The Cinderella Ballet Mystery Read Online Free PDF

determined look on her face. “I am absolutely, definitely not the slipper thief,” she said firmly. “All I did was … well, I kind of borrowed the slippers for, like, one or two seconds on Tuesday.”
    â€œWhat does that mean, ‘borrowed’?” Bess asked her.
    â€œI wanted to take a photo of the slippers for my website because they were so awesome looking and special,” Deirdre explained. “But Mr. McGuire said I couldn’t take photos in his studiobecause it bothered the other dancers or whatever. So I borrowed the slippers during a break. I took them outside, took the photo, and then brought them right back in. It was Madison’s idea,” she added.
    â€œWe didn’t steal the slippers,” Madison insisted.
    â€œI thought Mr. McGuire said that you couldn’t even bring your camera to rehearsals any longer,” George said to Deirdre.
    â€œHe doesn’t understand,” Deirdre complained. “A reporter can’t be without her camera!”
    Nancy was thoughtful. “You took the photo on Tuesday,” she said after a moment. “But you didn’t post your story until Wednesday, after the slippers were missing. “
    Deirdre nodded. “The whole thing was kind of a coincidence. I took the photo on Tuesday and posted it on my website Tuesday night. Ask anybody! Then on Wednesday, we all found out at rehearsal that the slippers had been stolen. When I got home that night, I wrote my excellent piece called, ‘Who Stole Cinderella’s Shoes?’I posted it right away, next to the photo. I was really glad that I just happened to have the photo to go with the story.”
    Nancy considered this. Deirdre sounded like she was telling the truth. Or was she?
    The bell rang, signaling the end of recess. “Gotta go,” Deirdre said, waving at Nancy and the girls. “Good luck with your Crew Clue or whatever.”
    â€œClue Crew!” George corrected her.
    Deirdre ignored George. She turned and hurried through a crowd of kids toward the door. Madison followed close behind.
    â€œDo we believe her?” Bess asked Nancy and George.
    â€œI don’t know,” George replied, frowning in Deirdre’s direction.
    Nancy stuffed the printout of Deirdre’s photo back into her pocket. “I don’t know either,” she said worriedly. “But I do know this: Tomorrow is opening night. We’re running out of time!”

CHAPTER EIGHT
The French Clue
    â€œIt’s the dress rehearsal, and I don’t have any shoes to wear!” Andrea said, her eyes welling with tears.
    It was Friday night. Mr. McGuire’s studio was filled with the cast of the “Cinderella” ballet. Parents and other volunteers were busy helping the children on with their costumes or stage makeup.
    â€œYou can wear your pink ballet slippers for tonight,” Mr. McGuire told Andrea. His cell phone began ringing. “Excuse me,” he said, walking away to take the call.
    Nancy was standing nearby, her mouse costume slung over her arm. She walked over toAndrea. “It’s going to be okay,” she told Andrea. “The Clue Crew is going to keep looking for your Cinderella slippers until we find them!”
    â€œI don’t know,” Andrea said doubtfully.
    Nancy patted her dance bag. “We have those three clues I e-mailed you about: the rhinestone, the barrette, and the piece of paper with a French word on it. They’re in my bag. We have some suspects, too. Don’t worry, we’ll find your slippers by tomorrow night.”
    â€œOkay,” Andrea said. But she didn’t look very sure.
    One of the parents called Andrea over so she could style her hair. Andrea waved to Nancy and rushed off.
    Nancy glanced around the room. Bess was getting sparkly eye shadow put on her eyelids by one of the volunteers. She looked so pretty in her fairy godmother costume, which was a glittery gold dress