by Shepherd
Zach and Evie introduced their friends, and the detective looked at them expectantly. “I was just headed out for lunch, but is there something I can help with?”
“Well, we found a clue that we think is related to the North Star theft, but we can’t get anyone to listen to us. Would you take a look at it?”
“I’m one of the detectives assigned to the North Star case.” He glanced at his watch. “Lunch can wait. Why don’t you come back to my desk?”
He led them to a cramped cubby with a bland laminate desk and two overstuffed filing cabinets. One wall of the cubby was corkboard, with labeled photos and diagrams tacked to it. In the center was a close-up photo of the North Star. “Whoa!” Vishal pointed at the board with awe. “It’s just like on TV! Where’s all the red string you use to connect everything?”
Detective Bermudez chuckled. “Sorry to disappoint you, but we don’t do the string thing here. But the boards are great; it’s really helpful to see everything in one place. Now why don’t you tell me about this clue you found?”
The group filled the detective in on their adventures thus far, from the spy in the hedges to their visit to the Morris house. They handed over the bagged magnet.
“It’s too bad about the fingerprints,” the detective said. “But we may still be able to find something.”
“I have one question,” Zach said. “How exactly can a magnet break into a safe?”
Detective Bermudez stood up. “I’ll show you.” The kids followed him to a conference room with a long table at one end and a half-erased whiteboard pushed against the wall. In one corner stood a black metal safe with an electronic keypad. “This safe is the same model as the one found in the Boyds’ dressing room.” He looked at Sophia. “Look about right to you?”
Sophia nodded.
He held up the magnet, still in its resealable bag. “Ready to see a magic trick?” He gestured to Evie. “Evie, go see if you can open the safe.”
Evie pulled at the handle. “It’s locked.”
The detective nodded. “Watch this.” He slipped the bagged magnet into a sock and ran it over the front of the safe near the handle. “The sock makes it easier to move the magnet around.” He bent his head close to the front of the safe.
“What are you listening for?” Vishal asked.
“The solenoid. That’s what activates the locking mechanism, and it’s usually made of nickel. A rare-earth magnet like this is powerful enough to move the solenoid, even through the heavy door.” He slowly slid the sock near the door handle, and a few seconds later, there was a click. “Voilà!” The detective turned the handle and opened the safe. “Locksmiths have been using this little trick for years.”
“Locksmiths,” Sophia said. “So does that mean Abby is the prime suspect?” She turned to Evie. “See? I was right to question her!”
Detective Bermudez held up one hand. “It’s too soon to jump to any conclusions. Anyone could go on YouTube and find videos of exactly what I showed you. And it sounds like Ms. Morris was more than gracious when it came to helping you with your questions. She even gave you a ride to the police station. That’s not typical behavior for a guilty party.”
“So you’re basically saying anyone could have done it?” Sophia asked with a weary sigh.
“Not just anyone. The thief would need knowledge, motive, and opportunity,” the detective said, ticking the words off on his fingers. He looked at his watch again. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to log this into evidence before a meeting with my captain. I’ll have another officer escort you out.”
As they walked back to the policeman’s cubby, Evie looked around at the rabbit warren of desks and cubbies. “I was just wondering. Which desk was my dad’s?”
Detective Bermudez smiled sadly. “The precinct house underwent a big renovation about eight years ago, so everything was different from when he was here. But his name is on the wall outside the captain’s office.”
He walked them over to wooden plaque that said, Remembering the Fallen. Beneath were brass plates with names and dates. Evie recognized her father’s name: Yaro Mamuya, and the year he died. Evie found herself reaching for her brother’s hand. They had been three, so they remembered little about him. All they had left of him now were their mother’s stories and the birthday cards sent from their grandparents in Tanzania.
The policeman put his hands on the twins’ shoulders. “Your father was good police and a good man. He never stopped pushing us to be the best cops we could be.” After a moment, the group continued down the hallway.
