The Mystery of the Singing Serpent - M. V. Carey [27]
“Miss Jamison,” said Worthington, and he sat down in Jupiter’s chair. Opening the green leather box, he took out the necklace and draped it across one knee. “It’s beautiful,”
he said, “but it’s worthless.”
“Worthless!” Allie jumped up. “It’s my mother’s necklace! It belonged to the Empress Eugénie. It’s priceless!”
Worthington was distressed. “I’m sorry, Miss Jamison, but it is not the Empress Eugénie necklace. It’s an imitation. I called upon three appraisers, saying that I found the necklace among the effects of a recently deceased relative. I was told not to try to obtain insurance on it, since one does not insure costume jewelry.”
“Costume jewelry?” Allie looked ready to choke. “Give it to me!”
Worthington handed the necklace over.
“Are you going to discuss this with your aunt?” asked Jupiter mildly.
“Discuss it with her? I’m going home and ram this junk down her throat, and then I’m going to make her tell what she did with the real necklace.”
“We can guess what she did with it,” said Jupe. “You yourself suggested the safest course. She had an imitation made by Van Storen and Chatsworth, and she directed that the real necklace remain with the jewelers until your parents return.”
Allie sat down again on the crate. “That’s like finding out that the class dunce is really Albert Einstein. So the necklace is safe.”
“But why would she have an imitation necklace made?” asked Pete. “What’s she going to do with it?”
Allie frowned. “All this hocus-pocus must have something to do with Ariel. Aunt Pat has been so careful not to let him see the necklace.”
“Maybe she’s afraid he’ll steal it?” guessed Bob.
“Fine! Let him! He can steal this fake and get lost!”
“I don’t think this is a simple matter of theft,” said Jupiter. “Somehow this necklace business is all mixed up with Mrs. Compton’s accident and the fellowship and the power of the singing serpent.”
“Is that serpent still singing at your house?” Bob asked Allie.
“No,” said Allie. “No one sings at our house.”
“Scared?” asked Pete.
“Yes, a little.”
“I don’t think you’re in any danger,” Jupiter told her. “As long as Ariel doesn’t suspect you of being a threat to him, he won’t bother you. Bentley is involved in some way and may show up again, but he doesn’t seem violent.”
“It isn’t me I’m scared for,” said Allie. “Why should I be scared for me? They think I’m only a pesky kid. I’m scared for Aunt Pat. Tonight she and Ariel are going to another meeting of that creepy fellowship. I heard them talking about it this morning. Ariel said Dr.
Shaitan was assembling the others at Torrente Canyon and Aunt Pat had to go. She doesn’t want to. She cried a lot. But she’s going.”
“Excellent!” said Jupiter.
“It isn’t excellent!” shouted Allie. “It’s horrible. I hate to see her like this.”
“I’m afraid that until we discover the secret of the fellowship, you won’t see her any other way,” said Jupiter. “Worthington, could you …”
“I’d be delighted to pay another visit to the house in Torrente Canyon,” said Worthington.
“I’m coming, too,” announced Allie.
“Allie, please!” said Pete.
“It’s my aunt,” she pointed out. “It’s also my mother’s necklace that’s involved, and Ariel is living in my house. I’m going. Worthington, where will I meet you this evening?”
“I had thought,” said Worthington, “that the parking lot in front of the Rocky Beach Market —”
“Fine. What time?”
“Would half-past seven be agreeable, miss?”
“Perfectly. See you at seven-thirty.” Allie strode out, hiding the necklace under her poncho.
“A strong-minded young lady,” said Worthington.
The Three Investigators didn’t disagree.
Chapter 14
Dr. Shaitan’s Spirits
Worthington had no cause to change his mind that evening. Allie was waiting with The Three Investigators when he appeared at the Rocky Beach Market driving his gray Ford.
She was calm enough, but her jaw was set in a way that meant she planned to see some action. “I’m going to get into that house,” she told