On the Case (From the Files of Madison Finn, 17) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she still had math homework to do. She went to her room and powered up her laptop. Phinnie curled up at her feet.
    Of course, fifteen minutes into a set of problems, Madison’s mind wasn’t on numbers at all. She was in her files, clicking, deleting, and organizing. She could finish her math work later—like the next day, in a free period before class.
    Madison scrolled through some of the alphabetized files, her head spinning. In addition to about a hundred files marked Boys and Hart —clearly her favorite subjects—Madison had files on almost every other topic imaginable.
    Bad News
Class Notes
    The Conspiracy
    The Dance
    Only the Lonely
    Rain
    Surprises
    What I Don’t Know
    Madison laughed at the sight of her extensive files. Reading through the topics like that made her life seem way more interesting than it actually was—at least, more interesting than usual.
    Madison clicked NEW . She wanted to create a new set of files for her detective work. After all, a super sleuth couldn’t work without information at her fingertips. Project number one would be to scan the mysterious scrap of paper Madison had located in the library. Later she could also scan a street map showing the exact location of 411 Marquette Street.
    Madison dug the note out of her bag and placed it onto the scanner. While she was waiting for the machine to make the scan, a light blinked in the corner of the screen.
    Who would have sent e-mail so late in the day?
    Was Bigwheels in trouble again?
From: Dantheman
    To: MadFinn
    Subject: The Clinic Needs U
    Date: Tues 12 Oct 7:13 PM
    Yo, Maddie whassup. I’m here w/my mom @ the clinic. Where have u been we miss u. Ok. We really really could use ur help here tomorrow b/c there are like 100 new animals. Ok not a 100 but close. N e way, can u come after school w/me and help out? We need someone who knows the ropes and ur the best. Lemme know.
    Bye,
    Dan
    Madison wrote back immediately. Dantheman was Dan Ginsburg, one of her guy friends at FHJH—and her best friend at the Far Hills Animal Clinic. Together with Dan, Madison volunteered to clean cages, cuddle scared pets that were up for adoption, and even help the clinic’s Dr. Wing prepare for certain veterinary procedures. Once she had assisted when a sick ferret came in for emergency paw surgery.
    Dan didn’t even have to ask if Madison would volunteer. Of course she would! It didn’t matter that Madison was backlogged with homework, flute lessons, and now, her detective work. Madison loved animals very much—maybe even more than Crime Time , if that were possible.
    But if Madison was going to do everything she wanted to do tomorrow, she needed her sleep. She shut down the computer and leaned over Phin.
    “Phinnie…” Madison whispered.
    “Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,” Phin snored.
    Madison kissed the top of his head. “Good night, my doggy prince,” she whispered in his ear before turning out the light.

Chapter 5
    “M ADDIE!” DAN CALLED OUT to Madison in the crowded hallway at school on Wednesday afternoon. “Maddie!”
    Madison nearly crashed into a pack of ninth graders when she heard him.
    “Wait!” Dan yelled again. He was gasping for air by the time he finally caught up to Madison.
    “Dan,” Madison said. “This is so funny. I was just looking for you.”
    “I’ve been looking for you all day,” Dan replied. “I saw you before my science class, but you were outside the music room talking to Mrs. Montefiore, and then later before English, but you were going into Gibbons’s room, and I was going in the other direction…”
    “That’s weird. I didn’t see you either place,” Madison said.
    “What do I have to do to get your attention, set off flares?” Dan quipped.
    He and Madison laughed. Unfortunately, their laughter drew the unwanted attention of the same pack of ninth graders Madison had met earlier.
    “What’s your problem? Is something funny?” one of the boys in the group growled at Dan.
    “Yeah, what are you