Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose watched the men follow Officer Fallon toward the police station. Above their heads, Tyrone's big plastic eyes stared. "This is great," Dink grumbled. "Jud comes to see us, and his money gets stolen." "I just don't see how anyone did it," Ruth Rose said. "We were all here yesterday afternoon, and

Dean guarded Tyrone last night. Plus, he was locked inside Tyrone during the show." "So maybe Dean is the thief," Josh said. "He could have taken the money last night or even during the show. No one saw what he did after that door closed." "But we know what he did," Dink said. "He was working on the computer. Otherwise, Tyrone wouldn't have moved or talked." "That's just it," Josh said. "Tyrone didn't move for the first few minutes, remember? Maybe that's when Dean was snitching the duffel bag!" Dink shook his head. "I don't believe Dean would steal from his best friend," he said. Just then Officer Keene pulled up in his cruiser. He climbed out with a roll of yellow tape and several wooden stakes in his arms. "Hi, kids," he said. "Little excitement, huh?" He set the tape and stakes on the ground and walked over to Tyrone. The wedge was still in place, letting him open the door wider. He glanced inside. "Whew, you could bake a pie in there," he said.

Officer Keene began shoving stakes into the ground around Tyrone. Then he strung the crimescene tape around the stakes, forming a big circle around the dinosaur. "Can we go to Ellie's?" Josh said. "My brain needs a drink." The kids started walking across Center Park.

"Do you really think Dean is the robber?" Ruth Rose asked Josh. "Yes," he said. "He has a key and he knew where the money was hidden." "What about Scoop?" Ruth Rose asked. "Could he have borrowed a key from Dean or Jud?" "If he had, they would have mentioned it to Officer Fallon," Josh responded. "Maybe the thief was someone else," Dink said. "Some stranger who knew how to pick locks." "But Dean was sleeping outside the dinosaur," Ruth Rose said. "How would a thief get past him?" "That's why I think it's Dean," Josh said as he pulled open the door to Ellie's Diner. The kids slid into a booth near the windows. One of the Tyrone flyers was taped to the glass. Ellie waved, then came over. "Hi, kids. Why aren't you at the dinosaur show?" she asked.

"It's over," Josh said. "But someone stole their money!" Ellie slid in next to Josh. "Who stole whose money?" she asked with wide eyes. Ruth Rose explained about the money that was kept inside Tyrone's belly. "Those poor guys," Ellie said, standing up. "They were so excited when they came in for breakfast this morning." "Officer Fallon is on the case," Ruth Rose said. "Good!" Ellie said. "Josh, your tongue is almost hanging out. How about some fresh lemonade?" she asked. The kids agreed, and Ellie brought three tall glasses. Josh took a big slurp through his straw. "So, you guys agree that Dean is the robber?" Dink stirred his lemonade. "I don't. Dean wouldn't be dumb enough to steal the money while he was guarding it last night," he said. "That would point the finger right at him." Josh shook his head. "He could have taken the duffel bag during the show," he said. "How?" Ruth Rose asked.

"Easy," Josh said. "He locks himself inside Tyrone. He moves the table and rug, grabs the duffel bag, then puts the rug and table back. It only takes him a minute." "Then what?" Dink asked. "Where did he put the duffel bag?" He and Ruth Rose stared at Josh, waiting for his answer. Josh blinked at them. He took a sip of his lemonade. "Okay, here's what happened," he said. "Dean told us he built that little compartment inside Tyrone, right? So what if he built a second one that only he knows about? And that's where he hid the money!" Dink looked at Josh over his glass. "You think the money is still inside Tyrone?" "Why not?" Josh asked. "It's perfect. No one would think to look for it there." Ruth Rose squinted her eyes at Josh. "Except someone with a sneaky mind like yours."