Chapter2

The next afternoon. Lucky and Laura sat side by side at the table trying to decipher Helena's rhymes. They were having no luck at all.

Lesley came out of the kitchen with coffee for them.

"Are you still at it? Don't you think the two of you should take a break and get some sleep? You look terrible," said Lesley.

"Mom, Luke's life depends on us figuring out this rhyme."

"Honey you are not going to do Luke any good if you are asleep on your feet. Get some rest so you can get a fresh start on the clue."

"We'll think about it Grandma," Lucky said with a weak smile.

"I had better go meet the school bus, Lesley Lu will be home soon."

"Thanks Mom," said Laura. "Don't worry, if I havn't figured this out in the next hour I will try to get some sleep. I promise."

Twenty minutes later Lulu came running through the door.

"Come on Grandma, hurry!" she called behind her. Lesley followed her in the door shaking her head.

"Laura, does she ever walk or is she always in fast-forward mode?"

Laura laughed, because she knew that Lulu was hard to keep up with sometimes.

"Mommy guess what?" Lulu said running up to Laura and giving her a hug.

"I don't know. Tell me!" Laura said trying to sound excited.

"We went to the museum today and do you know what I saw?"

Laura shook her head no.

"I saw dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs. You know what else? Mr Franklin said they had been dead for millions of years. Thats a long, long time. That's even older than you!"

Lucky laughed at Lulu's innocent remark about Laura's age. He knew she didn't like to be called old.

"Mr Franklin said dinosaurs used to roam all over the earth, now they just roam in the museums. Mommy what does roam mean?"

Laura wasn't listening anymore. Something Lulu had said had started her thinking.

"That's great Honey. Mommy has to go out for awhile and Lucky is coming with me. You be good for Grandma," Laura said. "Come on Lucky."

They got up and hurried out. Lulu stared at Lesley hoping to be told what was going on, but she could tell the Lesley didn't know either.

In the car, Lucky was as confused as his sister.

"Mom where are we going?"

"I think I figured out Helena's first riddle.

"You did? How?"

"It was Lulu talking about her class trip. Think about it. Dinosaurs are long dead and they were beasts. And where did Lulu say dinosaurs roam now?"

"Museums. You mean you think the next clue is at the museum?"

"That's what I think," Laura said as she pulled the car to a stop in the museum parking lot.

They ran inside and went straight to the prehistoric animal display. They looked all over the room, but didn't see anything.

"Ten minutes till closing," said a voice over the loudspeaker.

"I guess I was wrong. We'd better go," said Laura.

Lucky started to follow her out the door when he noticed a small spot of yellow sticking out from behind the exit sign over the door. He tried but he couldn't quite reach it.

"Lucky?" Laura said coming back into the room. She saw him looking up. "What is it? Did you find something?"

He pointed to the sign. "I can't reach it though."

"Lucky, do you think you could lift me high enough?"

He nodded and picked her up. She grabbed the paper and pulled it down. He set her back on her feet.

She unfolded it. "It's the next riddle," she said. She handed the paper to Lucky. He read it out loud to her.


One clue down just a few to go,
To find the next one just read the riddle below.
Look in the triple letters hanging outside,
For at this company's office the next clue does hide.



"That's worse than the first one," Laura said shaking her head. "Let's get out of here."

They left the museum. The guard locked the door behind them. They headed to her car. The "What do you think this clue means?"

No answer.

"Lucky?" Laura turned around and Lucky was nowhere in sight. "Lucky!"

Laura had a bad feeling about this. She leaned on the hood of her car to catch her breath. She noticed an envelope under her windshield wipers. Laura picked up the envelope and opened it. Inside was another piece of yellow paper. She pulled it out and read it to herself.


So slow you were at figuring out the first clue,
That now instead of one treasure, you are now looking for two.
Who will be next, you'll never know,
But you'll soon be all alone if you work too slow.



Laura jumped in her car and sped home as fast as she could. She knew she had to get Lesley and Lulu out of the house, tonight.