Free Girl's Best Friend by Leslie Margolis Page A

transformed myself into Maggie Brooklyn, Bird-Watcher.
    I even looked up a bunch of bird facts in case I met another bird-watcher and had to act the part. I was ready.
    At least I would be once I ate breakfast.
    “Where are you off to?” my mom asked. She was up early, drinking coffee and paying bills at the kitchen table.
    “The park,” I said as innocently as possible.
    She looked at me from over the tops of her reading glasses. “By yourself?”
    She seemed to know I was up to something, and I had no reason to lie. “Actually, I’m meeting up with Ivy.”
    I took an English muffin out of the bread box, sliced it open, and put it in the toaster. Even though my back was to her, I could feel Mom’s extra wide smile radiate across the room.
    “Why do you look like you’re auditioning for a toothpaste commercial?” I asked, turning around.
    “I’m just so happy that you and Ivy have put this silly feud behind you.”
    “Feud?” I asked. “Whoever said we were in the middle of a feud?”
    “Well, whatever it was, I’m glad it’s over. It was so nice seeing you two talk at your party.”
    “You weren’t supposed to be watching,” I reminded her.
    “Right,” said Mom. “But when Finn tried to get that game of Five-Card Stud going with actual money, I had to intervene.”
    “The stakes were low. We were only playing for quarters.”
    “Gambling is gambling,” said Mom. “But that doesn’t matter. Have a great time today.”
    “Will do,” I called on my way out.
    Today was all about rescuing Kermit. If it made my mom feel better to think Ivy and I were friends again, then fine. There was no harm in keeping her clueless. In fact, it made things easier. Fewer questions that way.
    I polished off breakfast on my way to Beacon’s Closet. When I got there I found Ivy sitting on a bench in front of the coffee place next door.
    “What are you wearing?” she asked as soon as she noticed me.
    “It’s my disguise,” I told her, which should’ve been obvious.
    “You’re dressed as a dork?” she asked with a laugh. “Not much of a disguise.”
    “For someone asking for so many favors, you sure are rude.”
    Ivy shrugged. “I’m only being honest.”
    “I’m dressed as a bird-watcher,” I said, holding up the binoculars. “And I wore sneakers in case there’s a chase. Something you maybe should’ve thought of.” I stared pointedly at her platform boots.
    I knew I had her, but she still shrugged and said, “Dork, bird-watcher. Same thing.” All dismissive.
    “Do you want my help or not?”
    “I’m not sure,” said Ivy. “They said to come alone.”
    “Right. We’ve been over this and we agreed it would be a bad idea to—”
    “ You agreed and that was last night. I’ve been thinking, the park’s a public place, and it’s always packed on weekends. I mean, what could happen in broad daylight?”
    “That’s how Kermit got stolen in the first place,” I reminded her. “Plus, last year someone snatched my mom’s purse in the middle of the afternoon, and they never even caught the guy.”
    Ivy sighed heavily. “Fine. It’s your money, so I guess you call the shots.”
    “It’s not like that,” I said. “I just think we need to figure out who’s behind the dognapping. Because what if they do this again?”
    “I’d never leave Kermit alone twice. If I get him back, I won’t let him out of my sight.”
    “I mean, what if they do this to other dogs?” I said.
    “Oh.” Ivy thought for a moment, her narrow eyebrows scrunched together. “Okay, that makes sense. Did you bring the cash?”
    I pulled a small white envelope from my back pocket and handed it to Ivy. “Here.”
    She stood, dusted off the back of her jeans, and inspected it. The envelope was unmarked, as specified, and bulky with my hundred dollars, cash. (Mostly old bills—I’d saved Cassie’s for myself.)
    “It’s all there,” I said. “Count it if you want.”
    “I trust you.”
    We walked to the park