Back in the detective’s cubby, his desk phone rang. “Bermudez,” he said shortly into the phone. He picked up a pad and pen and started taking notes. “Uh-huh . . . yeah . . . go on . . .” With his free hand, he dug into a drawer, searching for a manila envelope.
While he was distracted, the kids took a closer look at the North Star crime board. There were photos of the party, the dressing room, and the guests. In one photo, a group of party guests stood smiling in front of the grand staircase. Zach leaned closer and pointed. “Is that what I think it is?”
CHAPTER
14
“That’s Gideon Doheny walking upstairs,” Evie said under her breath. “And what’s he holding in his hand?”
“It looks like the magnet,” Sophia answered. She turned to Detective Bermudez, who had just hung up the phone. “Has Doheny been questioned? Why isn’t he under arrest?”
The detective gently shepherded the group out of his cubby and back toward the lobby. “We are pursuing all possible avenues. I’m not allowed to share my list of suspects with you, but you have to trust us. And it’s important that you take a step back and let us do our job.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Here’s my card if you ever need something again.”
“But we can help,” Vishal said. “Just look at how we found the magnet. That was an important clue!”
Detective Bermudez looked pained. “I’m really glad you brought it to us, but if you hadn’t picked it up and taken it with you last night, we could have found it a lot sooner.” He stopped at the front door. “Listen, you’re great kids, and I appreciate all that you’ve done to try to help, but chasing criminals is dangerous work. It’s time to leave the policing to the professionals, okay?”
“Got it,” Vishal said, and the others nodded in reluctant agreement.
The kids walked to the bus stop where they parted ways, their faces glum. “See you at school tomorrow,” Zach said to Sophia. “Do you want to sit with us at lunch? I know you’re still new, so we can introduce you to some of our other friends. It’s a pretty good crew.”
A black SUV with tinted windows pulled up to the bus stop. Sophia opened the back door. “No thanks. I have enough friends,” she tossed over her shoulder, and climbed into the car.
***
The next day at school, Zach, Evie, and Vishal passed Sophia walking alone in the hall. Zach waved, but Sophia looked right through them. Evie hit Zach’s arm. “Why did you wave? She obviously doesn’t want to be friends with us.”
Vishal ran his fingers through his spiky hair. “Oh, don’t be so hard on her, Evie. She likes us; she’s just prickly.”
“Why do you keep making excuses for her?” Evie demanded. “Is it because she’s pretty?”
Vishal and Zach looked at each other. “Honestly, no,” Vishal said. “I guess I feel kind of bad for her. Don’t you?”
“Why would I feel bad for a spoiled white girl who treats everybody like dirt?” Evie asked, incredulous. “Seriously, if we acted the way she did, nobody would be feeling sorry for us.”
Zach shrugged. “I don’t know; I just do. She doesn’t really seem to have any friends.”
Evie exploded. “Of course she doesn’t have any friends! Look at the way she talks to people!”
“Fine,” Zach said. “You don’t have to be friends with her. But I’m going to keep trying.”
***
That afternoon, Zach
, Evie, and Vishal arrived at the flagpole, their usual meeting place after school, at almost the same time. “My house today?” Vishal asked. “I can probably convince my mom to make samosas.”
“Yum! I’m in,” Evie said.
“There’s no time for samosas,” a voice drawled behind them. “We need to find out what Gideon Doheny was doing on that staircase.”
Evie turned around to find Sophia standing there, phone in hand. “I’ve already ordered a car.”
“I guess you’ll be in it alone, then, because we already have plans,” Evie said.
“Considering I heard you make the plans about thirty seconds ago, I doubt they’re set in stone,” Sophia said.
“Yeah, well, the world doesn’t revolve around you,” Evie retorted. “You can’t just order us around and expect us to do it.” She turned to the two boys. “Right, guys?”
Vishal shifted his feet and shrugged. “I don’t know, Evie. I mean, after that photo yesterday, don’t you want to hear what Doheny has to say? It’s not like the cops are going to tell us anything.”
