The Ghost and Max Monroe, Case #3: The Dirty Trick
Max cleared the dishes Suddenly he spotted a light passing by the dark window A few seconds later the light passed by again and then again Finally his great-uncle Larry floated through the open window holding a flashlight Max was still getting used to the idea of having a ghost around He put a plate in the sink and asked Any luck finding the dog Zip Larry sounded annoyed I’ll bet my last dollar that dumb mutt doesn’t even exist Then who’s eating all the dog food How do I know Larry slumped down in a chair For over a week now Max’s uncle Larry had been on a quest to actually see the dog that pooped all over the yard and ate every morsel of food Grandpa Harry put out So far no luck Larry noticed two boxes of Mighty Moe’s Donuts on the counter He sprang up lifted both lids and peered inside Where’d all these donuts come from Grandpa had a coupon buy one get one free Larry laughed Harry never could resist a bargain When we were kids he bought us each a pair of snowshoes
because they were on sale Trouble was we lived in Florida A car horn honked Harry scurried through the kitchen That’s Claddie But I can’t for the life of me remember where I put my ball Max if you were a bowling ball where would I put you In the fridge said Max The fridge You said bowling balls roll better when they’re cold Harry’s face lit up That’s right He pulled open the fridge door and lifted out his bowling
ball Don’t wait up he shouted over his shoulder as he rushed out the door SPOOKY MYSTERIES Max finished doing the dishes then headed into the backyard Sometimes at night he liked to read Starchy comics that his uncle Larry stashed away in the detective agency As he waded through the tall grass he thought about all the years that Larry had been a detective and how he hadn’t solved one single case Now in the short time since Max had come to stay with his grandfather he and Larry had solved two mysteries They’d found a missing zucchini and a girl who disappeared during a magic trick Things were looking up As Max neared the detective agency he heard the phone ring Phone shouted Larry streaking past him In a flash he was inside the office Max climbed through the window The key to the detective agency had been missing for years Larry picked up the phone With a cheery voice he said
Monroe Detective Agency I really need your help said a woman on the other end of the line A note has been slipped into my purse It says Beware a dirty trick Larry covered the mouthpiece and whispered Max A note that says Beware a dirty trick has been slipped into someone’s purse Into whose purse asked Max I don’t know Ask suggested Max Larry nodded May I ask who’s calling please My name is Rhonda Remington I write mystery books Larry covered the mouthpiece again Rhonda Remington She writes mysteries Max’s eyes opened wide Rhonda Remington Grandpa and I have been reading her spooky mysteries She’s great He grabbed the phone Hello Miss Remington This is Max Monroe SICK WITH WORRY Max I’m so glad you’re there said Rhonda
