On the Case

by Laura Dower

  “That’s weird. I didn’t see you either place,” Madison said.

  “What do I have to do to get your attention, set off flares?” Dan quipped.

  He and Madison laughed. Unfortunately, their laughter drew the unwanted attention of the same pack of ninth graders Madison had met earlier.

  “What’s your problem? Is something funny?” one of the boys in the group growled at Dan.

  “Yeah, what are you laughing at, fat boy?” another one snapped.

  Dan gulped. Usually if he got picked on by kids at school, it was for his weight. In fifth grade, Dan’s nickname had been Pork-O. But there was a big difference between a good friend’s making up a nickname for him—and a bully’s doing it.

  “Um… um…” Dan stammered. He could feel the sweat on his neck.

  “Let’s split,” another kid in the pack said. “Time to leave the losers alone to do whatever it is loser seventh graders do…”

  Madison felt her fists clench.

  If she were only a little taller… and a little stronger…

  Luckily, the ninth-grade boys got bored fast. They were on to the next “loser” down the hall. They walked on, chuckling to themselves.

  “That was close,” Madison said. “Those guys gave you beady-eyed little stares like they were sharks…”

  “And I was the raw meat,” Dan said with a snort.

  Madison giggled.

  “So, are you coming to the clinic?” Dan asked.

  “Huh? You didn’t get my e-mail?” Madison asked.

  Dan shook his head. “No, but my e-mail was down last night,” he explained. “What did it say?”

  “Of course I’m coming to the clinic,” Madison said. “How could I miss it? You made it sound like such an emergency. A hundred new animals? Hey, if you need help, I’m your helper.”

  “Aces,” Dan said. “My mom is working this afternoon, too. She always says you’re the best volunteer. Well, next to me, that is.”

  Dan’s mom, Eileen, was a nurse at the clinic. She was in charge of all of the business of Dr. Wing, the primary veterinarian.

  Madison and Dan stopped at their lockers, waved good-bye to a few friends who passed them in the hallway, and made their way out the lobby door. They would have to ride the bus over to the clinic. Madison searched her pockets for quarters. Dan lent her one, and they boarded the bus.

  When they arrived at the clinic, it didn’t seem as busy as Madison had expected. There was only one man in the waiting room, with a cat carrier. Piped-in music played a chorus of “Monster Mash,” in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday.

  “Madison!” Eileen cried, when she saw the kids come inside. “What a surprise!”

  “Surprise?” Madison eyed Dan suspiciously. “What do you mean? Dan told me you have a lot of new animals and that you needed help…”

  “Oh, sure, we always need help,” Eileen said with a wink. “I think today we have two new kittens in the back just waiting for you.”

  “Two?” Madison echoed.

  As Eileen walked away, Madison turned and shot a look at Dan.

  “What’s going on around here, Dan? Where are the hundred new animals, Dan? Huh? Huh?”

  She nudged him hard with her elbow. He grabbed Madison’s arm and pulled her into the back area, where the animal cages were kept. Dan kept looking around as if he were afraid someone might hear them.

  “Would you mind, please, telling me what is going on around here?” Madison asked.

  “Look,” Dan whispered. “The reason I made up that stuff about lots of new animals was because I needed a way—any way—to get you in here.”

  “Get me in here? What are you talking about?” Madison asked. “All you had to do was ask. You didn’t need to lie.”

  Dan glanced around again. His voice got very low. “Well, this really is an emergency. Sort of. My mom doesn’t know about it yet. I’ve been covering it up.”

  “Covering what up?” Madison asked, confused. “Dan, what are you talking about?”

  Dan explained that some supplies were missing from the back cabinet. The stash of chew toys had been picked over and some taken. And someone was taking the kittens out of their cages when they weren’t supposed to. Since Dan was in charge of the back area, he feared getting in trouble with his mom and Dr. Wing; just last month they’d gotten upset when another volunteer had left a parrot cage open. There had been bird poop everywhere.

  “Dan, you’re being ridiculous,” Madison said. “No one will get mad at you because someone else took stuff.”

