A Monster of a Mystery Read online

  Frank laughed. “Uh-oh, Chet,” he joked. “Sounds like you have some competition!”

  Colin looked at Chet. “Whoa! Is that the limited-edition Morpho mask with deluxe purple slime?” he asked.

  Joe looked at Chet’s mask, then at Colin’s. They were almost identical. But Colin’s only had green slime on the nose, and Chet’s had green and purple slime.

  “Yeah,” Chet said proudly. “I wore it for Halloween this year.”

  “Awesome! Let me know if you ever want to sell it,” Colin said.

  “No way, it’s not for sale,” Chet said. “Sorry!”

  “That’s okay.” Colin shrugged and started hopping on the other foot. “I bet someone will put one up for sale on MorphoNet soon.”

  He put on his mask. Then he started walking around with his arms out, just like Morpho.

  Chet grinned. “That’s pretty good. Can you do the Morpho roar?”

  “Sure!” Colin took a deep breath. “ROAAAAAR!”

  “ROAAAAAR!” Chet roared back.

  “No!” Mimi shrieked, covering her ears. “Stop it!”

  She hid behind Iola. Iola rolled her eyes. “It’s just Chet,” she told her sister. “Besides, you were the one who wanted to come today!”

  Mimi started crying. “It’s too scary!” she sobbed. “I only wanted to see the Giggle Girlzies!”

  Chet took off his mask, and he and Iola tried to calm Mimi down. But she wouldn’t stop crying.

  “We’d better get back to our place in line,” Biff said. “Come on, Colin.”

  “See you guys inside,” Colin said. Then he and Biff hurried off.

  “Are you happy now?” Chet asked Mimi. “You scared them away.”

  Joe laughed. “Yeah. Mimi’s way scarier than Morpho!”

  Mimi stopped crying and scowled at Joe. “Am not!” she yelled. “I’m a Giggle Girlzie!”

  Iola rolled her eyes. “Will you stop complaining if we play Giggle Girlzies with you while we wait?”

  “Yes!” Mimi squealed. “Giggle Girlzies! Giggle Girlzies!”

  Chet made her promise to be good for the whole rest of the day. Then they all started giggling loudly. The people in line nearby gave them funny looks. But Joe figured it would be worth it if it kept Mimi out of their hair once the Morpho event started.

  Ten a.m. seemed to take forever to arrive. But finally there was a murmur from the front of the line. A second later the doors swung open.

  “It’s time!” Joe exclaimed.

  He rushed forward with the others. As soon as he got a look at the inside of the comic book store, he grinned. The place was Morphoed to the max! There were several life-size cutouts of Morpho standing here and there. Huge posters covered every inch of wall space. Stuffed Morpho toys, plastic Sporks, and all kinds of other Morpho merchandise were everywhere.

  “This is awesome!” Chet cried.

  “Yeah!” Frank exclaimed.

  “No!” Mimi wailed. “It’s too scary! I want to leave—right now!”

  Meeting Morpho

  Iola groaned. “We can’t leave, Mimi!” she said.

  “You promised to be good,” Chet reminded her.

  “I don’t care!” Mimi sobbed. “I—” Suddenly she stopped crying. “Hey!” she exclaimed happily. “It’s Janie!”

  She waved across the store. A girl her age with bright red pigtails waved back. She was standing with a teenage girl.

  “That’s Janie’s big sister,” Chet said. “Come on, Mimi, let’s go talk to her.”

  Moments later he returned—without Mimi. “Did Janie’s sister say she’d watch her?” Iola asked.

  “Uh-huh.” Chet looked happy. “They’re back in the corner of the store with the girly books.”

  Frank wasn’t paying much attention to them. There was too much cool Morpho stuff to look at! Unfortunately, it was getting harder and harder to see it all as more people crowded into the store.

  He looked toward the back wall. There was a door in the middle marked Employees Only. On the left side of the door was the kids’ section of the store. On the other side there was a temporary wooden stage.

  “What time does the show start?” he asked.