“Exactly!” Sophia said. “I knew you guys would get it. Let’s go.” She started walking to the corner.
Zach held up a hand. “Hold a beat, Sophia.” He turned to Evie. “You don’t have to go.”
Evie folded her arms. “I’m waiting for the ‘but’ . . .”
Zach sighed. “But I really want to.” Seeing the look on Evie’s face, he hurried on. “Look, we’re tracking down a thief! That’s pretty hard to say no to.” He nudged her. “Don’t tell me you aren’t having fun.”
“It’s not about whether it’s fun. It’s the principle of the thing. The girl wouldn’t even wave to you today.”
Zach put his hands in his pockets. “You’re right. That was messed up. But maybe we can give her one more chance.”
Evie bit her lip, thinking. Finally, she said, “Fine. One more chance. But only because I’m interested in the case, not because Sophia asked us.” As she followed Zach to the car, her step quickened. “I can’t wait to hear what Doheny has to say for himself!”
***
Gideon Doheny’s office was in a tall glass building downtown. The lobby was a gleaming expanse of marble and chrome, and the polished elevator doors closed noiselessly as the teens pushed the button for the top floor.
When the elevator doors opened, the group walked into an office in disarray. Huge pieces of art leaned against the empty walls, and workers in coveralls knelt over one of the paintings, wrapping it in moving blankets and thick brown paper.
The doors were all open and the reception desk was empty, so the group followed the sound of raised voices until they found Gideon’s corner office. Gideon stood behind a sleek, glass-topped desk that was awash with papers and files, shouting into a speakerphone and running his hands frantically through his immaculately cut dark hair. His silk tie was loosened around the collar, and there were dark circles under his eyes. He and the person at the other end of the line were shouting over each other so much that the kids couldn’t hear what either party was saying. Finally, Gideon screamed, “Fine! I’ll see you in court!” and hung up the phone in a rage. It was then that he looked up and noticed the group of kids watching him from the doorway. No one said anything for a moment.
“Is this a bad time?” Sophia asked sweetly.
Her question seemed to shock Gideon into action. He quickly smoothed his hair, straightened his tie, and flashed them one of his signature megawatt smiles. “Of course not! It’s just another day in this business.” He gestured at the half-full cardboard boxes that scattered the floor. “Sorry about the mess. We’re doing some redecorating.”
Evie shot her brother the side-eye. This didn’t look like any redecorating she had ever seen.
“What can I do for you kids?” Gideon asked.
“We have a few questions for you,” Sophia said.
“Ah, school project? I’ve got a busy afternoon, but I can certainly spare a few moments for the younger generation. After all, you guys are the future, right?” He chuckled at the cliché, as though he had said something exceptionally clever.
Zach sighed inwardly. “Actually, sir, it’s about the North Star. You were planning to bid on it, right?”
Gideon’s face arranged itself into an expression of dismay. “Yes, what a terrible tragedy. I had my heart set on giving it to my fiancée as a wedding gift.” He glanced up at Sophia, and his forehead wrinkled with careful concern. “And, of course, what an even deeper loss for your family. You must be heartbroken.”
“My biggest heartbreak is for the gibbons at the zoo. Whoever stole that necklace stole their home.”
Gideon shook his head in studied sympathy. “Of course. The gibbons, the gibbons. Think of the poor gibbons.” He fiddled with a paper clip on his desk and watched the kids out of the corner of his eye.
“So, you were going to bid on the necklace—”
“And help the gibbons,” Sophia interjected.
“—and help the gibbons,” Vishal continued, “but it disappeared before you had the opportunity to make an offer.”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Gideon said.
Vishal pushed harder. “How exactly were you planning on buying the necklace when you clearly can’t afford it?”
“What are you talking about?!” Gideon blustered. “My firm is one the most successful in the Twin Cities. I’ve been on the cover of Yacht Magazine, for Pete’s sake!” He pointed at a glass-framed photo on the half-empty glass-and-chrome shelves. The magazine cover showed a grinning Gideon wearing a captain’s hat and standing on the deck of a huge white boat.
