by Judith Keim
Maurice’s mouth rounded. “Me? Why would I poison Sam? No, no. It’s not what you think. It was poisoning all right. Food poisoning. Sam is allergic to brussel sprouts. I tried to warn him brussel sprouts were in the soup, but even though I squeaked and squeaked, he paid no attention to me.”
Theodore narrowed his eyes at Maurice. “Is this the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
Maurice lifted a paw and nodded. “It’s happened before. He’ll be back in a day or so.”
“A day or so?” Theodore could hardly swallow. Would that bit of bad press mean the end of the hotel? There was only one way to find out.
He turned to Maurice. “From here on in, you stay in the mouse section of the hotel. Understand?”
Maurice nodded meekly. “I’m sorry. I really am. I’ll try to do better. I promise.”
“Do me a favor,” said Theodore. “Go down to the cafeteria, find Lila, and tell her what you told me.”
“Where are you going?”
“On a mission of my own.”
Dangerous as it was, Theodore had to find some answers.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Theodore waited until Maurice had scurried down the pipes before taking off on his own. Grateful for his dark clothes, he stayed to the shadows as he made his way down the long hallway to the GM’s office. He heard angry voices from inside and huddled outside the door to listen.
“But, sir,” came the familiar GM’s voice. “I assure you, we’re doing all we can to counter the bad press we’ve been getting.”
Another voice, an angry one, shouted, “You were hired to increase business, not destroy it! As a representative of the investors, I’m here to warn you that not only are you about to lose your job, but now the hotel is in danger of being sold or closed.”
“It’s true that a few high-profile people have had bad experiences here, but ...” said the GM.
“I’m not listening to any excuses,” interrupted the representative. “You’d better come up with a way to create good news for the hotel, or it’s all over.”
The door to the GM’s office flew open beside Theodore with a bang. Highly polished black shoes marched by him.
Theodore pasted himself against the door frame, praying he wouldn’t be noticed.
“Wait, sir!” cried the GM, chasing after the man.
Theodore took off in the opposite direction, running as fast as he could toward the stairway. A hidden access to the mouse hotel was just beyond it.
While the GM tried to smooth things over at the other end of the hall, Theodore slipped in behind the walls of the hotel. He sat a moment, gasping for breath. His mind spun. Good news for the hotel? What did the representative for the investors mean?
Theodore suddenly understood.
He took off running.
Entering the cafeteria, he gazed around. Spying Cynthia, he hurried over to her. “I need you to do something for me.”
Cynthia looked up at him, blinking rapidly behind her glasses. “Why should I help you? You’re not even the doorman anymore.”
Theodore pressed his lips together. If they didn’t cooperate and work together, the hotel might soon close.
Lila came over to their table. “What’s going on, Theodore? Maurice told me about the Producer’s allergy to brussel sprouts.”
Cynthia’s eyes widened. “But I thought ...”
“Listen,” said Theodore, unwilling to waste a moment. “I have a plan to save the hotel. But I need help from both of you. Come with me.”
Theodore led them to the small conference room and opened the door. “Hurry inside. We’ve no time to lose.”
In a matter of moments, Theodore filled them in on what he’d heard and what he wanted to do about it.
Lila clapped her hands. “Perfect! I think it will work. I’ll get paper and pen from Zanna’s room.”
“I’ll help you,” said Theodore.
“And I’ll stay here, composing the note,” Cynthia said. “I don’t think anyone is going to attack me again. And if they try, I’ll be ready for them.” She held up her fisted paws.
Theodore and Lila hurried up to Zanna’s room and stood for a moment in the dim closet, assessing the situation.
“Good. All’s quiet,” murmured Theodore. “Let’s go.”
Lila grabbed his arm, holding him back. “You’re a good mouse, Theodore. No matter how this ends, I appreciate everything you’ve done for all of us.” She stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Theodore’s paw traveled to the spot where Lila had kissed him. It felt on fire. He couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Lila liked him? Really liked him?
