Miriam paced the floor slowly. She was trying to make it a habit, and it looked cool.

It was what detectives did when they were in the climax of thought. And though Miriam was only seven, she was most certainly a detective, and an experienced one at that. She took her cherry-flavored sucker out of her mouth, and turned to look across the room at her client. Miss Amelia, when was your brother arrested? she said, furrowing her brow. She spoke with a slight lisp, as she was missing her two front teeth. About eight minutes ago, seven-year-old Amelia said, wringing her hands. Miriam looked at her sternly. You should have told me sooner, she scolded. Amelia, much dismayed at this point, stood up. MIRIAM! she shouted, stamping her little foot, I came as soon as I could! Now I dont see why you should care when he was mercilessly dragged off to the time-out chair! I think you- Scuse me, maam, the thinking is my job, not yours, Miriam said coolly. I am an experienced detective, after all. Every little detail could be the key to unlock a mystery. Nancy Drew and Basil of Bakerstreet needed details too. Just sit back down and wait for my brilliant brain to think about what you have already told me. She stuck the red sucker back into her mouth, and began pacing once more. Amelia sat back down and crossed her arms. Miriam was not easy to be best friends with. However, she was a real detective, with a tin-foil badge and everything, so Amelia zipped her lips and scowled. Miss. Could you please tell me why your brother was arrested again? Miriam seemed to be onto something, so her voice was tense with excitement when she said that. Amelia sighed impatiently, and started all over again. Brandon and I were playing in the barn. We heard a crash from the kitchen, and so he went to investigate while I kept his back, just in case there were robbers in the kitchen and they tried to shoot him with stuff that would make him disappear or something. Miriam nodded with approval and motioned for Amelia to continue. Amelia obliged. So he snuck in through the screen door, and I followed at a safe distance. Someone had knocked down the cookie jar. Brandon stood there for a second. Suddenly, my big sister Clara came into the kitchen. She is watching us until mommy comes home. She saw Brandon, and saw the cookie jar on the floor, and dragged him off to the timeout chair. I tried to follow, but she stopped me

and told me to go play. So I ran here as fast as I could. Miriam nodded, and sat down at the desk, fashioned of two empty plastic boxes and a board. She began writing something on her sucker wrapper with her princess pen. She handed it to Amelia, and said with a grin, Your brother is as good as saved. Theres what you have to pay if I free him. Amelia looked at the wrapper. I dont know. Forty-three cents is a lotbut I can round it up somehow, she said and signed her name on the wrapper. Miriam solemnly nodded, put the paper in a jewelry box on the surface of the desk and said with gravity, A girl has got to make a living somehow. So many bills to pay. Skates cost an awful lot these days. Amelia nodded and watched with admiration as Miriam donned her costume; a brown baseball cap that had a small tin-foil shield pinned to it, a brown hoodie with the same symbol pinned on the front, and brown wallet with certain important looking odds and ends stuck into it. She put the latter into the hoodie pocket and walked out the door. She hung a sign on the garage door on which was scribbled, Employees only. Detective is on a case. Will be back shortly. The two girls walked down to Amelias house. She lived with her family on a small farm, and they had a pony named Tony and a dog named Yippee. The girls walked down the driveway to the barn where Brandon and Amelia had been playing before the incident. Miriam whipped out her magnifying glass, bent down and began to search for clues. About two minutes later, Miriam stood straight up and shook her head. No use, she said with an air of irritation. Yippee must have been here since. Amelia sighed and shook her head. She followed Miriam to the screen door where she had witnessed the arrest. Miriam looked at the ground through her handy-dandy magnifying glass, and entered into the kitchen. There she intently inspected the tile floor, tile by tile. Amelia watched patiently and with admiration. Suddenly, Miriam shouted triumphantly, Aha! A trail!

