The Case of the Mossy Lake Monster Read Online Free PDF Page A

Landsright?”
    “As you know, I’m running for class president,” said Alexandra. “And the election is on Friday.”
    “Don’t worry. You have my vote.”
    “I’m counting on it. But there’s a problem. A big problem.” Her voice sank to a whisper. “Someone is plotting against me. Me! Beauty Princess Extraordinaire!”
    Once again, Drake’s heart skipped a beat. This sounded serious! “What do you mean?”
    “My campaign posters. They’re ruined. Every one of them. Today after school, someone wrote all over them with a black marker.”
    “Great Scott!” gasped Drake. “That’s terrible!” All last week and all day today, Drake had admired Alexandra’s posters. VOTE FOR ME! the posters proclaimed. VOTE FOR ALEXANDRA LANDSRIGHT! THE MOST GLAMOROUS, FABULOUS GIRL IN THE WORLD! In the center of each poster was a dazzling photo of Alexandra. They were, in Drake’s scientific opinion, terrific posters.
    Alexandra was saying, “Now my photos have mustaches and black teeth. Who would vote for a girl with a mustache? I repeat: WHO? Oh, dear me! I mustn’t cry or I’ll smear my mascara!”
    Drake’s mind raced. “Isn’t James Frisco running against you?”
    “Why—why, yes he is. I hadn’t thought of that. Oh Drake, you simply must get to the bottom of this. I repeat: MUST. I’ll pay anything. I’m desperate to win!”
    “Never fear. Doyle and Fossey will catch the nasty culprit, whoever it is. You have my word.” Late as it was, Drake immediately phoned Nell. “Doyle and Fossey,” she said after the first ring.
    “An evil plot is hatching,” said Drake, and he filled her in on the details. “We must investigate tomorrow at school.”
    “No doubt Frisco’s behind it all,” replied Nell. “Agreed. This is our chance to catch our archrival at his dirty tricks,” answered Drake.
    “Check.”
    Click.
    The next morning, Drake, Nell, and Alexandra examined the posters. Sure enough, the beauty princess was now missing a few teeth and had a mustache. Sometimes she even had a black eye or a beard. Definitely not presidential material.
    “Terrible,” murmured Drake.
    “Horrible,” murmured Nell.
    “ Who would do such a thing?” cried Alexandra. “I repeat: WHO? And to me ? I repeat: ME! Beauty Princess Extraordinaire!”
    “Hmm,” said Drake, thinking hard. “Ms. Landsright, I have come to the conclusion that you must make more posters. Immediately, if not sooner. I want them hanging by the time the bell rings this afternoon.”
    “More posters?” asked Alexandra, frowning. “But why? They’re an awful lot of work, you know.”
    Drake shoved his glasses up with his finger. “So we can set up surveillance and catch the culprit in the act, that’s why. After all, we’re Doyle and Fossey: Science Detectives. ”
    “Emphasis on the detectives ,” added Nell.
    Alexandra tossed back her golden hair and sighed. “Oh. Very well, then. I’ll get my campaign manager to do it. Couldn’t possibly do it myself. Might break a nail.”
    “Quite right,” agreed Drake.
    “Who’s your campaign manager?” asked Nell.
    “Why, Haley Glibb, of course. The most fantastic campaign manager a beauty princess could have. I repeat: fantastic. ”
    Haley was also in their class. Just as Drake and Nell were the science sort, Haley was the politics sort. Not only did Haley wear red, white, and blue every day, she also waved flags while shouting “Hurrah!” and other such political stuff. Drake jotted a note to himself. Haley Glibb—campaign manager.
    Just then, Haley herself came up and shook their hands. “I must say, I’m stunned,” she said. “Absolutely stunned that anyone would dare disgrace an election like this. The dignity and honor of the entire political system is at stake. Tell me, what have you come up with so far?”
    “Nothing yet,” said Drake. “However, Ms. Glibb, I am curious about something …”
    “Yes?” asked Haley.
    “Who’s Frisco’s campaign