Chapter 7: The TraceTracker 100

There was a long pause as we both stared at the party hat still lying on the floor, suddenly Jonathan broke the silence, "Oh um, here's your newspaper" he passed me the paper and I looked at the front page.

"Hot Sauce Case Continues" I read the headline aloud.

"Yeah AA got the latest scope from the Pizza Parlour yesterday, go on please read the rest, I haven't had a chance to actually read the newspaper myself." Jonathan explained. So I read the rest of the paper out to him...

Hot Sauce Case Continues

Details continue to come out this week in the case of the missing hot sauce bottle. Knowing that the safety of the island is at stake, I went to the center of the action to assess the situation.

The crime scene at the Pizza Parlor is buzzing with agents trying to crack the case. "We're working overtime here to get the volatile substance out of the wrong hands," an agent at the scene commented.

"Many of our top agents have discovered some evidence I believe will lead directly to the suspect." Citizens are assured that Club Penguin's safety is a top priority for the Elite Penguin Force. "We've got the best of the best on this case. There's nothing they can't handle. Our directions are to have this case wrapped up by April 16." If citizens encounter anything suspicious, they are asked to report it to the nearest EPF agent.

News Flash: Unusual seismic activity reported on the island. Gary the Gadget Guy is currently investigating this phenomenon.

"Hmm, that's odd." I mumbled,

"What?"

"There was a small earthquake at the Pizza Parlor that almost sent Prinsessrock flying. I hope Gary finds out what's causing it." 'That must be the reason why Gary's taking so long to analyze the clues we found.' I thought to myself.

Suddenly I spotted a slip of hot sauce stained paper fall out of the newspaper, 'It could be a secret message from the Director' I thought as I instinctively grabbed the paper off the floor before Jonathan could spot it. I stuffed the note in my pocket, but just before doing so I made a mental note of what it said...

Great work agents.
We are getting to the bottom of this. There are many unknowns, but we are headed in the right direction.
-The Director

Jonathan looked at his watch and said, "I should go and finish my round before Aunt Arctic and the rest of the newspaper crew wonder where I am."

"You work for Aunt Arctic?" I asked slightly surprised.

"Well, yes she's the chief editor after all." He began to pick up the letters scattered over the floor.

"Oh yeah..." I replied rather sheepishly. I helped him pick up the scattered letters; so did some of my puffles, I found Pingu sitting grumpily underneath a pile of letters, "Oh poor Pingu." I smiled patting my puffle as I lifted the papers off him. Suddenly my spy phone vibrated in my hoodie's pocket,

"What was that?" Jonathan looked around for the source of the vibrating noise.

"Oh it's just my, um, cell-phone 4000, I'll be right back..." I opened the door and ran outside as my spy phone vibrated again.

Slamming the door I heard Jonathan mumble, "4000? I didn't know Gary was doing a '4000' series now." 'Oops!' I mentally kicked myself as I quickly hid behind a nearby tree.

Talking my spy phone out I stared at the device, Gary appeared on-screen as I answered the call.

"Greetings." Gary smiled, "The TraceTracker 100 is calibrated with your evidence."

I gave Gary a confused look, "The TraceTracker 100, what's that?"

"Let me explain, the TraceTracker 100 allows you to illuminate trace evidence on a surface by simply pointing the device at the given surface. I have calibrated the TraceTracker with the substances you found at the crime scene. The device is at HQ."

"I see so..."

Gary interrupted me, "Time is of the essence Agent Eva! Go to the Pizza Parlor, turn the device ON, and scan the area for traces of the thief's movements." I was about to reply when Gary shouted "Gadzooks-why are you still standing here?! Track down that thief!" and with that he hung up. I stood there slightly stunned at the firmness in Gary's voice, but he was right, time was of the essence, we had to act fast to catch this thief for the traces on the ground wouldn't last forever.

I ran back inside my igloo almost crashing into Jonathan who had picked up all his papers, he gasped as he almost lost his balance "Woah! What's the rush?"

"Um, I've got something important to do." I fumbled around under the couch for my EPF suitcase.

"Is everything alright?" he asked as I put PIXAR on his lead and grabbed my camera, which I'd got from the Hollywood Party earlier that year.

"Yes everything's fine I'm just erm..." the party hat on the floor caught my eye and I had an idea. "...Just going to the Dojo to ask Sensei about the nightmares and that party hat." What I said was half-true I would eventually go to the dojo, only Operation Hotsauce was more important at the moment.

"Oh ok..." Jonathan looked at his watch and gasped, "Oh dear I really must dash I've still got Newspapers to post! See you round Eva!" He ran out of the door and I sighed with relief. PIXAR looked at me, "What?" my puffle shook his head. I picked up my suitcase and pulled out my Spy Phone, "Next stop HQ" I pressed the teleport button and off we went.