Catch a Crooked Clown (4 page)

Brian glanced at the rumpled bed. “Mr. Moroney, did you just get up?” he asked.

“Unfortunately,” Mr. Moroney answered. “I’m usually up bright and early, but I didn’t sleep well, what with one thing and another. I guess I was catching up on some shut-eye.”

Sean glanced around. “Where’s your costume?”

“Why, where it’s supposed to be, in the costume tent.”

“The costume!” Brian shouted. “We didn’t check to see if it was there!”

“See you later, Dad,” Dan said as he, Brian, and Sean rushed out of the trailer.

They made a dash to the costume tent. There was the clown costume on its hanger, the big shoes side by side underneath, and the wild yellow wig on its Styrofoam stand. Every part of the costume was just where it should be.

A car pulled up just outside, and they could hear Sergeant Kerry’s voice. “I’d like to speak to Marco Moroney,” he told someone.

Brian, Sean, and Dan followed Sergeant Kerry as he was taken to the Moroney’s trailer by one of the circus employees.

As Mr. Moroney came to the door and glanced down at Sergeant Kerry, his smile changed into a worried frown. “What can I do for you, Sergeant?” he asked.

“I’d like to talk to you about your whereabouts this morning,” Sergeant Kerry said.

“I was right here,” Mr. Moroney told him.

“During the last half hour.”

Mr. Moroney looked puzzled. He walked down the steps of the trailer and stood before Sergeant Kerry. “I told you. I was here, asleep. I just got up a few minutes ago.”

“That’s right,” Dan said.

Sergeant Kerry ignored Dan. He said to Mr. Moroney, “Crackers the Clown was seen half an hour ago in a large drugstore out on the highway. One of those chain stores that’s open twenty-four hours a day. After Crackers left, the clerks noticed that some display watches on the counter were missing.”

“That wasn’t Dad!” Dan insisted.

Brian stepped forward. “We were with Mr. Moroney just a few minutes ago. He had just finished shaving.”

“Then you didn’t actually see him in bed, asleep.”

“Well, no,” Brian said.

“We did see Crackers, though!” Sean burst out. “We saw the clown run into the costume tent. We went after him, but when we got there the tent was empty. So we went to find Mr. Moroney, and just like Bri told you, Mr. Moroney had just got out of bed and was shaving.”

“What time was it when you saw the clown?” Sergeant Kerry asked Sean.

“I don’t know,” Sean said. “Ten or fifteen minutes ago?”

Brian looked embarrassed. “I didn’t look at my watch.”

“How about half an hour ago?” Sergeant Kerry asked. “Did you see Mr. Moroney at that time?”

Brian and Sean reluctantly shook their heads.

Mr. Moroney opened the door to his trailer.

“Officer, I’d like you to come in and look around. You won’t find those watches here, because I didn’t take them. I’ve never set foot inside that drugstore you mentioned.”

He walked into his trailer, leaving the door open wide. Sergeant Kerry took a step forward, but Brian grabbed his arm. “Someone is dressing in that clown costume and trying to make Mr. Moroney look guilty,” he said. “Witnesses have seen a clown, but they haven’t seen Mr. Moroney inside the costume. Everything you’ve got against Mr. Moroney is nothing more than circumstantial evidence.”

“That’s right,” Kerry said. “But when we find the stolen property…”

Brian interrupted. “Before you do, I’m sure that Sean and I can figure out who the real thief is.”

Sergeant Kerry shook his head. “I’m afraid this time you boys are wrong. However, whatever you have in mind—well, at least you can give it a try.”

Brian pulled out his notebook and sat down on the ground. He motioned to Sean and Dan to join him. “We’ve got something we can figure out right now that might help us rule out some of our suspects,” Brian said. “Which ones can fit into the Crackers costume?”

Dan, who’d been looking scared and miserable ever since Sergeant Kerry had arrived, sat up straight. “Way to go!” he said.

“Dale Erhard wouldn’t be able to get into the costume,” Sean said. “He’s at least six inches taller than Mr. Moroney, and a lot heavier.”

“Ray Spangler isn’t heavier, but he’s a good head taller than Dad,” Dan said. “I don’t see how he’d fit either.”