  “You don’t get it,” Dan said very seriously. “Mom told me that if we lose stuff or if animals get loose, she’ll make me work in the office instead of back here. I can’t do that, Maddie. So I have to find out who’s really messing around and put a stop to it fast.”

  Madison paused thoughtfully. “Gee, maybe that is a problem. Do you have any leads?” She almost sounded like a real detective.

  “Leads? Well,” Dan sighed. “Did you ever see anything unusual around here when you were volunteering?”

  “Not really,” Madison shook her head. “Unless you count the guy who brought in that two-headed snake that time.”

  “Remember that? Whoa. That was definitely unusual,” Dan said.

  “I’ve never seen any strange behavior from volunteers, if that’s what you mean,” Madison added. She thought about the missing flash drive, the note in the library, and then said, “Maybe I can help.”

  Dan smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. You’re always good with this kind of stuff.”

  “Really?” Madison asked.

  “Yeah. You always talk about mysteries,” Dan said.

  While Dan mopped the floor in front of the cages, Madison organized the medicine cabinet. She carefully observed the three other volunteers who were at the clinic.

  Hmmm. Was anyone acting suspicious?

  One volunteer, Josie, was a visiting nurse who helped care for sick animals. Madison didn’t think she was a suspect. She didn’t look particularly interested in chew toys. Besides, she was a grandmother. Madison couldn’t imagine someone who looked like Gramma Helen stealing, or even borrowing, sweet and furry little kittens.

  Another volunteer seemed innocent for other reasons. Madison recognized Lana Waldorf as a student from FHJH. She’d seen Lana in the halls. Although Lana always acted a little strangely, Madison was sure she couldn’t have been the thief. Lana had no reason to go into the back near the animals. She was only there to help Eileen with filing.

  It was a third volunteer, named Rocky, who seemed to Madison like the guilty party. Rocky lingered by the kitten cages and then passed out chew toys to a pair of barking pups as Madison watched. He went back to the kittens and seemed awfully interested in one that was mewing loudly. And since Rocky was always coming and going, he was the only one who could have had the real time and opportunity to commit the clinic crimes.

  Madison shared her conspiracy theory with Dan.

  “I think Rocky’s your man,” Madison said in her best Nancy Drew voice.

  “You think?” Dan mulled over the theory. “But Rocky’s such a nice guy, Maddie. He’s been volunteering here longer than me.”

  Well, Madison said to herself. Maybe the thief is a volunteer who didn’t come back… or maybe it’s someone who…

  “Uh, excuse me?”

  Out of nowhere, Lana strolled right up to Madison and Dan with a stack of files in her hand.

  “Your mom is busy with someone up front, Dan. And I have a question. I’m sorry to bug you, but can you help me find some—”

  “Lana!” Madison blurted out. “It’s you!”

  Lana nearly dropped all of the files on the floor when Madison said that.

  Dan raised an eyebrow. “What did you say, Maddie?”

  “Yeah, what did you say?” Lana repeated.

  Madison put her hands on her hips. “Lana, have you been spending time by the kitten cages?” she asked matter-of-factly.


  Lana turned ashen. “Huh?” she said, acting dumb. “No… I never… I don’t know… what do you… um…”

  She looked as if she were about to burst into tears.

  A light went on in Dan’s head. “Lana?”

  “No, no, no!” Lana insisted. “I didn’t steal… I just borrowed… I mean, I only took the kittens out because they were so cute…”

  “But you were just helping my mom with filing,” Dan said. “You weren’t supposed to come back here.”

  “I didn’t think anyone would notice,” Lana said. “Is it really wrong to hold the cats? They were purring…”

  “What about the dog treats?” Dan asked.

  Lana turned even paler. “Oh,” she said.

  “You took those, too?” Madison asked.

  Lana hung her head. “Yes. But I just wanted to give the dogs something extra…”

  “Well, you broke the rules,” Dan said, shaking his head. “If my mom knew the cats had gotten out or that you used extra dog treats, I would have gotten into so much trouble. She’s like a hawk about inventory. You know that.”

