Me? Help?

Chapter 10 Me? Help? “ Come with me! " Principal Murphy said. Claudia's face turned red. She had never been taken to the office before. I had. Lots of times. It meant I was in big trouble. And when I stepped into the office, I saw I was in big, BIG trouble!

The police chief was sitting behind the principal's desk. “ Here's Clyde! " Principal Murphy pushed me toward him. The police chief leaned closer. “ The Golden Monkey was stolen from the museum yesterday, " he said to me. I gulped. " And you think I took it?" " No, " the police chief said. “ But Principal Murphy said you run around a lot. So maybe you saw something yesterday at the museum that might help us catch the thief. " “ Think, Clyde! " Principal Murphy said. I tried. But it was hard to remember with everyone staring.

“ Think, Clyde! " Claudia said. " I can't! " I said as she grabbed my arm. It reminded me of what she did at the museum. Before I ran from her. And crashed into the guard. And . . . “ Wait a minute! " I said. " I saw a guard with a Golden Monkey. But I thought it was a toy, like mine. " I felt the Golden Monkey in my pocket. “ Hmm. So the guard is the thief, " the police chief said. “ Do you remember what he looks like, Clyde?"

“ Yes, " I said. " I'll never forget his face. " The police chief showed me pictures on the computer of all the museum guards. But none of them looked like the thief. " Are you sure?" the police chief asked. “ Yes, " I said. “ Maybe Clyde is making up a story about seeing the guard, " Principal Murphy said. " Or maybe, " Claudia said, “ the guard wasn't really a guard. " “ What?" everyone asked. Claudia smiled. She is good at figuring things out. She is also good at trying to keep me out of trouble.

“ Maybe the thief was dressed like a guard, " she said. " So he was in disguise, " the police chief said, rubbing his chin. “ That's how he escaped without being noticed. " “ Except by me, " I said. “ And maybe I can help you catch the thief. " The police chief stood. “ The thief has what he wants - the Golden Monkey, " he said. " I doubt he'll be back. " " But you two better get back to your class, " Principal Murphy said to Claudia and me. I looked up at the clock. Then I hurried with my sister to our classroom.