Newspeople were still gathered around the governor and the Pearls. They were asking questions and taking photographs.
“Maybe one of the newsmen did it,” Eric said. “Maybe he thought it would make a good story—‘Governor Frightened by Loud Noise!’ or ‘Book Scares Governor Zellner!’”
“Maybe it was one of the photographers,” Cam said. “I bet they all got lots of good pictures of the governor and the Pearls hiding behind the desk.”
“What about your pictures?” Eric asked. “What about the ones you took with your mental camera?”
Cam closed her eyes. She said, “Click!” She tried to remember everything she had seen that morning.
“Smile,” Mr. Tone told the child standing with the governor.
“I am smiling,” Governor Zellner joked. “I always smile.”
Mr. Tone pressed the button on his camera.
Click!
Cam said, “Click!” too.
“What are you looking at?” Eric asked.
“There are so many pictures in my head. So much has happened today. Right now I’m looking at pictures of those long black cars, of the doors being opened. You should close your eyes, too,” she told Eric. “Try to remember what you’ve seen.”
Eric closed his eyes.
“Do you remember when we looked through the window?” Cam asked Eric. “First those four Secret Service agents got out of the car.”
“Yes,” Eric said. “I remember, but I can’t see it like you can. I remember we saw the governor, the Secret Service agents, and the Pearls.”
“Me, too,” Cam said. “Now, I’m looking at the Pearls.”
Cam said, “Click!” again. Then she said, “Hey! That may be it.”
Cam opened her eyes.
“It may be the pearls.”
“What did they do?” Eric asked. “They didn’t drop the book. Someone in the back of the library did.”
“I’ve got to see Mr. and Mrs. Pearl.”
Children had surrounded the front desk. The short Emma and Sam Pearl were mostly hidden behind them. Cam could see their faces, but nothing more.
“Please,” Mr. Tone said, “squeeze closer together. I want to get everyone in the picture.”
Mr. Tone was standing right behind Cam and Eric.
Cam stood. She tried to look over the heads of the children.
“You’re in the way,” Mr. Tone told her. “Please, sit down.”
“But I must see Mrs. Pearl.”
“I have to see her, too,” Mr. Tone said, “and with you standing there, all I see is the back of your head.”
“But this is important.”
Mr. Tone was a tall man. He looked down at Cam and told her, “This picture is important to me and to every child in my class. You will just have to wait.”
Cam sat. She watched and waited while Mr. Tone told one child after another to move either to the left or to the right. He told some to crouch down a bit and others to stand taller. Then he told them to smile.
Click!
“One more,” Mr. Tone said.
Click!
Mr. Tone thanked everyone. Then he told his students to return to their seats.
The children moved away from the desk.
Cam stood. She looked at Mrs. Pearl.
“That’s it,” she said. “Now I know why someone dropped that book. I just have to find out who.”
“Why?” Eric asked.
“I already told you. The pearls.”
Eric looked at Mr. and Mrs. Pearl.
“They dropped the book?” Eric mumbled. “But why?”
Cam told Ms. Benson, “I have to speak with Mrs. Pearl and the Secret Service people.” Then she grabbed Eric’s hand and pulled him along.
The children in Ms. Kane’s fourth-grade class were getting in line.
“Hello,” Ms. Kane said to Governor Zellner. “It’s so nice to meet you.” She asked him for his signature. “I’ll make copies for the children in my class.”
Governor Zellner signed the paper.
Cam and Eric rushed past the governor and Ms. Kane.
“Mrs. Pearl,” Cam said, “where’s your pearl necklace?”
Mrs. Pearl felt for it. Then she looked down.
“My pearls! They’re gone!”
