Chapter 3

Regulus's parents, Jason Whyte, Lucky, Risa, Evie, and Matt were all sitting around a table at the police station talking to Regulus while they waited for his lawyer to get there. Jason had called in a favor the Willow Creek police commissioner owed him to be allowed this conversation.

"Regulus," said Jason, "You have one chance to talk to us before your lawyer gets here and they take you into the interrogation room, so, you need to tell us the truth now. Where did you get that go-kart?"

"When we were coming into town a few days ago, I noticed someone in the subdivision just down the road from our camp had it for sale, some guy named Jim Powell. So, I went down there the first chance I got to ask him what his price was for it and he sold it to me for $400."

Regulus's father Vincent face palmed.

"Son, tell me you got a receipt or a bill of sale or something!" he said

Regulus shook his head.

"No." he answered

"Regulus," groaned his father, "You always get, at least, a receipt in a deal like that!"

"Why is that so important?" asked Regulus still not understanding.

"Because, Regulus," said Lucky a twinge of frustration in her voice, "A receipt or a bill of sale would have proved that you bought that go-kart instead of stealing it."

"Yeah," said Jason, "If you had that paperwork, "There's a good chance you would already be walking out the door."

"Oh," said Regulus, "I guess it is important."

"You think." Said Lucky

Just then Regulus's lawyer arrived. It was an over-worked and under-paid public defender. The police took Regulus, his parents, and the lawyer, headed into one of the interrogation rooms and closed the door.

Three hours later Regulus finally arrived back at the camp. The Twins, Lucky, and Matt were filing through the open door of the Atwood Trailer when Regulus arrived.

"Regulus," said Lucky, "I'm glad your back. Are you out on bail or something?"

"No, they let me go." Replied Regulus, "The lab guys couldn't find the go-kart!"

"What?" said Risa

"Yeah," said Regulus, "So, they let me go because without the go-kart they didn't have enough to hold me on."

"Did you hide the go-kart somewhere?" asked Lucky

Regulus shook his head.

"I left it just outside the side entrance of the big top closest to my family trailer." He replied

"And the cops took you downtown right then and there, so you didn't have a chance to move it." Said Lucky thinking out loud, "Somebody else must have moved it!"

"But who," said Evie

"And why?" finished Matt

"What kind of go-kart was taken?" asked Regulus, "they must look alike if Norville is so convinced that it was stolen one that he says he saw me driving."

"Dad said it was a Street-Rod 2500xl," replied Lucky

"Okay, that would explain it," said Regulus, "My go-kart is a Street-Raider 400zx. It's another go-kart maker's cheaper knock off of the Street-Rod model, but they look nearly identical from a distance."

"Yeah, that would definitely explain the mix-up," said Risa

"But it doesn't tell us who took the go-kart." Said Evie

"But it might tell us the why," Said Lucky, "As well as pointing us toward a likely suspect."

"What do you mean?" Asked Matt

"Here is my theory," said Lucky, "What if, the go-kart was taken and hidden by a certain person who wanted the clan to get into trouble with the police and he thought he had that with the theft of the go-kart. But when he took a closer look at the kart, he realized it wasn't the stolen one. Now this person would rather kiss a dusty floor than admit he was wrong about the Romani."

"So, he stole the go-kart before the police could look at it and find out he was wrong," nodded Matt.

"Or Regulus realized he could use it to prove his innocence." Finished Evie

"That theory points to one and only one suspect!" said Risa

"Norville!" they all said in unison

"We definitely need to talk to him," said Lucky

"That might be a problem," said Matt, "He's not likely to lift a finger to help us and neither is his father."

To Be Continued…Please review