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CONTENTS

Introduction

1. The Murder Happens
2. Suspects
3. Looking for Clues
4. Solving the Case
5. Case Solved

Introduction

     I'm Shawna Minkley, Super Sleuth. I have blond hair and blue eyes.  I live in Miami, Florida by the ocean and I love dolphins. 

     The case which I'm about to tell you about is the first case I ever solved.  It all started when I got a phone call...
 

CHAPTER ONE:

The Murder Happens

     It all started one day.  I had just become a detective, and had just gotten home from shopping.  I checked for messages when the phone rang.

     I had a feeling my first case was about to unfold but even I wasn't ready for this horrifying news.

     "Hello?" I said, picking up the phone.  "This is Shawna Minkley, Super Sleuth.  How may I help you?"

     "HELP!  HELP!" cried the voice on the other end of the phone. 

     "Calm down, and tell me what happened."

     "Somebody's been murdered!"
 

CHAPTER TWO:

Suspects

     "Yes!" she cried.  "You've got to help me!"

     "Calm down and tell me the facts."  Boy!  I couldn't believe it - my first case!  It was kind of scary, but I certainly wasn't going to let my client know that.

     I tried to sound confident.  "OK," I said, "what's your name?"  I wanted to start with the basics.

     "My name's Ashley Hopper," she said.

     "Who was the victim?" I asked.

     "Her name was Jenna Hopper and she was my twin sister."

     "Oh," I said, "you two sound familiar."

     "That's not too surprising," she said, calming down a little.  "That's because we were singers."

     "That's right," I said, calming myself.  "You were the group called The Twin Sisters, weren't you?"

     "Yeah, we were."

     "Let's get back to the case.  Do you know any suspects?  People who were jealous or anything?"

     "There's a couple," she said, sounding like she was going to cry.

     I tried to comfort her.  "OK," I said, "we can talk some other time.  You can tell me where you live, and I'll go talk to my boss about this."

     "I live at 1919 Cougar St."

     "I will call you to set up a time, so if you can give me your phone number, I'll give you a call."

     "All right," she said.  "It's 365-7446."

     "I'll give you a call.  Bye."

     Later I was on my way to her house.  When I got there I couldn't believe the size of their house!  It was a mansion - red brick, with white shutters.  I walked up to the door and rang the bell.  Soon the door opened.

     "Come on in," she said.  She sat me down in the kitchen.  "Do you want tea or coffee?" she asked.

     "Coffee, please," I answered.

     "I'll go get it," she said.  A little while later she came back with the coffee.

     "All right," I said, taking a sip of my coffee.  "Let's talk about the suspects."

     "OK," she said, "number one suspect is Dan Connor.  He wanted me to sing with him.  He wanted the group to be called The Cowboys.  I hate western music!  So I told him I had a partner and I didn't want to sing with him.  Then he got real mad and said he would find some way to be my partner.  And when he was leaving I heard him say he would do anything to be my partner."

     "Boy!" I said, "that doesn't sound too good for him.  Do you have any other suspects?"

     "Yeah, there's a girl from college named Becca Ray, and we used to always sing together.  We were best friends, and then yesterday before my sister was murdered, she came over and wanted to get back together.  I told her I was really sorry but I already had a partner.  She got real mad and said she had already picked out the name of our group, Best Friends.  Then when she was leaving, I heard her mumble something about getting back at me, and she would end up being my partner."

     "Do you have any other suspects?" I asked.

     "Yes, there's one more," she replied.

     "Who?" I asked.

     "Her name is Ashlee Leak," she replied.  "She wanted our group to be called The Ashlee and Ashley Group, and she got really mad when I said no.  She said that we would make the perfect group!  And then when she left she mumbled something I couldn't understand.  I'll show you a recent picture of them."

     "Thanks, now I gotta go and solve the case!"
 

CHAPTER THREE:

Looking for Clues

     Now, let's see, right here's the bush that she was shot from.  Ah-ha!  A clue right here on the bush.  Green thread.  Now, if I'm not mistaken, both suspects had green shirts on.  Let's look for more clues.  Right here's a black button.  Oh great!  All three suspects have black buttons.

