The Case of the Locked Box by Lewis B. Montgomery

Author:Lewis B. Montgomery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Kane Press

Answering Milo’s questions, she described everything that had happened, from putting away the locked cashbox full of money to opening it the next day and finding it empty.

“Were you surprised?” Milo asked.

“Of course I was surprised,” she said. “I was totally shocked!”

It was time to ask.

“So . . . you didn’t steal the money?”

“NO!”

Milo glanced at the jury. Some of them were giving Jazz skeptical looks. Others didn’t seem to want to meet her eyes.

“Do you have any more questions?” the judge asked Milo.

He swallowed. “No. That’s all.”

It was Chelsea’s turn to question Jazz.

Yes, Jazz said, she was sure she’d locked the cashbox. Yes, it was still locked the next day. Yes, she and Omar had the only keys.

“And Omar’s been home sick,” Chelsea said. “Which means that you’re the only one who could have sneaked into the office when nobody was around, unlocked the box, and taken the school garden money. Right?” Before Jazz could answer, Chelsea turned to the jury. “It’s obvious she did it.”

Jazz looked at Chelsea.

“Obvious,” Jazz repeated slowly. “You keep saying that. But maybe it’s too obvious.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chelsea demanded.

“If I stole the money, why would I lock the cashbox afterward?” Jazz said. “The locked box makes me look guilty. All I had to do was break the lock or take the whole box. Then it would look as if anybody could have done it.”

Milo wanted to cheer for his partner. Leave it to Jazz to think like a detective, no matter what!

For an instant, Chelsea looked startled. Then she shrugged and said, “Too bad you didn’t think of that before you stole the money.”

“I didn’t do it!” Jazz protested.

Ignoring her, Chelsea faced the jury.

“We know nobody picked the lock. He proved that.” She pointed at Milo, who winced.

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