—WHAT’SMISSING—
Asilverrattleshapedlikeamoon.It’soneofthetwins’favoritetoys.ItdisappearedonMondayafterschool.
AtoymousenamedSqueakSqueak.It’soneofthetwins’favoritetoystoo.ItdisappearedonWednesdayafterschool.
Thetwins’favoriteCD,calledHappyBabySongs.ItprobablydisappearedsometimebetweenThursdayat5p.m.(whenMrs.GregoryandCalcameover)andFridaybefore3p.m.(whenwegottothehouse).
—SUSPECTS—
Matt:Margaret’sfriend.MattandtheirotherfriendLaciecomeovereverydayafterschooltoworkonascienceprojectwithMargaret.Mattlikestoplaypracticaljokes.HewasatthehouseonMondaywhentherattledisappeared.HewasalsoatthehouseonWednesdaywhenSqueakSqueakdisappeared.NancyheardhimtalkingabouttoysrightaroundthetimeSqueakSqueakdisappeared.HewasalsoatthehouseonThursdaywhentheCD(probably)disappeared.
Cal:Theneighbor’slittleboy.Hethinkshe’sSuperSonicMan(ha-ha).Hetookthetwins’rattleonMondaywhenheandhismomcameovertothehouse.Hecouldhavestolentherattle(again)beforeheandhismomleft.HewasthereatthehouseonThursdaywhentheCD(probably)disappeared.Buthewasn’tatthehouseonWednesdaywhenSqueakSqueakdisappeared.
PumpkinPie:Acat!Shelikestotakestuffandburyitunderrugs.
SirBarkalot:Adog!HelikestotrytoeatstuffliketoysandCDs.
—CLUES—
Wefoundagreenfingerprintnearwheretherattledisappeared.
WefoundayellowfingerprintnearwheretheCDdisappeared.
NancyreadGeorge’stypednotestwowholetimes.“Thisisgreat,”shesaidwhenshewasfinished.ShepointedtothepartaboutPumpkinPie.“BessandIweregoingtofollowheraroundthehousesomemoretoday.ButMrs.JacobssaidshewasatthePurrfectPetsSalon,gettinggroomed.We’llhavetowaituntilMonday.”
GeorgepointedtothepartaboutSirBarkalot.“OnMonday,weshouldaskMrs.Jacobsifhewassickthisweekend—oranytimelastweek.Imean,ifheswallowedtheCDortherattleorSqueakSqueak,he’dhaveareallybadtummyache,right?”
“Goodpoint,”Bessagreed,munchingonahandfulofpopcorn.
Nancypointedtothepartabouttheclues.“Iwishwecouldfigureoutwhatthesecluesmean.WhydidthethiefhavegreenfingersonMonday?AndthenyellowfingersonThursdayorFriday?”
“Hey!” Bessjumpedupfromthebed,almostspillingtheentirebowlofnachocheese-flavoredpopcorn.AfewkernelsdroppedtothefloorandwerehastilyscarfeddownbyChocolateChip.“IjustrememberedsomethingelseMrs.JacobstoldusonMonday,”Besswenton.“Youknow,whenshewastellingusaboutthetwinsandstuff?
Shesaidthatthetwinslikedtofingerpaint,right?”
“Yup,”Nancysaid.
“Hmm.Areyousayingthatthegreenandyellowfingerprintsmightbefromfingerpaint?”Georgeaskedhercousin.
Bess’sblueeyessparkledwithexcitement.“Yes!AndwhatifthegreenandyellowfingerprintsarefromAnnaLinandLilyMei?Whatif they’re thethieves?”
CHAPTERNINE
ThreeDown
“AnnaLinandLilyMei?”Nancysaid,surprised.“Youthink they’re thethieves?”
“Butwhywouldtheystealtheirowntoysandstuff?”GeorgeaskedBess.
Bessshrugged.“Maybetheydidn’t steal them.Maybetheyjusttookthemwhennoonewaslookingandputthemsomewhere,andtheycan’trememberwhere.Buttheydon’tknowhowtotelltheirmombecausetheydon’tknowalotofwords.”
Nancysatdownonthebedandthoughtaboutthis.“There’sonlyoneproblemwithyourtheory,”shetoldBessafteramoment.“Thetwinsaretooshort!”
“Huh?”Besssaid,puzzled.
