Chapter 9

Chapter 9 "You have to tell Officer Fallon!" Ruth Rose said. "He has to let your brother out of jail now!" "Okay. Let me lock up the trailer," Buddy said. A few minutes later, the three kids headed over to the police station with Buddy. Pal led the way, snuffling his nose along the ground. "Why did you and Pete leave Maine?" Josh asked Buddy. The teenager shrugged. "After I got in trouble with Fizzo, Pete decided we should move to someplace new. We're headed south."

"What about school?" Dink asked. "Pete's homeschooling me," Buddy said. "He's real smart." "Why did you stop in Green Lawn?" asked Ruth Rose. "We ran low on cash, so we stopped here for a while so Pete could earn more money," Buddy said as they walked. "He got a job painting a house about ten miles from here. Soon as he's done, we're supposed to head to Florida. Have you guys ever been there?" "Yes, my grandmother lives in Florida," Ruth Rose said. She told Buddy about the gold mystery they solved the last time they visited her grandmother. Soon they were standing in front of the police station. "Don't worry about Officer Fallon," Josh said. "He's a nice guy." The kids climbed the steps. Josh tied Pal to a railing. "Stay and behave," Josh told his dog. Pal woofed as the four kids walked into the building. Ruth Rose knocked on Officer Fallon's door. "Come in!" a voice said, and they trooped inside.

The police chief was sitting at his computer. He was staring at the screen and sipping from a mug of tea. Officer Fallon glanced up. "Hello again. Who's this?" he asked, nodding at Buddy. "This is Buddy Unkenholz," Dink said. "He's Pete's brother." "Hello, young man," Officer Fallon said. He stood up and reached a long arm across his desk to shake hands. "Is my brother okay?" Buddy asked. "Yes, but he won't talk to me," Officer Fallon said. He pointed to the long sofa. "Have a seat, kids." When they were lined up on his sofa, Officer Fallon smiled at Buddy. "You and your big brother look a lot alike," he said. "Pete didn't take those baseballs," Buddy said. "Oh? He insists he did," Officer Fallon said. "How do you know otherwise?" "Pete must think I took those balls," Buddy said. "He's saying he did it so I won't get in trouble." Officer Fallon tapped a pencil against his teeth and stared at Buddy. "Pete says he took the balls.

You say he's lying to protect you. Who should I believe?" he asked. "But my brother is honest!" Buddy blurted out. "He wouldn't steal anything. You can call anyone back home. They all call Pete 'Honest Abe'!" Officer Fallon nodded. "I already made a phone call, to the police chief in Penobscot, Maine," he said. "He told me about that van, and he said he's pretty sure your brother had nothing to do with it. Thing is, Pete insisted he was the one driving the van that night." Buddy blushed. "That was me and Fizzo Martin," he said, looking at his feet. "Pete wasn't even there." Officer Fallon stared at the unhappy boy. "So Pete lied to the Maine police about the van to protect you," he said. "And now you tell me he's lying again." "Yes, sir," Buddy said. "But neither of us took those baseballs! Why can't you let him out of jail?" Officer Fallon shook his head. "The baseballs are still missing. I'm sorry, son, but until they're returned and the thief is caught, Pete has to stay where he is."