“Are you ready?” Lila finally asked.
Theodore nodded. He was ready all right—ready to fall completely in love with the little white mouse who had won his heart.
“Let’s go,” said Lila, snapping Theodore out of his trance.
They left the closet and entered the room, searching for the easiest, fastest way to retrieve a sheet of paper and a pen. Who knew when some human might come along?
“Over there,” said Theodore, pointing to the desk in the corner. They raced over to it and scampered up one of its legs. Hotel stationery was neatly stacked in a cubby hole on top of the desk. Theodore tugged on the corner of one sheet. The whole stash scattered across the desk and fell onto the floor.
Lila tried to gather them together, but as she stretched her arms around a few, others tumbled and fell.
“Leave them,” ordered Theodore. “Sounds like someone’s at the door.” He folded a sheet of paper in his paws and tucked it into his pants. “We have to get out of here..”
They’d just made their way to the floor when a maid entered the room, carrying a vacuum cleaner.
Theodore snatched Lila’s arm and dragged her behind one of the legs of the desk. He closed his eyes and leaned against it, trembling all over.
“What is it?” Lila asked softly.
“The vacuum cleaner,” Theodore managed to say. “A friend of mine ...” He couldn’t go on. The memory of losing one of his best friends to that hungry machine was too much.
Understanding crossed Lila’s face. She rubbed his back. “I’m so sorry.”
Theodore quieted, grateful for her kindness. He tensed again when the maid walked over to the desk.
“Such slobs these movie people are,” the maid muttered. “It’s one mess after another.”
Lila’s eyes bulged with outrage. No one criticized her Zanna. She clamped fists on her hips and opened her mouth to protest.
Alarm rang inside Theodore. He had to do something to stop her squeaking, but what?
Without another thought, Theodore leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. And he didn’t stop until the maid had picked up all the papers on the floor and moved away.
When Theodore pulled away from Lila, she stared at him wide-eyed. “That was ... that was ...
Theodore’s body turned ice cold with dread. He glanced away and back again. “Awful?”
Lila’s eyes glowed a delicate pink. “No, it was sweet. Very, very sweet.”
Theodore’s heart sped up. “You mean it?”
Lila gave him a shy smile and nodded.
Their tender moment was destroyed by the sound of the vacuum cleaner starting up.
“Run!” squeaked Theodore. He grabbed Lila’s paw and scurried as fast as his legs could carry him.
Safe inside the closet, he caught his breath. “We’ll have to find another way to get a pen.”
“We can’t stay here,” agreed Lila. “We might be killed.”
###
Theodore and Lila entered the conference room to find Cynthia sitting at the long table. She grinned and held up a large pen.
“Where did you get that?” asked Theodore, surprised but pleased.
“Over there. You ought to see all the stuff hidden away!” Cynthia led them to the closet and opened the door. Inside, it was packed with human things taken from The W
inston—pens, washcloths, cups, glasses, even small plates, all with the hotel logo on them.
“Those are stolen goods,” Theodore cried. “I wonder who hid them there.”
Cynthia shrugged. “I don’t know, but one of us is a thief.”
“Maybe the mouse that put them there is the one that hit you over the head,” suggested Lila.
Theodore grinned at her. Lila wasn’t such a bad detective after all. “We’ll keep a careful watch on who comes in and out of the conference room. In the meantime, we have to get this note written.”
Cynthia gave him a smug smile. “I have it all figured out.”
Theodore and Lila anxiously paced the room while Cynthia struggled with the pen, writing down the message they had to deliver. Each minute was precious. The movie stars were due to leave in another day.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
There!” said Cynthia. “I’m done.” She held up the note for them to see.
Zanna, how bout a weeding here at the hotel? It wood be loverly.
Her eyes shiny, Lila clasped her paws together. “It would be so romantic if Zanna had her wedding here at the hotel! This is where Rocky proposed to her.”
