Free The Case of the Slippery Salamander by Donald J. Sobol Page A

him working,” Chief Brown added, “so it looks like he’s telling the truth.”
    “What about Mrs. King?” his wife prodded.
    Chief Brown frowned. “Actually, Sam Maineseems very suspicious of Mrs. King,” he confided. “And after talking with her I can see why. Mrs. King is fascinated with salamanders.”
    “Fascinated with
salamanders
?” Mrs. Brown echoed.
    The chief nodded again. “She told me she has dozens of them at home as pets, and that Fred is the first tiger salamander she’s ever seen.” He shook his head. “Mrs. King does seem odd—she thinks salamanders are sacred creatures with magical powers.”
    Encyclopedia spoke up. “In ancient times, people used salamanders for medicine. They also believed that salamanders could eat fire and live in flames.”
    “Maybe Fred wasn’t stolen for money,” Mrs. Brown said thoughtfully. “Maybe Mrs. King took Fred just because she thinks he’s a special specimen!”
    “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking,” Chief Brown admitted. “But there’s no proof that Mrs. King had the opportunity to steal Fred. She was with a group of schoolchildren from ten-thirty to eleven-fifteen. After that she went over to the cafeteria for a coffee break. One of the cashiers said he saw her there.”
    Chief Brown sighed with frustration. “I hate to admit it, but this case has me baffled!”
    Encyclopedia closed his eyes. His parents watched him hopefully. They knew that when Encyclopedia closed his eyes, it meant he was doing his deepest thinking.
    A moment later Encyclopedia was ready. He opened his eyes and asked his one question:
    “Has Sam Maine been working at the aquarium long, Dad?”
    “Actually, he was hired only two weeks ago,” Chief Brown answered. “But he has a lot of experience. Sam told me he’s been taking care of salamanders and other lizards for more than nineteen years.”
    That was all Encyclopedia needed to hear.
    “Oh no he hasn’t!” Encyclopedia declared with a satisfied smile. “If he’s a lizard expert, then I’m the Queen of England! Sam Maine is lying, and I can prove it!”
    How does Encyclopedia know?
    (Turn to this page for the solution to The Case of the Slippery Salamander.)

The Case of the Banana Burglar

    D uring the school year, Encyclopedia helped his father solve mysteries for the police department. When school closed for summer vacation, he opened his own detective agency in the garage.
    Each morning he hung out his sign:
    Brown Detective Agency
    13 Rover Avenue
    LEROY BROWN
    President
    No case too small
    25¢ a day plus expenses
    Idaville was in the middle of a heat wave. The thermometer outside Encyclopedia’s garage had just hit ninety-six degrees when his first customer arrived. It was Pablo Pizzaro—Idaville’s best boy artist.
    Pablo’s face was bright red, and sweat spotted his blue T-shirt.
    “I’m steaming, and it’s got nothing to do with the heat!” Pablo declared. “Bugs Meany accused me of stealing a banana! I want to hire you to prove my innocence.”
    Bugs was the leader of a gang of tough older boys. They called themselves the Tigers. They should have called themselves the Tea Bags. They were always getting into hot water.
    “Tell me exactly what happened,” Encyclopedia said.
    Pablo placed a quarter on the gas can next to Encyclopedia and began to talk.
    “Monsieur LeBlanc hired me to be his assistant in the Art in the Park program this summer.”
    Encyclopedia nodded. Every year Idaville sponsored an arts program for children at the park. Monsieur LeBlanc was famous in Idaville for his beautiful paintings—and for his ugly temper. The peevish painter flew into a rage as often as the wind changed direction.
    According to Pablo, this morning the students, including Bugs, had been learning how to paint still-life pictures. Before the first class, Monsieur LeBlanc had placed fruit in a large wooden bowl.
    “He picked the fruit himself at an expensive greengrocer in the city. Then he