A Thief at the National Zoo Read Online Free Page A

accounts there are totally private. That means we can’t learn who opened the account, and we can’t get at the money.”
    KC handed the note back to Dr. Tutu. “Where did you get that?” she asked him.
    Dr. Tutu put the ransom note back into his briefcase and set the case on the floor behind the table.
    “I found it slipped under the door of my office this morning,” he said. “I got there at eight o’clock. The thief left the note either very late last night or before eight this morning.”
    Dr. Tutu stared at the fish swimming around in the tank.
    “The lights were only out for about a minute,” KC said. “Marshall and I think the thief had to be standing pretty near the table.”
    “I was closer to the table than anyone,” Dr. Tutu said. “Do you suspect me?”
    KC felt herself blushing. She nodded. “We didn’t know what to think,” she admitted. “Now I don’t think it was you!”
    “Thank you,” Dr. Tutu said. He smiled for the first time since he came in.
    “Dirk was standing near the table, too,” Marshall said. “Or maybe one of the waiters was close enough, so when the lights went out, he could grab the thing.”
    “But Dirk had his hands full of the tiger cubs, and the waiters were carrying trays of food and drinks,” Dr. Tutu said. “I’m afraid the police think I am the most likely choice, because I had nothing in my hands.”
    “Are they going to arrest you?” KC asked.
    “I don’t know,” Dr. Tutu said. “They questioned me last night and took my fingerprints.”
    “Why’d they take your fingerprints?” Marshall asked.
    “To compare them with prints they found on the box,” he said.
    “But you didn’t touch the box,” KC said. “Only Mr. Chu did.”
    “I did, too, I’m afraid.” Dr. Tutu shook his head. “When the room suddenly went dark, I reached out and placed my hand on the box,” he said. “I wanted to make sure it was still there. Then I went and stood in front of the door.”
    KC felt confused. If Dr. Tutu admitted he had touched the box when the lights were out, maybe it had been his hand she had felt—and not the thief’s hand. Or maybe he was lying about why he touched the box. Could Dr. Tutu be the thief after all?
    “Did the police search this room last night?” KC asked.
    Dr. Tutu nodded. “We were all here till two o’clock in the morning.”
    KC was getting a headache. “So if the guests and the room were searched, then the thief must have hidden the emerald somewhere else, outside this room,” she said.
    “But Dr. Tutu said no one got past him at the door,” Marshall reminded KC.
    “You see the problem,” Dr. Tutu said sadly. “Mr. Chu’s treasure has simply disappeared. It’s not in this room, and no one could have taken it out of the room.”

6
The First Arrest
    The door behind Dr. Tutu opened. Two police officers came into the room. “Dr. Phillip Tutu, please come with us to the police station,” one of the officers said.
    “I gave my statement last night,” Dr. Tutu said. “I allowed my fingerprints to be taken. How else can I help you?”
    The other officer stepped forward. “Your fingerprints were found on the box,” he said. “Last night, you didn’t mention touching it.”
    Dr. Tutu took a step backward. “I can explain that!” he said.
    “I’m sure you’ll be given a chance to dojust that,” the taller officer said. “Now please come with us.”
    The officers escorted Dr. Tutu from the room. When one of them opened the door, KC saw Mr. Chu standing in the hallway.
    “Thank you, officers,” KC heard Mr. Chu say. Then he followed the officers down the hallway.
    “I can’t believe this!” Marshall cried. “Sunwoo’s father thinks Dr. Tutu stole the emerald!”
    “I have to call the president and tell him,” KC said. “Come on, there’s a phone in the gift shop across the path.”
    The kids left the tiger building and dashed over to the gift shop. KC was given permission to use the phone, and she