Amelia looked through the glass. Sure enough, a trail of triple-chocolate-coconut cookie crumbs led out of the kitchen, towards the dining room. Amelia was flabbergasted. She burst out, How did you find this so quickly? How did you know to look here? How did you Elementary, my dear, Miriam cut her off, stumbling over the word. She tapped the side of her nose. Lets follow the trail! But be careful. Who knows, the culprit may be around any corner, waiting for unsuspecting little girls. They proceeded to follow the trail. It led them through the dining room, through the den, down the hall, and disappeared right under the boys room door. Brandon and James (who were ten), Matthew (who was twelve) and George (who was fourteen) shared this room.The girls looked at the door. It looked rather foreboding, as there were signs tacked all over it that read, do not enter on pain of death and enter at your own risk and wear a hard hat;Destruction zone. There were darts pinning a Jolly Rancher flag to the door. Cmon, Miriam gulped. Boy rooms are rather intimidating to seven year old girls, especially when there could be criminals inside. It is imperative! We have got to catch the true culprit! Before she set her hand on the doorknob, she inspected it for fingerprints. Amelia watched timorously. Lets go! Miriam whispered, On the count of three. One No way! Amelia whispered, backing up, I have never been in there before. Two Im not supposed to! Its dangerous in there! Three! Miriam seized her clients arm and shoved the door open. There, sitting on one of the unmade beds, was James, Brandons twin brother. He had at least eight triple-chocolate-coconut cookies on his lap, and was munching on one, apparently much satisfied. Miriam shouted at the top of her lungs, Aha! The culprit! You are under arrest! Your evil scheme has been foiled, felon! Come out with your hands up.

He looked up when they entered, and shouted around his cookie to his younger sister, Get out or Ill tell Clara on you! Amelia stuck out her tongue at him and didnt budge. Miriam shouted back angrily, How could you? You stole all of those cookies and let your twin be blamed for it! How could you be so so so bad? Well, James said, what am I supposed to do? Go right up to Clara and say, here! I stole these cookies. Chop off my head now. I dont think so. So just buzz off and mind your own business, kay? With that, he took another bite of his cookie and ignored them. Miriam and Amelia could see it was hopeless this way. They slowly retreated and closed the door. Miriam said, Time to contact the higher authorities! Then they ran down the hall as fast as they could, and knocked on Claras room door vigorously. She was the oldest, so she got her own room. Clara opened the door, and smiled at them. Yes? she said, taking off the headphones she was wearing. Miriam stepped forward. Miss Clara! she said boldly, I am detective Miriam. She pulled out the wallet, and showed her a tin-foil shield that was stuck inside. Clara nodded with a grin tugging at her mouth, and waited for Miriam to continue. I am here to say that you have the wrong person in jail. Clara lifted an eyebrow, and said, No I dont. I saw Brandon in the kitchen with the cookie jar. He is always taking cookies, and this time he needs to be punished. He was going to take No he wasnt! I have evidence. Miriam stated. Brandon is always getting himself in trouble, but this time it is James fault! Come! I will prove it. The seven-year-olds led the fifteen year old down the hall to the boy room. Here, Miriam put a finger to her lips, and opened the door dramatically.

There, James was lying on his made bed, reading his history book. Miriam and Amelia looked at each other. James must have guessed what they were up to and hidden the evidence. Miriam said, He stole the cookies! We tracked him down and actually saw him, with our own eyes, eating cookies! Amelia nodded vigorously. James on the other hand, looked injured and said, I wouldnt do that! They are lying, Clara! Clara watched all this with an impassive look. Suddenly, she went over to the protesting James bed and pulled him off. She pulled the covers down, and, lo and behold, there were eight triplechocolate-coconut cookies sitting there. James didnt look up. He had guilt etched all over his face. As a real detective, Miriam could recognize that look anywhere. She said, You are under arrest. Brandons name is cleared!

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Miriam walked home, jingling the four dimes and three pennies in her pocket. Being a detective sure paid off. How happy Amelia and Brandon had been since the wanted criminal had been identified. Clara had given her a cookie, Amelia gave her a hug, and even Brandon had said, Good work, detective. Brandon was always getting himself in trouble, but this time it was all James fault. Miriam grinned as she said to herself, Case closed.