The Video Game Bandit by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

Chapter 7

TOO MANY COOKS

As Joe and Frank made their way back to the house, they noticed the party was quieter than before. A lot of guests had left. Phil had abandoned the stereo, putting on music that sounded like what you’d hear in an elevator.

“Mrs. Freeman seemed pretty sure the people who helped set up the party didn’t have anything to do with it,” Joe said. “If they’ve worked at other parties at Ellie’s house, it doesn’t make sense that they’d suddenly walk in and take the ZCross. What would be the point of that?”

“It’s our only lead now,” Frank said. “We have to follow it.”

Their dad had taught them about leads, which were clues that pointed the investigator in a certain direction. This one was leading them to the people who worked for Forks and Knives. There was a reason Mr. Freeman had mentioned them, and they had to explore it. As they walked into the kitchen, they tried to stay hopeful. Maybe Mr. Freeman was right. Maybe the workers did know something about the missing ZCross.

A man with a white bandanna around his head was washing dishes. A few other people brought trays in from outside. Frank, Joe, and the rest of the Bandits had met all the workers at the beginning of the party. For most of the event the Bandits had been going inside and picking up appetizers, then passing them out to all the guests.

A blond woman was arranging a plate of giant brownies. She looked up when Frank and Joe walked in. “Can I help you?” she asked.

“We were hoping to talk to you about the missing video game system—the ZCross everyone’s been looking for.”

The woman sprinkled some powdered sugar on the brownies. “Wish I knew more, but I didn’t see anything. What about you, Larry?”

The man with the bandanna shrugged. “Nothing.”

Joe pulled out his notepad, hoping a few questions might help them remember something. “Did you notice anyone go into the den from the kitchen? Or maybe they came out of the den? We think whoever took it would have left this way—otherwise they would have had to go through the backyard.”

The woman had a white jacket that said HEATHER on the front in curly script. She pulled a lemon custard pie from the fridge. “I didn’t, but I was busy prepping the desserts.”

Just then a teenage girl came into the room. She looked like she went to Bayport High School. She had her hair in a ponytail and was wearing a shirt that said FORKS AND KNIVES. She put a pile of dirty dishes into the sink and turned to go.

“Excuse us!” Joe called out. “Did you see anything strange this afternoon? We’re trying to figure out who took the ZCross from the den. We still haven’t been able to find it.”

The girl threw up her hands. “I just told Christina, but she didn’t think it meant anything!” She laughed.

Heather and the man with the bandanna both turned, suddenly interested. “What do you mean?” Joe asked.

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