Free Rock Harbor Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble, Robin Caroll Page A

She’ll be giving demonstrations there.” Olivia stared at Emily. “Why? What are you thinking?”
    “Well, she was at the festival. Remember, we saw her?”
    “So? Just about everybody in Rock Harbor was at the festival.”
    “But we saw her. From our booth.”
    Olivia shook her head. “Are you saying Malia Spencer, famous Hawaiian surfer who probably has more money than she knows what to do with, stole Mrs. Dancer’s necklace?” She chuckled.
    “Well, put like that . . .” It did sound silly. But someone had to have taken the necklace.
    Grabbing her hand, Olivia tugged her toward the O’Reilly home. “Come on, forget about Malia as a suspect.”
    Emily fell into step with her best friend. “You’re right.”
    Olivia slowed as they reached the end of the driveway. “You know, just about everybody in Rock Harbor will be at the championship too.”
    “Yeah?”
    “Well, what better place to nose around to see if there’s anything new about the missing necklace?”
    “That’s in a couple of weeks, Olivia.”
    “So?”
    Emily shook her head. “That’s too close to my birthday. I wantto find out who really took the necklace before then. Otherwise, I won’t get my puppy!” Saying it out loud made it feel too real. Tears burned her eyes.
    Olivia gave her a sideways hug. “Maybe Inetta will find the necklace tomorrow, and this will all be over for you.”
    “I hope so.” Emily led the way through the back door into the house.
    Because she had to have this mess all cleared up before her birthday.
    She just had to get her puppy!

SEVEN

    “Yeah, it’s cool. We got new team wet suits and board bags and leashes.” Josh’s blue eyes sparkled.
    Emily stood on the outskirts of Josh’s group hovering by the student bulletin board in the hall, hanging on his every word.
    “I thought you said the team was hard up for funds.” Brandon, the captain of the team, shoved Josh’s shoulder in a playful way. “Have you been holding out on us?”
    “Nah, man. These were courtesy of a donor.”
    “A donor? Who could afford all that?” Brandon asked.
    “Don’t know. Anonymous.” Josh shrugged. “Who cares? We needed the stuff. I’m just glad we got everything before the championship.”
    An anonymous donor dropping down hundreds of dollars? Emily pressed her lips together and leaned in closer.
    “Yeah, whatever.” Brandon clapped Josh’s shoulder. “We gonna win this year?”
    “You know it.” Josh turned and pinned something on the bulletin board.
    “What’s that?”
    “Just a call-out for team helper volunteers. I promised Coach I’d put it up for him. Let’s go.” Josh led the group down the hall and out of the school.
    Emily stared after him. As far as she knew, no school team had ever gotten a large donation from an anonymous donor. Money was tight for all families right now. At least, that’s what Dad said when he and Naomi discussed the hardware store business. Who would have money to give away as a donation? Seemed a little suspicious, considering the surf team had hosted several fund-raisers over the last couple of months. If someone had wanted to make such a donation, wouldn’t they have done so before now?
    “What are you doing hanging around here, thief?”
    Emily spun around. She’d had enough. “What’s your problem, Rachel?”
    Rachel’s eyes widened. “I’m fine, Emily. It’s you who is the problem. Everyone knows you stole Mary Dancer’s necklace. You’re a thief, and probably a cheater too. Maybe that’s why you get such good grades. And maybe you cheated your way onto the History Smackdown team.”
    “I’m not a cheater, and I’m no thief.” Emily took a step toward Rachel.
    Mrs. Moon, the algebra teacher, moved in their direction. “Is there a problem here, girls?”
    Rachel smiled her fake, sweet smile at the teacher. “No, ma’am.”
    “Then move along.” Mrs. Moon crossed her arms over her chest and monitored the hall’s traffic flow.
    Rachel tossed