Read Online Box That Watch Found by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online

theory now.
    “What’s your theory?” Andy asked.
    “We think Cal took them!” Benny said.
    “What?” Mr. Zeller asked with disbelief. Mr. and Mrs. Greene shook their heads.
    “Why would he do such a thing?” Mrs. Greene muttered.
    “Because they were his to begin with,” Henry explained. “If you look up all the missing caches on geocaching.com, you’ll see that they all had some kind of damage.”
    “Or they needed to be refilled with new things to trade,” Jessie added.
    Henry continued. “We think Cal went around and took the caches so he could repair them. But then, before he could put them all back, he got called out of town.”
    “That’s a very interesting theory!” said a voice behind them.
    Everyone turned toward the voice.
    “Cal!” the Aldens cried.
    Cal carried a bulging black garbage bag. It looked like the same bag he’d been carrying in the dog park.

    The whole group ran to him and shook his hand or patted him on the back.
    “We’re glad you’re okay. How is your mother?” someone asked him.
    “She’s much better, thanks,” Cal said. “I’m sorry you were all so worried. And I’m sorry the nature center has been closed all this time. I wish I had taken the time to leave a key with one of my volunteers, but at the time all I could think about was getting to the airport.”
    “That’s okay,” Mr. Robertson said. “We understand.”
    “And I should have called one of you to let you know what was happening,” Cal went on. “But I’m afraid I didn’t think to make phone calls until my mother started to get better. I was too worried about her. I didn’t even think to bring my cell phone with me.”
    “We’re just glad you’re back, Cal,” Andy said.
    “Thanks, everyone,” Cal said, smiling. Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and unlocked the nature center. Everyone went inside.
    “So, what about my theory?” Benny asked Cal, once everyone was settled. “Was I right? Did you take the caches?”
    “Yes, I did,” Cal replied. “And it was just like you said. I saw there were problems with several of my caches, so I gathered them up that day I saw you kids at the dog park.”
    Cal opened the garbage bag and took out some metal boxes, covered pails, and other containers. He set them all on the table in front of him.
    “So you weren’t collecting garbage like we thought,” Violet said. “You were collecting caches!”
    “That’s right,” Cal said. “In fact, I was going to tell you what I was doing and ask you if you knew what geocaching was. But then I got that phone call about my mother. I’m glad you kids found out about geocaching on your own.”
    “We ran into Andy and his dad just a few minutes after we left you,” Benny said. “They told us all about it.”
    “And you thought we were stealing all the caches just to prevent your family from winning the contest,” Zoe told David Greene.
    “I did,” David admitted. “I’m sorry about that. But I bet you thought I was doing the same thing. I bet you thought I was trying to prevent you from winning the contest.”
    “We’re sorry, too,” Zack said.
    “Speaking of contests,” Mr. Robertson said, holding up his hands. He held a computer printout in one hand and a GPS box in the other. “Yesterday was the last day of the month.”
    “So the contest is over?” David said.
    “Do we have a winner?” Zoe asked expectantly. “Do we know who wins the new GPS?”
    Mr. Robertson scratched his chin. “Well, there’s a slight problem with that,” he said. “It seems we have a tie. The Green Lights and the Zees both found eighty-three caches this month.”
    Everyone clapped for the Greenes and the Zellers.
    “Great job, all of you,” Mr. Robertson said. “But I don’t know how we can split this GPS in two.”
    “I have an idea,” Zack said. “We already have a pretty nice GPS. And I’ll bet the Greenes do, too.”
    All three members of the Greene family nodded.
    “I think