“Therattlewasonthebookshelfwhenitdisappeared,rightnexttotheencyclopedias,”Nancypointedout.“Ihavetostandonmytippy-toestoreachthatshelf,andI’mwaytallerthanthetwins.TheCDwasontopoftheCDplayerwhenitdisappeared.That’soneshelfbelow,butthat’sstillprettyhigh.”Sheadded,“We’renotexactlysurewhereSqueakSqueakwaswhenhedisappeared.Maybethebookshelf—maybenot.”
George’seyeslitup.“Thatmeansthere’snowayCalcouldhavereachedthoseshelveseither.”
“OrPumpkinPie…orSirBarkalot,”Besssaid.“UnlessPumpkinPiecanjumpthathigh.”
“Ijustthoughtofsomethingelsethatdoesn’tmakesensewithPumpkinPieandSirBarkalot,”Nancysaidsuddenly.“Theycouldn’thaveleftthegreenfingerprintortheyellowfingerprint.”
GeorgeandBessbothstaredather.“Oh,yeah.Whydidn’twethinkofthatbefore?”Georgeexclaimed.
“Thiscasewouldbealoteasiertosolveifthethiefhadleftgreenandyellow paw printsinstead,”Bessjoked.
Georgeswiveledaroundinthechairandfrownedatthecomputerscreen.“Hey,guys?Guesswhat.We’vejustcrossedoutmostofthesuspectsonoursuspectlist,”shenoted.
“ExceptforMatt,”Nancysaid.
“He’sdefinitelygottobeourthief,”Bessagreed.“Let’sgoarresthimrightthissecond!Well,notarresthim,butyouknowwhatImean.”
“Let’swaituntilMondayafterschool,”Nancysuggested.“He’llprobablybeattheirhouseworkingonthescienceproject,right?Wecanaskhimsomequestions.”
“A lot ofquestions,”Georgesaid,narrowinghereyes.“Ifhe’sourthief,wehavetomakesurehe’fessesup.Stealingstufffrombabiesisareallymeanthingtodo.Wecan’tlethimgetawaywithit!”
“Hi,girls!Comein!”
Mrs.JacobsgreetedNancy,George,andBessatthedooronMondayafterschool.ShewasholdingAnnaLininonearmandLilyMeiintheother.ThetwinsstartedflappingtheirhandsexcitedlywhentheysawNancyandherfriends.
“Hi,Mrs.Jacobs.Hi,AnnaLin!Hi,LilyMei!”Nancysaid.
“Go-go!”AnnaLincriedout,reachingforBess.
“Don’tworry,IbroughtTogo.He’stakingacozylittlenapinhere,”Besssaid,pattingherbackpack.
ThegirlsfollowedMrs.Jacobsintothelivingroom.Oncethere,shesetthetwinsdownonthefloor.Theysatdownandbegandiggingthroughabasketofbooks.GeorgeandBesssatdownwiththem.“Howabout TheVeryFunnyBunny?”Besssuggested.“Togocanreaditwithus!”
NancyturnedtoMrs.Jacobs.“Arethe…threethingsstillmissing?”sheaskedinalowvoice.Shedidn’twanttosaythewords“rattle,”“SqueakSqueak,”or“ HappyBabySongs ”outloud,incasethetwinsmightoverhear.
Mrs.Jacobsnodded,herexpressiontroubled.
“I’mafraidso.Haveyouhadanyluck,youknow,withyourdetectivework?”
“We’vegotsomeideas,”Nancyreplied.ThensherememberedtoaskMrs.JacobsGeorge’squestionaboutSirBarkalot.Hewasn’thighontheirsuspectlistanymore,butitwasworthasking,anyway.“Mrs.Jacobs?DidSirBarkalothaveatummyachethisweekend?Ormaybelastweek?”
“Atummyache?N-no,”Mrs.Jacobsreplied.
“That’sgood,”Nancysaid.“Iguesshedidn’teattheCDorothertwomissingthings,then.”
Mrs.Jacobslaughed.“No,Iguessnot.Butconsideringwhatabigeaterheis,that’saverygoodtheory!”
Nancyheardthesoundofadoorclosingupstairs.“AreMattandLaciehere?”sheaskedMrs.Jacobs.
“Yes,theyare.They’reallworkinghardontheirscienceproject,”Mrs.Jacobssaid.“Excuseme,Ihavetocheckonmylasagna.”Shebentdownandkissedthetwinsonthetopsoftheirheads,thenheadedtowardthekitchen.
AnnaLinwascurleduponGeorge’slap,andLilyMeiwascurleduponBess’s.Togowassittingbetweenthem,infrontoftheirbook.“Canyoukeepreadingtothem?I’mgoingtogotalktoMatt,”Nancysaidtoherfriends.
