Read Online Edgar Allan's Official Crime Investigation Notebook by Mary Amato - Free Book Online

about Destiny, Edgar had to write another rhythm poem to turn in to Mr. Crew.
    Think…think…think…
    Why can’t I
    think…think…think…
    I think my
    brain…brain…brain
    is going to
    shrink…shrink…shrink
    It needs a
    drink…drink…drink
    of magic
    ink…ink…ink
    that drips with
    rhyme…rhyme…rhyme
    So I can
    find…find…find
    A poem in
    time…time…time!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    Secrets have a way of making the heart beat faster, and so Edgar’s heart was galloping as he walked back to Ms. Herschel’s room. He pulled his secret—the poem for Destiny—out of his pocket and slipped it onto the top shelf of her cubby.
    â€œWe’re having indoor recess because of the rain, Edgar,” Ms. Herschel called out. “What’ll it be today? Would you like to sign out a game?”
    Edgar popped out from behind the cubbies. “Can I sign up for computer #1?”
    She nodded and he sat down at a computer in the back corner. From there, he could see the whole room at once. A perfect set-up for spying.
    Note: Ms. Herschel is at it again. Is her coffee cup ever empty? I don’t think so.
    Taz came in next. “I get computer #2!”
    Ms. Herschel stopped him. “Last indoor recesssomebody set the alarm clock on the computer to play ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ during my afternoon class.”
    â€œThat wasn’t me!”
    â€œI didn’t say it was! I’m just reminding you and Edgar to use the computer appropriately.”
    Taz settled next to Edgar. The keychain he had been looking at earlier was hanging from his belt loop! Edgar tilted his head so he could get a better look. It was one of those keychains with a mini frame and in the frame was a picture of Taz’s dog, Bandit, a German shepherd with a thick brown coat and black around his big brown eyes. Edgar recognized him right away. When Edgar and Taz were in the second grade, Bandit followed Taz to school. Taz couldn’t get him to go home. Bandit trotted right beside him and sat next to Taz’s desk. Everybody begged to let Bandit stay, but Mrs. Clint said no way. Taz’s mom had to come and carry Bandit out, and he wimpered like he was really going to miss Taz. Edgar remembered going home that very day and asking his mom for a dog like Bandit.
    So the keychain belonged to Taz; it wasn’t stolen. He wondered if Patrick knew that.
    Wait a minute! Taz’s dog was named Bandit. Was that a clue or a coincidence? Was Taz training him to be a fellow criminal? Perhaps Edgar should be looking for paw prints rather than shoe prints!
    Edgar looked back at his own computer, so Taz wouldn’t catch him spying. He typed in the word “iris.”
    As he was scrolling through the various articles about irises that had popped up, more kids came into the room. A group followed Patrick over to his desk. Patrick was whispering about something, probably telling them moreabout chromatography, and then he called out to the teacher. “Ms. Herschel, can I take the note from the thief home and run fingerprint tests on it? My dad said he’d show me how to do it with a chemical solution called ninhydrin.”
    â€œThat sounds like real forensic science, Patrick!” she said. “Be my guest.”
    Patrick looked at Edgar and smiled. Edgar did not smile back.
    Girls came—Maia and Gabriela among them—and joined the group around Patrick’s desk. Destiny walked in and headed straight for her cubby.
    Edgar held his breath. Destiny’s back was to him, so he couldn’t see her face, but he knew by the way she was standing still that she had found the note and was reading it. She turned around, and Edgar quickly focused back on his screen.
    Did she like it?
    Edgar wanted to find out, but he didn’t want to risk looking at her.
    He forced his brain back to the crime . . . and to Taz.
    So far all he