by Hope McLean
Thursday, 1500 hours.
“So we are dealing with aliens,” Erin said.
“Or else really bad spellers,” Lili added.
“It’s from a poem,” Jasmine explained. “By Lewis Carroll, that guy who wrote Alice in Wonderland. I think it’s called … ‘Jabberwocky’!”
“But what does it mean?” Erin asked.
Jasmine shrugged. “He made up words for the poem, so it’s kind of weird. But I think it’s about a battle against some monster.”
Lili shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense!”
“The second line does,” Willow said. “Fifteen hundred hours is military time for three in the afternoon. So the second line means Thursday at three o’clock.”
“Like a meeting time,” Jasmine guessed. “But why would someone want to meet us?”
“And where?” Lili asked.
“We’re forgetting the most important question,” Willow said. “Who?”
“No way! Is this really our hotel?” Lili asked, staring up at the tall building in front of them.
“Yes way. This place is awesome!” Erin agreed.
The Park West Hotel was a tall, granite building that towered over Fifty-seventh Street. It was sandwiched between a café on the left and a store that sold fancy shoes on the right. Two evergreen bushes trimmed into perfect cone shapes sat in marble pots that flanked the gleaming glass doors.
Ms. Keatley paid the cab driver and turned to the girls. “Some of the tournament events will be held in the conference rooms here, and the final rounds will take place in a college auditorium a few blocks away.”
“It’s the perfect location,” Jasmine enthused. “It’s close to Central Park, the shops on Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Lincoln Center …”
“And Famous Sal’s Pizza,” Erin reminded her. “Can we go get lunch soon?”
“As soon as we get settled,” Ms. Keatley said. “We’ve got to get our luggage up to our rooms.”
A man in a dark red uniform and a matching red cap approached them, rolling a big metal luggage cart next to him.
“I can help you with that,” he said with a grin, and the girls thanked him as he loaded their bags onto the cart and rolled it inside.
Then they followed Ms. Keatley into the lobby. While she checked in at the front desk, the girls looked around in wonder.
Polished white marble covered the floor of the main lobby, which was furnished with sleek red couches and dark wood tables. A sparkling chandelier lit up the space.
“Wow, I feel like a movie star!” Jasmine said.
Ms. Keatley took the keys from the desk clerk. “All right, girls, to the elevator.”
When they got to the twenty-second floor they found their luggage waiting for them in front of their door.
“We have a suite,” Ms. Keatley explained. “You girls get your own room to share, and I’ll have mine.”
She pushed open the door to reveal a quaint room with a small sofa, a mini-fridge, a coffee table, and a work space with two chairs. Across the room, two large windows looked out onto the city.
“Wow!” Erin said, looking around the living area.
“This room is even cleaner than my grandma’s house,” Lili remarked.
Willow ran into one of the bedrooms and swept her hand over the soft gray-and-white striped bedspread. The gray matched the carpet on the floor and the stripes in the curtain panels. The walls were a pale cream, and the furniture in the room was the same dark wood as the lobby.
“It’s peaceful,” Willow said. “A good study environment.”
Jasmine walked to the bedroom window. “It’s totally amazing. But I was kind of hoping we’d have a view of Central Park.”
Erin flopped down on the bed. “It’s huge!”
“Yay! Sleepover party!” Lili yelled. She picked up a pillow and playfully whacked Erin over the head with it.
“There will be no pillow fights,” Ms. Keatley said firmly. “Fun, yes, but within limits. I’ll be right next door, so I’ll be able to hear if you’re up to any shenanigans.”
“Yes, Ms. Keatley,” Lili and Erin said at the same time.
“How about we bring in our bags and then go out for pizza?” the teacher suggested. “I must admit that I’m very hungry myself.”
Erin quickly jumped off the bed. “Yes! Let’s go!”
A few minutes later they were walking down Fifth Avenue. It was at least fifteen degrees colder than in DC, so the girls wore their winter coats, hats, and gloves. But they were so excited to be in Manhattan that they didn’t feel the cold at all.
