The New Year Dragon Dilemma by Ron Roy

Author:Ron Roy [Roy, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780375899638
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2011-11-22T08:00:00+00:00

At a small table, Lily sat between an older Chinese man and woman. Dink figured they were Lily’s parents. The couple sat as still as statues, staring at their daughter.

Lily was sobbing as Officer Goodman placed handcuffs around her slim wrists.

It was dark outside the police station, so Dink’s father stopped a cab and they all got in. Dink sat in the back, between Josh and Ruth Rose. His father sat next to the driver.

“Do you think they did it?” Josh whispered to Dink and Ruth Rose.

“But Lily was tied up with that sash thing,” Ruth Rose said. “And she had that bag over her head.”

“Maybe the cops think Holden tied her, to make it look like someone else did it,” Josh said.

Dink remembered the few minutes that Holden had disappeared during the parade. He’d told the kids that he’d gone to use one of the portable bathrooms. Had he been lying?

Dink also remembered the look on Holden’s face when they found Lily tied up. That look was no lie!

“I believe Holden,” Dink said. “Did you see his face when we found Lily hidden under that box? He was really shocked, guys.”

The cabdriver pulled up in front of the Bayside Hotel. Dink’s father paid him, and they all went inside. The concierge, Mr. Alderson, smiled from behind his desk.

“Good evening, folks,” he said. “How was your day, kids?”

“Fine, thank you,” they all murmured. No one wanted to mention what happened at the parade.

The elevator took them to the third floor. The Bayside was the kind of hotel that offered its guests small apartments as well as single rooms. Dink’s father had rented an apartment with three bedrooms, a living room, and a tiny kitchen.

Josh opened the refrigerator. “There’s nothing to eat,” he announced.

“What would you like, Josh?” Mr. Duncan asked. He winked at Dink and Ruth Rose behind Josh’s back. “A juicy steak with mashed potatoes? Fried chicken? Spaghetti and meatballs?”

“Yes!” Josh said, grinning at the others. He threw himself on the sofa and picked up his sketchbook.

“I heard some of what you kids said in the cab,” Dink’s father said. “Do you really think Holden and his girlfriend stole the crown?”

“It would have been pretty easy,” Josh said. “He and Lily could have cooked it all up together. There were so many people, and all those fireworks going off. Holden could have climbed into the float with Lily, and they could have faked the robbery.”

“But what if Lily hadn’t been chosen as Miss Chinatown?” Ruth Rose asked. “What if the other girl was chosen?”

“Then they could have robbed the crown off her head instead!” Josh said. “Only it was Lily, so their plan was perfect.”

“I don’t know,” Dink’s father said. “Holden seems like a decent kid.”

“I agree with you, Dad,” Dink said. “Plus, he was so surprised that she was under that box. How could he fake that?”

“Don’t forget he’s studying acting in college,” Ruth Rose reminded them. “Maybe he was only pretending to be surprised.”

“But what about that person I saw running away from the dragon?” Dink asked.

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