  Lana shrugged. “I guess. I’m sorry, Dan.”

  “Well, I have to tell my mom,” Dan said. He went up front to get Eileen.

  As Dan walked away, Lana turned to Madison with a puzzled look.

  “How did you know it was me who did all that stuff?” she asked.

  “There.” Madison pointed to Lana’s sweater. “Cat hair,” she said.

  “Oh, no,” Lana sighed. “I didn’t even think about that.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask to work back here? Why did you sneak around?” Madison asked.

  “I don’t know…” Lana said. “I wish I hadn’t. Now I’ll probably be asked to leave.”

  Fortunately for Lana, Eileen had no intention of asking Lana to go anywhere. As soon as she came into the back room with Dan, Eileen took Lana aside and told her that the clinic would give her a second chance. Lana promised she wouldn’t go to the back or handle any of the animals anymore without permission.

  Dan was mad. He didn’t understand why his mom would let someone who was a sneak and a liar stay on as a volunteer at the clinic, especially when Eileen was always so hard on him.

  But Madison understood. What Lana had done wasn’t really so bad. No kittens had been injured or stolen. The missing dog chews had gone to dogs already in the clinic. Where was the harm in that? Madison realized that part of figuring out any crime meant understanding the criminal, no matter how big or small. And in that moment, she understood Lana.

  A bell rang out in the back room. It was the cuckoo clock by the water cooler.

  “Five o’clock!” Madison said. She needed to call her mom to come and pick her up. Eileen told Madison she could use the phone on her desk.

  “You know, Maddie, I was thinking…” Dan said. “You’re like that detective guy on television.”

  “You mean, Major DeMille? On Crime Time?” Madison asked, thrilled at hearing him make the comparison.

  Dan nodded. “I was so clueless about who was messing with the kittens, but you figured it out just like that. I’m impressed.”

  Madison blushed a little. “Well… maybe I do have a knack for solving crimes…” she said dreamily. “You think?”

  A car honked outside. Madison’s mom was there. Madison waved good-bye to Dan, Eileen, Lana, and the rest of the volunteers. She even stopped to pet an iguana in the front room.

  Mission accomplished. She’d solved her second crime.

  On the way back to their house, Mom stopped off at China Grill for some takeout dinner. As they picked up the food, Madison asked the person behind the register for extra duck sauce and fortune cookies, hoping for an extra-special fortune. After all, that could have made the difference between a good day and a bad day, in Madison’s superstitious mind.

  Mom headed for her office after their dinner of shrimp fried rice with broccoli. A very full Madison said good night and headed upstairs with Phin to her room. She needed to finish her homework and get ready for bed.

  After reading one chapter in her American history book, Madison stopped working on her homework. As usual, she was far too tempted by the call of the Internet.

  She went online.

  Surprise! There was an e-mail from Bigwheels.

  From: Bigwheels

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: Crime Time all the time

  Date: Wed 13 Oct 4:12 PM

  Sorry u couldn’t chat yesterday but we’ll do it soon 4 sure.

  I am addicted to that Crime Time TV show now Maddie. U were soooo right. It is soooo good. I especially like that guy Major. Cute! Actually I’m not bragging or n e thing but I think that my friend Reggie looks a little like him only younger. (I told u that Reggie and I are talking again right? He asked me to go with him to the fall dance at my school. I was so excited.)

  I wrote you a poem last night after I got ur e-mail. It’s about friendship. Do you like it? J/W

  Write back soon and tell me.

  Yours till the bubble baths,

  Vicki aka Bigwheels

  Madison clicked onto the attachment at the end of Bigwheels’s e-mail and a document opened. It was the poem.

  For Madison

  Sometimes friends are like flowers.

  Petals open up and they hug you.

  Colors are bright and warm

  And if I’m feeling low

  I can always count on a friend to know.

  Friends say the right things at the right time.

  They are smarter than smart.

  Most of all, friends have heart.

