RJ pats Gavin on the shoulder. “I wish I had known what you were going through. My parents took away my phone and forbid me to contact anyone.”
“RJ and Gavin both shut me out,” Zee says with a hurt look in her eyes.
Gavin hangs his head. “You were right about Mom being guilty, but I didn’t want to believe it. When Mom confessed after she was arrested, I was too ashamed to tell you. Then we moved and it was easier not to think about my friends—until they showed up.”
He points to Becca and me.
“And Leo set up this meeting after he found me online,” RJ adds.
“It’s the most logical method for compiling our information,” Leo explains.
RJ nods. “My parents forbid me to contact my friends, but I didn’t know you, so I wasn’t breaking their rules to answer your emails. When I found out everything that’s been going on, I told my parents and Mom called Granddad. She and Dad are at the castle right now, talking. When Granddad saw her, he started crying. That made Mom cry and even Dad cried and he swears nothing makes him cry.”
“I feel like crying just hearing about it,” Becca says, sniffling.
“It was great seeing Granddad again and being at the castle,” RJ says. “Granddad challenged me to a game of chess later, and I’m going to kick his butt. I’ve been practicing. But first I wanted to see my friends.” He looks at Leo. “Thanks for finding me.”
“But why wouldn’t your parents let you talk to your friends?” I ask, still trying to understand everything.
“At first they were so mad at Granddad, they didn’t want to have anything to do with Sun Flower,” RJ explains. “But a few weeks later Mom sent a letter to Granddad but he never answered. Until Leo emailed, I had no idea that Gavin’s mother had been arrested or that Angel had framed me.” RJ looks at his friends. “I wanted to call but I was afraid my parents would be angry.”
Becca puts her hands on her hips. “But that’s no reason to abandon Bandit. How could you just leave her to fend for herself?”
“I knew Gavin and Zee Zee were coming to the tree house and would take care of her. I thought they’d find my note and know Angel was the real thief.”
“But I couldn’t get back here,” Gavin points out. “Sergei wouldn’t let me onto the estate.”
“Me either,” Zee Zee says angrily.
“Sergei was just following orders,” I say, defending him. “He’s the one who fed Bandit and let her sleep in his shed. He probably saved her life.”
“I feel terrible for leaving her,” RJ says. “But I couldn’t take her with me. Pets aren’t allowed where I live now. I guess I owe Sergei a thank-you for taking care of her.”
“Sergei is a really great guy,” I say. “Although for a while I was suspicious of him because he pawned something worth over a thousand dollars.”
“I’ll bet he needed the money for airline tickets,” RJ guesses. “He’s at the airport now, picking up his sister and nephews. He’s been saving money to bring them from Russia for a visit.”
Becca, Leo, and I exchange a look that says, “Another mystery solved.” We’re a great team, I think. My gaze lingers on Leo and I wonder what it will be like to go to a robot show with him.
Then Zee Zee, Gavin, and RJ tell us about the animals they found and nursed back to health. We tell them about finding kittens in a dumpster and rescuing lost animals. Becca pulls out her phone and shows them photos of Zed and the 130-year-old tortoise named Albert. When Becca holds up a photo she took that morning of the Fur Bros playing with Bandit, RJ looks sad.
“I miss Bandit, but I can’t have pets in our new apartment.”
“I know what that feels like,” I say sympathetically. “Now we live in a house and I have both my cat and dog. Things will get better for you too. Don’t worry about Bandit. Becca’s mom will find a good home for her.”
A little while later, the ARC kids have to leave. Their club is over, but they promise to keep in touch with one another—and us too.
“Want to go on a lost pet ride?” Leo suggests when it’s just the CCSC.
Smiling, we climb down from the tree house and ride off looking for lost pets—and maybe even our next mystery.
At age eleven, Linda Joy Singleton and her best friend, Lori, created their own Curious Cat Spy Club. They even rescued three abandoned kittens. Linda was always writing as a kid—usually about animals and mysteries. She saved many of her stories and she loves to share them when she speaks at schools. She’s now the author of over thirty-five books, including YALSA-honored The Seer series and the Dead Girl trilogy. Her first picture book, Snow Dog, Sand Dog, was published in 2014. She lives with her husband, David, in the northern California foothills on twenty-eight acres surrounded by a menagerie of animals—horses, peacocks, dogs, and (of course) cats. For photos, contests, teacher guides, and more, check out www.LindaJoySingleton.com.
The Secret of the Shadow Bandit Page 17
