The Case of the Bug on the Run Read Free

little secret. Mr. Verity proposes a new show to everyone he meets. Most of the time, there’s no new show, but Courtney and her dad didn’t know that. And right away, the three of them started making plans.
    Meanwhile, Mr. Schott had pulled out his phone to take a picture.
    Charlotte was posted in the Center Hall that afternoon. “Uh, Mr. Schott?” she said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that inside the White House.”
    Mr. Schott said, “It’s only the insect I’m interested in.”
    Charlotte shook her head.
    Mr. Schott said, “National security. I understand,” and put his phone away.
    Lily tugged my arm. “Whatsa big bug’s name?”
    Tessa and I looked at each other. We’d been so busy, we hadn’t even given him one! “Do you have a suggestion?” Tessa asked.
    Lily thought so hard her face scrunched up. Finally, she said, “Fluffy.”
    Oh, dear. Fluffy is not a very good name for acockroach. But we didn’t want to say so and hurt Lily’s feelings.
    Luckily, Mrs. Hedges, the grumpiest maid in the White House, came out of the Treaty Room at that moment. She was carrying a feather duster.
    â€œHey, Mrs. Hedges—come and look!” Tessa called. “And don’t worry. The zookeeper said cockroaches are pretty clean, I mean for cockroaches.”
    I had a bright idea. “Lily, would you mind if we gave somebody else a chance to name the cockroach?”
    Lily’s lip quivered like she might cry. Tessa said quickly, “We could name one of the kittens Fluffy.”
    This cheered Lily right up. “The black one! She’s my fa-vo-wit.”
    â€œOkay,” I said, “and Mrs. Hedges, would you like to name the cockroach?”
    My idea had been that you can’t hate something if you name it. And I was right! Mrs. Hedges peered into the tank. “What kind of cockroach did you say he is, again?”
    â€œMadagascan,” I said.
    â€œThen what about Madison?” said Mrs. Hedges.
    â€œMadison like James Madison!” said Tessa. “He was the fourth president of the United States and lived in the White House two hundred years ago.”
    Mrs. Hedges smiled. “James Madison is a fine name.”
    My family believes children need outdoor recreation no matter how hot and humid Julys are in Washington,DC. That’s why Tessa and I had a full afternoon—tennis lessons, throwing the Frisbee for Hooligan and swimming lessons.
    One good thing about our house: we did all those things without ever leaving our big backyard, which is also known as the White House South Lawn.
    It was nearly five o’clock when we came in to clean up and get dressed for Mr. Amaro’s dinner thing. We knew when we opened our bedroom door we’d find dresses already laid out for us to wear. Anytime we go to an event where we might be photographed, Aunt Jen chooses our clothes. If you think that means she doesn’t trust us to pick out our own clothes . . .  you got that right.
    Anyway, what we didn’t know was what else we’d find in our room: a great big mess!
    Our new pet’s tank was lying on its side on the floor with the lid wide open. Leaves and dirt were strewn all over the carpet. As for our big orange-striped cockroach—there was no sign of him at all.

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€œCammie, what happened?” said Tessa.
    â€œI don’t know, but we’d better clean it up and find James Madison fast,” I said. “Otherwise, Granny is going to kill us.”
    The two of us cleaned and searched at the same time. We looked under the tank, then put it back on the table. We swept up the dirt and looked under every twig and leaf. We looked under the lid, then set it back on the tank and hooked it closed.
    â€œIt must be the Ks that knocked it over,” said Tessa, “and then James Madison got out and ran away.”
    â€œI don’t think the