Catch Us If You Can (9780545539487) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Teaser

  Preview

  Copyright

  Willow Albern gripped the buzzer in her hand, anxious to hear the next question. Across the room, the four members of the Franklin Middle School Owls looked like lions ready to pounce. She could feel her heart beating in her chest; her team had to get the next question right — or lose the match.

  The Martha Washington Jewels were thirty points behind the Owls, and Willow knew that this was the last ten-point toss-up question. To win, the Jewels would have to get it right, plus the thirty-point bonus question that followed.

  The quiz bowl moderator, a tall, thin man in a gray suit, adjusted his eyeglasses and read the card in his hand.

  “This next question is a Math question,” he announced. “Find the value of eight cubed, or eight to the third power.”

  Willow quickly did the calculations in her head and pressed the buzzer. The moderator nodded at her, acknowledging that she had buzzed in first.

  “Five hundred and twelve,” Willow answered confidently.

  “That is correct,” the moderator replied, and a small wave of applause swept through the crowd of friends, family members, and fellow quiz bowl contestants who filled the Franklin Middle School auditorium.

  “Nice one,” whispered her teammate Jasmine Johnson, and Willow flashed her a smile.

  “Your bonus question is three parts worth ten points each,” the moderator announced. “The Jewels must answer all three questions correctly to win the match.”

  Willow’s palms started to sweat. This was it. Gazing out into the audience, she saw her mom sitting next to Jasmine’s parents. Mrs. Albern gave her daughter a thumbs-up, and Willow felt a wave of confidence flow through her. They could do this.

  Across the stage, the Franklin Owls were finally starting to get nervous. They had walked into the competition expecting to beat the Jewels, who were new to the Washington, DC–area quiz bowl circuit. But the sixth-grade girls were tougher than they looked.

  Many of the teams competing in the tournament that day were from other prep schools or private schools, so they wore their school uniforms. Other squads wore matching T-shirts. But since Martha Washington hadn’t had a quiz bowl team in years, the Jewels didn’t have cool uniforms or intimidating outfits. They hadn’t even had a chance to coordinate their look yet.

  Willow was the team captain, and she liked to be comfortable when competing — both on and off the field. Today, she wore a sporty T-shirt, a short denim skirt, and sneakers. Willow was tall and thin, with dark hazel eyes and brown skin. She wore her long hair in neat braids that she tied into a ponytail, so she wouldn’t be distracted. Willow looked over at her teammates.

  Jasmine stood next to her. She was an inch shorter than Willow, but her wild curly hair made her look a little bit taller. A purple headband tried to tame her light brown curls, and she was dressed like a dancer in her favorite black leggings and a long, purple knit top. The two girls looked like complete opposites, but Jasmine and Willow had one thing in common: They both wanted to be the top scorer on the Jewels team.

  Beside Jasmine, Lili Higashida had woven strands of fake pink hair into her glossy black bob. “For luck!” she had explained, peppily. Her polka-dotted top should have clashed with her skirt and striped tights, but somehow the outfit worked, like Lili’s styles always did.

  The last team member, Erin Fischer, had woken up late. Having thrown on a “Save the Earth” T-shirt and jeans, then briefly run a comb through her frizzy strawberry blond hair, she managed to make it out to her driveway about two minutes before Willow’s mom had picked them all up that morning.

  No, they definitely did not have a team look going on.

  “The theme of this bonus question is China, the country,” the moderator said. “You will have five seconds to answer each part. Part one: What green gem has been prized by the Chinese for centuries?”

  The Jewels quickly huddled together to discuss their response, but Jasmine had the answer ready. Nobody on the team knew gems and minerals the way she did.

  “Jade!” Jasmine whispered. Willow, as the team captain, swiftly repeated the answer into the microphone.

  “Correct!” the moderator announced. “And now for part two. Invented in China, this fabric is made from the cocoon woven by the larva of a moth.”

  Willow panicked for a second. Lili was supposed to be their expert on the arts, music, and literature, but Willow still wasn’t sure how much she knew. This was Lili’s first year at Martha Washington School, and the rest of the Jewels were just getting to know her. Then Willow saw Lili smile.

  “That’s easy. It’s silk,” Lili said.

  “Silk,” Willow repeated, after rushing back to the microphone.

  “Correct,” said the moderator. “The score is now tied. Jewels, here is your third part, for the win. What mountain range can be found on the southwest border of China?”

  Willow turned to Erin, the team’s history and geography expert. Her pale cheeks were flushed bright red, like they always were when she answered a question. But her voice was confident when she replied.

  “It’s the Himalayas.”

  Willow glanced at the other girls, who all nodded. They trusted Erin.

  “The Himalayas!” Willow answered.

  The moderator smiled. “Correct! This match goes to the Jewels of Martha Washington School.”

  Erin and Lili started screaming and jumping up and down. Jasmine hugged Willow.

  “Um, guys?” Willow interrupted the team’s celebrations. “I think we’re supposed to shake hands with the other team.” She nodded in the direction of the Franklin Owls.

