But while you're dealing with Kate this is what happens with Miranda (as she tells it to you when you all meet back up):

"I'm glad you came Miss Sanchez." Mr. Pettis greets Miranda as she enters the classroom. "You're just in time to see me conduct an experiment." He holds up two beakers of different colored liquids.

"Separately, these two chemicals are inert. However, if one were to mix them together there should be a, shall we say, 'turbulent' reaction." His face is a picture of scientific glee.

Miranda however isn't nearly as interested. "And you're doing this because…?"

"Because I'm not sure if these are the chemicals I need. See, I sort of mixed up the labels, and I can't tell which is which without some trial and error. If this has the desired result, then I'll know what I have. If it doesn't, I'll have to keep trying…"

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Only moderately…"

"Yeah… Um, can you hold off on that for a minute? I have a question I need to ask you, it's kind of important."

"Oh, sure." Mr. Pettis puts the beakers down, much to Miranda's relief. "Always ready to help a student in their quest for knowledge."

"Uh, huh. Anyway, when we were looking over the crime scene we noticed a broken test tube with a little bit of something left in it. Can you remember what that something was?"

"A test tube… In the backroom you say?"

"That's right. It was in a rack with others, if that's any help."

"Let's see." He leads them to the backroom.

Miranda immediately spots the rack, minus one test tube.

"That's the rack." She points out.

Mr. Pettis screws up his face in concentration.

"What did I have in those…"

Miranda holds her breath as Mr. Pettis seeks to dredge up the information. Finally he snaps his fingers, having remembered.

"That's right." He says aloud. "I remember now!"

Miranda's face brightens.

"Water."

Miranda's face falls.

"I'd just finished washing them out when I put them back here to dry."

So much for that lead. Thanking Mr. Pettis, Miranda goes in search of your party to report.

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"So, how're you going to handle Kate?" Gordo asks of Lizzie as you all seek out the next suspect.

"I'm not really sure. I mean, however we approach it, it won't pretty. I'd prefer if we could get her alone…"

"Good luck." Gordo snorts.

"I know, but still, a girl can hope can't she?"

Unfortunately, it looks like that's all she can do. Because you see the quarry come into view. And she's not alone. There's at least 4 or 5 other kids with her.

The moment she catches sight of you her face takes on a sneer. Sauntering her way over, she starts in on Lizzie.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Lose-y and her little friends. The playground is that way." Kate high fives one of her posse as they all titter at her oh so witty remark.

Lizzie was right. This isn't pleasant!

"It's good to see you too Kate. We have some questions for you."

"That doesn't mean I have answers McGuire."

"Okay, this is serious Kate!" Lizzie says, newfound steel in her voice. "Someone wreaked Tudgeman's project, and that's not cool, so we're trying to figure out who did it."

"Why should I care?" 'Miss Popular' asks condescendingly.

"Because," Lizzie goes on, hotly, "someone has to take the fall, and if you don't help us it could end up being you."

The posse looks on aghast as Kate's eyes narrow.

"You wouldn't dare." She says slowly.

"I would." Gordo puts in cheerfully. "Or for that matter Miranda. She's have zero problems pinning it on you."

Tensely, Kate stares at a now smirking Lizzie.

"Fine." She says, capitulating. "What'd you want to know?"

"For starters, where were you when the crime happened?"

"Duh, I was in class." The Queen of Mean bites back.

"Doing what Kate?" Lizzie asks, exasperation in her voice.

"Talking to Jennifer about what I'm going to wear at the upcoming dance, what else?

Lizzie looks questionably at Jennifer, a member of the posse. She nods.

Not much of an alibi, you think to yourself. One would expect members of her own clique to back her up.

"Besides," Kate goes on. "It's not like my science grades need help. What's my motive?" She smiles at Lizzie.

"That's very interesting Kate…" Your friend says, contemplatively. "I didn't mention anything about grades being a motive. You jumped to that conclusion all on your own."

Her eyes widening, Kate stammers that it wasn't hard to figure out. Unsettled, she turns abruptly and leaves, her posse in tow.

"Well, we're certainly making some headway today…" Gordo remarks, disheartened.

"Maybe we'll have more luck with Carol." Lizzie adds hopefully.

You hope so too. After all, three suspects is two too many.

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But before you being your interrogation of Carol, Miranda checks back with what she found out. The results are not encouraging.

"That test tube was just filled with water?" Lizzie asks unbelieving. "Great."

"Sorry." Miranda apologizes.

"What, you were expecting maybe some kind of glow in the dark chemical or something?" Gordo asks.

Lizzie's candid. "Well, yeah. It's happened for Nancy Drew."

"Unfortunately, this isn't a Nancy Drew book. There's no way to track the perp."

"'Perp'?" Miranda queries, an eyebrow arched.

"It means perpetrator, as in the person that committed the crime. The criminal."

"Why don't you just say that?"

"I did."

Lizzie gets them back on track.

"So there's no way we can use that broken test tube to our advantage? I wonder…"

"I know that look." Gordo says, pleased. "It means you've come up with a plan. Let's hear it McG."

Quickly, Lizzie fills you in on the plan. It's risky, that's for sure. But if it works…

"So, when do we do it?" Miranda wants to know.

"After we interview Carol." Lizzie says. "Come on."

In force, the four of you head off to question Carol.