When you finally meet back up with them this is how they related their progress:
"So, who first?" Gordo wants to know. Interviewing people takes time, and they really only have enough for one suspect before school starts.
"How 'about Ethan? I think he'll be the easiest."
"Yeah," Gordo agrees. "Let's get him out of the way first." While unsaid, it's understood that he'd be the one least likely to cop an attitude to being 'interrogated'.
"Now remember," Gordo says, walking alongside Lizzie. "We have to be subtle. We can't let 'em know that w suspect him. We'll just work the questions into the conversation."
"Oh, totally." Lizzie replies. But she can't help but hope that it doesn't turn out to be Ethan. He's too cute to go to jail!
They're in luck, Ethan's at his locker grabbing some gear. Gordo takes the lead.
"Hey Ethan."
"What's up Gor-don?"
"Not much. Just hanging." Pausing, Gordo tries to think of a way to broach the subject. "So, it's a shame about Tudgeman's science project, huh?"
Lizzie nudges him in the ribs, incredulous. So much for subtly!
"Yeah." The top jock says, not noticing the gesture. "That bites. Who'd want to go and trash the Tudge's project? That's not cool."
Lizzie decides it's time to take over the investigation.
"I know, it's totally unfair. I wonder if anybody saw who did it…"
Okay, so it isn't the subtlest maneuver. But neither was Gordo's!
"I don't know." Ethan says, the strain of applying his mind to the problem obvious. Then again, he always looks that way…
"I was busy thinking about the meet."
"The 'meet'?" Gordo repeats.
"Yeah," Ethan's warming up to the subject. "Friday's track meet, it's the regionals. Right now we're second overall, but a win could put us on top!" He grins with boyish enthusiasm.
Lizzie wonders, how could anyone with a face like that possibly be a project wreaker?
"So I guess this meet's a pretty big deal for you?" Gordo probes.
"You bet. Though," Ethan's face clouds over. "For a while there it looked like I might not get to go. Grades you know."
"So what happened?" Lizzie wants to know. Ethan's only too glad to answer.
"Well, I'm not doing so hot in science, and this project could've iced my grade in the class." But then his face brightens. "But since Tudge's project got smashed our reports aren't graded until Monday—after the meet!"
"Interesting." Gordo says, giving Lizzie a look.
"You guys'll be at the meet, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Lizzie enthuses.
Smiling, Ethan heads off for class.
"Nothing new there." Gordo says. "We already knew Ethan had a motive and opportunity. Not to mention means."
That was a bust, Lizzie thinks. Instead of letting him off the hook, all it had done was solidify his status as a suspect. Great. This case was going nowhere fast. What they need is some development. Some fresh angle. Anything.
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When you and Miranda finally meet up with Lizzie and Gordo, you launch right into what happened on your end. While Lizzie's pained to learn that a valuable piece of evidence has been stolen, she's also equally glad that one of the suspects can now be eliminated.
"If Ethan was here with us, then that means the couldn't possibly have taken the test tube." She tells Miranda, her face brightening in the process.
"That still leaves three left." Gordo points out.
"My money's still on Kate." Miranda puts in stubbornly.
If only you'd been able to catch the thief, you think to yourself. Well, at least you can console yourself with the fact that a suspect has been eliminated. One down, three to go.
Taking the recent events into account, Lizzie resets the plan of attack.
"Even though we don't have it, I still think we need to find out what was in that test tube. Miranda?" She wheedles without asking.
"Sure."
"The rest of us will interview the other suspects."
"Are you sure?" Gordo asks with trepidation. "After all, neither Angel or Kate are the most pleasant people to deal with…"
"That's why I'm taking you guys with me." She smiles. "Safety in numbers."
If nothing else, at least you're getting somewhere!
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"So, which one?" Gordo asks as you, he, and Lizzie walk across the quad. Lizzie sighs.
"Angel I guess."
Talk about picking your poison!
You find Angel hanging out with a couple of friends out by the dumpster. The look she levels your way when she sees you coming makes you glad you came in force. She looks like a rough costumer.
"If it isn't Frizzy McGuire and Gor-dork. What, got tired of the circus?" Angel's friends snicker.
"It's nice to see you too Angel…" Lizzie responds, dryly.
"Who's your new friend here?" Angel asks, gesturing at you.
Introductions are made.
"Too bad," she says, eyeballing you. "Looks like you've got potential. Instead you're hanging around these lame-o's."
How in the world are you going to get straight answers from someone with an attitude like this?
Gordo decides to take the bull by the horns.
"So, who'd you think ruined Tudgeman's project?"
"Don't know and don't care." Responds little Miss Attitude. "If you ask me, whoever it was should get a medal. That geek screws up the whole grading system. It's about time someone put 'em in his place."
"Since when did you start to care about grades?" Lizzie asks.
"I don't. But he had it coming all the same. Those brainiacs think they're so cool, when they're really just a bunch of double E's. Angel gives Gordo a pointed look, which he returns.
"I don't suppose you can tell us what you were doing at the time?" He asks.
"Don't have to." Angel shoots back. "And even if I did, nothing that'd tie me to the job. I was sitting quietly at my desk hanging on the teacher's every word." She filters her eyelashes in mock innocence, bringing forth peels of laughter from her cohorts.
"Now beat it. We've got important things to do."
"Oh yes, skulking around the dumpster thinking of ways to land yourself in jail. Very productive…" Gordo mocks, to their displeasure, as you all leave.
"That went well…" Lizzie surmises, as you make your way across campus.
"At least we know she doesn't have an alibi." Gordo consoles. Lizzie is far from satisfied.
"Let's got see Kate."