Soccer Suspicions by Jake Maddox

Author:Jake Maddox [Maddox, Jake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: age 8–10; books for girls; Capstone; chapter books; competition; evidence; fiction; grade 3–5; investigation; Jake Maddox; mystery stories; revenge; sabotage; school rivalry; sports stories; sportsmanship; teamwork
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

TROUBLE

After practice, Gabriella walked to the robotics lab. She wasn’t sure what to think. Had Serena really been stealing from the robotics team? Had she also stolen the medal?

Gabriella knew there was only one way to find out. She’d have to confront Serena. She planned to do that as soon as she got to the robotics lab, but when she got there, Gabriella found Mia and Serena waiting for her.

“Serena says you want to talk to me,” Mia said.

Gabriella looked at Serena.

“She was getting ready to leave,” Serena explained. “I asked her to stay because you needed her help.”

“What’s this about?” Mia asked. “I don’t have much time.”

“Someone stole a medal from my backpack yesterday,” Gabriella said.

“I know,” Mia said. “Serena told me. Switched backpacks. Stolen medal. Three suspects. The whole thing. What do you want from me?”

Gabriella stared at Serena. How much had she told her? And why?

“I think,” Serena said. “Since you were here yesterday when the medal disappeared, Gabriella wants to know if you saw anything that might help her figure out what happened.”

Mia grunted.

“I was pretty busy,” she said. She waved her arms around the room. “The team had my full attention. I didn’t notice anything that would help. I did hear Serena mention the medal. At that point, there was hardly anybody here.”

“We talked to Kyle and Raquel already,” Gabriella said. “Was anyone else here that you can think of?”

Mia gave the question some thought and shook her head.

“That’s it,” she said. “Unless you count Mrs. Warren.”

“I think we can cross Mrs. Warren off the list,” Gabriella said.

“Good call,” Mia said. “That just leaves me, Kyle, and Raquel. Oh, and Serena, of course.”

Serena flinched, and Gabriella thought about what Neveah had said. Was Serena really a thief?

“I have to go,” Mia said. “Is there anything else?”

Gabriella couldn’t think of anything else to ask.

“I don’t think so,” she said.

“Well, I’ll be here tomorrow if you think of anything,” Mia said. She started to leave.

“Wait,” Gabriella said. “There is something else. Raquel and Kyle were both here.”

“Right,” Mia said.

“Do you remember which one of them left first?” Gabriella asked.

Mia frowned. “That’s funny,” she said. “I could have sworn I saw Kyle leave first but, later on, I noticed Raquel was gone and Kyle was still here. So, I guess Raquel left first.”

Mia left, and Serena turned to Gabriella.

“Raquel lied,” Serena said. “She’s got to be the thief.”

Gabriella thought about what Coach Wilson had said.

“I’m not so sure she lied,” Gabriella said. “What if she thinks she told us the truth?”

“That’s impossible,” Serena said. “They can’t both be right.”

“I’m not saying they’re both right,” Gabriella said. “But maybe they both think they’re right.”

“How is that even possible?” Serena asked.

Gabriella thought for a moment and the solution came to her.

“What if Kyle left and came right back?” Gabriella said. “But while he was gone, Raquel left. Raquel would have seen Kyle leaving and thought he left first. Kyle would have come back and seen that Raquel was gone and thought that she left first.

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