Who Broke Lincoln's Thumb? Read Free

monkey.

    â€œHi,” KC said to the man called Max. “Could I ask you something?”
    â€œSure, what’s up, kid?” Max said. He had muscular arms and wore a baggy George Washington University sweatshirt.
    â€œDid you hear about Lincoln’s thumb?” KC asked.
    Max grinned at her, spinning the red Frisbee on one finger. “What is this, a joke?” he asked. “Okay, I give up. What about Lincoln’s thumb?”
    â€œIt’s not a joke,” Marshall said.
    â€œSounds like one to me,” Joker said. He was much taller than Max and wore his hair in a bright yellow buzz cut.
    KC explained about the missingthumb. “We wondered if you noticed anyone sneaking around the statue.”
    Joker grinned. “I guess old Abe won’t be thumbing rides anymore,” he cracked.
    â€œSeriously, we didn’t even look at the Memorial,” Max said. “We were focused on our game.”
    Max held out the red Frisbee. Someone had printed the initials J.K. in black marker.
    â€œCome on, roomie, let’s split,” Max said to his tall friend. “I have to study for my French test.”
    The two men started walking away toward the street. KC and Marshall wandered back toward the Lincoln Memorial.
    â€œWhat should we do now?” Marshall asked as they sat on the warm steps.
    â€œDo you think a Frisbee could knockoff a marble thumb?” KC asked.
    Marshall looked at KC. “You think those two guys did it?” he asked.
    KC nodded. “Their Frisbee was doing about fifty miles an hour,” she said. “And it’s red. That mark I saw on Lincoln’s hand could have been red plastic!”
    â€œMaybe,” Marshall said. “But if their Frisbee broke the thumb, why would they still be hanging around? Wouldn’t they take off?”
    â€œYeah, I guess you’re right,” KC said.
    KC noticed a woman sitting a few feet away, reading a book. But then she put it down and took a bottle of nail polish from her pocket. The woman began painting one of her long nails.
    KC stared. The polish was bright red.
    KC scooted a little closer. She tippedher head so she could read the book’s title. It said TEN WAYS TO GET RICH FAST.
    â€œExcuse me,” KC said to the woman. “Did you hear about Lincoln’s thumb?”
    The woman smiled. Her bright red lips matched the nail polish. A name tag on her blouse said FIONA ROBB. “I sure did!” she said. “I work in the bookstore here inside the Memorial. Some tourists were talking about it. Some joker probably stole the thing as a souvenir.”
    Fiona blew on her fingernail, being careful not to touch the wet polish. Then she put away her polish, grabbed her book, and stood up. “Gotta get back to work,” she said, and zipped up the steps.
    When she was gone, KC grabbed Marshall by the arm. “What if the mark I saw is red nail polish?” KC asked with hereyes dancing. “Fiona could have stolen Lincoln’s thumb!”
    Marshall looked at her. “Why would she do that?” he asked.
    â€œShe was reading a book about how to get rich,” KC said. “She could be planning to sell the thumb!”
    â€œWho would buy it?” Marshall asked.
    â€œAre you kidding?” KC said. “Lincoln’s thumb is valuable!”
    â€œHow would she climb up to get it?” Marshall asked.
    â€œOn the ladders, like I did,” KC said.
    Marshall shook his head. “Ralphie and Stub would never let her,” he said.
    â€œBut they left the ladders there when they took their break,” KC insisted. “They wouldn’t have seen her climb them!”
    â€œI vote for Max and Joker,” Marshallsaid. “They wouldn’t even need a ladder. Max could stand on Joker’s shoulders to get at the thumb.”
    â€œMaybe it wasn’t Fiona or those Frisbee guys,” KC said suddenly. “Look down there by the Reflecting