“This has to work,” said Theodore. “If it does, The Winston Hotel would once more be the place where everyone wants to go. Then, there would be no talk about closing it down.”
“C’mon! Let’s take the note up to Zanna’s room,” said Lila. “I can’t wait to hear what she says when she reads it.”
Handling the note with extra care, the conspirators carried it up through the plumbing to Zanna’s room. They inched the note through the hole into the closet and then followed it inside. All seemed quiet. The three of them crept to the half-open closet door and peered out.
“Ohhh,” whispered Lila. “Rocky’s here.”
Zanna and Rocky were sitting on the couch. Rocky gave Zanna a kiss.
Theodore glanced at Lila, remembering how sweet their kiss had been. Lila smiled and looked away. He turned his attention back to the stars.
“I’d better be going,” said Rocky, pulling away from Zanna. “Thanks for lunch. I have to get ready for a press interview.”
“Mmm, stay for a few minutes more,” pleaded Zanna, snuggling up against him.
Rocky laughed softly, and they kissed again.
Theodore snatched up the note and scampered across the room. Hopefully, the kiss would last long enough for him to place the note by the couch and get back to the closet without being seen.
He’d just unfolded the note on the carpet when Zanna sat up and said, “Guess I’d better not keep you any longer, Rocky.” Her feet hit the carpet next to Theodore.
He held back a squeak and scurried beneath the couch.
“Oh!” said Zanna. “What’s this?” Her hands reached down in front of Theodore and took hold of the note.
The tinkle of her laughter filled the air with soft music. “Look at this, Rocky! The maid must have left this for me. A wedding here at The Winston? It would be loverly, it says. Like my last name. Isn’t that the cutest thing ever?”
“I like the whole idea,” said Rocky. “We could get married this weekend.”
“Silly,” said Zanna playfully. “You know I need time to get ready.”
“I’m serious, Zanna. Let’s not have one of those long engagements. You’ve won my heart. Why don’t we announce our engagement and wedding at the same time? You know how I hate to wait for things.”
Theodore held his breath. He looked across the room. Lila had her fingers crossed. Cynthia raised her thumbs. This could be the hotel’s lucky break.
After what seemed an eternity, Zanna said, “Let’s do it! Call the GM and ask if he’ll help us get it pulled together. I’ll call my friends and give them a heads-up.”
“Join me for the press conference, darling. I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay,” said Zanna. “This is so-o-o exciting!”
Theodore gazed at Lila. She was standing beside Cynthia, her hands clasped, a dreamy expression on her furry face. He couldn’t help smiling. She’d worn that same look after his kiss.
Rocky left, and while Zanna was busy on the phone, Theodore sprinted across the room to the closet.
“It’s working!” cried Lila, hugging him and jumping up and down joyfully.
They rocked to a stop.
He grinned and turned to Cynthia. “Good job! Thanks!”
Cynthia gave him a coy look and put an arm around Lila. “I see the way you and Lila are looking at each other. Maybe we’ll all have a wedding.”
Theodore felt as if the air in his lungs had been punched out of him. He loved Lila, but he couldn’t ask her to marry him. He wasn’t even the doorman anymore.
Lila gazed up at him, her pink eyes aglow. He forgot about everything, but her. Maybe she would consider becoming his girlfriend. He gathered his courage to ask her.
“Lila?”
“Yes?” she squeaked.
“Will you ...”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said before he could finish. She threw her arms around him. “I’m so happy!”
Lost in her embrace, his mind spinning, Theodore didn’t have the heart to tell her he’d been about to say, “Will you wait for me?” He adored her, but how could he take care of her and his family too?
###
Theodore left Lila and Cynthia dancing with excitement and hurried down to the doorman’s post. His job of hotel detective wasn’t done.
Beau Beady was standing by the revolving door. “What do you want, Theodore?” he said with a sneer that hurt.
Theodore took a deep breath, trying to hold back a nasty reply. “I’m looking for my grandfather.”