“Oh, please!” Sophia brushed the words away. “Anyone can fake a magazine cover and put it up on a wall.” She pointed at the mess of papers in front of him. “Your desk tells a different story.”
CHAPTER
15
Sophia reached over and pulled out a yellow paper from one of the stacks on his desk. The words NOTICE OF EVICTION were printed across the top in angry red letters. “It says here you’re being evicted from the building because you haven’t paid rent.”
Gideon’s shoulders tensed, and his face tightened. “Oh, that’s just a misunderstanding,” he said. His voice was smooth, but the kids could hear tension behind it. “I have plenty of money. Tons! This is just complicated business stuff; you kids wouldn’t understand. In fact, I closed a deal a few months ago, and there will be millions coming in any day now. Maybe even billions!”
Everyone looked at each other. Finally, Evie spoke. “We saw Abby yesterday. She’s worried about you.”
Gideon’s composure crumbled, and the confidence in his voice collapsed into despair. “I promised Abby the moon, and I’m not going to let her down just because of a few risky business investments. It’s not fair to her. She deserves nothing but the best!”
“What kind of risky investments?” Zach asked.
Gideon sighed. “It was a means of capturing excess human methane to create electrical power. Great for the environment, a hundred percent sustainable, and totally clean. We even had the perfect tagline: ‘The Real Natural Gas!’”
The kids looked at each other. “Let me get this straight,” Vishal said slowly. “You invested in a company that was going to turn people’s farts into fuel?”
Gideon put his head in his hands and moaned. “It was supposed to be the future of energy. I mean, it’s perfect, right?”
The kids shifted uncomfortably in their seats. “Uh, yeah . . . sure.” Zach tried to put some semblance of confident enthusiasm in his voice, but it fell flat. He carefully avoided looking at the others.
Evie struggled to suppress a smile. Her eyes met Vishal’s, and a frantic giggle burbled out of him. He tried to cover it with a cough. Zach’s lips were pressed tightly together. Finally, the three friends could hold it no longer and burst into hysterics. Vishal went as limp as a noodle and slithered out of his chair, his distinctive, high-pitched giggle pushing the twins into even greater convul
sions.
Sophia sat stonily in her chair, her back ramrod straight. Finally she let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, grow up! Honestly, I don’t see what’s so funny about making fuel from human gas.”
Evie clutched her stomach, still breathless from laughing. “Everything, Sophia. Literally everything is funny about that.”
Sophia looked sympathetically at Gideon. “Ignore them. They just don’t know a good business opportunity when they see one.”
Gideon shook his head sadly. “No, they’re right. This is exactly what potential investors did during all of our presentations. It was a complete bust.”
Vishal climbed back into his chair, still wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “I’m sorry, Mr. Doheny. That’s a total bummer.”
“But wait, if that’s really the case, then how were you planning to pay for the North Star?” Zach asked.
“I would have figured something out,” Gideon answered, waving his hand vaguely.
“Something like . . . stealing it?” Evie asked. “We saw a photo that shows you leaving the party and walking upstairs with something in your hand. That would have given you a perfect opportunity to break into the safe and steal the necklace.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Gideon asked impatiently. “I don’t even have the combination.”
“Oh, come on,” Vishal pushed. “Your future father-in-law is a locksmith. Don’t tell me you haven’t picked up a few things.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Gideon said. “Do you really think I would risk everything I’ve built just to give my fiancée a necklace she couldn’t even wear? The North Star is the most recognizable piece of jewelry in the Twin Cities. If the thief were seen in public with it even once, then it’s game over.” He tapped on his phone and peered at the screen. “During the party, I got a call from my business partner, Morris Fareed. Our conversations tend to be fairly heated lately, so I went upstairs to a private room where I wouldn’t be overheard.” He slapped the phone down and slid it across the desk. “Here. Unless I’m the world’s greatest actor, there’s no way I could have pulled off a jewel heist.”