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confessed to the crime or hadn’t he?
    â€œI thought I could provide a good home for her, one that was even better than the aquarium. One that would leave her in peace without being gawked at by thousands of observers each day.” Mr. V paused.
    â€œGawked at?!” I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You’re supposed to be a conservationist! I thought you understood better than anyone how much the aquarium inspires a love of the ocean and educates people about ecology.”
    â€œI know.” Mr. V turned away, unable to look me in the eye. “And as it turns out, my first impression was wrong.I saw how much Captain Hook thrived in Predator Reef, how much the staff cared for her, the difference she could make in the fight for oceanic conservation. And I started to second-guess myself. Apparently whoever discovered my plans didn’t share my reservations.”
    â€œC’mon, dude. You really expect us to believe your sob story?” Joe said.
    â€œI know it won’t be easy to regain your trust, but why would I bring you here to my private sanctuary and reveal my plans to you, only to lie about this?” Mr. V asked in response.
    â€œYou’ve already admitted to lying about everything else,” I challenged. “How do we know you aren’t just hiding her in a different location and trying to throw us off your trail?”
    â€œHad I wanted to deflect suspicion, I simply would have kept my mouth shut and called my lawyers. A discarded handkerchief is explained away easily enough. And I certainly wouldn’t have insisted to Chief Olaf on your participation in the investigation.”
    Mr. V was making sense, but . . .
    â€œIf you really cared so much about finding Captain Hook, why didn’t you come forward earlier? We lost valuable time on the investigation, and my brother almost got killed finding that trapdoor.”
    â€œUntil you boys arrived this afternoon with my handkerchief and your tales of hidden tunnels, I’d held out hope that you or the police would uncover another explanationfor Captain Hook’s disappearance or discover the tunnels in a way that didn’t incriminate me. It was selfish of me.”
    â€œYou bet it was,” Joe said.
    â€œFrank knows as well as anyone how much that turtle means to me. I dote on her like a spoiled child. I’ve spent so much time with her, it almost feels like she really is family. Now that she’s gone . . .” Mr. V closed his eyes. “The thought that I may have accidentally helped someone with bad . . . intentions,” he murmured brokenly, “take her . . . it’s been torturing me. Which is why I’ve decided to bring you here and confess my role.”
    â€œSure, you feel guilty. You want to clear your conscience to make yourself feel better. So do lots of criminals. That doesn’t change the fact that Captain Hook is missing and it’s your fault,” I told him.
    Mr. V turned around again to face us.
    â€œIt’s not my conscience I’m concerned with. It’s the life of an innocent animal. I want you to help me get her back. I know now that her rightful home isn’t here,” he said, gesturing at the marvelous tank behind him. “It’s at the aquarium where everyone can enjoy her company and learn from her. I hope it doesn’t come to this, but I am willing to turn myself in and face the consequences as long as it means Captain Hook is safely returned to the aquarium.”
    Mr. V stopped and looked both of us in the eye.
    â€œEven if it means going to prison.”

CRUSHED
11
JOE
    I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO think about Mr. V or his confession. Somehow we’d managed to solve what we’d thought was the mystery without solving the crime. We now knew how Captain Hook was taken and we even knew who’d planned to take her, but we still didn’t know who actually had taken