by
Neo
t started like any other Saturday. Gwen and I were sitting on the blow- up
chair set I got for my birthday leafing through magazines and catalogs. Then it
came."So, like, what'd you think of Bob? Doesn't he have dreamy eyes? I mean, if
you don't want him, I'd be happy to..."I cut her off with my gasp. "O- M- G! That Delia's model looks so much like you!"
Gwen put down Teen and looked at the short- haired, blonde, green- eyed
stick dressed in a magenta tank top and denim capris."You really think so?"
"Yeah, you're practically twins!"
"Aasha, would you really pay a hundred and ninety dollars, for that!?!" Gwen
motioned to the stick's outfit."I'm not stupid! Plus, it's fall. You'd have to be crazy to wear that. Probably
why it's on sale.""A hundred and ninety dollars isn't much of a sale."
My phone rang, and I picked it up. Bob's voice was on the other line. "Aasha," he squeaked, "Can you come down to Cooki's?"
"Um... sure. Be down in a sec."
I hung up. "Who was it?" Gwen popped an M and M into her mouth.
"Just Bob," I replied, running down the hall to socialize with my bathroom
mirror.Hairbrush in hand, I preened my shoulder- length blonde hair and had tried
several do's by the time the questioning began."So, what did he say?"
"Nothing really, but I have a case down at Cooki's."
"I guess I better go then. And don't worry, you look fine." Gwen escorted me
and herself out, "It's not possible to look bad in a Delia's black butterfly shirt and cargos."Fall leaves crunched under my feet as I approached Cooki's Doughnuts. My
friends and I hung out in the small white building with a cottage cafe theme quite
often, but I'd never seen so many people there before.Familiar friends greeted me as I walked up to Bob, who was studying the
scene."What happened?" I tapped him on the shoulder.
He flinched, turned around, and smiled, his cheeks getting a shade darker. "Oh, hi Aasha," he started towards the shop. "C'mon, I'll show you what
happened."We stepped over the yellow tape and walked to an astonishing sight. Cooki's
Doughnuts was empty! All the tables, day-old merchandise, equipment, clocks,
everything was gone! The teal and purple checkered floor was swiped clean, the
white walls bare."So far, no clues have been found," Bob told me.
"Oh look, there's Cooki." We walked over to the twenty eight-year-old Cooki
Crumb. Cooki had obviously been crying, for her eyes were red and her make- up
was blurred."Oh, I'm so glad you've come, Aasha. I must tell you about what happened
here.""And I'm curious to know," I replied.
Cooki was about the coolest gal around. She had great taste and was a huge
fan of Tommy Hilfiger. Her green eyes, brown braids, red shirt and denim Tommy
overalls only added to her personal flair. She was a teenager at heart, and would
doubtless stay that way forever."Well, last night I locked up at 7:30 like I always do. I didn't notice anything
unusual when I left, but when I opened up shop at ten this morning, everything was
gone. Not a clue has been found, but we're still looking," Cooki sighed. "I hope you
can help me by searching after the crowd is gone."Cooki slipped me a key. "Do you think we can just check around now? We may just find something."
"If you want, but I'm doubting you'll find anything without the time to search
closely.""Well, we'll try our best, won't we, Bob?"
Bob nodded. "Good luck," Cooki smiled.
"C'mon Bob, let's go hunting!"
I grabbed his hand and dragged him away, putting the key in my pocket. Just
as we walked away, a strange man approached Cooki."I wonder who he is," I whispered to Bob.
"Hello. My n- name is Alot, A- Alot Fudge. I- I c-came-"
"Let me guess, you want to know what happened here," Cooki shook the
man's hand."W- well, y- yes," he stuttered," But, I c-came for a job."
"Well, he sure looks suspicious. He's got it all, the clean shave, brown eyes
and hair, tux, dress shoes. Never seen it given away like that," I giggled, shaking my
head in disbelief."Aasha, stop joking. We don't have much time."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I longed to stay and listen to the full
conversation of Cooki and Mr. Fudge, but only out of my own curiosity."It seems there's no evidence here," I said, looking at the empty rooms,
"Let's check the back."It seems no one had cared to check the back. The alley behind held a great
clue."Bob, look! Footprints! C'mon!"
We followed our newest clue. The footprints led straight to Ginger's
Doughnuts."Could it be this easy?" I asked Bob.
"I dunno. I mean, she could have been framed."
"Now that I think of it, it seems kinda obvious. Ginger's Doughnuts has less
business than Cooki's Doughnuts. If Ginger (or one of her hired hands) took away
Cooki's equipment, she wouldn't have any competition and business would boom.""I guess it's worth questioning her for," Bob shrugged.
We stepped from our hiding places and headed for the entrance. Once inside,
you could see that the place was packed. Ginger came to greet us."Hello. I'm Ginger Snap, owner of Ginger's Doughnuts. How may I help you?"
Unlike Cooki, Ginger was plump, red- haired, and in her fifties. Her hazel eyes
snuck out from her close- cut curls. Her purple dress and apron made her look like a
grandmother." Sorry Ginger, but we're not here to eat. I'd like to ask you some questions."
" I'm afraid I don't have time. I've got so many customers. I hope you understand."
"We do. Thanks," Bob and I exited.
