Novel - Half Moon Investigations Read Free Page A

innocent.”
    I didn’t know which disturbed me more: Doobie calling me his partner or Herod calling me a nerd.
    “Yeah, let the nerd prove he’s innocent,” said Bella, rubbing her neck. “Or else Herod’s guilty, as far as I’m concerned.”
    Red rubbed his temples as though the stupidity of what he was hearing was giving him a headache. “Listen to me. Half Moon plays at being a detective. His mom bought him a toy badge somewhere, so now he goes around pretending to be Sherlock Holmes. It’s not real. He can’t prove anything.”
    This was too much. I imagined the badge in my pocket glowing with indignation. I took out the wallet, flipping it open.
    “Actually, Red,” I said. “This is a real detective’s badge. I am a real detective. First in the academy.”
    Red turned slowly toward me. Generally, at this point, I would run away and find a dark corner to hide in, but some things are worth standing up for.
    “So, you’re a real detective. I bet criminals all over Ireland are turning themselves in. ‘What’s the point?’ they’re saying. ‘Fletcher Moon is on the case.’”
    “Go, Fletcher!” snuffled Doobie, who was too young for sarcasm.
    “So what does your big detective’s brain tell you about the case of the missing organizer?” continued Red.
    I shrugged. “Nothing. I don’t know the facts. I haven’t had a chance to question anyone.”
    Red leaned back on the saddle of his bike. I got the feeling he was more interested in poking fun at me than clearing his brother’s name. Although, in all fairness, it would take two dozen lawyers and a time machine to clear Herod’s name completely.
    “I’m sure Bella can answer any questions you care to ask,” said Red, grinning in anticipation of my failure.
    “Come on, Fletcher,” said April Devereux. Her Barbie buddies did some cheerleading hops. It was nice to have somebody in my corner, even April and co. Although I suspected that they were more anti-Sharkey than pro-Moon.
    I cleared my throat and tried to sound professional. “So, Miss . . . ah . . . Bella. Tell me what happened. Don’t leave out any detail, however insignificant.”
    Bella thought for a moment. “Well, I got up at seven, and I was thinking about these earrings for ages, ’cause Quinn says they’re banned.”
    I interrupted her. “Okay. You can leave out those details, stuff that only happened in your head and not in the actual world. Just tell us about the organizer.”
    “Okay. It was a birthday present. Date book, phone numbers, MP3 player. Everything. If someone wanted to know the time in Tokyo, all they had to do was ask.”
    The crowd oohed, impressed. Bella accepted their admiration with a little royal wave.
    “So I brought it in today for the first time. Only, I forgot about it for a minute ’cause I was worrying about the earrings. I left my bag by the wall and went off for a walk with the girls.”
    Bella and her friends spent a large part of their break time walking around. They would circle the yard, searching for little kids with no fashion sense to tease.
    “So, halfway around, I remembered my organizer and ran back to my bag. But I was too late, little Klepto Sharkey had already made off with it.”
    “Klepto?” said Red, trying to sound incredulous.
    “Yes, Red. Klepto. Short for kleptomaniac. He’s a real Sharkey, all right. Been stealing since he was in diapers.”
    Red’s expression was more resigned than furious.
    “So maybe Roddy’s been in trouble a few times, that’s not proof of anything.”
    April Devereux took a step forward from the rank of pink go-gos.
    “I saw him searching Bella’s bag. I saw him with my actual vision. That’s proof, isn’t it? I watch Law and Order , so I know. I’m a witness.”
    I winced apologetically at Red. “That’s pretty strong. An eyewitness.”
    “So where’s the organizer?” countered Red. “If he stole it a few minutes ago, where is it?”
    I transferred my wince to Bella. “That’s