  Joe stood on tiptoe to read the sign near the front door. “It says the special guests appear at ten thirty,” he said. “We have time to look around first.”

  “Let’s go check out the newest Morpho comic book,” Phil suggested.

  Frank followed Phil toward a rack of comics nearby. When they got there, he looked back. He saw lots of people, but not Joe or Chet or Iola.

  “Oops,” he said. “I think we lost the others.”

  Phil shrugged and reached for a Morpho comic. “We’ll find them when the show starts.”

  “I hope so.” Frank glanced around. “This place is packed!”

  He and Phil were still looking at the comics when Biff found them. “Hi,” he said. “This is cool, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” Frank agreed. “Where’s your cousin?”

  “I’m not sure. We got separated.” Biff looked around. He was taller than a lot of the kids in the store, so Frank guessed he had a pretty good view. “He’s probably over by the stage staking out a front-row spot. He won’t want to miss getting a great view of his idol, Morpho!”

  Phil laughed. “Yeah. He seemed pretty excited.”

  “The rest of us might be Morpho fans,” Biff said with a grin, “but Colin’s a Morpho superfan!”

  The three of them were still hanging out near the comic rack when they heard a commotion from the back of the store. “Come on,” Biff said. “It must be starting!”

  Frank dropped the comic book he was holding. Then he rushed toward the back of the store with the others. When they reached the crowd around the stage, Frank spotted Joe standing with Iola. He, Phil, and Biff joined them just as Morpho himself burst out from the Employees Only door.

  “ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!” he yelled so loudly that Frank’s ears hurt.

  Most of the crowd roared back or yelled with excitement. But then Frank heard an even louder shriek of fear.

  “Uh-oh,” he muttered.

  Glancing to the left, he was just in time to see Mimi and her little friend race into the back through the Employees Only door, screaming with terror. Janie’s sister rushed after them, looking worried.

  Iola saw them, too. “Oh no,” she moaned. “Where’s Chet? We should probably go after her.”

  “Forget it,” Phil told her. “That older girl babysits Mimi sometimes, right? She’ll be able to find them.”

  Iola still looked worried. But she nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

  Up on the stage, the man in the Morpho costume reached up and lifted off his mask. Frank was surprised by what he looked like underneath. Morpho was big and beefy, like a superstrong bodybuilder. But the actor who played him looked like a normal guy. He was actually kind of wimpy-looking.

  But when he spoke, he had a deep voice. “Thanks for coming, everyone,” he said. “My name’s Jack, and I’m lucky to play Morpho in the movies. Now I’d like to introduce you to the guy who first brought him to life in the comics we all know and love. Come on out, Dave!”

  The artist hurried out and said hello. He looked like a regular guy too.

  “Neither of them looks much like the Morpho type,” Joe whispered to Frank.

  “I know what you mean,” Frank murmured back. “But I guess that’s what Morpho is all about, right? He can morph to look like anyone at all, like those guys. Or us. Or even Mimi.”

  He shot another look toward the door. There was still no sign of the girls.

  But he didn’t worry about that for long. The actor and artist sat down on stools and started talking about the history of Morpho. It was really interesting. First the artist showed some sketches. Then an assistant brought out a few props from the movie.

  A kid near the front of the crowd raised his hand. “How did you come up with the idea for the Morph Spork?” he asked.

  “Great
question.” The artist smiled, then turned to signal to the assistant. “Bring out the Spork, will you?” he called.

  There was a murmur of excitement from the audience. Everyone was eager to see the real Spork from the Morpho movie!

  “I wonder if it’ll look smaller in person, like the actor does?” Joe said to the others.

  Iola giggled. “I guess we’re about to find out!”

  A second later the assistant reappeared. But he wasn’t carrying the Spork—or anything else. He hurried up to Dave and whispered something in his ear.

  The artist frowned. “Are you sure?” he said. “Let me look.”

  He hurried offstage and through the door. “Don’t worry, kids,” the actor said. “He’ll be back soon with the Spork.”

  The artist did come back soon. But he wasn’t holding the Spork. The owner of the comic book store, Mr. Roberts, was with him. They both looked worried.

