Free Going Places by Fran Hurcomb

replied Daisy. “He might be proud of you, or he might be furious. Depends on how much danger he thinks you put yourselves in, I guess.”
    We all crowded into the detachment entryway, where we were greeted by a young constable.
    â€œHi, girls. What are you doing out so early on a Saturday morning?”
    â€œWe’re here to see my dad,” said Daisy. Her sisters nodded behind her.
    â€œOkay. Just wait a sec while I see if he’s busy.”
    We could hear a muffled conversation down the hall, followed by Corporal Smithers’ appearance.
    â€œTo what do I owe this honor, ladies?” he asked, eyeing us carefully.
    Daisy handed him the envelope silently.
    â€œWe took these photos last night at the rink, sir,” said Sam, in quick explanation. “Your girls weren’t there. Daisy just printed them for us.”
    Before he opened the envelope, he stared at each of us in turn. We all smiled bravely, trying to look like confident sleuths. He pulled out the photos and examined each one before saying anything.
    â€œIs this what I think it is?” he asked quietly. We nodded.
    â€œHere’s his helmet too, and his axe. He left them behind when he ran away.” Opal proudly handedthe black helmet and well-used axe to him. She was the only one who didn’t seem worried about what his reaction was going to be. Maybe she really was a sleuth.
    â€œYou girls had better come into my office and explain this from the beginning,” he said. We crowded into his office, and I led things off. The story came out kind of confused, but he got the idea. He kept looking at us very seriously. Finally he spoke. “Do you girls remember what I told you after that last incident?”
    Silence.
    â€œWell?”
    â€œYes, sir,” I finally said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
    â€œBut we didn’t really think anyone would show up,” said Opal quickly. “It was really just a theory we were testing.” Wow. Testing a theory? Where did that come from? Opal really read too much.
    â€œDid any of you think about what might have happened if he had decided to go after you instead of running away?”
    â€œWe were going to run into the bush in eight different directions,” said Opal, confident that her plan would impress him.
    â€œSo maybe he would only have caught one or two of you? And then what?” Dead silence. He heaved a long sigh and shook his head.
    â€œWell, you girls are going to have some explaining to do to your parents before this is through.” He paused. “But first,” he said as he held up the photos, “this young man has some explaining to do to me. I’m going to have a look at the crime scene. Please go home and stay there until you hear otherwise. You’re all grounded.”
    We trooped out the door.
    â€œGrounded by the RCMP. Wow! That’s a new one,” said Opal proudly. Nothing seemed to faze Opal.

Chapter Fifteen
    Since it was Saturday morning, the café was really busy. All of the tables and most of the counter seats were full. The next few hours flew by while I served, made coffee and cleaned up. I tried my best to smile, like a good waitress should, but it was hard. Let’s just say my mind wasn’t on my job. Finally, after the lunch rush, Mom and I had time to sit down and have a sandwich.
    â€œGoing to the rink this afternoon?” she asked, between bites of her blt.
    â€œNo.”
    There was a long pause.
    â€œSomething wrong?”
    â€œYeah. Kind of. Actually, it’s not all bad. We caught the Hockey Vandal last night, or at least we took photos of him.”
    â€œWhat?” Mom locked her eagle eyes on me. I squirmed. Then I told her the whole story. When I was done, I waited for the explosion. Finally she just shook her head and said, “You girls.”
    That was it? Of course not. But at least there hadn’t been an explosion.
    â€œReg is right, you know.” Reg was