Free Judy Moody, Girl Detective by Megan McDonald Page B

forever.”
    “C’mon, Stinker. If I get locked in an attic or a closet or the trunk of a car, I’ve gotta have some money to bribe the bad guys to let me out.”
    “Just pick the lock with your bobby pin thingie,” said Stink. Judy shot him a sourball stare.
    “Fine!” Stink sorted through his coins. “Here. You can have my American Samoa quarter. Because I don’t know where that is.”
    “One lousy quarter? That’s not going to get me un-kidnapped.”
    “Okay! My Martin Van Buren president dollar. But only because he’s not James Madison. And because I don’t know who he is.”
    “Gee, thanks, Stinkerbell.”
    “Is it time to go find the mystery now?” asked Stink.
    “Almost,” said Judy. “I’m hungry. I need a snack. Rule Number One of being a good detective is never solve a mystery on an empty stomach.”
    “I thought Rule Number One was the bobby pin thing.”
    “Do you have to listen to everything I say? Stink, turn around so you can’t see where I hid my candy.” Stink had found the candy hidden in her sock drawer. Stink had found the candy hidden in her doctor kit. Stink had found the candy hidden in her five hundred–piece puzzle of the Tower of London. But no way would he find the candy hidden in her double-secret, triple-tricky hiding place.
    Stink turned around. He covered his eyes.
    “Cover your ears, too,” said Judy.
    “I only have two hands.”
    “Try not to listen, then.” Judy took out her Build-a-Moose that she had made at the mall with Grandma Lou last Christmas. Judy had filled his tummy with a bag of gummy candy instead of stuffing. She reached inside and pulled out . . . an old striped sock?
    “Stink!” said Judy. “You’ll never believe what I found.”

    Stink turned back around and looked. “A sock?” He tried to sound fake-surprised.
    “Not just a sock,” said Judy. “A sock
and
a mystery. Right here in our own backyard.”
    Stink did not say a word. Stink stared at the floor.
    “A real-life, honest-to-jeepers, Nancy-Drew-who-doesn’t-have-any-brothers mystery.” Judy waved the sock in the air.
    “The Mystery of the Missing Sock?” Stink asked.
    “More like the Case of the Stolen Candy,” said Judy. “I hid a bag of gummy candy in my moose’s tummy. But now the candy’s not there. Presto-change-o gonzo, just like that.”
    Stink scratched his head. He snapped his fingers. “I bet Mouse got into your moose and ate your mice!”
    “Interesting,” said Judy. “How did you know they were gummy
mice,
Stink? I said gummy
candy.
I never said gummy
mice.
”
    “
Moose. Mouse. Mice.
My tongue got twisted. And I know how much you like those gummy mice. More than gummy scabs and gummy frog legs.”
    “Stink, take off your shoes.”
    “Huh? Why? But —”
    “Just do it.”
    Stink took off his sneakers.
    “Aha! Just as I thought! You have two different socks on. And one of the socks you’re wearing matches this sock.” She held up the striped sock. “The Case of the One-Striped-Sock-Wearing Candy Stealer is solved. Stink Moody, what do you have to say for yourself?”
    “I sure could use that lipstick now,” said Stink.
    “What for?”
    “For writing
SOS.
You said that when a person is in trouble, he can use the lipstick for writing
SOS.
”

The next morning, Judy went to Virginia Dare School, third grade, Class 3T, like always. She sat in the second row, like always. Mr. Todd started telling Class 3T about the day ahead, like always. Except something was different.
    Mr. Todd held a paper at arm’s length and squinted at it. “We have a special guest coming to school this afternoon,” he told them.
    Rocky raised his hand. “Mr. Todd,” he said, “something about you is different today.” Judy turned to look at Rocky and tapped her head as if to say,
ESP. You read my mind!
    “Are you growing a beard?” Rocky asked.
    “I’m afraid not,” said Mr. Todd, scratching his chin.
    “You got taller?” said Jordan.
    “I don’t think so,”