Free The Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper by David A. Adler Page B

monkeys, turtles, parrots, cats, and elephants.”

    “I’ll look at the stuffed animals,” Eric told Ann.
    “And I’ll look at the baby dresses,” Cam said.
    Eric walked with Ann to the stuffed-animal display. She showed him a large pink elephant wearing blue overalls, and a green monkey in a bathing suit.
    Cam took a dress off the rack and pretended to look at it. She was really looking into the shopping bag. There were two scarves in the bag and a pair of gloves. There was nothing wrapped in gold paper.
    “Hey!” someone called out. “Who stole my things?”
    Cam ran to Eric. “Did you hear that?” she asked. “It came from the toy department.”
    Cam ran off. Eric smiled at Ann and said, “No, I don’t think I’ll buy a stuffed animal.” Then he followed Cam.
    The toy department was crowded with large displays of toys on sale. A great many people were there. Some were carrying shopping bags. Cam looked at them all and said, “Click.”
    A teenage girl, dressed in purple, was near the electric train display. A long toy train was riding in a circle through the display. And each time, before the train went through the tunnel, the whistle sounded.
    The girl dressed in purple was walking in circles, too, and she was talking very fast.
    “Someone took my shopping bag. I know someone took it,” she said. “It was right here. There was a puzzle book in that bag and some records. And I paid for all of it with my own money. I did baby-sitting so I could buy those things. I want them back.”
    “Toot, toot,” the train whistle sounded.

    “I called for one of the guards,” a Binky’s Helper told the girl.
    “You tell him that I want my things back,” the girl said. “You just tell him.”
    A few of the people standing nearby were waiting to see what would happen. Others walked away.
    Cam looked at all the people walking away and told Eric, “One of those people stole her shopping bag. I’m sure of it. I just don’t know which one.”
    “Toot, toot.”
    A Binky’s guard rushed past Cam and Eric. She asked the girl some questions.
    “I don’t know who took the bag,” the girl said. She was still walking in circles. “I just know it’s mine. And I want it back.”
    Cam whispered to Eric, “I have pictures stored in my head of all the people who were nearby when the corn popper was taken. And I have pictures of the people who were here.”
    “So?”
    “Whoever stole the girl’s bag probably took the other one, too. And I think I can find out who it was. I just have to look at my pictures and see who was in both places.”
    “Then do it!” Eric said.
    Cam closed her eyes and said, “Click.”
    “Toot, toot.”
    Cam opened her eyes and said, “I can’t think here. It’s too noisy.”
    Eric said, “Let’s go to the snack bar. You can think there. And I’m thirsty.”
    Cam and Eric walked through the store. They saw long lines of people waiting to pay for things. In the clothing department, people were trying on hats and sweaters and looking in mirrors.
    At the snack bar, Cam and Eric sat on stools. “I’ll have a small cup of ginger ale,” Eric told the waitress.
    “What does your friend want?”
    Cam’s eyes were closed. She said, “Click.” She said “Click” again.
    “What’s a ‘Click’?” the waitress asked. “I don’t think we have that kind of soda.”
    “Then just bring her some ginger ale,” Eric told her.
    Cam’s eyes were still closed when the waitress brought the cups of soda. Eric paid for the drinks. He drank his.
    Cam said “Click” again. Then she opened her eyes and said, “I know who it is. I know who stole those shopping bags.”

Chapter Four
    C am got off her stool and walked quickly through the clothing department. She was looking for a guard. Eric ran after her.
    “Who is it? What does he look like?” Eric asked her.
    “It’s a her,” Cam said as she walked up to a guard in the men’s shirt department.
    “I know who stole the shopping