Brian looked up from his notes. “Gus Hart is overweight, but the costume is baggy. He might be able to squeeze into it.”

Sean thought a moment. “The way I remember it, the costume kind of hung on the clown. It wouldn’t do that if it was stretched out over a fat stomach.”

“Good point,” Brian said. He crossed out Gus Hart’s name, too.

“That leaves us with Eric Lewis,” Sean said.

Brian nodded. “He was arrested for shoplifting, he was there when the lion got loose, he threatened us, and he could fit inside Crackers’s costume.”

“Is that it?” Dan asked. “Do we tell the police to arrest Eric?”

“It’s not that simple,” Brian said. “We only have suspicions, not proof. We have to collect evidence and build a case.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that our next step is to find out exactly where every one of our suspects was when the first thefts took place. We have the exact time—4:02 p.m.”

“Who should we start with?” Sean asked.

“Our number one suspect, Eric Lewis,” Brian said.

None of them got to their feet. They looked at each other, and Sean could tell they were all thinking the same thing. Was it safe to question Eric? He was an awfully scary guy!

E
RIC LEWIS SNARLED AS
Brian asked, “Where were you Thursday afternoon at four o’clock?”

“None of your business,” Eric answered.

Dan tried to prompt him. “You were helping to put up the tents, weren’t you?”

“Everybody knows that,” Eric said. “Go away.”

He leaned toward Brian and scowled.

Brian wished he were anyplace else, yet he didn’t back down. “We want to prove that Marco Moroney didn’t steal from the stores in Redoaks,” he said. “We need you to help us.”

Eric’s laugh was bitter. “How am I supposed to help? By confessing to a crime I didn’t commit? You kids go home and play baseball. Stop snooping around here.”

Brian didn’t move. “You didn’t answer my question about what you were doing,” he said.

“What was I doing?” Eric snapped out the words. “For your information, I was working hard, as I always do, and I don’t like your suspicions. I told you to stop snooping around here or you’d be sorry. You didn’t pay attention the first time, but you’d better listen to me now!”

Eric stomped off before Brian could say another word.

“I think he did it,” Sean whispered.

“Remember, a good investigator keeps an open mind,” Brian said. “Let’s talk to Ray Spangler.”

They found Mr. Spangler sunning himself in a canvas folding chair outside the Spanglers’ trailer. He brought down his feet from the small folding table on which they’d been propped and smiled. “What can I do for you boys?” he asked.

“Just answer a question,” Brian said.

Mr. Spangler laughed. “Like ‘Where were you the night of the murder?’ ”

“You got it,” Brian said. “Only change it to: ‘Where were you at four o’clock, Thursday afternoon?’ ”

“That’s an easy answer,” Mr. Spangler said. “Laura Lee was napping inside our trailer, and I was playing cards right here in this very spot with Pinkie Jones. Pinkie’s the elephant trainer. Pinkie and I finished our game around four-fifteen, and he left. Laura woke up around four-thirty, and we went for a drive. We like to get a look at some of the towns we visit.” He smiled. “Redoaks is a nice little place. I bet you like living here.”

“Yeah, we do,” Sean began, but Brian held up a hand.

“Let’s get back to your answer, Mr. Spangler. If we ask Pinkie Jones where he was, will his story be the same as yours?”

“Absolutely,” Mr. Spangler said.

“Then Pinkie’s your alibi,” Sean said.

Mr. Spangler’s friendly attitude quickly disappeared. “I don’t need an alibi. I didn’t commit the crime,” he said.

Dan led Brian and Sean to Pinkie Jones. Pinkie told them that on Thursday afternoon he’d been playing cards with Ray Spangler while Laura Lee was sleeping. “Did you see Laura Lee?” Brian asked. “Do you know for sure she was in the trailer?”

“Nope. I left before she woke up.”

“Do you remember what time you were with Mr. Spangler?”

Mr. Jones shook his head. “I haven’t worn a watch for years,” he said. “Don’t need one. Spangler said it was four-fifteen, and he thought he’d wake up Laura Lee so they could go for a drive.”

“That means you can’t really be sure of the time,” Brian said. He made another note.