“AndBrotherBunnysaidtoSisterBunny,‘Givemebackmysuper-specialmagiccarrot!’”Bessread.SheglancedupatNancy.“Areyousureyou’llbeokayallbyyourself?WhatifMatttriestoescape?Whatifhe’sadangerouscriminal?Whatif—”
“I’llbeokay,”Nancycutin,giggling.
NancyheadedupstairsandproceededtoMargaret’sroom.Thedoorwasclosed,withthesamesignsasbefore—“MARGARET’SROOM”and“DONOTENTER!!!!!”—aswellasanewonethatsaid,“THATMEANSYOU,ANNALINANDLILYMEI!!!!!”
NancypressedherearagainstthedoorandheardthefamiliarvoicesofMargaret,Lacie,andMatt.Shesmiledtoherself.UnlikelastWednesday,therewasnomusicplayingfromaCDplayerorradio.Shecouldheareverywordtheyweresaying.
“Sothingsaregoingreallywell,right?”Margaretwassaying.
“Oh,yeah!Threedown,threetogo,”Mattreplied.
Nancyfrowned. Threedown,threetogo?
By“threedown,”wasMattreferringtothesilverrattle,SqueakSqueak,andtheCD?
By“threetogo,”didhemeanheplannedonstealingthree more thingsfromthetwins?
CHAPTERTEN
HappyBabies
Nancy’smindwasracing.WhatwasMattupto?Didhereallyintendtostealagain…andagain…andagain…fromthetwins?Sheknewhelovedplayingpracticaljokes.Butwhycouldn’theleavethepoorlittlebabiesaloneandpickonsomeonehisownage?
Andthenanotherthingoccurredtoher.Hehadsaid“threedown,threetogo”toMargaretandLacie.Didthatmeantheywereinonthistoo?Orwashejustbraggingtothem?
NancyrealizedjustthenthatMargaret,Lacie,andMatthadstoppedtalking.Therewasalongsilence.Shescrunchedupmoretightlyagainstthedoor,wonderingiftheyhadloweredtheirvoices.
Justthen,thedooropened.NancypracticallyfellintoMargaret’sroom.
“Aha!I knew Iheardanoise!”Margaretshouted.“Youwerespyingonus.Why?DidDylansendyouhere?”
Nancyscrambledtoherfeetandsmoothedherhair.Shecouldfeelablushcreepingintohercheeks.Itwasn’tgoingtobeeasyexplainingthis.“Um,Dylanwho?”sheasked,tryingtosoundcasual.
“DylanShaw.He’sbeentryingtofindouttheresultsofourtop-secretscienceproject,”Laciespokeup.“Areyouandyourfriendsworkingforhimorwhat?”
“N-no,”Nancystammered.
“Thenwhatwereyoudoing?”Margaretdemanded.
Nancytookasecondtocollectherthoughts.Standingintheopendoorway,sheglancedaroundMargaret’sroom,whichwasblueandwhiteandhadpostersofhorsesonthewalls.Thefloorwasclutteredwithpaint-splatteredcanvases,ahairdryer,anironandironingboard,andvariousjars,pots,plates,andbrushes.Nancyguessedthatthiswastheequipmentfortheirscienceproject.
HergazesettledonMargaret,Lacie,andMatt,whowerestandingtogetherinthemiddleoftheroom.Theywerewaitingforherexplanation.
Nancygulped.“Yoursistersaremissingsomestuff,”shesaid,addressinghercommentstoMargaret.“Thesilverrattle,SqueakSqueak,andtheirhappy-babiesCD.YourmomaskedGeorgeandBessandmetotrytofindthem.”
Margaret’seyesgrewbig.“Shedid?”
“Yup.IcameupstairsbecauseIhavesomequestionsforMatt,”Nancywenton.
Mattlookedsurprised.“Me?WhatdidIdo?”
Nancyturnedtohim.“Did you stealthetoysandtheCDfromAnnaLinandLilyMei?”shedemanded.
Mattcrackedup.“Uh,noway.That’scrazy!WhywouldIdothat?”
“Becauseyoulikeplayingpracticaljokes,”Nancysaid.“Besides,youwereherewhenallthreethingsdisappeared.Plus,whatdidyoumeanjustnowwhenyousaid,‘threedown,threetogo’?”
“Huh?Oh, that. Iwastalkingaboutourscienceproject,”Mattreplied.
“Yeah.We’restudyingtheeffectofheatonpaint,”Laciepipedup.
Heaton paint, not pain,Nancythought.