  “Where’s the Spork?” someone in the crowd yelled eagerly.

  “I’m afraid we have a problem,” Mr. Roberts announced. “Morpho’s Morph Spork is missing!”

  Where’s the Spork?

  Oh no!” Joe exclaimed. He couldn’t believe his ears. How could the Morph Spork be missing?

  Everyone else was surprised too. Just about the whole audience started talking at once.

  “This is terrible,” Phil said. “Morpho’s nothing without his Spork!”

  Joe glanced at the stage. Mr. Roberts was talking to Dave and Jack. All three of them looked upset.

  Joe couldn’t blame them. This was bad news.

  “Attention, please!” Dave called out. “We really need that Spork back.”

  Jack nodded. “We know there are lots of enthusiastic Morpho fans here. But stealing is wrong.”

  “Do you think someone stole the Spork?” Frank whispered.

  Joe shrugged. “What else could have happened to it?”

  Meanwhile, a kid near the front raised his hand. “Who cares if the Spork is gone?” he called out. “I read on MorphoNet that there’s going to be a new SuperSpork in the next movie!”

  There was a murmur of interest from the crowd. But Jack shook his head.

  “We still need the old Spork,” he said. “We’re supposed to auction it off for charity after this tour is over.”

  Mr. Roberts looked more worried than ever. “Whoever took that Spork needs to return it right away,” he said. “Until it’s back, this event is on hold.”

  “No way!” someone cried. A few other people protested too.

  But Mr. Roberts didn’t say anything else. He headed out through the Employees Only door, followed by Jack and Dave.

  “This stinks,” Iola declared.

  Joe nodded and looked around. The store was in an uproar. Everyone was talking about what had happened. Some people were also casting suspicious looks around at everyone else.

  “You know what I think?” Phil said.

  Joe glanced at him. “What?”

  “I think this sounds like a mystery.”

  Iola gasped. “You’re right!” she exclaimed. “You guys should investigate!”

  Joe shrugged. “We don’t need to. I already know who took that Spork.”

  “Who?” Biff asked.

  “Who else?” Joe said. “It has to be Adam Ackerman.”

  Frank frowned. “Why does it have to be him?”

  “Don’t you remember our first mystery?” Joe couldn’t believe his brother didn’t get it. “When all that money disappeared at the arcade, Adam turned out to be the thief. This is just like that time.”

  “Adam is bad news,” Iola said. “He steals people’s lunches at school all the time.”

  Joe nodded. “Let’s go find him and tell him to give the Spork back before Mr. Roberts cancels the whole Morpho day!”

  “Hold on!” Frank said. “None of us likes Adam. But we can’t just accuse him of stealing the Spork with no proof.”

  “Why not?” Joe asked impatiently. “We know he did it!”

  “No, we don’t,” Frank said. “Dad always says it’s important not to jump to conclusions, right?”

  “Yeah, I guess he says that sometimes,” Joe agreed reluctantly. “So what?”

  “So, what if it wasn’t Adam?” Frank said. “We shouldn’t get too focused on a suspect until we’re sure. Even if Adam is a pretty good suspect.”

  “I think he might be right, Joe,” Phil said. “That makes sense.”

  “Yeah,” Iola agreed. “There are tons of people here, and we don’t know all of them. Some of them might be just as rotten as Adam.”

  Joe still thought Adam was the thief. But he realized his brother and the others were right.

  “Okay,” he said. “Even if it is Adam, I guess we need some proof. Otherwise, he’ll never confess.”

  Frank smiled. “Good point. I’m not saying it’s not Adam. He’s definitely at the top of the suspect list. But we need some evidence or it’s just our word against his.”

  “So how do you find evidence?” Biff asked, looking interested.

  “We usually start out with the six Ws,” Frank explained. “That means we ask Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How and try to . . .”

  Joe didn’t hear the rest of what his brother said. He’d just turned to scan the store.

  “Check it out!” he interrupted, pointing. “Adam Ackerman is trying to sneak out the front door right now!”

