Chip picked up the brass gear and examined its worn teeth.

“This has to be it.”

As everyone celebrated, something else remained partly hidden beneath Dozer’s blanket.

A golden-yellow pencil with three teal stripes rested just inside the fold.

Socks stared at it.

Chef Crumbs raised one finger.

“Gear first. Mystery second.”

Chip held the gear carefully while Socks prepared the bulletin-board device.

No one had noticed the pencil yet.