“Well,” I said, “just because no one saw them leave the museum doesn’t mean they vanished. Or… maybe they didn’t leave at all.”

Lucas was clearly confused by this, but after a moment Bess and George seemed to know what I meant.

“Oh!” said Bess. “That door behind the bookshelf!”

“You think they’ve been trapped back there?” asked George.

“I think it’s possible,” I said. I turned to Lucas and quickly told him the story of my run-in with Beverly DeSantos and Susan in the museum’s staff hallway. “The museum looks so large from the outside,” I said, “but the exhibit space is relatively small. There has to be more than enough space to keep two people hidden back there. I want to try and get through that door again. Maybe I can figure out the combination for the keypad over the door handle, or maybe the combination is written down somewhere, in one of the offices in that hallway. Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of Christopher DeSantos and his relationship with Terry Lawrence, or his relationship to his granddaughter. But that doorway has to be something.”

Bess and George both nodded at me. “So back to the museum?” asked George. She began typing faster as she spoke, and I knew she was trying to get in as much Wi-Fi time as possible.

“Back to the museum,” I confirmed.

“Lucas,” said Bess, “do you want to come with us?”

“Um.” Lucas paused. “Actually, I just remembered I already made plans with a friend. Maybe I’ll see you guys later. Bye, Bess.”

Lucas quickly stood, threw his leather jacket back on, and headed toward the door. I looked at Bess, and she seemed a little surprised by his sudden departure. I couldn’t say I felt the same way, though. I couldn’t help but wonder if inviting someone to sneak around the restricted section of a museum was just too much for a new friendship.

CHAPTER SEVEN A Warning

BESS, GEORGE, AND I BEGAN walking in the direction of the museum. It was another day of confusing weather in Shady Oaks. One minute it was overcast and on the verge of pouring down rain. The next minute the sun was peeking through the clouds and catching on all the fall leaves and it was nearly a warm day. I kept my red raincoat on just in case. Underneath my raincoat, however, all I needed was a long-sleeved T-shirt to feel perfectly comfortable.

Just like yesterday, the museum seemed to be filled with people. Even as we stood outside and watched how many people walked in and out the front door, I could tell it was going to be difficult to sneak around unnoticed.

As the three of us began walking up the museum’s front steps, I leaned in close to Bess and George. “It’ll be easier for just one of us to get into that hallway than all of us,” I said. “I think I’ll need you both to create a distraction. And I’ll try to get through the STAFF ONLY door while everyone is looking at the two of you. Is that all right?”