  Love,

  Vicki

  Bigwheels had written poems before, but this was the best one yet. Madison wished she could write a poem right back. What would she write about? Being a detective?

  Madison clicked SAVE so she could keep the poem in a safe place in her files. Later she would print it out and stick it on the bulletin board in her room or maybe even put it inside her school locker.

  Then Madison hit REPLY.

  From: MadFinn

  To: Bigwheels

  Subject: Re: Crime Time all the time

  Date: Wed 13 Oct 7:06 PM

  UR2N2ME!!! Is it possible to be such good friends with someone I have never met? You proved that it is. I will love your poem forever and ever. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.

  I had to write back tonight because something BIG happened today. I went to the animal clinic and--drumroll, please--I solved another mystery. For real! It was only figuring out that this girl was sneaking the kittens out to play but no one else could figure out who was doing it and I don’t want to sound full of myself or anything but I DID.

  Know what? I am having major (as in MAJOR DeMille) karma about all this snooping stuff. I can really do it. Plus, this was my fortune cookie with tonight’s takeout dinner: YOU NEVER HESITATE TO SOLVE THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. Get that? SOLVE, like crimes, right? Isn’t that just perfect!?

  Did u ever read Nancy Drew? I read all those books in fourth grade but I think I’m going to go back and read them all again. I bet I could learn a thing or 2 from her, doncha think? Maybe I’ll be the NEW Nancy Drew. Detective Madison Finn at your service. LOL.

  Yours till Crime Time,

  Maddie

  P.S.: I really will write a poem 4 u 2 someday I hope!

  As she hit SEND, Madison’s mind swirled. What if she really could become the next super girl detective? What if Madison Francesca Finn became the youngest girl ever featured on the cover of Time magazine, with the headline You Go Girl: Solving Crimes After School? What if she got so big that she was actually invited to appear on Crime Time?

  She caught her breath.

  A guest spot on Crime Time! That could mean she would meet Major DeMille, for real. What could be better than that? Aimee and Fiona would be so jealous…

  “Maddie! Is your light still on? It’s getting late!”

  The sound of Mom’s voice i
nterrupted her thoughts. Madison jumped up from her bed and ran over to the door.

  “Okay, Mom. I hear you! And I’m getting ready for bed!” Madison yelled back. She closed her laptop and headed into the bathroom.

  After all, the sooner she brushed her teeth…

  And the sooner she climbed into bed…

  The sooner she would be back in the amazing dream starring Major DeMille!

  Deep sleep couldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter 6

  “DAN, SHUT UP!” MADISON said at the lunch table at school on Thursday.

  “Why? It’s true,” Dan said. “You are a real detective.”

  Egg cracked up. “How can you solve crimes, Maddie? You’re scared of bugs!”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Aimee said.

  Madison buried her face in her hands. Dan had told everyone about the cat caper at the clinic, including Hart, who was staring at her right at that moment.

  “I think it’s cool,” Hart said to Madison. “Not everyone can figure out things like that. Dan couldn’t.”

  “No kidding,” Dan said.

  “Hey, is that the girl who took the kittens?” Chet, Fiona’s twin, asked, way too loudly. He pointed across the cafeteria to Lana, who just happened to be having lunch at the same time.

  “Shhh!” Fiona shushed her twin brother. “I wish you didn’t have such an open manhole for a mouth!”

  Madison felt uncomfortable. She waved, so that Lana wouldn’t worry that they were gossiping about her—even though they were.

  “Lana Waldorf’s in math class with me,” Hart said. “I feel bad for her. She never gets any problems right.”

  “Some kids call her Lana Waldorfus,” Egg said.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Aimee said again. “How about your nickname? After all, we call you ‘Egg’!”

  Drew snorted.

  Everyone else at the table laughed, too.

  “Egg is a really uncool nickname, isn’t it?” Chet chimed in, laughing louder than everyone else.

  “Shut it,” Egg said.

  That only made Chet laugh louder.

  Egg leaned over and whacked Chet in the head with a notebook—hard.