Businessmen and women in dark overcoats hurried past them, while tourists in colorful parkas walked more slowly, pointing out the buildings and the sights.
“We’re heading toward Times Square, aren’t we?” Lili asked. “Ooh, I heard there’s a Hello Kitty store there.”
“Pizza first, cute Japanese kitties later,” Erin said, with a hungry look.
The famous pizzeria had big glass windows looking out onto the street corner, and the girls could see customers eating lunch and chefs in white aprons tossing pizza dough behind the counter. The place was crowded, but the girls managed to squeeze into a table in the corner.
“I’ll go order our pizza,” Ms. Keatley offered. “What do you girls want?”
“Let’s get the works!” Erin suggested. “That way there’s something for everyone.”
Willow, Lili, and Jasmine knew there was no use in arguing.
“Sounds good to me,” said Ms. Keatley. “I’ll get us some drinks, too.”
As the teacher made her way up to the counter, Willow noticed four familiar faces walk through the door.
“Oh, great,” she said. “Look who’s here!”
It was the Rivals, accompanied by a tall man with wavy brown hair.
“That’s their advisor, Josh Haverford,” Willow said. “He’s usually pretty hands-off, but I guess even the Rivals need a chaperone.”
Mr. Haverford said something to the Rivals and went up to the counter. Then Ryan Atkinson noticed the Jewels sitting in the back and motioned for the Rivals to follow him.
“So you guys made it,” he said, in a tone that was more challenging than friendly.
“Of course,” Willow shot back, looking him in the eye. “We took the train this morning.”
“So did we,” Ryan replied. “Funny we didn’t see you. Oh, that’s right — it’s because we were in first class.”
Erin and Jasmine exchanged glances. Just as they had guessed! Erin rolled her eyes.
“And I guess we’re in the same hotel, then, too,” Jasmine said.
“Oh, yes, and it is beautiful,” Isabel said. “We have such a lovely view of Central Park.”
Jasmine looked at Erin again. It was so unfair! Why did everything always work out for the Rivals?
“That’s nice. Sorry we got these sweet seats at Sal’s first,” Erin challenged. “I don’t know where you guys will sit.”
Aaron flashed a smile at her. “I saw on the Food Channel that it’s the best pizza in the city.”
“Maybe even the world,” Erin corrected him, but she was clearly pleased to meet someone with the same appreciation for pizza as she had.
Ms. Keatley walked up to the table, carrying a pizza on a metal tray. The Rivals’ advisor was behind her, holding five bottles of water.
“I think there’s a table opening up over there, guys,” he said, nodding toward the opposite corner of the room. “Why don’t you go grab it?”
The Rivals obeyed, and Mr. Haverford placed the water on the table. He looked at Ms. Keatley and smiled.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t find a table closer to you,” he said, and behind him, Erin rolled her eyes.
“Yes, it’s very crowded in here,” Ms. Keatley replied in her usual flustered manner. Then she returned his gaze. “Thanks for helping with the water.”
“No problem,” Mr. Haverford replied. “You know, I was thinking it would be nice if our team
s could do something together while we’re here. DC pride and all that. We’ve got to stick together.”
“Well, the girls and I were just working up our schedule,” Ms. Keatley explained. “We’re not sure what we’re doing yet.”
Mr. Haverford looked disappointed, but he pressed on. “Well, Ryan and the other kids were asking about something going on at the Fraunces Tavern Museum. Some exhibit or something.”
The girls looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Oh?” Willow asked, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t know the Rivals were interested in colonial jewelry.”
“Is that what it is?” the advisor asked with a shrug. “I guess that’s interesting. Anyway, it would be nice if we could all go, you know, together.”
He looked right at Ms. Keatley again when he asked, but she didn’t seem to notice the attention.
“Ah, yes, Fraunces Tavern,” she said absently, as she passed paper plates around the table. “The girls mentioned that, too. We’ll see.”
“Do you have my cell phone number?” Mr. Haverford asked. “You know, so we can set things up.”
