Free The Mystery of Case D. Luc by Beverly Lewis Page A

on earth . . . where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . .”
    Dunkum went to his dresser and reached for his basketball. “Maybe it’s okay to store up just one treasure on earth,” he whispered.
    Then he carried the ball to bed and pushed it down between the sheets. Dunkum crawled into bed beside it.
    In the darkness, he thought about Abby and Carly Hunter. And Stacy Henry. How dare they call his basketball silly ?
    Reaching over, Dunkum felt the hard, round surface next to him. No thief was going to steal his treasure! Soon he fellasleep with his arm around the giant lump.

    Dunkum kicked the covers off. It was Sunday morning. His basketball was still in bed with him. The Cul-de-sac Kids would die laughing, but he didn’t care.
    He showered and dressed for church. Then he hurried to the kitchen. “Mm-m, eggs smell good,” he told his mother.
    His dad passed the salt for the scrambled eggs. Then he held up the crossword puzzle in the paper. “Can you solve this?” his dad asked.
    â€œLooks tough,” Dunkum said, studying it.
    â€œNot for your dad,” his mother said.
    Dunkum nodded. It was true, his dad could solve anything. Especially word puzzles.
    Before Dunkum ate a single bite, he prayed. He wished his parents would praywith him. He wished they would go to church, too. Sometimes it was lonely being a Christian.
    Not long ago, Abby Hunter and her family were the only ones on Blossom Hill Lane who attended church. Now all the Cul-de-sac Kids were going. God’s love was catching. And Abby’s van was getting crowded with kids—including Dunkum.
    After brushing his teeth, Dunkum dashed upstairs to get his Sunday school lesson and Bible. The memory verse was easy. Let’s see , thought Dunkum. There was a treasure on earth and a thief stole it. And there was a heavenly treasure and no thief could snatch it!
    Before he left for church, Dunkum hid his basketball in the closet. He closed the door. Now his treasure would be safe. As safe as the heavenly treasure in the Bible.

THREE
    Dunkum hurried to Abby’s house. The Cul-de-sac Kids piled into the van. All but Dee Dee Winters.
    â€œWhere’s Dee Dee?” Dunkum asked.
    â€œHer cat is sick,” Carly replied.
    â€œThat’s strange. I saw her cat outside yesterday,” Dunkum said.
    â€œMaybe Mister Whiskers ate one of Dee Dee’s cookies,” Jason teased.
    Carly stuck up for her friend. “Dee Dee’s cookies are the best in the world!”
    â€œSeat belts, everyone,” Abby’s fathersaid before starting the van.

    After church, Abby’s van pulled back into their driveway. She grabbed Dunkum’s arm as they climbed out of the van. “We’re having a club meeting. Right now! Before you start practicing your shots again.”
    â€œMake it quick,” Dunkum said. His thoughts were on his new basketball.
    Abby called the rest of the kids. They gathered in a circle on her porch. “Next Friday is April Fool’s Day. I’m having a party after school,” she said. “For all the Cul-de-sac Kids.”
    â€œWhere?” Stacy asked.
    â€œLet’s have it outside,” Eric suggested.
    â€œAt the end of the cul-de-sac,” Carly said.
    â€œYes!” said Shawn, Abby’s adopted Korean brother. “Beside big oak tree.”
    Jason Birchall danced a jig. “What’s to eat?”
    Abby’s eyes twinkled. She pulled a list out of her Sunday purse. “Here’s the menu. Remember, it’s an April Fool’s Day party.” She began to read. “First we’ll have ants on a log.”
    â€œAnts?” squealed Carly. “I’m not eating ants!”
    â€œNext is silly dillies,” said Abby, laughing.
    â€œI know what that is,” Jason said.
    â€œDon’t tell.” Abby continued, “Number three is garden