Okay, tell us the whole story from the beginning,” Nancy said to Petra. “When did Prince Fabian’s collar disappear?”
Nancy, Bess, and George were sitting in Petra’s living room. They had rushed over right after Petra had called.
Prince Fabian and Chip were playing in the backyard. Nancy could see them through the big picture window in the living room. They were digging a hole near the flowerbeds. Dirt was flying everywhere. Nancy hoped Petra’s parents didn’t mind.
Petra glared at Nancy. “I really don’t know why we’re having this conversation. Just admit it, Nancy. You stole Prince Fabian’s collar!” she accused.
“Nancy is not a thief!” Bess said huffily.
George came to Nancy’s defense, too. “Yeah, that’s right!”
“Why would I steal Prince Fabian’s collar?” Nancy asked Petra.
Petra shrugged. “I don’t know. Because you’re getting back at me for stealing Chip’s collar, which I totally didn’t do? Because you didn’t want to buy a new collar? Whatever! I just want you to give back Prince Fabian’s collar. Or I’m telling my mom!”
“Petra,” Nancy said patiently. “I didn’t steal Prince Fabian’s collar. But I will help you find out who did. I need some information from you, though.” She pulled her blue notebook out of her pocket and took the cap off her pen.
Petra looked suspicious. “Information? What kind of information?” she demanded.
“Like, when was the last time you noticed Prince Fabian wearing his collar?” Nancy asked. She turned to a fresh page in her notebook.
Petra looked thoughtful. “Welllll . . . I guess that would have been at breakfast. I fed him a bowl of Doggie-O’s and strawberries. He likes strawberries. I noticed that he was wearing the collar then.”
“Uh-huh,” Nancy said, scribbling. “And when did you notice that the collar was missing?”
“I guess about an hour ago,” Petra replied.
“Were you and Prince Fabian here all morning?” George asked her.
Petra nodded. “Yup.”
“How about guests or whatever? Did you have any friends over?” Bess piped up.
“That Mrs. Vanderpool lady came over to visit my mom and dad,” Petra said. “She and my mom are on some committee or something. That weird kid was with her. Luke or whatever.”
“Lucas,” Nancy said slowly. She, Bess, and George exchanged a glance.
Nancy’s mind began to race. Lucas had been at the Dashing Dog Pet Salon on Friday, when Chip’s collar had disappeared. When Nancy and her friends were at his grandmother’s house, he had acted really strange. And today Petra said that he was at her house—right before Prince Fabian’s collar disappeared.
It was obvious. Lucas must be the collar thief!
Nancy jumped to her feet. “Come on,” she said to Bess and George.
“What?” George said. “Where are we going?”
“To catch our collar thief,” Nancy said excitedly.
When Nancy, Bess, and George arrived at Mrs. Vanderpool’s house, there was a long row of cars parked in the driveway. The stone Yorkie statues along the front path were lit up with sparkly white holiday lights.
“I wonder what’s going on?” Nancy said.
When the girls knocked on the door, the maid answered. “I’m afraid Mrs. Vanderpool is entertaining,” she apologized.
Five Yorkies came running up to the door. They jumped up on the maid and made yipping noises. “Stop that! Down!” she ordered them.
“Did Mrs. Vanderpool get a bunch of new ankle biters . . . I mean, Yorkies?” George asked her.
The maid shook her head. “No. The members of her kennel club are here. They all own Yorkies.”
“Myra, who’s there?”
Mrs. Vanderpool came to the front door. She was wearing a red-and-green holiday sweater with a Yorkie design on it. “Come in, come in,” she greeted the girls. “Did you change your mind about selling me that lovely Stella Sipowitz collar?” she asked Nancy.
Nancy was surprised. Mrs. Vanderpool must not know that the collar is missing, she thought.
Out loud, she said, “We’re here to visit Lucas.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Mrs. Vanderpool exclaimed. “I think he’s up in his room.”
Nancy tied Chip’s leash to the stair railing and promised to come right back. Then the girls followed the maid and Mrs. Vanderpool into the house.
There were Yorkies running around everywhere, yipping at each other. Nancy could see at least ten people in the living room. They were standing around and drinking coffee. They didn’t seem to notice all the noise that the Yorkies were making.
“Third door on the right,” Mrs. Vanderpool said, nodding at the stairs. “I’m sure Lucas will be glad to see you.”
She excused herself and went back to her guests. Nancy and her friends started to go upstairs.
Then Nancy caught sight of Lucas. He was walking down the hallway, away from the living room and all the guests. He kept slipping his hand in and out of his shirt pocket. He didn’t seem to notice Nancy and her friends.
“There he is!” Nancy whispered to Bess and George. “Let’s follow him!”
“Where do you think he’s going?” Bess whispered back.
“I don’t know,” Nancy replied. “But he seems to have something in his pocket.”
“Maybe it’s the collar,” George whispered.
“Or the collars, plural!” Bess corrected her.
The three girls followed Lucas down the hallway. They tried to walk as quietly as possible. Every few seconds they ducked behind a piece of furniture so Lucas wouldn’t spot them.
Lucas soon reached a door at the end of the hallway. He opened it and started down a set of stairs.
“He’s going down to the basement,” Nancy whispered.
They followed him down the stairs on tiptoes. The light in the basement was dim.
At the bottom Lucas stopped and reached into his shirt pocket. He began to pull something out. . . .
“Stop! Hand over the stolen loot!” Nancy cried out.