“We’restudyinghowheataffectsdifferentcolorsofhousepaint,”Mattwenton.“Youknow,likedoesbluedryfasterthanorange?Doeswhitecrackandpeelatthesametemperatureasred?Eachofusisinchargeoftwodifferentcolors.”
“I’minchargeofredandorange,”Laciesaid.“Matt’sinchargeofblueandwhite.Margaret’sinchargeofgreenandyellow.Sofar,we’vedonegreen,yellow,andred.That’sthreedown.Wehavethreecolorstogo.”
Nancytookadeepbreath.“You’reinchargeofthegreenandyellowpaint?”shesaidtoMargaret.
Margaretfoldedherarmsacrossherchest.“Yeah.So?”
NancythoughtaboutthegreenfingerprintonthebookshelfandtheyellowfingerprintontheCDplayer.Margarethadbeeninthehouseeverydaylastweek.Margarethadhadthesameopportunitiestostealthetwins’thingsasMatt—andmore.
Nancyheardfootstepsbehindher.SheturnedtoseeGeorgeandBess.GeorgewascarryingAnnaLininherarms.BesswascarryingLilyMei.
“Theywereaskingforyou,”GeorgetoldMargaret.
“Sowethoughtwe’dcomeupandvisit,”Bessadded.
“Yourtiming’sperfect,”Nancysaid.SheturnedandregardedMargaret.“ You tookthetwins’things,”shesaidslowly.Behindher,sheheardbothGeorgeandBessgasp.
Margaret’sjawdropped.“Ididnot!”shesaidangrily.
“Ithinkyoudid,”Nancypersisted.“Youleftevidence.Therewasagreenfingerprintonthebookshelfwherethesilverrattlewas.AndtherewasayellowfingerprintontheCDplayerwherethe HappyBabySongs CDwas.”
“You’relying!You’remakingitup,and…”Margaretstopped.Sheglancedatthetwins,thendroppedhereyestotheground.“Um.Okay,well,maybeIdidkindoftakethatstuff,”shewhispered.
“Margaret,that’ssomean!”Laciescoldedher.
“Yeah,dude,that’sevenmeanerthansomething I woulddo,”Mattadded.
“Well,theydeservedit,”Margaretsaidmiserably.“Everythingwasfineuntiltheycametolivewithus!MomandDadaresostressedlately,takingcareofthem.Andtheytake my stuff,too!Thatsilverrattleismine!”
AnnaLinwriggledoutofGeorge’sarms.LilyMeididthesamewithBess.ThetwobabiesrantowardMargaretandhuggedher.“Mah-git!”AnnaLinexclaimedhappily.
“Mah-git!”LilyMeijoinedin.Sheplantedabig,stickykissonMargaret’sleg.
Margaret’sexpressionsoftenedintoasmile.“Oh!Hey!Youguyssaidmyname!”
“Mah-git!”thetwinsrepeated.
“Margaret,givethembacktheirstuffrightnow,”Mattorderedher.
“Yeah,okay.”Margarettookthetwinsbythehandsandledthemtoherdresser.Sheopenedthetopdrawerandpulledoutthesilverrattle,SqueakSqueak,andtheCD.“Hereyougo.Sorry,okay?”sheapologizedtohersisters.“IguessI’vegottasayI’msorrytomyparents,too.”
AnnaLinbeganjumpingupanddown.“KweekKweek!”
LilyMeigrabbedthesilverrattleandshookitbackandforth.“Wa-ttle!”
NancyturnedandgrinnedatGeorgeandBess.“Well,wedon’thavetofollowPumpkinPiearoundthehouseanymore,”shejoked.
“AndIdon’thavetogiveSirBarkalotanymoretummymassages,”Bessadded.
Thethreegirlslaughed.
Thatnight,beforegoingtosleepNancycurledupinbedandwroteinherspecialpurplenotebook:
Today,theClueCrewsolved“TheCaseoftheMissingBabyStuff.”ItturnedoutthatMargaretwasjealousofherbabysisters.SoshetookthesilverrattleandSqueakSqueakandthehappy-babiesCD.
Shesaid“I’msorry”tothemandtohermom,too.Hermomwasmadatfirst.ButthenshesaidsheshouldspendmoretimewithMargaretandpaymoreattentiontoher.
Whenwelefttheirhouse,Margaretwasplayingteapartywiththetwins.Itwasherideaandeverything.Maybeshe’llstartbeingnicertothemfromnowon?
Idon’tknowwhichismorefun,beingadetectiveorbeingababysitter!
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