“Why’d I need to look at a watch when somebody had just told me the time?” Mr. Jones asked. He spread out his arms. “Look, that’s all I know. There’s nothing more I can tell you.”

“Thanks,” Brian said. As soon as Mr. Jones was out of hearing range, he glanced at his notes. “Sergeant Kerry said that Gus Hart claimed he was at home, going over his expenses. He’d left his store in the hands of his manager.”

“Why is Mr. Hart still a suspect?” Sean asked.

“Take a look back by the animals’ cages,” Brian said.

Sean turned to see what Brian meant. There was Mr. Hart, poking with a cane inside and around the bales of hay that were stacked and ready for use.

“What’s he doing?” Dan whispered.

“Why don’t we ask him?” Brian said.

He, Sean, and Dan walked up behind Mr. Hart, who was so busy he hadn’t noticed them. He jumped and yelped when Brian asked, “What are you looking for, Mr. Hart?”

Mr. Hart leaned against the hay. He put one hand on his chest and breathed deeply.

“Don’t scare me like that!” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Brian said. “I just asked what you’re looking for.”

“My property!” Mr. Hart said. “That clown hid it around here somewhere, I know. Once I find it, the police can arrest that clown, and put him in jail, and Redoaks will get rid of all these traveling shows.”

Eric stepped out from behind the bales of hay. He glowered at Mr. Hart. “You don’t belong here,” he said. “Get off the property! Now!”

“I-I have a r-right to search for my stolen property!” Mr. Hart said.

Eric’s lips twisted in a nasty smile. “Or maybe plant some jewelry that the police can find later.”

Mr. Hart’s face grew red, and he sputtered. “That’s a crazy idea! I’d never! I—I—”

Eric shoved his face into Mr. Hart’s. “Get out of here!” he shouted.

Mr. Hart turned and ran.

“You, too,” Eric said to Brian.

“In a minute,” Brian said.

He motioned for Sean and Dan to follow him to the main tent where two workers were sweeping.

“Hi,” Brian said. “Did any of you see Eric on Thursday afternoon at four o’clock?”

One of the men smiled. “Probably. Off and on.”

The other man said, “Eric’s not too dependable. Sometimes he’s on hand, workin’ up a sweat. Then sometimes you need him, and he’s off behind a pile of tarps takin’ a snooze.”

“Then you can’t say for sure Eric was here at the circus lot at four o’clock?” Brian asked.

“Nope,” the first man said, “but ask around. You might find somebody who was workin’ with him.”

Brian began walking toward Dale Erhard’s trailer. “Last on our list,” he said to Sean and Dan.

As they approached the trailer, they could hear loud voices arguing.

“Why don’t you listen to reason, Marco?” Mr. Erhard shouted angrily. “I keep telling you, we’re losing so much money the circus is going to fail. Why let that happen and lose everything?”

“Maybe there’s something we can still do,” Mr. Moroney said. “More publicity? Bigger ads in the newspapers?”

“That won’t work. If you’re smart, you’ll sell out to me. It will be a struggle, but, without the profits being divided in two, I think I can make a go of it.”

“No!” Mr. Moroney thundered. “The circus has been in my family for three generations. I’m not going to give it up!”

“That’s stupid!”

“I don’t care what you think! It’s my decision!

Mr. Moroney slammed open the trailer door. The boys ducked out of sight as he stomped toward his own trailer.

Brian led the way through the still-open door into Mr. Erhard’s trailer and said, “Is it okay if we ask you a question?”

Mr. Erhard sighed. “One question. What is it?”

“Where were you at four o’clock on Thursday afternoon?” Brian asked.

Mr. Erhard had to think for a moment before he answered, “Right here. I was busy writing the weekly salary checks for the circus help.”

“Did anyone see you here?”

“No one.”

“Can anyone give you an alibi?”

“I made two phone calls during that time,” Mr. Erhard said wearily. “But I imagine the police have already checked those out.”

He frowned. “Look, kids, I’m tired. You said you’d ask one question, and I think you asked three. No more. That’s it. Go home.”

“Thanks for your help,” Brian said

After they left the trailer, Dan groaned and said, “We didn’t learn anything.”

“Yes, we did,” Sean said.

“What? That everybody was here? That nobody could have stolen the stuff except my dad?”