Toad hopped across the room to listen in on what the other person was telling Arm over the phone. Arm put the speaker on.
"Hi."said the other voice. "Well, I don't have a sneaky husband, that's for sure. If I did, just let me tell you he wouldn't live to tell the tale! I'm still single, thank goodness. I really need your help in solving this mystery here. See, the problem is, that, well, yesterday, my dad left his wallet on the table over there while he went to do something else, and then when we came back it was gone! But there was no evidence of a break in, or anything. Just he wallet was gone. And everybody says it wasn't them. And, hey, it couldn't have been anybody here, could it? No one was home? And no one broke in. And there was nothing else missing. Just he wallet."
"Hmmm."said Lance. "It does sound odd."
"I'm kind of worried, cause if they broke in, what if next time they want to take Sheeba?"
"What's a sheeba?"
"It's my stuffed tiger."
"What would anyone want with a stuffed tiger."
"To ask for money to return it, of course. Or the fish? Or my kitty? Or the dog?"
"What's the address?"asked Eye.
She gave it to them.
"You know, it's the house that's got the kitty with the potted plant next to it."
"Uh, yeah."said Blob.
"We'll be right there."
"You're here!"she exclaimed.
"Right. At your service."
"Good."
"See, this is where the wallet was. Right here."she pointed at the dining room table."
Toad went to sniff.
"Don't smell nothing strange, yo."
"Maybe if we take a look outside."said Arm.
She tied the dog up so they could search the yard for evidence.
"Really doesn't seem like anyone broke in at all."said Eye, looking at every single detail.
"No."
"Tell us everything you remember about that day."said Arm, as they sat, drinking raspberry iced tea around the kitchen table.
"Well, let's see. My dad had gone to the bank that day."she said. "At least that's what I heard, or so."
"Does he usually go to the bank the same day every week?"
She frowned.
"No, I don't think so. He isn't that type of person. He procrastinates a lot and just does things whenever."she shrugged.
"So, he isn't like, a person of habit, that you can predict when and where he'll be or anything, then."
"Oh, no, definitely no. We did go somewhere that day, though. Everyone went for Chinese, cause it was my brother's birthday. Then we went to buy him his fishtank. That was his gift. An aquarium. And we came back, and..."she shrugged. "the wallet was gone. That was it."
"It does sound suspicious."
"Oh, yeah. My brother forgot to put the dog out that day. Before we left. When we came back, he was still inside."
"So someone could definitely not have broken in. If the dog was inside."
"Yeah, this dog gets real mad if he sees someone he doesn't know."
"Too true."said Toad, remembering how the dog had almost lunged at him when it had seen him. "Good thing he was tied up."he muttered.
"This is getting weirder and weirder."
"Can the dog have been...bribed?"asked Lance. "You know, with a treat or something?"
"Um...I don't think so. This dog doesn't usually fall for that. At least not from strangers. He hates strangers."
They looked around the table.
"Hmmm. A small piece torn off a dollar bill."said Eye.
"Why would anyone rip money apart?"asked Pietro.
"It's got holes in it. And it's not neatly torn."commented Eye.
Meanwhile, Ear, Toad and Blob were inspecting the yard. Toad kept close to Blob, as the dog kept barking at them.
"I hate loud dogs."said Ear, folding his ears under his earmuffs.
"I hate all dogs."said Toad, clutching Blob's shoulder.
"The dirt here seems like it's softer."said Blob, while they were inspecting the back of the toolshed.
"It's been dug in recently."
"Excellent."said Toad, and he began to dig. "Never know what kind of buried treasure is in here.
"Dog food!"exclaimed Ear.
"Aw."said Toad.
Just as they were turning away, "AAAAHHHH! Money!"
"What?"
"Whoa. Whoever buried this here must be rich! $800!"
Ear took that money out of his hand.
"Buried with dog food!"
They ran back to the house, where Pietro, Lance, Eye and Arm were looking for more clues.
"I think we've got it!"exclaimed Ear. "Buried right behind the toolshed, with dog food!"
"What!"
"Just that."
"But...the dog couldn't have buried the money, and anyway, it was $10000. Where's the rest of it? And the wallet?"
"It looks chewed up."
"I'm guessing the dog ate the rest of the money."said Eye.
"What? But...? Well, my brother says he sometimes buries his food, and he'll see him dig little holes and eat food from there when there isn't any in his dish in between meals!"
"Maybe he thought the money was food, yo."
"My cousin likes to put money in his mouth."she said thoughtfully.
"Maybe he learned it from him."suggested Toad.
"What are we going to do about the rest of the money?"
"Have the dog throw it up?"Blob suggested.
She sighed.
"This was almost a week ago."
"Guess that's why you should always remmeber to put the dog outside, and not let your pets have access to money."Pietro said.
"I guess so. Well, thanks, guys. I would never have thought to look behind the shed. Really. Well, how much do I owe you?"
She paid them and they drove off.
"Weird."said Pietro on the way back.
"Well, next time she'll remember to look behind the shed if she didn't put the dog out."
When they got back, the phone rang immediately, and everyone ran to answer it. Arm got there first, as always.
BTW, the story about the dog eating the money was true. Sort of. I did know someone who left their wallet in their pants and when they looked for it their money was in the back yard, torn in shreds, and everything.lol