Catch a Crooked Clown Read Online Free PDF Page A

us, and he could fit inside Crackers’s costume.”
    “Is that it?” Dan asked. “Do we tell the police to arrest Eric?”
    “It’s not that simple,” Brian said. “We only have suspicions, not proof. We have to collect evidence and build a case.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “It means that our next step is to find out exactly where every one of our suspects was when the first thefts took place. We have the exact time—4:02 p.m.”
    “Who should we start with?” Sean asked.
    “Our number one suspect, Eric Lewis,” Brian said.
    None of them got to their feet. They looked at each other, and Sean could tell they were all thinking the same thing. Was it safe to question Eric? He was an awfully scary guy!

8

    E RIC LEWIS SNARLED AS Brian asked, “Where were you Thursday afternoon at four o’clock?”
    “None of your business,” Eric answered.
    Dan tried to prompt him. “You were helping to put up the tents, weren’t you?”
    “Everybody knows that,” Eric said. “Go away.”
    He leaned toward Brian and scowled.
    Brian wished he were anyplace else, yet he didn’t back down. “We want to prove that Marco Moroney didn’t steal from the stores in Redoaks,” he said. “We need you to help us.”
    Eric’s laugh was bitter. “How am I supposed to help? By confessing to a crime I didn’t commit? You kids go home and play baseball. Stop snooping around here.”
    Brian didn’t move. “You didn’t answer my question about what you were doing,” he said.
    “What was I doing?” Eric snapped out the words. “For your information, I was working hard, as I always do, and I don’t like your suspicions. I told you to stop snooping around here or you’d be sorry. You didn’t pay attention the first time, but you’d better listen to me now!”
    Eric stomped off before Brian could say another word.
    “I think he did it,” Sean whispered.
    “Remember, a good investigator keeps an open mind,” Brian said. “Let’s talk to Ray Spangler.”
    They found Mr. Spangler sunning himself in a canvas folding chair outside the Spanglers’ trailer. He brought down his feet from the small folding table on which they’d been propped and smiled. “What can I do for you boys?” he asked.
    “Just answer a question,” Brian said.
    Mr. Spangler laughed. “Like ‘Where were you the night of the murder?’ ”
    “You got it,” Brian said. “Only change it to: ‘Where were you at four o’clock, Thursday afternoon?’ ”
    “That’s an easy answer,” Mr. Spangler said. “Laura Lee was napping inside our trailer, and I was playing cards right here in this very spot with Pinkie Jones. Pinkie’s the elephant trainer. Pinkie and I finished our game around four-fifteen, and he left. Laura woke up around four-thirty, and we went for a drive. We like to get a look at some of the towns we visit.” He smiled. “Redoaks is a nice little place. I bet you like living here.”
    “Yeah, we do,” Sean began, but Brian held up a hand.
    “Let’s get back to your answer, Mr. Spangler. If we ask Pinkie Jones where he was, will his story be the same as yours?”
    “Absolutely,” Mr. Spangler said.
    “Then Pinkie’s your alibi,” Sean said.
    Mr. Spangler’s friendly attitude quickly disappeared. “I don’t need an alibi. I didn’t commit the crime,” he said.
    Dan led Brian and Sean to Pinkie Jones. Pinkie told them that on Thursday afternoon he’d been playing cards with Ray Spangler while Laura Lee was sleeping. “Did you see Laura Lee?” Brian asked. “Do you know for sure she was in the trailer?”
    “Nope. I left before she woke up.”
    “Do you remember what time you were with Mr. Spangler?”
    Mr. Jones shook his head. “I haven’t worn a watch for years,” he said. “Don’t need one. Spangler said it was four-fifteen, and he thought he’d wake up Laura Lee so they could go for a drive.”
    “That means you can’t really be sure of the time,” Brian said. He made another note.
    “Why’d I