Chapter 3

The school kitchen was a mess. It was also a crime scene.

The floor was covered in crushed pasta, shredded cheese, and spilled flour.

There were footprints in the flour. They matched the size of Mrs. Peterson’s shoes. She must have walked through the mess before we got here.

“You ruined it, Mrs. Peterson,” I said.

“Excuse me?” Mrs. Peterson crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“You ruined the evidence with your footprints when you walked through the flour,” I said. “Crime scenes need to be left untouched for a mystery to be solved.”

“Well, I’m very sorry for that.”

“Were you baking with licorice?” I asked.

“Licorice? The candy?” Mrs. Peterson said. “Why would I be using licorice to make macaroni and cheese? And why so many questions?”

“Myron is a detective,” Mr. Harpel said.

“Is he a magician, too? Because I need someone to make my morning snacks reappear.”

“I am not a magician,” I said. “But I can tell you the thief was eating licorice.”

Mrs. Peterson stared at the mess on the table and floor.

“I don’t see any candy, Mr. Detective,” she said.

“I don’t either,” I said. “But I can smell it. Can’t you?” Mr. Harpel and Mrs. Peterson shook their heads. Not surprising. No one can ever smell the things I do. Just like they never hear the things I hear. Mom says I have superpowered senses. I can hear which radio station the neighbor three yards over is listening to on a summer day. I can tell when Sofia needs her diaper changed, even if she’s in the other room. As far as superpowers go, I would rather have X-ray vision.

A large shadow fell across the doorway to the kitchen.

“What’s going on? I heard a scream. Is everyone okay?”

It was Principal Rainer. She was thin and wrinkled and wore thick shoes with laces.

“We’re okay,” Mrs. Peterson said. “But we’ve been robbed.”

“Start from the beginning,” I said.

Principal Rainer looked at me. “Hello, Myron. Are you enjoying your first day at West Meadows Elementary?”

“I am,” I said. “And I’m going to solve this mystery.”

“Myron is a detective, Principal Rainer,” Mr. Harpel said.

“Is he now?” Principal Rainer chuckled. “Perhaps you should go back to your class, Myron.” She turned to Mr. Harpel and raised her eyebrows. “I have an idea who is behind this mess.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’ll stay and help.”

“Myron, we should listen to Principal Rainer and go back to our classroom,” Mr. Harpel said.

“I won’t be able to solve the mystery from the classroom.” I walked farther into the kitchen. I stopped by a wooden door in the far wall. The smell of licorice was suddenly very strong.

“What’s in here?”

Mrs. Patterson shrugged. “It’s a closet. Just my coat.”

The door burst open. A small girl jumped out of the closet.

“And me!” the girl said. She tumbled through the mess on the floor and jumped to her feet. She held her arms out wide like a gymnast.

“Hajrah!” Mrs. Patterson said.

“Chef Hajrah here!” she announced. “Ready to take your order.” Hajrah wore an apron that was too big for her and a chef’s hat that slipped down her forehead. She ran up to Principal Rainer with one hand held out flat like a notepad. In her other hand, she held a black stick and used it like a pencil.

“Licorice!” I said. That’s why I’d smelled the candy.

“Hajrah, what are you doing here?” Principal Rainer said.

“Taking your order for lunch!” Hajrah said. “What will it be?”

“This isn’t the time for your games.” Principal Rainer scowled.

Hajrah nodded. “Just water for the principal. No problem.”

She ran over to Mr. Harpel.

“Howdy, Mr. Harpel. What can I get you?”

“You make an excellent chef, Hajrah, but we’re trying to solve a mystery.”

“A mystery!” Hajrah said. “I love mysteries! Who’s playing the role of the sleuth?”

“I am,” I said. “My name is Myron. I’m a detective.”

“Awesome!” Hajrah pulled the chef’s hat from her head and spun around to face me. Her long, dark braid spun with her. She caught it in one hand, pushed it back over her right shoulder, and grinned. “I’ll be your detective partner.”

“I don’t want a partner,” I said. My brain began to itch. “I work alone.”

“No problem. We’ll work alone together. Like a team!”

“I don’t like teams,” I said. I scratched my head but couldn’t get to the itch under my scalp. Hajrah was going to ruin everything. This mystery was the only good thing to happen at my new school. Now I was stuck on a team I didn’t sign up for. I was not good at teams. Hajrah was not good at taking no for an answer. She turned to Principal Rainer.

“We accept the case! West Meadows Detective Agency at your service.”

Hajrah took a deep bow, as if she were onstage at the school holiday concert. No one clapped.

She stuffed the rest of her licorice into her mouth, put her arm around me, and pulled me in close for a hug.

“This mystery-solving stuff is going to be so much fun!” she said between licorice chews.