  The girls quickly calmed down and followed Willow across the stage, where they shook hands with each of the crestfallen Owls.

  “There will be a ten-minute break until the next round,” the moderator announced.

  The Jewels climbed down from the stage and were greeted by their parents, who gave them all big hugs. Then they headed outside to take a break. They were done for the day, but they planned on sticking around to watch the other teams compete.

  They found a row of vending machines near the main entrance to the school, and each girl got a bottle of water. Erin bought a giant Choco-Blast bar, too. Willow looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

  “You know, I have an extra granola bar in my backpack,” she told Erin, who was already tearing through the wrapper.

  “Thanks, but chocolate is the best way to celebrate,” Erin replied with a grin. “Besides, I need an energy boost. That was pretty intense!”

  The girls nodded in agreement as they sat down on the school steps. It was a Saturday afternoon, and even though Franklin’s regular students weren’t on campus, the steps were still crowded with other teams enjoying the break. It was a crisp fall day, and the air was just chilly enough to feel welcome after the girls had been cooped up in the stuffy auditorium. It was getting cooler, though, and the first orange rays of the late afternoon were beginning to stream through the branches of the surrounding trees, setting the leaves aglow.

  “I actually think it was fun,” said Lili.
“I’m glad you convinced me to join the team, Willow.”

  “And I’m glad you joined,” Willow said. “None of us can handle those art history questions. Plus you’ve got all the literature and music stuff down, too.”

  “And you’re generally awesome,” Erin added. The girls giggled.

  “And anyway, Principal Frederickson is the one who told me to ask you,” Willow said. “I think she handpicked all of us. She said that Martha Washington hasn’t had an academic team in years, and she wanted the best of the best.”

  “So why did she pick us?” Erin joked, and Lili nudged her in the ribs.

  Lili took a phone from the pink velvet pouch she had tied around her waist.

  “I’ve got to text Mom. She’s not going to believe this!”

  The rest of the girls took out their phones and started spreading the good news. A moment later, a boy’s voice sounded from behind them.

  “Not bad — for a first try.”

  The Jewels turned to see a boy wearing a black prep-school uniform and a blue tie standing on the step above them. He was tall for his age, with wavy blond hair.

  “Um, thanks!” Willow replied nervously.

  The boy grinned and walked to the auditorium entrance, where his three teammates waited for him. Between their matching uniforms and haughty smirks, Willow couldn’t help feeling intimidated.

  She turned back to her friends. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!”

  “Is that who I think it was?” Jasmine asked.

  “Yep. Ryan Atkinson, the captain of the Atkinson Prep Rivals. And he just gave us a compliment!” Willow said, a little starstruck. “Sort of a compliment, anyway. Those guys are, like, legendary. An Atkinson team has won the national championships for the last five years in a row. I just can’t believe they noticed us!”

  “Wait a second,” Erin said. “Why is his name the same as the school?”

  “His family founded the school, like, hundreds of years ago,” Lili explained. “His uncle is the principal. I know ’cause my brother, Eli, goes to Atkinson.”

  “They’re all super snooty, if you ask me,” Erin remarked. “You know, I wonder why we didn’t see them at sign-in this morning.”

  Willow shrugged. “I guess they showed up just in time for their match. They probably don’t need to scope out the other teams like most of us do. Everyone says they can’t be beat.”

  Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that. We’re off to a pretty good start.”

  “Yeah,” Lili agreed. “Besides, their uniforms are boring.”

  “I kind of like them,” Willow admitted. “It makes them look … serious. I was thinking maybe we should get some uniforms.”

  Lili got a gleam in her eyes. “Ooh, I could design them! I’m thinking … matching tutus, maybe?”

  Jasmine laughed and shook her head. “Willow wants us to look serious, not fabulous, Lili!”

  “Well, maybe the tutus could be plaid,” Lili suggested. “Plaid is very school-like. Very serious.”

  “Oh, I know,” Erin said. “How about T-shirts that say ‘Jewels Rule!’”

  “Nice, but not exactly what I was thinking,” Willow replied.

  “But that would be serious,” Erin argued. “Seriously awesome.”

  “Well, maybe we should just wear our regular clothes for now,” Willow suggested.

  “It doesn’t matter what we wear, as long as we’re good,” Jasmine agreed. “Anyway, we’ve got to keep winning. We’ve got to show the other schools that the Martha Washington Jewels are here to stay.”

  “Yeah, we were awesome today,” Erin said. “That question about the Himalayas was a no-brainer. It’s only, like, the highest mountain range in the whole world. And nice job with the silk, Lili.”

  “I love silk,” Lili said. “It’s so soft and beautiful — even if it is made by worms.”

  “Larvae, technically,” Jasmine corrected her.

  “Oh, right,” Lili said. “See? I’m not so good at the science stuff.”

  “That’s why we’re the perfect team,” Willow remarked. “We’re each good at something different.”

  She jumped to her feet.

  “Team cheer!” she commanded, and the girls formed a circle.

  “Math!” Willow cried, placing her hand in the center.

  Laying her hand on top of Willow’s, Jasmine yelled, “Science!”

