Read Online The Case of the Rock 'n' Roll Dog by Martha Freeman - Free Book Online Page A

looked toward the Rose Garden. My mom’s office—the Oval Office—is on the other side of it and, right on schedule, Mom was walking out the door. When she reached Dad, she gave him a squeeze and a kiss, then the two of them walked toward us holding hands while cameras flashed and whirred.
    It’s pretty much the same every Friday.
    â€œ
Daddy!
” Tessa and I grabbed him around the waist. He kissed Granny’s cheek. More cameras flashed. Then he let go, looked around and asked, “Where’s your cousin?”
    Tessa said, “Who cares?”
    Granny gave Tessa a warning look.
    Tessa whined to Mom. “It’s not fair I have to be nice if he’s not even here!”
    â€œNathan is practicing piano,” Granny told Dad.
    Dad looked from Granny to Tessa to Mom and asked, “So what did I miss this week?”

    The president of the United States is a very busy person. She has to travel, give speeches, be on TV andhave meetings. She has to read reports. And she has to boss people around.
    Granny and Aunt Jen agree that Mom has always been good at that last part.
    You might already have figured out that because Mom is busy, Tessa and I don’t see her as much as we want to.
    And sometimes we miss her.
    But Friday is family night. And if she possibly can, Mom stays in with Tessa and Dad and me. We play Monopoly and talk about soccer and ballet and congress, just like any other family. The only difference is the pizza comes from the White House kitchen.
    I love Fridays. For one thing, I rule at Monopoly.
    But this Friday was different.
    I had too much to think about!
    Where was Colonel Michaels’s baton?
    How did the cookies get in the vase?
    Was there really a thief in the White House?
    My brain was so busy, I forgot to collect rent on my hotels. And Tessa was just as bad. She was banker, and didn’t pay up when we passed GO.
    The third time she forgot, Dad said, “What’s on your mind, Tess?”
    My sister didn’t hesitate. “Is it true The Song Boys can’t play if there’s a thief in the White House?”
    Dad looked at Mom. “Do you know what she’s talking about?”
    Mom looked at Tessa. “Remind me. Who are The Song Boys?”
    â€œMo-o-o-om!”
Tessa and I said at the same time.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. “Is that the literacy event? I have a full calendar tomorrow.”
    Taking turns, we reminded her about the concert. Then we told her about the missing stuff and what Mr. Ross had said.
    â€œAh,” Mom said when we were done. “Now I see. And I admit it’s mysterious. But none of it rises to the level of security breach. I think your concert will happen right on. . . .” The last word dissolved in a yawn. “I’m sorry, muffins. I’m tired, and I have a meeting at the crack of dawn. The president of a certain nearby nation is coming for a White House tour. And my advisers tell me I should handle it personally.”
    â€œMust be a big shot,” Dad said.
    â€œSort of,” Mom said. “Do you girls remember what I told you the other night?”
    â€œThe country we’re not getting along with?” I said.
    â€œExactly,” Mom said.
    â€œLet me get this straight,” Tessa said. “We’re sending money for farms, roads and hospitals, plus you have to give a personal White House tour? Not getting along with the United States is a good deal!”
    â€œNot getting along with us is a good deal for Nate, too,” I said. “We have to be super nice. He doesn’t have to do a thing.”
    â€œIt’s only for a week,” Mom said.
    â€œFive days, one hour and . . .” I looked at my watch. “. . . eighteen minutes to go.”
    It was two turns later that I went bankrupt. Two turns after that, Tessa did, too. In our family losers put the game away, so—after Mom gave us kisses and went to