6. The Hairy Clue

Chapter 6 The Hairy Clue "How are we going to find him?" Brian asked. "He could be anywhere!" "I have one idea." Lucy turned and pointed at the tent. "The silver acrobat left through the back of the tent, right?" "Right," Bradley said. Lucy turned again and pointed toward Main Street. "So maybe he went to town," she added. "Yeah!" Bradley said. "We can ask if anyone saw him." "So we're supposed to just ask everyone if they've seen some dude in silver tights?" Brian

asked with a big grin. "Why not?" asked Bradley. "Yeah, why not?" repeated Nate. "We have to try," Lucy said. "He or she could save the circus!" "Ha!" Brian said. "Lucy is right," Bradley said. "Where should we start?" They cut through Center Park and walked past Swan Pond. Two minutes later they were on Main Street. "Where would you go if you were an acrobat in silver tights?" Lucy asked. "I'd go home and change," Nate said. "I'd go to the fitness center and hide," Brian said. Bradley laughed. "I'd go to Ellie's Diner for ice cream!" he said. "Me too," Lucy said. The kids headed for Ellie's and crowded through the glass door. Ellie was making banana splits for four teenagers sitting in a booth. Bradley, Brian, and Nate sat at the counter and watched Ellie squirt whipped cream on top of the

sundaes. Lucy marched up to the booth. "Have you guys seen someone in silver tights?" she asked the four teenagers. "Boy or girl?" one of the boys asked Lucy. "We don't know," Lucy said. The teenagers looked at each other. "Nope, we haven't seen anyone in tights since we saw the Spider-Man movie!" Lucy joined the boys at the counter. "I haven't, either," Ellie said. "Who is it?" "That's what we're trying to find out," Bradley said. He and the other kids explained about the circus and the masked acrobat. "Wow," said Ellie. "I hope you find him or her. And if they need help tomorrow, let me know. I have a popcorn maker in my basement!" The kids thanked Ellie and headed next door to the fitness center. Bradley stopped at the desk. "Excuse me," he said to the man working there. "We're looking for someone in silver tights who might have come in a little while ago."

"Did you look in the gym?" the man asked. "Lots of people wearing tights in there." He pointed to a large window. Inside the gym, the kids saw people lifting weights, doing stretches, and walking on treadmills. Some of them wore workout tights. A couple of the outfits were silver. But none looked like the costume the acrobat was wearing. The kids left the fitness center and walked down Main Street. They asked Mrs. Wong in the pet shop. They stopped in the bookstore. They questioned an attendant at the gas station. "No one saw a silver acrobat," Bradley said in front of the bookstore. "Maybe the acrobat turned himself invisible!" Nate said. Brian poked Nate. "Maybe I'll turn you invisible!" he said. Bradley noticed Howard standing outside the window of his barbershop. Next to him was a sign that said SPECIAL SUNDAY HOURS 3–5. "Let's go ask Howard," Bradley said.

The other kids followed Bradley to the barbershop. "Did you four sell all your tickets?" Howard asked. "Yes, we did," Brian said. "But we have a problem." "Tell me," Howard said. "I love to listen to people's problems." Just then a man wearing a baseball cap rushed up to Howard. "Got time to cut my hair?" the man asked. Howard looked through his window at the wall clock. "It's almost five, so it'll have to be a fast one," he said. "Take off your hat." The man yanked off his cap. His bushy hair was standing up in all directions. Howard laughed. "You have a bad case of hat hair," he said, "but I'll take care of that. Go inside and have a seat." The man walked into Howard's shop. Bradley noticed Lucy watching him. He was trying to smooth down his spiky hair. "Sorry," Howard said to the kids. "I'm all ears!"

The kids explained about the circus and the acrobat who had vanished. "We don't know who it is," Nate said. "But all the people who bought tickets would love the act!"