Chapter 4
The next day, when Miley woke up, there were 3 different letters waiting for Hannah Montana. Miley called Lilly to come over right away.
1 of the envelopes was quite different than the other 2 (and the other mysterious letters) so Miley decided to open that one while she waited for Lilly.
Dear Ms. Montana. I am so sorry you couldn't attend the preview of my latest works. I imagine it is hard for you to go out in public when you are such a popular artist, but I so want you to see my art that I have made arrangements to give you a private tour of my studio today at 2 PM. There will be a limousine that will pick you up at the private entrance of the Hotel Easton at 1:45. I hope and pray you can make it, Graciously; Henry Roberts
Just as she finished Lilly arrived.
"What's that letter say?" Lilly asked.
"Oh That's an invitation to a private Henry Roberts show, these two are the weird letters."
Miley and each opened one.
Miley read aloud about the thefts at the University. Lilly gasped and looked at Miley as she read hers.
"This is your last chance Hannah Montana. With the Golden Ram and Bull taken from the Weinstein Museum, there is only one item left, and it will happen before the clock strikes midnight!"
"Why does this thief want Hannah to know about these crimes?", Hannah said. "And how and why does he think she, I mean me, is going to stop it."
"Hannah, do you think it's weird that almost everything stolen is like some kind of animal," Lilly pondered.
"That is strange; we should make a list of what was stolen."
Lilly grabbed a pen and paper and started writing down the stolen goods.
Hannah handed her all of the letters.
"Let's see, there was a Crab, a Lion, a picture of Mary and a Scale, those two don't fit. Then a Scorpion, a Centaur, a Goat, Aquarius and a Fish. Then a Ram and a Bull. I guess there not all animals."
"But there has to be something that ties them all together, maybe there's a pattern."
The girls didn't speak for about 20 minutes, each studying the list.
Finally, Miley shouted, "There are 11 things and one item more to go. That means there's a total of 12. You know what comes in 12?"
Lilly shouted "Hours on a Clock?"
"No, I mean yes but that's not what it is." Hannah continued. "There are 12 signs on the zodiac and each one of these represents a sign. Crab Legs for Cancer, Leo for Lion. All the way through to a Ram for Aries and Bull for Taurus."
"Gemini comes after Taurus," Lilly stated.
"And what's the symbol for Gemini?" asked Hannah.
They both shouted "Twins".
"So what could symbolize Twins," Hannah asked.
"Romulus and Remus," Lilly said.
"Who?"
"Romulus and Remus, the Roman Gods. Remember seeing the Romulus and Remus statues at the Henry Roberts exhibit?"
"Oh my God, your right Lilly. Those are the thief's next targets. We have to stop this."
"Are we calling the police?"
"No," Hannah said waving the invitation she received from Henry Roberts.
Hannah Montana has an invitation to a private showing at Henry Roberts' workshop. She, I mean I, will warn him about the letters and threats. You get down to the Weinstein when it opens and nose around. I have a feeling this is an inside job and we have to get a little more information before we tell the cops. Otherwise they're going to think we're just a couple of kids doing a prank."
"But Miley. Why is the thief sending these letters to Hannah? Don't you think it's a weird coincidence you get an invitation to a private showing on the same day you get a letter saying this your last chance to stop the crime spree? It sounds dangerous, we better tell your dad."
"No Lilly, he'll never let me go then. I think the statues are the target; I just want to find out if Roberts has an assistant who is in on the thefts. Remember, one of his statues was at the scene of one of the thefts."
Lilly looked up from the computer screen.
"Actually, there was a Roberts' statue at the scene of each theft, except the crab leg sign."
"Even more reason to go. And besides, I have my taser and the smoke-bomb earrings we bought. You better bring yours too."
"Be careful Miley. Obviously the thief wanted Hannah to figure out these clues. He may not be surprised to see you."
"If so, I'll have a surprise for him."
What awaits the young detectives in Chapter 5? Will Lilly be able to stop the theft of the statues? Are the statues even the targets? Is it mere coincidence that Hannah received the invitation?