The Impossible Clue Read Online Free

next. But no one did.
    Mr Delgado stepped forward and pressed another button on his desk, fast-forwarding the video. Two lines of static striped across the screen, but the image didn’t change at all.
    â€˜Yesterday at 4 p.m., Dr Adrian Learner went into his office. He never came back out. We have security camera footage of Dr Learner entering his office, but no footage of him leaving. His office only has one door, and there are no windows.’
    The static lines stopped. I checked the timestamp at the bottom of the screen: 7 a.m.
    â€˜When his lab assistant went to find him this morning, Dr Learner was gone.’
    Mr Delgado let the tape play for a few more minutes and we all watched as a large man stepped into the frame and knocked on Dr Learner’s door. He knocked again, and then after a few minutes, walked back up the hallway. Mr Delgado motioned for the lights, stepped back behind his desk and pressed a button. The painting slid back down from the ceiling covering the frozen image of Dr Learner’s office door.
    As soon as the lights came up, the questions started again. Even louder than before. Mr Delgado did his best to answer the questions he could hear above the rest, but itwas like trying to outrun a train. It didn’t take long before Mr Delgado started to run out of steam.
    â€˜Are you sure no one tampered with the tape?’
    Mr Delgado was sure.
    â€˜Is this some sort of publicity stunt?’
    Sadly, no, this was very real and very serious.
    â€˜Do you think Dr Learner has taken his research to one of your competitors?’
    Mr Delgado’s face flushed red. ‘Absolutely not! Dr Learner is not only a valued member of Delgado Industries, he is also a close personal friend. I went to school with Adrian, and I know he would never leave of his own free will. If he or his research is found with another laboratory, I am positive they will have been taken by force.’ Mr Delgado’s voice broke slightly. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing. ‘That is why I am asking for your help. Delgado Industries is offering a ten-thousand dollar reward for any information that leads to Dr Learner’s safe return.’
    As if responding to some pre-planned cue, Mr Delgado’s assistant stepped forward and took the floor.
    â€˜That will be all for today,’ he said. His voice was cool and emotionless. ‘Mr Delgado has many urgent matters to attend to and will not be answering any further questions. There are press packs with background information and further details at the back of the room. Thank you for your time.’
    All the reporters in the room started talking at once, protesting loudly that they still had questions. My dad perched on the edge of his seat, waving his hand in the air. I could almost see him writing the headline MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF TOP SCIENTIST. It was a sensational story, like something from a movie.
    I was curious too, and not just about the scientist. Ever since Mr Delgado announced Dr Learner and his research had gone missing, Sammy had been fidgeting in his chair like it was made of ants. He’d been so excited for me to come to this press conference and see the ‘invisibility breakthrough’ he’d helped discover. I could understand him being disappointed or worried. But he wasn’t acting like that. He was acting guilty and I couldn’t figure out why.
    â€˜Mr Delgado, Mr Delgado,’ the reporters clamoured, but Mr Delgado didn’t say another word. He let his assistant lead him through the private door behind the desk and disappeared.
    â€˜Well, that was interesting,’ I said, standing up. All around me the other reporters were shuffling to the back of the room, collecting their press packs and making for the door, ears pressed to their phones as they called in the story. It was a race now to see which paper could get the story posted first. The four suited statues were nowhere to be