“I don’t think so,” Ms. Keatley replied. “Yikes! I forgot the napkins.”
She hurried off. Mr. Haverford frowned and headed back up to the counter.
The girls leaned into the table, excited.
“You know what this means,” Willow said. “The Rivals are planning to steal the diamond from Fraunces Tavern!”
“Oh my gosh!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Our guess about the diamond was right!”
Jasmine motioned for them all to be quiet as Ms. Keatley came back to the table with napkins.
“What are you girls so excited about?” she asked.
Jasmine thought quickly. “Well, Mr. Haverford was totally flirting with you. Didn’t you notice?” It wasn’t exactly what she was thinking, but it certainly seemed to be true.
Ms. Keatley blushed. “Honestly, Jasmine, you have quite an imagination.”
“But she’s right,” Lili chimed in, catching on. “He kept looking at you with googly eyes and stuff.”
Ms. Keatley just shook her head. “Come on, let’s dig in. This looks delicious!”
Each girl put a slice of pizza on her plate. The table got quiet as everyone ate.
“Oh, man, this is awesome!” Erin said after her first bite.
“It’s definitely the best pizza I’ve ever eaten,” Jasmine agreed.
“It’s the best in the world,” Erin reminded her.
“So, what do you think of Mr. Haverford’s idea?” Ms. Keatley asked. “Going to Fraunces Tavern with the Rivals?”
The girls looked at each other, and they were all thinking the same thing: If they were going to stop the Rivals, the Jewels had to get there first.
“No way,” Erin said. “I don’t want to go anywhere with those guys.”
The other Jewels quickly caught on to Erin’s strategy.
“That’s right,” Jasmine agreed. “Not after what happened. It’s too soon.”
Ms. Keatley nodded sympathetically. “I understand. But it sounds like they’re trying to become friends.”
“No, Mr. Haverford is trying to become your friend,” Jasmine countered, and Ms. Keatley blushed again. The girls giggled.
“You know what I think? I think we should go right after lunch,” Erin suggested.
Ms. Keatley looked startled. “So soon?”
“Why not?” Willow joined in. “We have a free afternoon, right?”
“Well, yes,” the teacher answered hesitantly. She wiped her hands on a napkin and dug into her bag, pulling out a guidebook. She quickly leafed through it. “It’s on Pearl Street. That’s downtown. But it looks like we can take a subway there… .”
“Yay! Let’s do it!” Erin cheered.
“Why not?” Ms. Keatley said, as though she were convincing herself. “We’ve got to make the most of every minute here, right?”
“Awesome,” Erin said. She held up her pizza slice. “A toast! To Ms. Keatley, the best advisor ever!”
“To Ms. Keatley!” the girls said, and they bumped their pizza slices together.
* * *
The Fraunces Tavern Museum looked out of place in downtown Manhattan. The three-story brick building on the corner of Pearl Street was dwarfed by the silver skyscrapers that towered over it.
“Whoa. It’s like we stepped back in time,” Erin said, looking up. “Check out that chimney. I bet this is the only building in Manhattan that still has a chimney.”
“The guidebook says that it was built in 1719,” Ms. Keatley reported. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in New York.”
They stepped inside. Behind the desk, a woman with short gray hair smiled at them.
“Are you interested in a tour?” she asked. “There’s one starting in fifteen minutes.”
“We’re mostly here to see the jewelry exhibit,” Erin said quickly.
“Of course. It’s lovely,” the woman said. She handed Ms. Keatley five pamphlets. “Here’s some information about the pieces in the collection. Admission is free for students. The exhibit is just down the hall, first door on the right.”
“Thanks!” Erin said with a grin.
Ms. Keatley paid for her admission, and as they walked to the exhibit, the Jewels passed a large room with weathered wood floors. A portrait of George Washington hung over the fireplace, and sconces on the walls lit up the room. A line of small tables with chairs stretched across the floor, and near the window was one long, wooden table.
“This must be the tavern part,” Erin guessed. “Awesome. George Washington’s butt might have touched one of those chairs!”
