The Potato Chip Puzzles_ The Puzzling World of Winston Breen - Eric Berlin [53]
Winston asked to see the computer, and Mal handed it to him.
“Everybody has solved the Ferris wheel puzzle now, except for New Easton Junior High and Bethany’s team,” Winston said.
“New Easton dropped out,” Mr. Garvey reminded them. “And I’m afraid the girls were kicked out of the park, so I’m not sure what they’re going to do.” He didn’t sound sorry at all, of course.
There was an awkward silence in response to that. “Huh, yeah,” said Mal. “Well, they’ll figure out something, I’m sure.”
Winston resumed looking out the window, so that Mr. Garvey wouldn’t see him smiling.
After a minute, Winston asked, “Did you show the memo pad to Mr. Denham?”
“I did,” said Mr. Garvey.
Of course he had, Winston thought—Mr. Garvey wanted to scare his rival team into quitting.
The math teacher continued, “And they were on the verge of solving the Ferris wheel puzzle, by the way. We’re ahead of them now, but only barely.”
“Did Mr. Denham have any idea why his name was on the cheater’s list?”
Mr. Garvey shook his head. “He saw the cheater for a quick moment, right before he ran away. He didn’t get a great look, but he swears he’s never seen the guy before in his life. He couldn’t imagine how the cheater would know his name. Are you concerned that your name was on his list, Winston?”
“I guess I am a little.”
“Well, you stay close to me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Just because we’re not running away like scared rabbits doesn’t mean I’m not taking this person seriously. How do you think he knows about you?”
Winston had been wondering about that himself. Suddenly, he realized there might be a way to figure out the answer. Maybe. He sat up a little straighter in his seat, and thought about it. Yes. A really wonderful idea was sprouting in the middle of Winston’s brain like a whole flower garden.
If he got very lucky, he could find out who was cheating.
“Winston?” said his teacher. “Hello?”
“Mr. Garvey,” he said, “can I borrow your cell phone?”
CHAPTER TEN
THE VOICE ON THE other end of the phone was gruff and impatient. “Who’s this?” it said, all but accusing Winston of interrupting something important.
Winston felt himself losing his nerve. The man he’d called, Ray Marietta, was an ex-policeman who had been an important part of Winston’s last treasure hunt. Winston hadn’t spoken to him in months, and he’d had the idea that maybe Ray would be happy to hear from him. That idea went right out of his head the moment he heard Ray’s voice.
“Uh, Ray, hi. . . . It’s Winston. Winston Breen.”
“Winston?” Ray sounded surprised. “What can I do for you?” Ray made this friendly question seem very unfriendly, as if he could not imagine what Winston might ask that Ray would be willing to do.
Winston wasn’t sure where to begin. His realization was this: The cheater had called him at home the same day they had cracked the code. Who else could have made that strange, suspicious phone call? It had to be the man in the green jacket, or whoever was working with him. That’s how the cheater knew Winston would be here. He was willing to bet that the other people on the cheater’s list had received similar calls.
“Can you trace a phone call?” Winston asked.
There was a startled silence from Ray Marietta, followed by loud, raucous laughter. Winston had never heard Ray laugh before. He sounded like a washing machine with too large a load in it. HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH! Winston got the feeling his brilliant plan was going to die right here at the first step.
“You want me to what?” Ray said when he could speak again. “Why do you need a phone call traced?”
Winston explained as succinctly as he could: that they were playing in a puzzle contest sponsored by Simon’s Snack Foods, but someone was running around sabotaging other teams, and this cheater, whoever he was, had beaten up his friend Jake.
“Is that the short kid with the big