  Looking for Suspects

  Wait!” Frank yelled to Joe.

  But it was too late. Joe was already rushing across the store toward Adam. Iola was right behind him, but Biff and Phil got left behind.

  Frank hurried after his brother. He caught up just as he and Iola reached Adam.

  “I knew it!” Joe exclaimed, pointing at Adam. “You were the one who took that Spork, weren’t you? Just admit it!”

  Adam turned toward him with a scowl. “I knew it,” he said. “That’s why I was leaving. You guys are always accusing me when bad stuff happens!”

  Iola folded her arms across her chest. “That’s only because you’re usually guilty,” she told him.

  He glared at her, then at Frank and Joe. “I know you goody-goodies think I’m always the bad guy,” he said. “But I swear I didn’t take that Spork. I’d never do that to Morpho!”

  “Then who took it?” Joe challenged him.

  “How should I know?” Adam shot back.

  There was a big strong man standing by the front door. Frank noticed him looking their way with a frown.

  “Hey, you guys,” Frank said quietly. “Let’s back off, okay?”

  “Not until Adam gives back the Spork,” Iola said.

  Frank looked at Adam. That’s when he realized something. He grabbed Joe and pulled him aside, leaving Adam to argue with Iola.

  “Hold on a second,” Frank whispered. “If Adam took the Spork, where is it? He isn’t carrying a bag or anything.”

  Joe looked at Adam. Then he shrugged. “He could’ve hidden it somewhere so he could come back and get it later,” he pointed out. “That’s what he did with the money that time at the arcade.”

  “I guess,” Frank said. “But then why would he leave the store?”

  Joe shrugged. He looked kind of stubborn. Frank could see that his brother was convinced that Adam was the thief. But was he really the culprit?

  Just then Adam pushed past them, heading back into the main part of the store. “I changed my mind,” he said. “I’m not going to let a bunch of creeps chase me away. I’m here to see Morpho.”

  “Nobody’s going to see Morpho again if that Spork doesn’t turn up,” Joe said.

  But Adam was already too far away to hear him. Joe sighed.

  “Don’t worry,” Frank told him. “If Adam did it, we’ll figure it out.”

  Iola came over just in time to hear him. “Yeah,” she said. “You two always solve the case!”

  Joe smiled. “That’s true.”

  Frank stared around the store. There were pictures o
f the Spork everywhere. Where could the real one be? Who would be mean enough to steal it?

  “I wish I had a way to take notes,” he said. He had forgotten his trusty reporter’s notebook at home. That was where he always wrote up their cases.

  Joe rolled his eyes. “You always want to take notes,” he said. “But there’s no time for stuff like that. Let’s just start interviewing people. Somebody must have seen something suspicious.”

  Frank hesitated. He thought they should begin at the beginning—by talking about the six Ws. But maybe Joe was right. The store was really crowded. It seemed impossible that someone had stolen the Spork without anyone seeing them do it.

  “Okay,” he said. “I guess we could talk to a few people and see what we find out.”

  Joe looked at Iola. “Want to help?”

  “Sure,” she said, sounding a little distracted. “But I’d better go find Chet first. I want to see if he knows where Mimi is.”

  Frank nodded. He hadn’t seen Mimi since she’d run out through the back door. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Chet in even longer than that.

  “Okay,” he said. “We’ll meet up with you later.”

  Iola disappeared into the crowd. Frank and Joe wandered around, looking for someone to interview. First they talked to a bored-looking girl with purple hair. She said she thought it was all a publicity stunt and that the Morpho people knew exactly where the Spork was right now.

  Frank didn’t think that was very likely, so he and Joe moved on. They asked a couple of teenage boys if they’d noticed anyone suspicious hanging around. The teenagers said they’d seen a shady-looking guy dressed in black sneaking into the back room. Frank started to get excited, but then he realized they were just teasing them.

  “This isn’t going very well,” Joe said as the teenagers wandered away snorting with laughter.

  Before Frank could answer, he spotted Biff and his cousin Colin hurrying toward them. Colin looked more hyper than ever.