"Huh?" Cole said to Henry. "Where are we going?"
Henry just started running. Cole, Maggie, and Nathan followed.
"Hey, where are you going?" Nora appeared behind them.
"Nowhere," Nathan called. "Go away."
Nora ignored her brother's orders and chased after them as Henry led the way to the basket-weaving booth.
They arrived just in time to see someone scurrying out, holding a large shopping bag.
"Patrick!" Henry called. "Stop!"
Patrick scowled. "What? I need to get back to the art show for the judging."
"You're too late," Maggie informed him.
"The judges already looked at your painting. Why weren't you there?"
She still looked confused. So did Cole and Nathan.
Nora wasn't paying attention to any of them.
She was looking at some pretty baskets nearby.
Henry stared at the shopping bag. "We heard you made a basket," he said.
"It must be really large if you need that huge bag to carry it."
"Yeah, so what?" Patrick glared at Henry.
Henry smiled. "Can we see it?"
Just then Hannah appeared. "His basket isn't large," she said.
"He made a little round basket, just like everyone else."
"What are you doing here?" Maggie asked her.
"I saw you guys run off." Hannah shrugged.
"I was curious, so I followed you. What's going on?"
"If Patrick made a small basket, why'd you put it in such a big bag?" Henry asked Hannah.
"That's Patrick's bag," Hannah said.
"He told me he'd put his basket in there. He said it had extra canvases in it."
"If that's true, maybe you should show us," Henry told Patrick.
Patrick looked stubborn. "Why should I?
It's none of your business what I have in my bag."
Maggie stepped forward. "You'd better show us what's in your bag!
And if there's a painting of a cat in there, you're going to be in big trouble!"
Nora rushed over. "A painting of a cat?" she cried.
"No! That's mine!" She grabbed the shopping bag out of Patrick's hand.
"Hey!" Patrick cried.
But Nora was already dumping out the contents.
A tiny basket tumbled onto the ground—followed by Nathan's painting!
"Aha!" Cole cried. "But wait. I thought Patrick had an alibi."
"Me too," said Henry.
"Then I realized something: Hannah told us that Patrick was in her booth.
But she didn't say exactly when he was there.
And I remembered he had a big bag, but probably made a tiny basket."
He shrugged. "Besides, Patrick was the one with the best motive all along."
Patrick's eyes looked watery. "I'm sorry, Nathan," he blurted out.
"I really wanted my painting to be in the museum.
When Owen told us how much the judges liked yours, I panicked."
Patrick's parents were standing nearby. "Patrick!" his mother cried.
"I cannot believe what I am hearing!"
Patrick slunk over to his parents.
While they scolded him harshly, Cole grabbed the painting.
"We need to get this back before it's too late!"
But when the kids arrived back at the art show, the judges were finished.
"Wait!" Maggie cried. "We have one more painting."
"I'm sorry, young lady," the art teacher said.
"I'm afraid it's too late. We've already chosen the winners."
"But it's not Nathan's fault his painting wasn't here!" Cole protested.
The curator shook her head. "I'm sorry. We can't—"
Suddenly Daniella stepped out of the crowd. "Perhaps I can change your minds?"
She whipped off her red wig, revealing dark hair beneath.
The judges all gasped.
"Can it be?" the art teacher exclaimed.
"It's Daniella Diaz!" the local painter cried.
The curator looked awed. "I'd recognize her anywhere."
Henry glanced at his friends. They looked surprised.
"I guess she really is world famous," Cole whispered.
"Please, dear art lovers."
Daniella took Nathan's painting out of Cole's hands.
"Could you include my young friend's painting in your little contest?
I'd consider it a personal favor."
"Of course!" the local painter exclaimed. "We'll take a look right now."
The curator peered at the painting.
"Oh, I remember this one," she said. "It was one of my favorites."
Henry stepped over to Daniella. "Thanks for helping my friend," he told her.
"Even though you didn't want to be recognized."
Daniella winked. "Anything for art, my boy."
"Wow," Henry said later as the curator hung up Nathan's painting.
"It looks great!"
Nathan looked stunned. "I can't believe my painting is in the museum!"
Nora stared up at the painting. "Hi, Patches," she said sadly.
"Don't worry." Nathan put an arm around her.
"The painting is yours, just like I promised.
The museum is just borrowing it for a year, okay?"
"Mine! Hooray!" Nora cheered.
Nathan laughed. "And hooray for The Lemonade Detectives!" he added.
"They always solve the case—eventually!"