  “History!” Erin added next.

  Lili slapped her hand on top of Erin’s. “Um … art, literature, and stuff!” The girls laughed, and Lili shrugged. “I’m working on it.”

  Then they all cheered together.

  “Goooooo Jewels!”

  As they raised their hands in the air to end the cheer, a woman with blond hair ran up to them. It was Ms. Keatley, their team advisor.

  “She must be coming to congratulate us,” Erin guessed.

  But as their advisor got closer, the girls noticed the worried look on her face.

  “Ms. Keatley, what’s wrong?” Erin asked. The Jewels gathered around.

  “Oh, girls, it’s just terrible!” the teacher said. “The Martha Washington ruby has been stolen!”

  “Oh my gosh!” Jasmine cried. “Not the ruby!”

  “When? How? Who?” Erin asked.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure,” Ms. Keatley replied. “Principal Frederickson just noticed it was missing from the library. And I’m friends with Mrs. Potter, the librarian, and she just texted me. So I guess it happened between when school closed last night and this afternoon.”

  The teacher’s cell phone rang, and she looked at the screen. “It’s Mrs. Potter again. I’d better get this.”

  The girls looked at one another, stunned, as Ms. Keatley walked away.

  “It doesn’t seem real,” Lili said. “Weird, right?”

  The girls were speechless. The ruby, which had once belonged to Martha Washington herself, was set in a beautiful gold necklace. It was always kept in a locked glass case inside the library reading room, where every student could enjoy it. It was the unofficial heart of the school — and inspired its official mascot, the ruby-throated hummingbird. The Fighting Rubies had represented Martha Washington School’s sports teams for generations. And the Jewels had used the first letter of each of their own names to make up their quiz bowl team, in honor of the ruby: Jasmine, Erin, Willow, Lili. Every girl on campus was proud to have the gem in their school.

  “Well, it was a valuable piece,” Willow reasoned. “Maybe a jewel thief stole it so they could sell it?”

  “It was a valuable piece of history, too,” Erin pointed out. “Maybe some Martha Washington fanatic took it.”

  Willow looked skeptical. “George Washington, maybe, but are people really fanatical about Martha?”

  “Hey, people always overlook women in history,” Erin said. “I’m just saying. There could be some Martha-obsessed people out there.”

  Lili gave a little shudder. “I don’t know. It feels kind of personal, you know? Like somebody’s out to get our school.”

  Jasmine was pale. “This is just awful!” she said, tearing up.

  “Well, yeah, but it’s just a ruby, right?” Erin said.

  “Well, yes, but …” Jasmine stopped with a sigh. Erin gave her a quick hug, sensing her friend was taking the theft a little harder than the rest of them.

  Jasmine knew it was just a pretty rock, but she had always thought it was special. She imagined going to the library on Monday and seeing the empty case. In a weird way, it felt like losing a friend.

  Maybe it was because she had gone to Martha Washington since kindergarten, but the ruby was Jasmine’s favorite gem. And for a “geology nut” (as Willow called her), that was saying a lot. On her twelfth birthday her parents had given her a pair of ruby earrings, two tiny red stones on silver posts. They were the prize of her collection, which Jasmine had started as soon as she was old enough to hold a rock in her hand. Her samples were neatly organized in boxes and bins in her room and included
everything from polished brown pieces of agate to silvery gray chunks of zinc.

  But nothing in her collection compared to the Martha Washington ruby necklace, which was made up of thirteen rubies set in burnished gold. The necklace would have been special just because it belonged to Martha Washington, but the center ruby was truly stunning — as large as a penny and the deep color of a rose.

  “I’m sure the police will find who did it,” Willow said, comfortingly.

  “And if they don’t, Principal Frederickson will,” Erin said. Then she gave a mock shudder. “I’d hate to be the criminal when Principal Frederickson finds him. She’s scarier than the Terminator.”

  “She sure is,” Jasmine said, forcing a smile for her friends.

  * * *

  “Goooooo Willow!” Erin yelled the next day as she stamped her feet on the bleachers.

  Lili grinned. “This is how you do it,” she said as she held her thumb and index finger together, then placed them in her mouth. She inhaled deeply before letting out a piercing whistle.

  The other people sitting in the bleachers turned to look at them.

  Jasmine wiggled uncomfortably on the bench. “Would you guys knock it off?” she said. “Everyone is staring at us!”

  “Relax, Jasmine,” Lili giggled. “We’re just showing our support for Willow and the Martha Washington Rubies.”

  “We’re loudly showing our support,” Erin said before she yelled, “Goooooo Rubies!”

  Jasmine sighed and leaned forward, putting her chin in her hands. Erin looked over her friend’s all-black outfit.

  “What’s up, Jazz? No Ruby red today?” Erin pointed to her own red Martha Washington sweatshirt.

  “I’m in mourning,” Jasmine said. “For the ruby.”

  “Ooh, I could make you a hat with a black veil,” Lili said. “Totally goth.” Erin stifled a laugh.

  “I am not goth,” Jasmine protested. “Just sad.”