!

Woohoo!! Tomorrow is a holiday! Woohoo!! My friends are all going on a field trip while I'm not allowed to go! Woohoo!! I'm just going to sit at home and read a book! Woohoo!!

Anyway...

"So here's the thing" Alex began, her voice almost shaking with excitement.

I hugged my knees to my chest and listened, already knowing half the story. We'd gotten back home two hours ago. Alex had been overly psyched, I'd been tired and hungry. The others hadn't made much of it since Alex was always hyper about something and I was always hungry. We'd also seen a police car parked down our street where the cops dutifully read a newspaper. Mom and dad had left after lunch with my aunts and uncles to go meet a few old friends. Only granmama was home, asleep in her room. We could do whatever we wanted. Including raiding the fridge! Muhahahaha!! But I guessed that'd have to wait since right now we were each sprawled across the carpeted floor of my room.

Alex was telling them about the lady who kept talking, what was her name... Mrs. Peterson. Alex went on to tell them about the old man we'd met on our way home.

"And he was the one who told us the most unbelievable thing. Ever." She paused dramatically.

"Cut the drama and tell us already." Robin interjected impatiently.

Alex raised her hand to silence him, a most sober expression on her face. Susan leaned towards her unconsciously. Everyone concentrated on Alex like she would be communicating by sign language next.

"Yeah, well?" Robin prompted again.

Alex cleared her throat and opened her mouth, pausing again.

Robin's face was strained as he struggled to keep his mouth shut knowing that if he talked, his sister would never tell them.

Oh, she was enjoying this.

"Jhembulingam's treasure has been found." She announced.

Everyone gaped.

"Two caskets were found about a month ago." she continued "The archaeologists claim that that's all there is to the treasure. The villagers insist that there are more in the mountains. The police took over the responsibility of keeping the caskets safe."

I knew that.

"No one outside of the village was to know of this. One of the caskets was stolen."

I didn't know that!

My mouth fell open and I leaned in like the others.

"It contained rags and such things. Nothing valuable. But the one with the police has real gold in it. The police don't want the press to get hold of this. Not yet. So they want to retrieve the other casket before taking them to the state. I wonder why they're still around though? And what's the thief doing ransacking-" Alex stopped short like she'd just realized something.

"Exactly" Larry said. "The police are using the other casket as bait. Maybe they think the thief lives in the west side of town."

"SIDDA TOWN, SIDDA TOWN!!" Lord Ed squawked.

Robin fed him a cheese cracker.

"OOH LA LA!" Ed said and we all laughed.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Am's worried voice said.

I looked over at Alex. She was staring straight ahead, not really looking at anything, with her mouth slightly open.

"Earth to annoying sis, are you receiving me?" Robin tried.

"The thief..." Alex muttered.

Now I was worried. Alex never muttered. She was always too loud for her own good. Or for my ears for that matter.

"Alex..." I asked gently.

"He's stealing from houses," She said slowly as though putting the pieces of a puzzle together in her mind. "But he's not. He's actually searching."

"Eh?" that was Robin.

Alex still stared but her voice was clearer.

"Don't you see?" she asked "The thief has reason to believe that the second casket is in one of the houses."

"OK so maybe it is." I said.

"You know, as bait!" Robin supplied.

"But it's full of gold! Who would the police believe to-" Larry stared off into space like he'd just understood how the universe functioned.

"Exactly." Alex used his same words and then turned to Robin, her face grave. "The one house they'd trust. The most respected family in the village. The one person, highly respected after granpapa himself, would entrusted with the dangerous job of hiding the gold."

I swallowed.

Granmama.

Granmama was the one to whom the casket had been entrusted. She'd hidden it somewhere in this very house. The thief was searching for it and he was close. So close, he'd be coming here next.

And granmama knew.

She'd known all along.

I'm not very good at cliff hangers. But let's just say that I think this one is! Next chapter in a week!! I have homework to do and I'm already behind. A lot. :)

Ciao! Until next time.

Vote and comment, you guys! :) :)

- Teenikel! :)