     Gotta go look for more clues.  Ah-ha!  Here's some more clothing, same kind that Ashlee and Becca had on when I saw their picture, kind of a silvery pink.  Now let's see, so far everything is something Becca had on.  I think I need to go talk with Becca.

     When I got to Becca's house, I went up and knocked on the door.  Soon she answered. 

     "Hello?"

     "Becca, I think we need to have a talk.  Mind if I come in?"

     "Not at all," Becca answered.  "Come in."

     Soon we were seated in her living room drinking coffee. 

     "Where were you on the night of the twenty-third at twelve o'clock?"

     "Well," she answered.  "I was at home having a party until twelve thirty."

     "Can anyone testify to that?"  I asked.

     "Sure," she said, "ask anyone at the party."

     "Thanks," I replied.  "I'll go check it out.  Oh, and one more thing, can I see the dress you had on at the party?"

     "Sure," Becca answered, "it's in my room.  I'll go get it."  Soon she returned with the dress.

     Hmm, I thought, looking from the dress to the thread in my hand.  It doesn't match and I don't see a missing button.

     "Well, thank you," I replied.  "I guess I'll have to go look for more clues.  Bye, see you later!"

     "Bye!"

     Great, now I guess I'm on my way to Ashlee Leak's house for some answers.

     I walked up to the door and knocked.

     "Hello?" Ashlee said, opening the door.

     "Hello, can I ask you a few questions?"

     "Sure," she replied.

     "Where were you on the night of the twenty-third around midnight when Jenna Hopper was murdered?"

     "Uh, I was at the store with some friends."

     "What time did you leave, and what time did you get back?"

     "I left at eight and we went straight to the mall.  At twelve-thirty, I went straight home."

     "Thank you, bye."

     "Bye.  Oh, one more thing, Ashlee.  Can I see the dress you had on when you went shopping?"

     "No, you can't; it's in the washer."  I spilled food on it when we went out to eat after shopping."

     Now I think I'll go talk with Dan Connor.  When I was on my way to Dan Connor's house, all of a sudden, a car came roaring by and tried to run me off the road.  I tried to see who it was, but there was a mask covering the face.  Now was a good time to show courage, so I started chasing after the car while he was still trying to run me off the road.  He rolled down the window and yelled out to drop the case and then he would leave me alone.  I wasn't going to let the murderer get away so I knocked into him and he sped away.  Now the chase was on!
 
 

CHAPTER FOUR:

Solving the Case

     "Are you OK?" I asked.

     "Yes," he replied.  "Thank you, but what were you doing here?  And how did you know I was in trouble?"

     "Well, I came here to ask you some questions and on the way a car tried to run me off the road.  When I got here, the car was in your driveway, so I rushed in to see what was up.  You are one of the suspects.  You know that, right?"

     "Yeah," he replied.

     Well, I thought, if he was attacked by the murderer then he couldn't be the one who killed Jenna.

     "Hmm," I said.  "I don't think you're a suspect anymore.  You're crossed off the list."

     "Huh?" he asked, looking confused.

     "Well, the person that attacked you was the murderer no doubt."

     "Ah, I get it now."

     "Yes, and it also means I only have two more suspects and one is almost ruled out.  I'd better go talk with Becca again."
 

     "Hello," Becca said.  I was at her house again.

     "Hello," I replied.  "I know I was already here, but I need to ask you a few more questions if you don't mind."
 

     "Ask away," she said.

     "What did you do after I left?"

     "I went to Ashley Hopper's house 'cause she called and said she wanted to talk and we were on the phone for quite awhile."

     "Thank you, now I have to go to Ashlee Leak's.  Bye."

     "Hmm," I thought, once I got into my car.  "I think I'll call Ashley and see if she can confirm Becca's story." I dialed Ashley's number.

     "Hello," Ashley said, picking up the phone.

     "Ashley, this is Shawna.  I have a few questions to ask you to solve the case." 

     "Ask away.  I'll do anything to help you crack this case."

