Free Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

fence?”
    Anna tipped her head. “Never heard that one.”
    Sinan pulled out his sketch pad and flipped through the pages. “Here.”

    José nodded slowly. “Yeah. That sounds about right.”
    â€œBut it’s not right! It’s so totally wrong. And we need to do something.” Anna watched Sinan add a few more details to his sketch. And then she remembered another drawing — not on paper, but on skin. On the arm of the man from Pickersgill Diner.
    If he was part of Vincent Goosen’s art theft gang …
    If he was the one who stole the flag …
    And if they could prove it, then the police would have to leave the orchestra people alone.
    â€œI need to tell you guys what I found out.” Anna put an arm around Sinan. “Let’s go find your mom and dad. We can talk on the way.”

“So let me get this right …” José rubbed his eyes under his glasses as they walked. “You’re saying that this tattoo is evidence that the guy from the diner is involved? I don’t know, Anna.”
    â€œDude, she’s totally right,” Henry said. “I told you that Snake-Arm guy was acting like an assassin!”
    â€œI never said that ,” Anna said as they walked back into the area with the shops. “But I do think we need to investigate him. Because if he’s connected to that Vincent Goosen guy and the Serpentine Prince gang, then —”
    Hammurabi’s barking interrupted her. It wasn’t the friendly sort of barking he did when he wanted attention. It was sharper and deeper. And scared.
    The area where the orchestra had played just hours ago was swarming with police officers and airport security guards. Anna couldn’t see Hammurabi, but she spotted Sinan’s parents standing with the trombone players, talking with two policemen.
    â€œWhat is this?” Sinan whispered.
    Hammurabi barked again.
    â€œWhere is my dog?” Sinan’s voice squeaked as he climbed up on a chair searching the crowd until his eyes settled on his mom and dad. “Why are Ammi and Abba with your officers? What is happening?”
    José took Sinan’s hand and pulled him from the chair. “It’s okay. They’re just talking with the police. In America, even if somebody thinks you might be involved in a crime, you’re innocent until proven guilty. They didn’t do anything wrong; they’ll be fine.” His voice wobbled on the last word, and Anna could tell he was thinking about his own mom, talking with police, too, in another part of DC.
    Just as Sinan’s eyes relaxed, there was another eruption of barking. Over by the coffee counter, two burly airport security officers were forcing Hammurabi into a cage.
    Sinan tugged away from José and took off.
    Henry ran after him. “Come on!” he called over his shoulder. “He’s going to get himself in trouble.”
    By the time they made it through the crowd, Sinan was clutching the front of the cage. Hammurabi was all crunched up in there — it wasn’t nearly big enough for him — whimpering and licking Sinan’s fingers through the bars.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Anna walked right up to the airport security guard who stood by the cage. He was only a little taller than Anna, with short brown hair and a mustache and a belly that hung over his thick black belt. He either didn’t hear Anna or ignored her.
    â€œExcuse me.” She tapped his elbow. “That’s my friend’s dog.”
    â€œMphh.” He brushed off his elbow, as if she’d gotten him dirty by tapping him, and refolded his arms. “That dog is going back into the baggage area.”
    â€œBut the storm has delayed everything for so long!” Anna said. “He can’t stay down there by himself.”
    â€œHammurabi gets lonely,” Sinan said quietly.
    Another security guard came and lifted Hammurabi’s cage. He