Read Online The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun - Free Book Online Page A

fried food makes you fat…” Her mother would probably think she was being rude. She scooped the beans with a biscuit to shut herself up.
    â€œDon’t look so worried. You could use a little fattening up,” Hattie said. “How did things go this morning?”
    Maria swallowed. “Fine. Mr. Ironwall is a little scary. But I don’t think he’s mean. Just really old.”
    â€œThat’s definitely true.” Hattie put another chicken thigh on Maria’s plate. “Can I get you anything else?”
    â€œThere aren’t any computers in this house, are there?”
    â€œNo, and no TVs either,” Hattie said. “That’s why his last nurse quit. She was stone-cold bored, she said.”
    â€œWell, I need to look some things up.”
    â€œWhat sort of things?” Hattie asked.
    â€œJust, well—” Maria hesitated. Hattie might have ratted her out about the movie room. So she couldn’t ask her anything about Captain Murdefer or his map.
    Hattie was staring at her, waiting, with a bowl of dessert in her hand.
    â€œWho’s Hedy Lamarr?” Maria finally asked. “Mr. Ironwall said I looked like her.”
    Hattie put the bowl down. “Well, that’s a compliment. She was an actress in the old days.”
    â€œOh.” Maria took a bite. Apple crisp with whipped cream.
    â€œYou could go to the library in Edgartown,” Hattie said. “They have free computers. It’s not far, and there’s a bike path the whole way, so no worries about cars.”
    â€œI don’t have a bike,” Maria said.
    â€œOh, there are quite a few in the Old West Shed. Mr. I kept them for guests—I’m sure there’s one there that’ll fit you. Ask Frank to help you. Now how’s that dessert?”
    â€œAmazing,” Maria said.
    Hattie looked pleased. “Well, there’s more where that came from. I’ll send it home with your mother. It’s so nice to have someone appreciate what I do. Paolo never even says thank you. That boy just shovels it down and runs out the door. Did I tell you about the fight he got into at school? A week of detention. He’s sure to fail…”
    Maria didn’t mind listening to Hattie’s stories about her misbehaving son, if it meant a second serving of apple crisp. Besides, she didn’t have anywhere else to go, and nothing else to do but eat, get fat, and solve the mystery of Captain Murdefer’s treasure map.
    *   *   *
    She was peeking in the window of the Old West Shed when Frank came up behind her and asked what she needed.
    â€œA bicycle,” she answered. “Hattie said Mr. Ironwall kept them in here for guests, and I’m a guest, I guess. At least he said so.”
    â€œYou’re a guest, you guess.” Frank smiled as if she had made a joke. “Well, in that case, I guess I can help you.” He took a huge set of keys from his jacket pocket and unlocked the padlock. “Ah, they’re buried way in back.”
    He moved a few lawn chairs, a large umbrella, and a huge canvas bag aside.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Maria asked.
    â€œSails.” Frank disappeared into the rear of the shed. After a few moments he wheeled two bicycles out.
    â€œSwing your leg over this one and sit on the seat.” He steadied a rusty blue bicycle for her.
    She did as she was told. Then she tried the other, a newer green one.
    â€œToo big.” Frank took the bikes back into the shed. “I’ll be right back.”
    â€œWhat are the sails for?” Maria called after him.
    â€œThat old boat down on the dock. Here, try this one.” He brought out a smaller red bicycle. It looked ancient. It had a moldy wicker basket on the front and no gears.
    â€œ The Last Privateer , right?” Maria asked, as she swung her leg over and sat. It felt like a good fit, though she didn’t know; she had never sat on a bicycle