“Eww,” Jasmine complained. “Can we please get to the jewelry now?”
She quickened her pace and the others followed her to the exhibit. The room had the same wood floors, but it was filled with rectangular glass cases set on wooden stands. A few visitors milled around, looking at the displays, and a security guard in a black uniform kept watch from the corner.
Jasmine made a beeline for the nearest case. “Oh my gosh. Look at these pearls,” she said, breathless.
Lili joined her and looked into the case. “Wow, they’re so creamy,” she remarked.
Jasmine’s eyes shone with excitement. She had been interested in gemstones since she was a little girl picking up pretty rocks in the park. She had collected rocks and gemstones ever since. They fascinated her. The science nerd in her loved to learn about their properties and what made a ruby red and an emerald green. But the rest of her just loved how beautiful they were.
Ms. Keatley handed each girl a pamphlet and then wandered over to the far side of the room. Willow and Erin approached Jasmine and Lili.
“We need to find the diamond earrings,” she whispered, opening the pamphlet. She quickly scanned it, and then pointed to a photo on one of the pages. “Here they are. It says they belonged to a socialite who died in 1849. The designer of the earrings is unknown. But they think they could have been made as early as 1760.”
“Then they could have belonged to Martha Washington,” Erin pointed out. “These must be the ones!”
“They’re over here,” Willow said, leading the girls to a nearby case.
Behind the glass, the diamond earrings sparkled inside a box lined with black velvet.
“Gorgeous,” Jasmine whispered. She jokingly flipped her curly hair behind her ear. “Don’t you think they would look fabulous on me?”
“Definitely,” Lili agreed.
“It’s sad, in a way,” Jasmine said. “Nobody will ever wear them again. They’ll be stuck in this glass case forever.”
“Speaking of the glass case, how do you think the Rivals plan to steal them?” Willow asked. “When they stole the ruby necklace, they didn’t have to break into something like this.” Willow ran her hand over the smooth pane of glass. “I don’t see any way in. And look at that metal box inside. It seems like an alarm.”
“Maybe they’re going to break the g
lass and make a run for it,” Erin suggested.
“It could be shatterproof, like the kind they use on windshields,” Jasmine pointed out. “That would stop anyone from grabbing the earrings. But I guess we don’t really know.”
“We can find out,” Erin said, eyeing the security guard.
Jasmine grabbed Erin’s arm. “Erin, what are you thinking?”
“Relax,” Erin told her. “We’re just some inconspicuous sixth-grade girls.”
The Jewels watched as Erin boldly strode up to the security guard.
“Excuse me, sir,” she said politely.
The guard, a tall, burly man with dark hair, nodded. “Can I help you?”
“I’m doing a report for school,” she said. “We’re supposed to find out how the museum keeps the exhibit safe.”
The man gave her a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry, young lady, this exhibit is one of the safest in New York City. The cases are made of shatterproof glass, and if anyone does breach the glass, an alarm goes off that’s connected to the NYPD. If a thief got past me — and they wouldn’t — they’d find the police waiting for them outside.”
“That’s good to know,” Erin said. “Thanks!”
“Good luck with your report,” the guard told her.
Erin turned back to her friends with a big smile on her face.
“You scare me sometimes,” Lili said. “That was brilliant.”
“And useful,” Willow added with a thoughtful frown. “If these really are the Martha Washington diamonds, the Rivals will have to be geniuses to steal them!”
The next morning the girls got in the line for the hotel’s breakfast buffet, yawning and bleary-eyed.
“I don’t think I can make it until Saturday,” Lili said, leaning her head on Erin’s shoulder.
Jasmine yawned in agreement. “I am soooooo tired.”
Erin piled waffles onto her plate. “Yeah, but Transformers: The Musical was worth it. A show about singing, flying robots? We don’t have anything like that in Hallytown.”
The girls took their plates of food to one of the round tables in the hotel restaurant. Ms. Keatley was sitting across the room, talking to one of the other quiz bowl advisors she had met the night before.