Judy Moody, Girl Detective - Megan Mcdonald [7]
“I, Agent Stink, Pearl, or Rock . . .”
“Do solemnly swear . . .”
“Do solemnly swear . . .”
“Even though I’m not allowed to swear,” said Stink.
“That I will obey all detective laws . . .”
“That I will obey all detective laws . . .”
“And listen to Judy . . .”
“And listen to Judy . . .”
“Because she is the WBMS — World’s Best Mystery Solver . . .”
“Because she is the —”
“You said BM,” said Stink. “You can’t make me say BM.”
Judy grinned. “Never mind.” She put on her own cockroach badge and pointed down the street. “To the crime scene!”
Before you could say Password to Larkspur Lane, Judy and her two assistants (plus one stinky brother) were knock-knocking on Officer Kopp’s front door.
“I’ll do the talking,” said Judy, elbowing her way to the front. Officer Kopp came to the door in his blue jeans and sock feet. He was holding his phone in one hand and a stack of flyers in the other.
Judy started her speech. “Hi, we’re from Virginia Dare School —”
“These aren’t bug pins,” Stink interrupted. “They’re badges.” Judy turned on Stink and gave him her best Hercules-beetle stare. “We heard about Mr. Chips and we’re detectives and —”
“Detectives, huh?” said Officer Kopp.
“Where’s your uniform?” Frank asked, staring at Officer Kopp’s socks.
“We rushed right over as soon as we heard that Mr. Chips had been stolen,” Rocky added.
“We don’t know that he’s been stolen,” said Officer Kopp. “Most likely he just escaped, though for the life of me, I can’t see how. But I sure am glad to see you guys.”
Judy stood up straighter. “You are?”
“Sure. I was hoping you kids might help put up flyers around town.” He held up flyers that said LOST in big letters and showed a cute picture of Mr. Chips.
“We’ll put them up at Fur and Fangs,” said Rocky.
“And Speedy Market,” said Frank.
“And all over the whole entire town,” said Stink.
“Great!” said Officer Kopp.
Judy took out her notebook. “So Mr. Chips was last seen where?”
“In the backyard this morning,” said Officer Kopp.
“Uh-huh,” said Judy. Scribble, scribble. “When was this?”
“My wife let him out at around six thirty, I think. Then I filled his dish and put him in the kennel around seven. At seven forty-five, I went out to get him, and he was gone. And the food was still in his dish.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh,” said Judy. Scribble.
“Poor Mr. Chips,” said Frank.
“Can we see the kennel?” Judy asked. A good detective always took a look at the scene of the crime.
“Sure. C’mon around back,” said Officer Kopp. In his sock feet, he led them back to a tidy, fenced-in backyard. Along the side was a kennel, much bigger than a doghouse, made out of chain-link fence.
Officer Kopp scratched the back of his head. “He’s never done anything like this before. The whole yard’s fenced, and the kennel is supposed to be escape-proof.”
The door was latched with a U-shaped hook. “Was the latch open when you came out at seven forty-five?” Judy asked.
“That’s just it. The latch was still closed, and the door wasn’t open.”
Scribble. “Have you seen any suspicious characters lurking around?”
“Anybody with a name like Grumpy or Scurvy?” Stink asked.
“Not that I know of. This is a quiet neighborhood.” Just then the phone rang from inside. “They’re patching calls through, and the phone’s been ringing off the wall. Maybe it’s a lead. ’Scuse me.” Officer Kopp trotted toward the house.
Judy tapped her pencil on her pad. “Fact: Door is closed, latch down. Fact: Dog food still in dish. If you were going to run away, wouldn’t you finish your breakfast first?” The boys nodded.
“Brilliant idea number sixty-seven,” said Judy. “Get in the cage, Stink. We’ll latch the door and see if you can bust out.”
“Is this a trick? Are you gonna lock me in the kennel and run away?”
“This is not a trick. It’s a real detective thing to act stuff out so you can figure out what happened. C’mon, Stinker, you took the oath.”
Stink dragged his feet into the kennel, and Judy flipped the latch down. “Now act like a dog.”
“I’m not gonna crawl around on all fours and pretend I’m a dog!”
“Dogs can’t talk,