The Mystery of The Yellow Mattress - III

A Pot of Gold.

Sonya was surprised. She carefully pulled off the mattress cover, and she could have sworn her eyes popped out of their sockets. Money! rows and rows of bright green, crinkly bills. She had never seen so much money at one place. They looked a lot like the bills Mama brought from the bank. but they somehow smelt different. She knew Mama would never put them there. And that only left the Guy with the Blue Car.

Now why would somebody hide money in their mattress?

She fetched Mama, who looked at all that money doubtfully. They both decided to call for Uncle Bob.

Uncle Bob was astonished when they he was told the whole story. He then thought for a long time, and then brought home more of his friends. Of course, with so many grown ups around, Sonya and Mishka had to bide their time in their own room. But Sonya was not be left behind, she had keen ears, and she quietly listened to all that was going.

Oh what an adventure was unfurling in her living room. A bank robbery! Stolen Money. Fake money. Stuffed into a Mattress. Nobody knew the guy, Mama only knew his name was Andrew. Or so he said. Sonya felt like she was transported into a case of Famous Five or Nancy Drew. She couldn't decide which. She was alone, it would be more similar to Nancy Drew. But she loved Famous Five and all their adventures.

Her mind was buzzing so fast, nothing made sense. She thought what her literary friends would do. But of course! They would follow him. Only she had no car, no cycle and no friends. Difficult.

The adults were all discussing their options. She was spinning a story in her own head too. This guy Andrew, with his blue car, trunk full of money stolen from the bank. He wants to get away, only he can not travel with so much money. So, as he goes to the library to get books - no. that would be too lame. Why would a robber need books? Instead lets say, as he goes to the library to browse the web, he sees Mama's poster 'For Sale'.

He probably thought he could bury the money in the mattress and make his escape. But by now, the whole neighborhood was being patrolled. He had no way out. So he came back, and left the mattress. Now, what did Mama say? Didn't she say he would come back for it?

Sonya thought hard. Uncle Bob and his friends were constantly talking on their walkies and dusting things. They did not seem to be close to the story like she thought. Well, maybe their Papa did not buy them detective books like hers' did. She decided she needed to go out and tell them.

She stepped out bravely. Mishka was long asleep. Mama sat at the dining table mixing cups of coffee, talking to a sketch artist. She knew how it worked. Papa had shown her so many times. She would describe her friends, teachers and papa would draw them perfectly. He had told her how to concentrate and notice their distinguishing features. "A nose is not simply a nose", he had said. "Everybody's nose is different". She missed him. She wished she had seen a glimpse of him. At least his nose.

Uncle Bob was nowhere to be seen. She began to search for him resolutely. He had been Papa's best friend when he was on the job, and she knew she could trust him. She knew Papa trusted him. He did not brush her aside like other grown ups. He listened.

She found Uncle Bob near his patrol car outside. He was surprised.

"Sonya! It is past your bedtime. How come you are up and about this late? You should try to sleep", he said.

"Uncle Bob. I have something to tell you. I know what happened, and I have a clue.", she said.

"Well, we are hard pressed for clues right now. Let's hear it out big girl." That's what he always called her. Big girl. Just like Papa.

"Remember how I told you a car almost ran us over?"

"Yes. You blamed it for your rendezvous with the puddle.I know."

"It is the same car, Uncle Bob. The car had this yellow mattress behind, and that was why the driver couldn't see us. I think he was in such a hurry because he saw you. He hid all the money from the robbery and mixed in his own fake money. That is why it smells so weird, your friend told me. I was thinking, why don't we wait for him to come back tomorrow? He might be too far to notice that we know his secret. And he told Mama he would be back."

"Darling. Your dad would have been so proud of you. My thoughts were on the same lines. Remind me to buy you some more of your favorite books.", he winked.

Sonya felt her cheeks redden. She was proud. But she also felt terribly small in front of all the cops.

"Let's go see how the sketch is coming along".

The Sketch.

Sonya looked astonished. She had every reason to be. She knew the guy in the sketch. At least, she had seen him. Just outside of 'Sweet Treats' three blocks away. They had the best buns in town, especially Cinnamon buns. She had been there with Mishka after school. Mama let her buy something there once a week. Uncle Joe who stood behind the counter was very kind and Aunt Emma always gave her a little something for Momo. They knew that everyone in their family, including the dog, had a sweet tooth and a soft spot for their Cinna Buns.

She tugged at Uncle Bob's pants and told him. "I saw him outside Uncle Joe's in the evening. He was sitting there with a newspaper and a big book when we went in. He was there even when we came out of Uncle Joe's. I  remember him because Momo had barked at him, and he was very cross with her. She wouldn't stand down, and he didn't help."

Uncle Bob was happy with this tip. He sent somebody to talk to Uncle Joe or the shops near him to see if anybody recognized him. As they took the sketch that Mama had helped with, Sonya stopped them.

"What's wrong?", Uncle Bob asked.

"It's the nose.", Sonya said. "The nose is all wrong. His nose was pointed, alright, but it had a dent in the middle and was little bent to the left." She had been a good student to Papa. She knew every nose was different. And she had seen this nose.

The artist smiled at her. Mama messed up her hair lovingly. And Uncle Bob. Well he just promised her one more novel. Sonya was happy. She had been able to help with the case. She now knew Andrew or whatever his real name was. She had seen his face. And she seldom forgot a face.

*

The nose, the face and the mattress. 

Uncle Bob came home the next day. It was the weekend and they were tidying up after last night. They had taken away the mattress and smelly money, but they had left behind muddy footprints, messed up the garden and drank copious amounts of coffee. Sonya was still excited. And she was happy to see Uncle Bob.

She was thrilled to see the books in his hand as he came close. She dare not speculate what they were. But she wanted to know what happened to that Andrew guy.

"You have no idea how your 'nose' helped us Sonya. Doctor David saw the poster in the morning and recognized the crooked nose. By stroke of luck he was at Uncle Joe's for his morning croissant and he saw the nose. I mean the face, the poster."

"It seems, this young man was at his office just the other day, wanting to have surgery performed on his nose. He had acute sinus, and the bone was all bent and messed up. David told him that it wasn't something they could do on the go, that it would take a couple of sessions. And he would have to come back and get it checked up regularly. Apparently, this was not to Andrew's liking - for that is his real name. And he left after making quite the scene and asking to see another doctor. He had given his real address and other information for insurance and so we tracked him down in no time."

"Your recollection of the nose actually helped us end the case Sonya. My captain was very amused to hear this, and he has put in your name for a reward. 'We need such clever, smart and brave kids' were his exact words."

'Your papa would have been so proud. I know I am. And as promised, I have brought you your books".

Sonya was overjoyed when she took it from him. She couldn't thank him enough. She gave him a big tight hug. Tears welled up in her eyes when she realized he had bought those exact editions that were missing in her collection. Papa had promised to buy them for her, but after his death, she couldn't bring herself to ask Mama. And it was painful. She wondered if  Uncle Bob knew, or it was just coincidence.

"Come on Sonya", Mama called from the car. "Let's get you your new mattress".