The following afternoon, Melanie invited the Aldens back to her favorite beach for a delicious picnic lunch. They had spent the morning learning all about dolphins.
“I asked the cook to pack some special lunches for us,” she said, pointing to a large cooler. “Sandwiches, fruit, and fresh lemonade.” She looked at Benny. “Plus a dozen homemade brownies,” she said, knowing his eyes would light up.
“Let’s go!” Benny said, racing down to the dock.
“What did you learn about dolphins this morning?” Melanie asked half an hour later. They were sprawled on beach towels, enjoying their lunch.
“Our teacher said they’re really smart,” Benny said. “They talk to each other with special sounds, and they like to play.” He paused, munching on his sandwich. “And they love to eat. They eat about twenty pounds of fish a day!”
Violet laughed. “I guess you’ve finally met your match, Benny.”
“Dolphins always look happy,” Soo Lee added. “It looks like they are smiling.”
“But they only look that way because their mouths turn up at the corners,” Henry said. “The instructor told us that they get bored and unhappy sometimes, just like people. That’s why it’s not fair to keep them caged up in little pools to do tricks. They enjoy living with other dolphins in the ocean.”
After lunch, Melanie and Henry wandered down to the water’s edge. Melanie scuffed her toe on a seashell and looked down in surprise. “That’s funny. It looks like someone else has been here.” She stared at a set of footprints in the hard-packed sand along the shoreline.
Soo Lee ran across the beach to join them. “Can I wade out and look at the coral?” she asked.
“Sure,” Melanie said good-naturedly. She looked worried, though, and Henry knew she was upset that someone had been on her island.
Henry and Melanie were ambling along the shore when a sudden shout from Soo Lee made them turn in alarm.
“What’s wrong?” Henry shaded his eyes from the bright sun.
“It’s gone!” Soo Lee said, peering into the water. “The coral!”
“Oh no,” Melanie said, dropping to her knees in the shallow water. “It looks like someone’s taken a sledge hammer to it!”
Benny, Jessie, and Violet raced down to the water to see the damage. The coral bed had truly been destroyed. The beautiful branches had been hacked off, and all that remained was a jagged base on the ocean floor.
Melanie turned to them with tears in her eyes. “We need to go back to camp right away and report this.”
“Of course,” Jessie said. The children helped Melanie gather up the picnic things. They hurried back to the powerboat and Melanie quickly started the engine. As they skimmed over the water, everyone was silent except Benny.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “Why would anyone want to ruin anything so beautiful?”
“For money.” Melanie’s voice was tight as she steered the boat skillfully over the gentle, lapping waves. “Coral is worth a fortune, and there’s not much of it left.”
“But how did anyone even know about that particular coral bed?” Henry asked. “You said you’ve been coming to the island for years, and it’s always been deserted.”
“I don’t know,” Melanie admitted. “But that’s something I need to tell the Coast Guard.”
“The Coast Guard?” Benny’s eyes were wide.
“Stealing coral is a serious crime,” Melanie told him. “We’ll call the authorities as soon as we hit camp. I bet they’ll start an investigation right away.”
An hour later, the Aldens found themselves being interviewed by Mr. Larson, a friendly man from the local Coast Guard Station.
“Can you describe the coral bed?” he asked the children. “I already have Melanie’s statement, but you might have something to add.”
“It was a very large bed, and really pretty,” Jessie began. “I know there was rose coral and finger coral, because Melanie pointed it out to us. . . . ”
“Wait a minute!” Violet blurted out. “We can do more than describe it — we can show you a picture of it!” She turned to Melanie. “Remember, you showed me how to use that underwater camera.”
“So I did,” Melanie said, looking relieved. “Now we’ll have an exact record of the bed.”
“Where’s your camera?” Mr. Larson asked.
“It’s in my cabin,” Melanie said. “I can get it for you.”
“Did someone mention pictures?” Katherine Kelly asked. She had walked into the lodge so quietly no one had heard her. “Maybe I can help. I’m an underwater photographer.”
“I don’t think so, Katherine,” Melanie said. She looked at Mr. Larson to see if he would volunteer any information, but he shook his head very slightly. Apparently he wasn’t ready to discuss the case with anyone else just yet.
Katherine Kelly waited awkwardly for a moment, and then said brusquely, “Well, I’d better get going then. I’ve got a lot of work to do this afternoon.”
As she turned to leave, Benny noticed a series of thin red scratches on Katherine Kelly’s calves. “What happened to your legs?” he blurted out.
The photographer glanced down in embarrassment. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she said, touching the fiery red marks. “I was playing with Horace, and I guess he got carried away.” She managed a thin smile before hurrying from the room.
“Horace?” Violet said in amazement. She had met the large orange tabby when they had first arrived at camp. “He’s the world’s friendliest cat. He never scratches anyone.”
“Not even Bingo the dog,” Benny piped up.
On her way back with the camera for Mr. Larson, Violet bumped into Joshua Slade.
“Taking some pictures?” he asked.
Violet nodded. “I have a roll ready to be developed.”
“What did you photograph?” He seemed unusually talkative, and Violet wondered why he was so interested.
“Some tropical fish, some pretty sea grass. . . . ” She thought it was better not to mention the coral or the ongoing investigation.
“Oh, is that all . . . see you later!” Joshua walked abruptly away.
What did he mean by that? Violet wondered. What had he thought she was going to say?
After Violet handed over the film to Mr. Larson, she and Melanie strolled back to the beach to practice wind-surfing. The rest of the Aldens had decided to spend the afternoon learning about underwater shipwrecks. “I know you feel really sad about the coral bed,” Violet said.
“I do,” Melanie admitted. “It was very special to me.” She bent down to adjust the wind-surfer. “I just hope they find the thief before any more coral is lost. It takes thousands of years to grow, and it can never be replaced.”
She helped Violet position her feet on the small board, and showed her how to move the sails. “Do you remember what I taught you?”
“I think so.” Violet kept her balance and tugged at the sails, just as if she were on the ocean. But her mind was elsewhere. Joshua Slade was friendly one minute, and unfriendly the next. Why? Katherine Kelly was covered with scratches and blamed it on the cat. But the cat was friendly and never scratched anyone. And Nick Simon didn’t seem to know a thing about marine biology. There were so many mysteries at Camp Coral.
“Violet, hold the sails with more force. You’re letting them get too slack!” Melanie said.
“Sorry,” Violet muttered and tightened her grip.
“That’s much better,” Melanie said approvingly. “You’ll be out in the waves in no time.”
“Thanks.” Violet smiled at the counselor, still thinking. None of the little mysteries could compare to the big mystery they were all facing. Who was stealing coral? Violet would have some free time after dinner that evening, and she knew exactly how she was going to spend it. It was time for an Alden family conference. Maybe all four of them — and Soo Lee, of course — could catch the thief and solve the mystery. |