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Authors: Carolyn Keene
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it.”
“But how did they know?” Nancy asked. “Franklin Cole probably,” Ben answered. “I imagine he knew the story well, since he was a part of it in the beginning. That’s why he never would show the Tundra. I guess he always believed he’d figure it out someday.”
“But he didn’t, did he?” Nancy said.
“No, and so his partners are trying to complete Franklin Cole’s dream,” Ben agreed.
Nancy nodded. “But where do you fit in, Ben?” she asked.
“I came to Victoria for the same reason,” Ben replied. “Only I was just going to look at the Tundra while it was on display.”
“Do you know the secret of the sculpture?” Nancy gasped.
“According to the old men of Seal Bay, I do,” he answered. “They gave me a message from my grandfather, words he told them when he knew he was dying. You see, he’d never told anyone where the treasures were hidden. That was his punishment to them for having sold his treasures—that and the fact that he told them the Tundra was the key. Unfortunately, what he told them makes no sense at all to me. I came here hoping that if I studied the Tundra carefully, I could figure out what his words mean.”
“And now it’s gone and Ben won’t have the chance,” Alana said. “Again, it’s all my fault, Nancy.”
“Do you think Cole and Borge can find the treasure now that they have the Tundra?” Nancy asked.
Alana shrugged, then looked to Ben for the answer.
He shook his head. “I doubt it. Franklin Cole had years to study it. Without the secret my grandfather knew, it is just a beautiful master-piece—a priceless collection of his carvings.”
“I guess that explains something else,” Nancy said.
“What do you mean?” Alana said.
Nancy took a deep breath and explained about her father’s disappearance and the call she’d received at the hotel.
“You mean they want me?” Alana gasped.
Nancy nodded. “They seem to think you know the secret of the sculpture.”
Alana closed her eyes as though in pain. “They’re wrong, of course.”
“But they have my father.”
“Even I couldn’t help them solve it,” Ben said.
“What are we going to do?” Alana asked. “I don’t know anyone to ask for help. I tried to call Tod to ask him to tell my uncle I’m all right, but there was no answer at his apartment.”
“Tod is in the hospital,” Nancy interrupted. “Besides, I think his phone may be tapped.” She quickly explained about Tod’s accident and the break-in that had occurred that afternoon. Alana was even more upset by this news.
“I know how they got into the house,” Alana said sadly. “They took my keys when they kidnapped me.” She sighed. “But why would they do that? Why search the house?”
“They were evidently looking for your notebook.” Nancy explained how she had found it in Alana’s room.
“But it wouldn’t have helped them to solve anything,” Alana protested.
“I’m sure they know that now,” Nancy told her. “They didn’t get it the first time because I had it in my purse, but they did get it the second time. I left it in the room when I went to visit Tod.”
“These people are so desperate now,” Ben said. “I wonder why they didn’t just buy the piece from the widow. Surely she would have let them have it since they were her husband’s former partners.”
Alana shook her head. “I don’t think so. She was very adamant about the sale of the Tundra. She told Uncle Clement that it wasn’t to be sold to anyone who wouldn’t display it. I got the feeling that it was something she and her husband had quarreled about for years.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t have someone else make an offer for them,” Nancy said. “A slightly fraudulent purchase would certainly have been less risky than an out-and-out theft, even with your uncle forced into helping them.”
“They probably did,” Alana said. “Mrs. Cole warned Uncle Clement to check out every pro-spective buyer very
“But how did they know?” Nancy asked. “Franklin Cole probably,” Ben answered. “I imagine he knew the story well, since he was a part of it in the beginning. That’s why he never would show the Tundra. I guess he always believed he’d figure it out someday.”
“But he didn’t, did he?” Nancy said.
“No, and so his partners are trying to complete Franklin Cole’s dream,” Ben agreed.
Nancy nodded. “But where do you fit in, Ben?” she asked.
“I came to Victoria for the same reason,” Ben replied. “Only I was just going to look at the Tundra while it was on display.”
“Do you know the secret of the sculpture?” Nancy gasped.
“According to the old men of Seal Bay, I do,” he answered. “They gave me a message from my grandfather, words he told them when he knew he was dying. You see, he’d never told anyone where the treasures were hidden. That was his punishment to them for having sold his treasures—that and the fact that he told them the Tundra was the key. Unfortunately, what he told them makes no sense at all to me. I came here hoping that if I studied the Tundra carefully, I could figure out what his words mean.”
“And now it’s gone and Ben won’t have the chance,” Alana said. “Again, it’s all my fault, Nancy.”
“Do you think Cole and Borge can find the treasure now that they have the Tundra?” Nancy asked.
Alana shrugged, then looked to Ben for the answer.
He shook his head. “I doubt it. Franklin Cole had years to study it. Without the secret my grandfather knew, it is just a beautiful master-piece—a priceless collection of his carvings.”
“I guess that explains something else,” Nancy said.
“What do you mean?” Alana said.
Nancy took a deep breath and explained about her father’s disappearance and the call she’d received at the hotel.
“You mean they want me?” Alana gasped.
Nancy nodded. “They seem to think you know the secret of the sculpture.”
Alana closed her eyes as though in pain. “They’re wrong, of course.”
“But they have my father.”
“Even I couldn’t help them solve it,” Ben said.
“What are we going to do?” Alana asked. “I don’t know anyone to ask for help. I tried to call Tod to ask him to tell my uncle I’m all right, but there was no answer at his apartment.”
“Tod is in the hospital,” Nancy interrupted. “Besides, I think his phone may be tapped.” She quickly explained about Tod’s accident and the break-in that had occurred that afternoon. Alana was even more upset by this news.
“I know how they got into the house,” Alana said sadly. “They took my keys when they kidnapped me.” She sighed. “But why would they do that? Why search the house?”
“They were evidently looking for your notebook.” Nancy explained how she had found it in Alana’s room.
“But it wouldn’t have helped them to solve anything,” Alana protested.
“I’m sure they know that now,” Nancy told her. “They didn’t get it the first time because I had it in my purse, but they did get it the second time. I left it in the room when I went to visit Tod.”
“These people are so desperate now,” Ben said. “I wonder why they didn’t just buy the piece from the widow. Surely she would have let them have it since they were her husband’s former partners.”
Alana shook her head. “I don’t think so. She was very adamant about the sale of the Tundra. She told Uncle Clement that it wasn’t to be sold to anyone who wouldn’t display it. I got the feeling that it was something she and her husband had quarreled about for years.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t have someone else make an offer for them,” Nancy said. “A slightly fraudulent purchase would certainly have been less risky than an out-and-out theft, even with your uncle forced into helping them.”
“They probably did,” Alana said. “Mrs. Cole warned Uncle Clement to check out every pro-spective buyer very
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