She hated the taste of the stuff, but she loved its smell. The sizzle and snap of frying bacon came to her ears while she got dressed. The bacon smelled even better than the coffee. She couldn't wait to get into the kitchen. She almost couldn't wait. As she pulled a brush through her tangled hair, she saw the magazine lying on her dresser---Whispering Shadows Mystery Monthly. Joyce set her brush aside and picked up the magazine. She turned to page 99. There, in large letters, was her name---JOYCE WALTHER. "Breakfast is ready when you are," her father called from the kitchen. "Be right there," Joyce answered without looking up. In spite of the wonderful smells of coffee and bacon, breakfast could wait. Her eyes stayed on page 99 and on the big words there---THE OPAL RING by JOYCE WALTHER. Me. Above the title was a paragraph Joyce had read so many times during the past two days that she almost knew it by heart.
