Free On the Case (From the Files of Madison Finn, 17) by Laura Dower Page B

looked like such a hunk, strolling back and forth in his gray V-neck sweater and his jeans.
    “Madison?” Mom was at the doorway to the living room, where Madison was watching her show. “Planning to go up to bed anytime soon?” she asked.
    Madison moaned. “Mom, the show is almost over. I’ll go up in a minute.”
    “You said that ten minutes ago. Come on, Madison.”
    Luckily, the closing credits for Crime Time flashed on-screen. Madison didn’t put up much of a fight. She headed upstairs, brushed her teeth, slipped into her pajamas, and collapsed onto her bed—with laptop in hand. As soon as Mom had shut the door for the night, Madison went online.
    She quickly connected to TweenBlurt.com and then onto her e-mailbox again. Madison had no new messages. But she did have one in mind that she needed to write.
From: MadFinn
    To: Bigwheels
    Subject: Being a Detective
    Date: Fri 15 Oct 9:27 PM
    Did u see what Major was wearing on the show tonite? I think that was maybe my fave outfit ever. He got a haircut 2 and it looks good. I wonder if he has a GF?
    FYI: This snooping around is harder work than I thought. First of all, it’s hard to act cool when ur collecting clues. I can be a little clumsy sometimes and noisy too, even when I’m trying 2 be quiet.
    Mostly it’s hard 2 deal w/friends when they don’t understand how important it is 2 me 2 be a detective. Did u ever do something fun and ur friends just didn’t get it? Earlier tonight Aimee went offline when we were chatting w/o even saying a word. I’ll try not to dwell on it but she really bugs me. I always support her dance and stuff. Y can’t she support me? :-S
    N e way, I’m making progress on my latest case. I think I have a prime suspect and I just need more evidence. More on that l8r. Here’s a :-{} for you!!!
    Yours till the moon lights,
    MadFinn
    Madison hit SEND . Then she checked her buddy list. Her only friend online at the moment was Fiona. Madison sent her a message and they escaped into a chat room called WETWINZ, the same as Fiona’s screen name on TweenBlurt.com.
    : what r u doing tonite did u watch ur show?
    : OC! One of my fave episodes
    : Mom wouldn’t let me watch she hogged the TV tonite to watch some show about the old west. ZZZZZZ
    : I think I’m a CTA!
    : What is that?
    : Crime Time Addict LOL
    : did u talk to Aim tonite?
    : yes what did she tell u
    : nothing I can’t get her on the phone the line is always busy and she’s not online it’s weird
    : oh
    : BTW I have big gossip 4 u from Chet actually about what Lindsay overheard the other day
    : what? Tell me!
    : Chet sez he knows what was stolen at school. some ninth grader told him it was sheet music or something else it doesn’t sound very important
    : Sheet music?
    : not ordinary sheet music though, it was really really old and worth a lot of money
    : where was it stolen?
    : Mr. Olivetti’s room. I think he had it in this black case and it went missing.
    : Mr. Olivetti? He had it in a BLACK case????
    : Didn’t u have a flute lesson w/him 2day?
    Madison was in shock.
    She quickly finished up her conversation with Fiona so she could open a file and write some notes. The mystery from school was starting to make a lot more sense. Madison’s theories about Mr. Olivetti and Penelope could have been right!
    She opened a new file.
Missing Sheet Music

    Aimee is so wrong. I can totally figure out the mess with the thefts @ FHJH. I am already making MAJOR progress, or should I say MAJOR DEMILLE progress?
    Facts
:
    • Mr. Olivetti has a black bag. Penelope has the identical black bag with initials PKO that stand for something-something-Olivetti, obviously! Duh!
    • Penelope knows Mr. Olivetti because she plays piano with him and is in ensemble. She had a BIG opportunity to steal the bag.
    • Penelope is Miss