Mr. Pin: The Chocolate Files Read Free

Luigi sells to Sally.”
    â€œBut how do you know it’s from Luigi’s pasta shop?” asked Maggie.
    â€œLuigi,” explained Mr. Pin, “is the only one I know who sells chocolate in a glass bottle. I think he uses glass so it can be recycled.”
    â€œLuigi doesn’t sound like much of a kidnapper, does he?” said Maggie.
    â€œNo,” said Mr. Pin. “But maybe he is kidnapped.”
    â€œBut why,” asked Maggie, “would anyone want to kidnap a pasta man who recycles chocolate bottles?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Mr. Pin. “But I’m going to find out.”

6
    It was late when Maggie and Mr. Pin finished talking to the police at the opera house. The officers wrapped a long yellow police tape around the orchestra pit and told the two detectives to go home.
    Snow was falling lightly on North Wacker when Mr. Pin and Maggie finally left through the stage door. Mr. Pin stood on the curb and hailed a cab.
    â€œWe might have one more clue,” said Mr. Pin, as snow covered his checked cap. He searched through his bag as a cab pulled up. He and Maggie stepped inside. The two rode in silence for several blocks until all of a sudden, Mr. Pin held a piece of paper up to his beak and said, “That’s it! There’s no chocolate!”
    â€œWhat do you mean there’s no chocolate?” asked Maggie. “I thought we were following Luigi’s chocolate connection.”
    â€œWe are,” explained Mr. Pin. “But there is no chocolate on this note. And this is the note Berta Largamente found that said ‘Danger ahead. Watch your step.’”
    Chocolate had been important in most cases, thought Maggie. Not finding chocolate was something new. She wanted to ask Mr. Pin what it meant, but just as they pulled up in front of Smiling Sally’s diner, the penguin detective shouted, “Don’t stop. Follow that pasta truck.”
    â€œGlad to,” said the cabdriver, nodding his head. “Been a slow night.”
    â€œIt’s Luigi!” said Mr. Pin to Maggie.
    The cab skidded onto Monroe while Luigi’s truck raced toward Wabash. The truck squealed around wet corners. But Mr. Pin kept it in sight as it turned west and headed for Greek Town.
    â€œHurry,” said Maggie. “We’re after a kidnapper.”
    â€œSure thing, lady,” said the cabdriver. His wipers were on full speed as the car crossed the river. But Luigi’s truck had disappeared.
    â€œWait,” said Mr. Pin. “Isn’t Luigi’s pasta shop near here?”
    â€œJust around the corner,” said Maggie.
    â€œTurn right,” said Mr. Pin to the cabdriver.
    Just ahead was Luigi’s truck, parked, lights off, in an alley.
    â€œWait here,” said Mr. Pin to the driver. “And keep the change.” Mr. Pin handed him a large bill.
    â€œThanks,” said the cabdriver.
    â€œI think we should call the police,” said Maggie. But Mr. Pin was already on his way to Luigi’s back door. The penguin detective tested the door with his wing. It was unlocked. There were loud voices inside. Mr. Pin motioned for Maggie to follow him as he slowly opened the door.

    But once inside, it wasn’t loud talking Mr. Pin heard. It was loud singing. Luigi was singing tenor arias while Mac, the missing conductor, was playing an old upright piano in Luigi’s kitchen. Mac stopped abruptly. Luigi looked nervous.
    â€œYou’re not kidnapped!” shouted Maggie. “But if you’re not kidnapped,” Maggie asked Mac, “what are you?”
    â€œMissing,” said Mac. “On vacation. Not available. Very tired. Not to mention that I always wanted to drive a truck. When Luigi offered to let me deliver pasta, I had to jump for it. The chance might never come again. But it was the middle of the opera season. No one would have let me go. So I had to stage my own disappearance. I called Luigi