Page 28 of The Case of the Vanishing Valuables

Ray burst out of the doors of Tranquility Terrace, charging toward the small shed in the far corner of the lawn. I sprinted ahead of him, my tail high, already knowing this was it—the big moment. Daisy had just emerged from the shed, her face flushed and a bit too casual, like she hadn’t just snuck off with a suitcase full of stolen goods.

She blinked in surprise when she saw Ray storming toward her, and I could practically hear her scrambling to think of an excuse. Behind us, a small crowd of residents had gathered on the lawn, all of them watching the unfolding drama with wide-eyed interest.

“Oh!” Daisy said, her voice shaky as she glanced around nervously. “Mr. Leonard! I was just… just doing some gardening.”

Ray slowed to a stop in front of her, his eyes sharp and focused. “Gardening?” He glanced down at her empty hands. “Where’s your gardening tools?”

Daisy hesitated for a second too long, her eyes darting toward the shed behind her. She forced a smile. “Oh, well… I was just putting them away. You know, tidying up.”

I padded up next to Ray and sat down with a flick of my tail.

Ray didn’t miss a beat. He took a step forward. “Then you won’t mind if I take a look inside the shed, right? Just to make sure everything’s in order,” he said, his voice steady but firm.

Daisy’s eyes widened, and she quickly stepped in front of the shed door, blocking his path. “Oh! No, no, no need for that. It’s just a mess in there. You know, old gardening stuff. Nothing interesting.”

Ray crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “Move aside, Daisy.”

She swallowed hard, glancing over Ray’s shoulder at the growing crowd of residents who had gathered on the lawn. Benedict, leaning on his cane, had a glint in his eye and was already whispering to Mr. Billings, who looked a bit too excited for someone watching a confrontation.

“I’ll bet you five bucks Daisy can get away,” Benedict muttered to Billings.

Billings snorted. “Are you kidding? Ray’s got this. Ten bucks says she trips on her way out.”

Behind Billings and Benedict, Martha was clapping her hands in delight. “Go on, Ray! Don’t let her fool you!”

Someone else called out, “Fake left, Daisy! You got this!”

Ray glanced back at the residents briefly, his face flashing with disbelief at the bizarre cheering section. I just sighed.You’ve got your work cut out for you, Ray. Focus.

Daisy, now visibly sweating, released a nervous laugh. “Oh, come on, Ray. There’s nothing to see in there! Just old tools. Trust me.”

Ray took another step forward, and she instinctively put her hands out to block him. “Daisy, move,” he said, his voice steely. “Now.”

She hesitated then squared her shoulders, looking desperate. “No.”

That was all I needed. I dashed around her ankles and wound myself in and out, weaving through her legs with my tail brushing against her knees. I felt her wobble, her feet tangling with my fur.

“Whoa!” Daisy yelped, flailing as she lost her balance.

Perfect, I thought as I made one last tight loop around her legs. In a dramatic tumble, Daisy fell backward, landing with an undignified thud on the grass. The crowd of residents erupted into cheers.

Benedict cackled, waving his cane. “And down she goes! I knew it!”

Martha clapped enthusiastically. “Rush her, Ray!”

Not wasting a second, Ray stepped around Daisy and threw open the shed door. Inside, tucked neatly in the corner, sat the suitcase she’d been dragging. He grabbed it and yanked it out into the sunlight. The residents fell silent as they watched him unzip it with a swift, determined motion.

Ray opened the suitcase, and there, nestled in the folds of Daisy’s belongings, was a pile of jewelry, watches, and small valuables. The sunlight gleamed off the gold and silver, casting sparkles across the lawn.

The crowd surged forward, gasps of recognition filling the air.

“Hey! That’s my pocket watch!” Mr. Billings exclaimed, stepping forward.

Martha pushed her way to the front and reached into the suitcase. “My necklace! Oh, thank heavens! I thought I’d lost it forever!”

A chorus of voices rose as the other residents began to identify their stolen items. Ray stood tall, folding his arms as he looked down at Daisy, who was still sprawled on the ground, her face pale and eyes wide with panic.

“It’s over, Daisy,” Ray said, his voice calm but final. “You’ve been caught.”

---