The Case of the
ByMarneVentura • ArtbyGaiaBordicchiaEvansatinhisbackyard
clubhouse.It wasa chilly
SaturdaymorninginNovember.
Atthesametimeeachweek,
Evan’sDetectiveAgency
openedforbusiness.Hehelped
neighborssolvemysteries.
“Help!Molly’sgone!”Someone
poundedonthedoor.
Evanjumpedtoopenit.
Hisnext-doorneighborJames
rushedinandpacedaround
theroom.Tearsrandownhis
cheeks.Hewasstillwearing
pajamas.Hishairstuckup.
Hisbootsweremuddy.
Evanpulledouta chair.
Jamessatdownandputhis
headonthetable.“Someone
musthavestolenher,”hesaid.
EvanpattedJamesonthe
back. “Calm down, James. Theremightbeanotherexplanation.”
Jameslookeduphopefully.
“Doyouthinkyoucanfindher?”
Evanpickedupa pencil
andhisnotebook.“I’llneed a
completedescription.”
“She’sa turtle.You’ve seen
herbefore,Evan.”
“Color?Size?Didyounotice
anyspecialmarkings?”
“Olivegreen.Withblacklines.
Reallypretty.Hershellis this
long.”Jameshelduphishands.Aboutsixinches,Evanwrote.
“Whatelse?”
“Herneckis paleyellow.”
Jamesbegantocry.“Whatif
a raccoon took her?”“Takea breath,James.”Evan
gaveJamesa tissue.“Howlong
haveyouhadMolly? Where did
yougether?”
“Sheshoweduponedaylast
spring.Shelikesourlilypond.”
Evanwrotemorenotes.
“I checkonhereverymorning.
She’sveryshy.Shedives
underwaterwhenshehearsme.”
Jamessobbed. “What if a coyote
gother?”
Evanjotteddownmorenotes.
“Let’sgotothepond.Showme
whereMollywas before she
disappeared.”
Jamesfollowed Evanto
thebackyard.
“Shelikestositonthatrock
inthesun,”saidJames,pointing.
“Shestretchesout her neck
andsmiles.”
Evanscribbledinhis
notebook.“Wassheontherock
thelasttimeyousawher?”
“Yes,she’sthereevery
morning,assoonasthesunis
up.Butshewasnotthere today!
Whatif she’ssick?”
Evanlifteda lilypadtoseeif
Molly was underwater. No turtle,“She’s
there every
morning.
But not
today!”Missing Turtle
“Someone must
have stolen her.”20 NOVEMBER 2019