"Ginger is the best suspect we have so far. The footprints lead to her shop,
and she won't answer any questions.""Her shop was packed, though. She couldn't have had time to. We can't prove
anything until we have more evidence.""I guess so. Let's meet back at Cooki's at five, K?" I called to Bob as we
walked towards our houses."Sure. The crowd should be gone by then."
I arrived at 4:50, ten minutes early. "I guess I can go in early," I whispered to myself.
I unlocked the door, and walked in, my footsteps echoing. I began inspecting
the walls and sales counter in the main room, and, finding nothing, I moved on.
When I came to a hallway closet, a chill went up my spine. I whirled around and was
met with a giant doughnut that stuffed me in the closet. I screamed and pounded,
but no one was there to hear me. What if I had locked the door?I heard footsteps, and the handle jingled. The door opened, and I fell into the
arms of Bob. I looked up, enjoying my moment."Did I ever tell you your blue eyes are beautiful?"
I felt our lips about to touch when I remembered the giant doughnut. "We must catch him. I know he's the thief."
We headed for the back door and found slippers. The doughnut man must
have used them to sneak around silently on the floor. We soon spotted a fresh trail
of mud and followed it, around bushes, park benches, and sidewalks. From the print
I could tell that he had been running. Finally we arrived at an old brick gas station,
all boarded up."C'mon," I motioned for Bob to creep forward and peek in one of the broken
windows.A couple, doughnut and woman, was inside. "Alot, are you sure this will work?" the woman asked.
"Alotta, my sweet wife, have my plans ever failed? As long as I can get rid of
that Aasha girl we'll have our own business." He kissed his wife's forehead."I suppose you're right."
I scooted back from the window and found some torn up business cards
reading Alot A. Fudge, The Big Firm. I gasped. Alot was heading out of the building."I have to follow him! You wait here and make sure Alotta doesn't go
anywhere!""Aasha Domingo, wait! You're only thirteen! A grown man is planning on
harming you, and you're running after him! If you have to go, at least be careful!""I will, I will!" I cried to Bob in a low volume, as to not alarm Alotta.
I had chased Alot to the Space Needle, which I looked up at while still
running. There he was, boarding the elevator. The door closed shut just as I came to
it. Another opened, and I raced inside and prepared to go up. The top floor was most
likely where Alot would go. As I came out, all I saw were tourists. Did nobody think a
doughnut running around Seattle was strange?A voice came on. The Space Needle was closing in three minutes! I saw a bit
of beige peeking around the corner, and the pounding of feet drew tourist's
attention. I tripped on a stuffed dino-cow, but picked myself up. He came to a
hallway, turned, and unlocked a small door, but not after looking around. I was
hidden behind a corner in the wall and watched him carefully unlock the door and
slip in. As he allowed the door to close, I stepped forward and stopped it from
shutting me out with my foot. He walked up a flight of stairs, and I followed him.Keeping silent, I tip-toed up and found that the world was pitch black. Luckily
the city lights were enough for me to see where I stepped. I felt the same chill up my spine as I whirled around."Hello Aasha."
Upon hearing Alot's voice, I gasped. "You shouldn't have interfered with my plans."
"That's my job; I'm a detective." Not being able to see him only increased my fear.
"You'll be sorry you did."
He grabbed my shoulder and clapped a hand over my mouth. I screamed as
loud as I could, but all that came out was something like a muffled sneeze. My heart
and mind raced, trying to think of anything that could save me. I felt my body being
lifted as I was propped on a ledge. The wind made my hair flutter."Say your prayers little girl. Say them NOW!"
The ferocity of his voice made my blood tremble. The beating of helicopter
wings gave me hope. A bright light shone on us and a megaphoned voice spoke."Freeze. Take the girl of the ledge."
Hope had come. I gave a sigh as Alot released his grasp on me and familiar
friends came down from the helicopter on a ladder. One of these familiar faces was
Bob's. I ran to him and set my head on his shoulder.He hugged me and whispered in my ear, "I'm so glad you're safe." "How did you know where I was?"
"I just knew. Want to go to McDonald's? We can talk it over there."
"Sure."
As we walked off, I glimpsed Alot out of the corner of my eye, cuffed and
swearing.
Munching on some fries and sipping on a small Coke, Bob started his tale,
"When you left, I got really worried. I mean, the man told his wife he was going to
kill you! Still keeping an eye on Alotta, I started looking for a phone. To my disbelief,
there was one only about three steps away. I called the police and they came.
Alotta confessed right away. She said her husband, Alot, forced her into it. Alot had
just been fired (or quit, whichever you believe) from his job at The Big Firm.""That would explain the torn up business cards," I remarked.
Bob nodded." Alot was planning on starting his own doughnut business and
tried to get hired by Cooki to learn the trade. He had just finished buying the
promotional costume when he saw you go inside Cooki's shop and went in through
the back door to make sure you didn't find anything. I suppose you know the rest.""Only one question. Were the footprints to Ginger's Doughnuts a hoax?"
"Yes. Alot walked there after he had loaded the equipment into a U- haul and had
Alotta drive it to their garage hideout."Well, the case was closed, and I got my happy ending and even closer to Bob in only
a day.
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Neo