7. Officer Fallon’s Trade

Chapter 7 Officer Fallon's Trade The kids thanked Mr. Paskey. As they were leaving, he said, "Happy reading!" "This is a mess," Ben said. "Nobody thinks Lucky stole those dumb leprechauns, but he's still in jail." Bradley could see the police station across Main Street. "Let's go talk to Officer Fallon," he said. "Tell him what you told us. Maybe he'll believe you if we go with you." The six kids crossed the street to the police station.

Inside, they walked down a quiet hallway. They passed a room where two officers were dressing a leprechaun statue in a tiny police suit. Officer Fallon was at his desk sipping tea when the kids walked in. "Hello, gang," he said. "What brings you here?" "We came to see Lucky," Ben said. "Is he okay?" "Your brother is very comfortable," Officer Fallon said. "We want to confess!" Ralphie said. Officer Fallon raised his bushy eyebrows. "What do you mean, Ralphie?" "We did it. Ben and me." Ralphie and Ben told Officer Fallon how they had stolen all three leprechauns the night before. "We hid them in Lucky's closet," Ben said. "We were gonna return them, honest!" Ralphie cried. "We did it to get back at Lucky," Ben went on. "We were mad at him, so we lied and told Bradley

that it was Lucky. And we're really sorry!" Everyone got quiet. Bradley could feel his heart beating too fast. "Officer Fallon, who told you that Lucky stole the leprechauns?" he asked. "We talked to Mrs. Wong and Mr. Paskey, and they said they didn't tell you." Officer Fallon looked at Bradley. He tugged on an earlobe. He smoothed his mustache. "I'm afraid I can't tell you," he finally answered. "Not while an investigation is going on." Officer Fallon stood up. "Ben and Ralphie, you're very brave to admit what you did," he said. "Now just go get the statues and return them to their owners. Then I'll let Lucky out of jail." "But that's the problem," Ben said. "The leprechauns aren't in the closet anymore." "Well, where are they?" Officer Fallon asked. "We don't know!" Ralphie wailed. Bradley thought the poor kid was going to burst into tears.

Officer Fallon looked down at the O'Leary brothers. "You don't know where the leprechauns are?" "No," Ben mumbled. "Someone stole them from Lucky's closet!" Ralphie said. "Oh, now I see," Officer Fallon said. "First you stole them, then you hid them, then someone else stole them, right?" "Right!" Ben and Ralphie both said. "Some stranger walked into your house and took three leprechauns from Lucky's closet?" Officer Fallon asked. Ben and Ralphie nodded. "Well, we have a problem," Officer Fallon said. "I can't let Lucky out of jail until the stolen goods are returned." "But—but we don't know where they are," Ralphie stuttered. Officer Fallon sighed. "Sorry, kids, that's the way it will have to be. We'll make a trade. When

you give me the leprechauns, I'll give you Lucky."