Catch a Crooked Clown Read Online Free PDF

need to look at a watch when somebody had just told me the time?” Mr. Jones asked. He spread out his arms. “Look, that’s all I know. There’s nothing more I can tell you.”
    “Thanks,” Brian said. As soon as Mr. Jones was out of hearing range, he glanced at his notes. “Sergeant Kerry said that Gus Hart claimed he was at home, going over his expenses. He’d left his store in the hands of his manager.”
    “Why is Mr. Hart still a suspect?” Sean asked.
    “Take a look back by the animals’ cages,” Brian said.
    Sean turned to see what Brian meant. There was Mr. Hart, poking with a cane inside and around the bales of hay that were stacked and ready for use.
    “What’s he doing?” Dan whispered.
    “Why don’t we ask him?” Brian said.
    He, Sean, and Dan walked up behind Mr. Hart, who was so busy he hadn’t noticed them. He jumped and yelped when Brian asked, “What are you looking for, Mr. Hart?”
    Mr. Hart leaned against the hay. He put one hand on his chest and breathed deeply.
    “Don’t scare me like that!” he said.
    “I’m sorry,” Brian said. “I just asked what you’re looking for.”
    “My property!” Mr. Hart said. “That clown hid it around here somewhere, I know. Once I find it, the police can arrest that clown, and put him in jail, and Redoaks will get rid of all these traveling shows.”
    Eric stepped out from behind the bales of hay. He glowered at Mr. Hart. “You don’t belong here,” he said. “Get off the property! Now!”
    “I-I have a r-right to search for my stolen property!” Mr. Hart said.
    Eric’s lips twisted in a nasty smile. “Or maybe plant some jewelry that the police can find later.”
    Mr. Hart’s face grew red, and he sputtered. “That’s a crazy idea! I’d never! I—I—”
    Eric shoved his face into Mr. Hart’s. “Get out of here!” he shouted.
    Mr. Hart turned and ran.
    “You, too,” Eric said to Brian.
    “In a minute,” Brian said.
    He motioned for Sean and Dan to follow him to the main tent where two workers were sweeping.
    “Hi,” Brian said. “Did any of you see Eric on Thursday afternoon at four o’clock?”
    One of the men smiled. “Probably. Off and on.”
    The other man said, “Eric’s not too dependable. Sometimes he’s on hand, workin’ up a sweat. Then sometimes you need him, and he’s off behind a pile of tarps takin’ a snooze.”
    “Then you can’t say for sure Eric was here at the circus lot at four o’clock?” Brian asked.
    “Nope,” the first man said, “but ask around. You might find somebody who was workin’ with him.”
    Brian began walking toward Dale Erhard’s trailer. “Last on our list,” he said to Sean and Dan.
    As they approached the trailer, they could hear loud voices arguing.
    “Why don’t you listen to reason, Marco?” Mr. Erhard shouted angrily. “I keep telling you, we’re losing so much money the circus is going to fail. Why let that happen and lose everything?”
    “Maybe there’s something we can still do,” Mr. Moroney said. “More publicity? Bigger ads in the newspapers?”
    “That won’t work. If you’re smart, you’ll sell out to me. It will be a struggle, but, without the profits being divided in two, I think I can make a go of it.”
    “No!” Mr. Moroney thundered. “The circus has been in my family for three generations. I’m not going to give it up!”
    “That’s stupid!”
    “I don’t care what you think! It’s my decision!
    Mr. Moroney slammed open the trailer door. The boys ducked out of sight as he stomped toward his own trailer.
    Brian led the way through the still-open door into Mr. Erhard’s trailer and said, “Is it okay if we ask you a question?”
    Mr. Erhard sighed. “One question. What is it?”
    “Where were you at four o’clock on Thursday afternoon?” Brian asked.
    Mr. Erhard had to think for a moment before he answered, “Right here. I was busy writing the weekly salary checks for the circus help.”
    “Did anyone see you