“As you can plainly see, he isn’t here. So, you’d better go.”
But Theodore had already noticed a number of people gathered in front of the hotel.
“No loitering,” said Beau, elbowing Theodore.
Theodore stood his ground. If he wasn’t mistaken, this is the announcement he’d been hoping for.
The GM’s familiar brown shoes appeared and then his voice rang out. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I have an exciting announcement to make. As you know, several of the stars associated with Sam Horner’s new upcoming movie have been staying here at The Winston. Two of the biggest stars, Zanna Loverly and Rocky Strong have not only fallen in love with the hotel, they’ve fallen in love with each other. And, I’m proud to say, they’ve chosen The Winston for their wedding and reception. In true Winston Hotel fashion, it will be the social event of the season, and it’s all happening here in two days.”
A barrage of questions filled the air. Theodore didn’t wait around to listen to them. He had to find Grandfather. And fast!
Grandfather was sitting at a table in the cafeteria with the little old lady mouse Theodore had assisted into the hotel earlier. He hurried over to them.
“ Excuse me, Grandfather, could I speak to you?”
Grandfather’s eyes widened. He nodded toward the lady. “Slow down, boy, and please say hello to an old friend of mine. Lucinda, this is my grandson, Theodore.”
Lucinda smiled. “Weren’t you the doorman who helped me inside?”
Theodore nodded. “I ... I ... was...”
“Theodore is no longer the doorman,” Grandfather explained to Lucinda.
Her eyebrows arched like question marks. “Why ever not?”
Grandfather turned to Theodore with a stern look.
“I ... I ... I was late to my job,” mumbled Theodore, feeling his heart sink. He turned to go.
“I’m sorry, Theodore. I really am,” said Grandfather. “But rules are rules.”
Disheartened, Theodore headed out of the cafeteria. What was he going to do now?
A tap on his shoulder stopped him. He turned to face Lucinda. Her wrinkled face couldn’t hide the gleam in her eyes. “I think we may be able to work together, young man. Come sit with us a minute.”
Theodore reluctantly took a seat besi
de Grandfather and faced Lucinda.
She smiled at him. “Your Grandfather told me how you have been helping your mother and brothers and sisters. I admire such loyalty and I must say, your replacement has been nothing but rude to everyone. It’s time I told both of you what I suspect and why I’m here.”
She leaned forward and spoke softly. “I’m here on a spying mission. There’s someone in our midst that may be a danger to us all.” She turned to Theodore. “I understand you’re a detective extraordinaire. I’m going to need your help.”
Detective extraordinaire? Pride filled Theodore. It felt so good to be recognized for something he did well. “Yes, Ma’am. I’m here to help you.”
She smiled at him. “I have my suspicion as to who it is, but I need to have proof.”
Theodore nodded. He had a suspicion of his own.
“Okay, here’s what I want you to do.” She whispered into Theodore’s ear.
He listened. By the time she was through, he was smiling. He and Lucinda were after the same culprit.
“Remember,” said Lucinda, “you have to nab him in the act.”
Theodore nodded. Prickles of excitement ran down his back. He’d catch the thief and save his family and others, including Lila, from being kicked out of the hotel.
As he left the table, Theodore brimmed with hope. Their plan just might work.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Theodore entered the conference room and looked around. Empty. He spied the pen Cynthia had left on the table. He went over to it and pushed it down to the floor. Then he dragged the pen outside the room and taking care not to be seen, placed it on the carpet near the door. Giving the pen a little pat, he smiled. The trap was set.
He scurried back into the room and waited. If his suspicions were right, he’d soon have the hotel thief in his paws. He checked his watch. Coffee break time.
Theodore went over to the tall draperies by the windows, tucked himself behind them, and drew a deep breath.
A sound at the door soon caught his attention. He tensed. The stealthy tap, tap of paws against the wooden floor prompted Theodore to get ready. Hearing the scrape of the pen being dragged across the wooden floor, he smiled. The thief had taken the bait.