“Yep!” He patted his pocket when there was a loud, snarling sound of thunder and a strong gust of wind blew across the lawn. A policeman came out of Old Queens and announced through a megaphone that a storm was about to hit and that the ceremony would be delayed until the worst of it had passed. He suggested that people wait in the surrounding buildings.
“This way, Trackers.” Mr. C was already jogging up the lawn, trailed by the six member Tracking Team. “To Geology Hall.”
They hurried up the stone steps to Geology Hall and into the entrance lobby just as it started to rain. “Safe,” Simon sighed. “In just a few minutes the storm will be gone and we’ll complete our….”
“They’re not here!” Mr. C interrupted. “The seeds.” He turned his pocket inside out to show the seeds were gone. “I thought they were safe.”
The Jersey Trackers all groaned in disappointment, all of their hard work for nothing. “I can’t believe it,” Gabby whispered. “The Jersey Devil won.”
“This is no time to give up,” Coop said bravely. “Maybe there’s another clue.” The Trackers thought this was at least worth a try.
“Not so fast team,” Mr. C said. “We should wait until the rain stops.”
The door opened as several other people entered the tiny lobby seeking shelter from the rain. Mr. C and the Trackers moved into the main hall.
The hall had tall windows on the right side with glass cabinets in between containing bones, minerals and Native American tools. In the middle of the space was another cabinet of minerals and seashells with giant dinosaur skulls on top. Between the center cabinet and the windows stood the skeleton of a 10,000-year-old mastodon.
“What’s that?” Jamal asked.
“Looks like an elephant,” Chelsea told him.
“No, not the skeleton,” Jamal said, rushing toward the mastodon. “What’s on its tusk?” He had to jump but he managed to tug the piece of paper from the tusk and handed it to Mr. C.
“It’s a map,” Mr. C told the group. “Of the lawn in front of Old Queens building.” The team gathered around to look at it. There was a large X clearly marked between Old Queens and Kirkpatrick Chapel and directly across from the mall.
“Look.” Maya pointed out one of the windows. “The rain’s almost stopped. Let’s see what’s at the X.”
