Chapter 2
Searching for Evidence
"Thanks for holding down the fort for us," Alvin said to Officer Theodore as he got out of the car.
"What are little brothers for?" Theo replied, coming down the steps of the library in his crisp blue police uniform. "Please tell me you brought something to eat. I'm starved."
"Started early today?" Alvin said, tossing his stocky younger brother a bag of peanuts from his suit pocket.
"Nope, just got on duty a couple hours ago. But everyone knows you need a midmorning snack."
"Sure you do, little brother," Alvin answered.
Theodore was a great cop, and it was a surprise to both Alvin and Simon when he joined the force. Tough things happened in this job, and Theo was always the sensitive type. But he took to it, and people on the beat liked him a lot. A friendly police officer serving the community built morale in the city.
"What's the story?" Alvin asked.
"Lady was walking out of the library when a fella ran up and yanked her necklace from right off her neck."
"So much for a big case, huh?" Alvin asked Simon. "Captain rushes us out for a simple sidewalk snatcher?"
"I wouldn't give up hope just yet," Theo said with a knowing smile.
"What do you mean?" Simon asked.
"Just wait till you meet the victim."
Alvin and Simon exchanged a glance.
"Who is it?" Alvin asked, with some excitement creeping into his voice.
"You'll find out," Theo answered, bouncing on the balls of his feet, but Alvin noticed he kept looking over at Simon.
"Alright, alright, Theo, have your fun," Alvin said. "Have you cordoned off the area?"
"It's all yours. Hopefully you find some evidence."
"Which direction did the perp come from and where did he go?"
Theo pointed to the left. "He came from that way, hit the lady at the bottom of the stairs, then booked it that way." He pointed to the right.
"Thank you," Simon said. He and Alvin did a thorough search of the area, keeping their eyes peeled on the sidewalk.
"Don't forget to check the gutter," Simon said.
"Sure, sure…" Alvin replied, but he didn't, because something by the stairs leading up to the library caught his eye. There was glint, like sunlight on something shiny.
He stooped and, using a handkerchief to preserve fingerprints, picked up… a tie-clip? It was made of what looked like gold, with a dollar sign emblem in the center.
"I found something!" he said loudly. A few second later, Simon was glancing at it over his shoulder. "Solid gold?" Alvin asked.
"Nope," Simon replied. "Gold paint, but it is flashy."
"So our suspect might be someone who wants to give the appearance of wealth."
"Do you think the thief dropped it?"
"If there was a struggle, it could have flown off. I don't know tie-clips that just fall off for the heck of it."
"Well let's get that to the lab, see if they can pull any fingerprints off of it," Simon said. "Good work, partner."
They searched again, but didn't find anything other than a discarded newspaper in the gutter.
"Well, I think that's all we're going to find," Alvin said. "I suppose we should —"
"Oh no," Simon groaned.
"What's the matter?"
Simon pointed. Coming down the street — running like the wind, more like — was a short and stocky female chipmunk, clad in green. With one hand she held a hat to her head (a yellow Press tag sticking out of the brim), and in the other she held a note pad.
Eleanor Miller, of the Los Angeles Munk, the most well-read gossip newspaper in sunny California — an admittedly impressive feat given she was the sole reporter, printer, and editor.
"How did she know?" Alvin asked. "How on earth did she know something had happened?! She must have hidden in the trunk of our car."
"Unlikely given that —"
"Sarcasm, Simon."
Thankfully, Theo stepped forward to intercept her, but not before (Alvin noticed) he straightened his hat.
"E-excuse me, ma'am," he said, flustered — ("Flustered?" Alvin thought) — "I'm afraid I can't let you pass right now?"
"Hiya, Officer…" Eleanor said brightly.
"Theodore," Theo said with a shy grin.
"Officer Theodore. First name, you're friendly." Did she just blush? "I'm Eleanor Miller of the Los Angeles Monk. I was wondering if I could ask the detectives some questions."
"You know the answer to that," Alvin said gruffly, approaching. "We've got work to do, Miller."
"What's the story, Detective? Are you any closer to finding the thief?" Eleanor asked.
"The — the thief? How did you know there was a thievery?"
But Eleanor just smiled.
"Alright, Al, we should get in there," Simon intervened, always the pacifist.
Alvin leaned over to Theodore, "Distract her or something, will you? We've got work to do."
"Gladly," Theo said.
"Hey," Alvin replied, noticing the gleam that lit his brother's eye. "Keep your wits. She's trouble."
"Say hello to my sisters, boys," Eleanor said to them with a wave, as they entered the library.
"Sisters?" Alvin asked. "What did she mean by that?"
"Miller," Simon said, awestruck, his eyes staring wide and straight ahead. "Why have I never put it together?"
"Put what together?" Alvin asked, but the answer to his question sat dabbing crying eyes in a chair.
The Chip Lady. The Scientist. Jeanette. Jeanette Miller.
That's all for this week! Thank you all for being so patient as I've been working through technical difficulties. I'll try to be regular about updating this story! Also, just a disclaimer: I do NOT own and do NOT claim ANY rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks. ALL RIGHTS and OWNERSHIP belongs to the original owners and creators. I am NOT making any money off of this story.