A Thief at the National Zoo Read Online Free Page B
Author: Ron Roy
dialed the president’s private number.
“Busy,” she said as she hung up. She tried again, but all she heard were more annoying busy sounds.
“He must be talking to China again,” KC said.
“Or the bank in Grand Cayman,” Marshall added.
KC tried the number a third time, got another busy signal, and gave up. She walked over to the gift-shop clerk, who was rearranging a row of stuffed panda bears on a shelf.
“Excuse me,” KC said. “My friend and I are helping the president find something. I’m his stepdaughter, and I was—”
“I know who you are, dear,” the woman said. “And all of us are just sick about what happened last night! How can I help you?”
“Can you tell us where the main electric power board is?” KC asked.
“Why, I believe it’s in the security room,” the clerk said. “It’s that building over there.”
KC thanked the woman. She nudged Marshall toward the door.
“Why are we going there?” Marshall asked.
“Dr. Tutu told us the lights were shut off from the main power board,” KC said. “So maybe we can find out who was in the security room at seven-fifteen last night.”
They came to a door with the words ROOM 15—SECURITY—KEEP OUT stenciled onto it.
KC knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” a muffled voice asked.
“Um, it’s KC and Marshall,” KC said.
The door swung open. A woman was standing there dressed in coveralls over a T-shirt. A wide leather belt was cinched around her waist. Tools, a cell phone, and a walkie-talkie hung from the belt. A chain around her neck held a plastic ID card. KC could see the woman’s picture and her name, Connie, on the card.
“Who are you?” the woman asked KC and Marshall. She leaned against the door frame. A thin silver bracelet gleamed on her tanned arm.
“I’m KC Corcoran,” KC said. “The president’s stepdaughter.”
Connie nodded. “Right. I know Dirk lets you play with the new cubs,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“Did you hear about the theft lastnight?” KC asked. “When the lights went off?”
“Everyone on staff knows about it,” Connie said. “Have they caught the guys who stole that emerald thing?”
“No, and we’re trying to help find it,” KC went on. “Dr. Tutu told us he thinks the lights might have been turned off from in there.” She pointed into the room behind the woman.
Connie was shaking her head before KC finished. “Never happened,” she said. “I was home last night, and my keys were with me. This room was locked up from six o’clock on, and only one other person on staff has a key.”
“Who’s that?” Marshall asked.
“Dr. Tutu,” Connie said.
KC and Marshall stared at her.
“He just got arrested,” KC said. “But we don’t think he did it, so we’re trying to help!”
“Dr. Tutu was arrested?” the woman said. “When?”
“Just five minutes ago,” Marshall said. “Two police came. They said they found his fingerprints on the emerald box.”
“I’m shocked,” the woman said, shaking her head. “Well, good luck, kids.” As she started to close the door, she added, “Say hi to the president for me.”
KC and Marshall headed down the hallway. “We’re missing something,” KC said.
“What do you mean?” Marshall asked.
“Well, there’s something weird about those lights going off,” KC said. “Did someone in the room shut them off, or didsomeone sneak into that security room and do it? Or maybe it really was just a power outage.”
“I’m beginning to think Dr. Tutu
is
guilty,” Marshall said. “He could have given his key to his partner.”
“Maybe,” KC said. “And who did I touch when the lights went out? Was it Dr. Tutu or the crook reaching toward the box? Or is Dr. Tutu the crook?”
“But the biggest mystery is, where is the emerald now?” Marshall added. “Dr. Tutu said no one got past him at the door.”
KC stopped in her tracks. “Wait a minute!” she said. “I just remembered! When Dirk
“Busy,” she said as she hung up. She tried again, but all she heard were more annoying busy sounds.
“He must be talking to China again,” KC said.
“Or the bank in Grand Cayman,” Marshall added.
KC tried the number a third time, got another busy signal, and gave up. She walked over to the gift-shop clerk, who was rearranging a row of stuffed panda bears on a shelf.
“Excuse me,” KC said. “My friend and I are helping the president find something. I’m his stepdaughter, and I was—”
“I know who you are, dear,” the woman said. “And all of us are just sick about what happened last night! How can I help you?”
“Can you tell us where the main electric power board is?” KC asked.
“Why, I believe it’s in the security room,” the clerk said. “It’s that building over there.”
KC thanked the woman. She nudged Marshall toward the door.
“Why are we going there?” Marshall asked.
“Dr. Tutu told us the lights were shut off from the main power board,” KC said. “So maybe we can find out who was in the security room at seven-fifteen last night.”
They came to a door with the words ROOM 15—SECURITY—KEEP OUT stenciled onto it.
KC knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” a muffled voice asked.
“Um, it’s KC and Marshall,” KC said.
The door swung open. A woman was standing there dressed in coveralls over a T-shirt. A wide leather belt was cinched around her waist. Tools, a cell phone, and a walkie-talkie hung from the belt. A chain around her neck held a plastic ID card. KC could see the woman’s picture and her name, Connie, on the card.
“Who are you?” the woman asked KC and Marshall. She leaned against the door frame. A thin silver bracelet gleamed on her tanned arm.
“I’m KC Corcoran,” KC said. “The president’s stepdaughter.”
Connie nodded. “Right. I know Dirk lets you play with the new cubs,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“Did you hear about the theft lastnight?” KC asked. “When the lights went off?”
“Everyone on staff knows about it,” Connie said. “Have they caught the guys who stole that emerald thing?”
“No, and we’re trying to help find it,” KC went on. “Dr. Tutu told us he thinks the lights might have been turned off from in there.” She pointed into the room behind the woman.
Connie was shaking her head before KC finished. “Never happened,” she said. “I was home last night, and my keys were with me. This room was locked up from six o’clock on, and only one other person on staff has a key.”
“Who’s that?” Marshall asked.
“Dr. Tutu,” Connie said.
KC and Marshall stared at her.
“He just got arrested,” KC said. “But we don’t think he did it, so we’re trying to help!”
“Dr. Tutu was arrested?” the woman said. “When?”
“Just five minutes ago,” Marshall said. “Two police came. They said they found his fingerprints on the emerald box.”
“I’m shocked,” the woman said, shaking her head. “Well, good luck, kids.” As she started to close the door, she added, “Say hi to the president for me.”
KC and Marshall headed down the hallway. “We’re missing something,” KC said.
“What do you mean?” Marshall asked.
“Well, there’s something weird about those lights going off,” KC said. “Did someone in the room shut them off, or didsomeone sneak into that security room and do it? Or maybe it really was just a power outage.”
“I’m beginning to think Dr. Tutu
is
guilty,” Marshall said. “He could have given his key to his partner.”
“Maybe,” KC said. “And who did I touch when the lights went out? Was it Dr. Tutu or the crook reaching toward the box? Or is Dr. Tutu the crook?”
“But the biggest mystery is, where is the emerald now?” Marshall added. “Dr. Tutu said no one got past him at the door.”
KC stopped in her tracks. “Wait a minute!” she said. “I just remembered! When Dirk