     "Did you call Becca today?"

     "Yes, it was right after you left because she said you had just left to go to Dan's house."

     "How long were you on the phone?"

     "About fifteen minutes, and then she came over.  Why?"

     "'Cause after I left, someone tried to run me off the road and wanted me to drop this case!  I was thinking that she was probably the murderer."

     "That would be my guess, too."

     "Hmm...," I said.

     "What?"

     "Well, I was just thinking.  I think I know who the murderer is."
 

CHAPTER FIVE:

Case Solved

     "Ashlee Leak."

     "Ashlee?"

     "Yes, it was Ashlee."

     "How do you know?"

     "Well, I already ruled out Dan, and with your help and some clues I ruled out Becca."

     "What clues helped you rule out Becca?"

     "First of all, the thread on her dress and the thread that I found in the bush where Jenna was shot from didn't match.  Second of all, she wasn't missing a black button and I found a black button in the bush like it was torn from an outfit.  Also, when I went to Ashlee's I asked to see the dress she had on when she went shopping, but she said it had gotten food on it when they went to the restaurant after shopping.  She said they went straight there and came straight back, so they couldn't have gone out to eat, and I didn't hear a washer going."

     "She could have eaten there and gotten stuff on it."

     "Yea, she could have, but she said she got it on her when they went out to eat after they went shopping."

     "Why?  Why would Ashlee do it?"

     "Boy,  you ask a lot of questions!  All I know is that Ashlee is the murderer.  I'll figure the rest out later, but right now, I have to call the police and think of some way to get the goods on Ashlee and prove it was her!  Bye!"

     "Bye, but I know proof."

     "You do?  What?"

     "What you told me about her lying and stuff."

     "That is bound to work.  Thank you!  I owe you one."

     "No, you don't.  It was the least I could do for you.  After all, you did solve the case of the murder and I thank you for that.  Bye."

     "Bye."

     After I got off the phone with Ashley, I dialed the police and told them everything about Ashlee Leak - how she murdered Jenna Hopper, where she lived, and everything that would help them.

     Soon I was on the way with the police to Ashlee's house for the big arrest.  We had set up a way to get Ashlee to fall for a trick that would lead her into two life sentences in prison.

     When we got there, we carried out the plan.  The police had their unmarked cruiser waiting outside full of all kinds of things salesmen sell.  The cop started up the driveway and everyone else hid.  The co who was dressed up like some sort of nerd walked up the driveway and rang the bell.  Soon Ashlee opened the door.

     "Hello, who are you?"

     "I am a salesperson."

     "What's your name?"

     "What did you say?  I have kind of a hearing problem."

     "You also have a problem with looks.  What a nerd.  Oh, never mind.  Where is this stuff you're selling?"

     "It's in the trunk of my car."

     "Let's see it.   It's probably junk.   I mean, look at those clothes!"

     "Right, here it is.  I need somebody to buy this stuff.  I'm going poor."

     "Well, that explains your clothes, and no wonder nobody's bought anything.  Look at this junk.  Well, thank you, but I think I'll just pass."

     While they were talking, the police came out of their hiding places and surrounded her.  When she turned to go inside, there were police all around and I was standing right in front of her.

     "Sorry," I said, "But your days are over."

     The fake salesman, who was really Officer Don, grabbed out his badge.  I said, 

     "You're under arrest for murdering Jenna Hopper.  Don, read her her rights and take her away."

     "You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.  You have the right at this time to an attorney of your own choosing and to have them present before and during questioning and the making of any statement.  If you cannot afford an attorney, you are entitled to have an attorney appointed for you by the court and to have them present before and during questioning and the making of any statement.  You have the right to exercise any of the above rights at any time during any questioning and the making of any statement.  Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you?"

     Yep, that was the end of the first case I ever solved.  In court, Ashlee was found guilty an sentences to two life sentences in jail, and that's the end of the case of the murder.

     Shawna Minkley, Super Sleuth has a job to do.  Somebody's been murdered.  Can she stay on top of the case, or will she fall behind and someone else get murdered?  It will take all the courage she has to crack this case...