Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The kids left the pet shop and headed up Main Street. They walked slowly, thinking about what to do. "I've read about scientists stealing animals to use in experiments," Josh said. "That's awful!" Dink said.

"I don't want Tiger used in some experiment!" said Ruth Rose. "We have to find those animals. Where do the Gwynns and the Pardues live?" "The Gwynns live over by us, on Thistle Court," Dink said. "Why don't we go talk to them?" Ruth Rose said. "Maybe the pet-napper left some clues." The kids cut through the high school grounds and passed the circus trailers. A few of the workers were sitting at a picnic table drinking coffee. They waved when the kids walked by. "Which house is the Gwynns'?" Ruth Rose asked when they reached Thistle Court. "That big gray one," Josh said. The mailbox in front said GWYNN in black letters. Ruth Rose walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Gwynn opened the door. "Hi, kids! How's your summer so far?" she asked. "Not so great," Ruth Rose said. "Someone stole my cat yesterday." "Oh, Ruth Rose, how awful! My parrot disappeared yesterday, too!" "So did Mrs. Davis's canary," Josh added.

"We just came from the police station," Dink put in. "Officer Fallon told us about your parrot. Dr. Pardue's rabbit is also missing." Mrs. Gwynn's mouth fell open. "My goodness! Do you mean that four pets disappeared yesterday?" "We think so," Ruth Rose said. "Where was your parrot when you last saw him?" "On my back porch, in his cage," Mrs. Gwynn said. "Can we see the cage?" Dink asked. Mrs. Gwynn took them through the kitchen to a screened-in back porch. A cage stood in one corner. "Archie likes it out here," said Mrs. Gwynn. "He can watch the other birds in the trees. Yesterday I came out to have my lunch, but he was gone." Dink checked the screen door that led to the backyard. "Was this locked?" he asked. "I don't really remember. We often leave it unlocked," Mrs. Gwynn said. "Could Archie have opened his cage door himself?" Josh asked.

Mrs. Gwynn shook her head. "We always keep a clothespin on his door to make sure he can't open it." "So someone must have stolen him," Ruth Rose said. "Oh, dear, I don't like to think of crime in Green Lawn," Mrs. Gwynn said with a sigh. "Can I offer you kids something to drink? It's pretty warm." "No thanks," Ruth Rose said. "But do you mind if we look in your phone book for Dr. Pardue's address?" "They're at number three Pheasant Lane," Mrs. Gwynn said. "I drop Mike off there to play tennis with Andy Pardue." The kids thanked Mrs. Gwynn and hurried to Main Street. "This is getting weirder and weirder," Dink said. "A canary and a parrot were snatched right out of their cages in broad daylight. With people home!" "And Tiger was probably in my backyard when she was taken," Ruth Rose said. They waved to Mr. Paskey at the Book Nook and headed up Aviary Way. Three Pheasant Lane

was a big green house surrounded by tall trees. A kid holding a tennis racket was sitting on the front porch. "Hi," Ruth Rose said, walking up to the porch. "Is Dr. Pardue home? We'd like to talk to him about his rabbit." "I'm Andy Pardue," the kid said. "Violet's my rabbit. Why? Did you find her?" "No, but my cat is missing, too," Ruth Rose said. "And so are two other pets in town." Dink glanced around the Pardues' front yard. "When did your rabbit disappear?" he asked Andy. "After lunch yesterday," he said. "My sister ran into the house screaming. I went out to the cage, and the door was wide open. Violet was gone." "Can you show us the cage?" Ruth Rose asked. Andy led them to the backyard. An empty rabbit hutch stood under a tree. "Was the cage locked?" Josh asked. "Yep, I lock it every night myself."

Andy Pardue gave them a sharp look. "What's going on, anyway? A ring of animal thieves?" "That's what we're trying to find out," Dink said. "Well, let me know what you dig up," said Andy. "Boy, I'd like to get my hands on the creep