The Golden Book: The Last Chance Detectives

To Tell Or Not To Tell?

Now I know you are confused. I would be too. Let's do some backstory to help you out. It was a week ago, and the detectives were having a meeting. They were investigating a wacky case. If you think about it technically all the cases they have been working on lately have been weird, but this specific case took the cake. If you had all the facts of the case it would be quite easy to understand. The four friends on the other hand, to put simply, had no clue. Oh, they had plenty of them actually, but they couldn't see or connect them. The only thing that made sense was that nothing made sense! Well for the beginning of the case that is.

"Ugh, why does this case have to be so annoying!" Winnie said with a crabby attitude. "Honestly we are the Last Chance Detectives!"

"Well...maybe we should just call it a day then. We are all tired anyway." Mike suggested. Ben and Spence nodded their agreement, but their exhausted agreement only made Winnie crankier.

"NO! We are not quitting now! I have been here all day! Did we stop when Ben was accused of being delirious for seeing mysticall lights? No. Did we stop when Spence thought he found a new star? No. And did we stop when Mike was apprehended by robbers, dropped to die in the middle of the desert, and then bit by a rattlesnake?! NO we didn't. I put off all my plans for my Saturday to help you guys with this case! We most certainly are not going home until we get SOMETHING STRAIGHT! UNDERSTAND?!" Winnie was not exactly ready to give up. So the others like soldiers they sat up, did there salute, smiled and said,

"Ya we can do this. Like Winnie said, we are The Last Chance Detectives, the best in Ambrosia, in fact maybe the best in Arizona!" Maybe Ben was exaggerating a bit, but this was just the push they needed to keep going.

"Ok, we can do this, let's get to work. Spence, when did you see the man with the papers?"

"Umm oh I saw him Tuesday. I was there to treat myself with my favorite granola yogurt. I got 100% on all my report cards so I thought that I would give myself a pat on the back so to speak." 

 Spence seemed not to understand why everyone was gapping at him. "What last time I only got a 97. 3% is a lot. Get it together people!" 

The detectives shook their heads in wonder for a moment then they got back to work. They went on like this for another couple hours. When the sun was setting they finally went home. They were all satisfied. The Missing Link case had been bothering them, but not anymore they just needed one last clue, and that was exactly what they got when Winnie invited Mike to the play. So now I am sure you are dying to know what the Missing Link case even is and that is exactly what I am going to tell you.

As you probably know Mike's dad went MIA a year ago after his plane crashed in the Middle East. Everyone was waiting, hoping for him to be found, but he never was. Most lost hope and moved on with their lives. Mike on the other hand held on to a strand of hope that he would be found. Everything was pointing away from his dad until Mike found his dad's old journal in his grandfather's old B-17 Bomber. 

 This reignited his hope and want to find him. Only one problem though. Most of the book was in another language, written in riddles, and/or missing chapters. He interpreted most of it, but it eventually wasn't giving him any information that would help in the search. So Mike put it away. That was until a mysterious person broke into the headquarters (B-17) and stole it from its bookshelf.

This is what confused Mike the most. 

  Why would someone want to take my Dad's journal and just take that and nothing else. They could have taken anything but they took my dad's journal. There wasn't anything in there to help anyone, even robbers. Or was there? 

This often consumed Mike's thoughts. He knew his dad had recovered many things in the world, but if there was anything in the journal of importance, someone wouldn't have already taken it. 

Wouldn't they have? 

This and many questions controlled the minds of the young detectives. It controlled them so much it was even hard for them to focus on their school work and for Mike it was especially difficult. This is why the detectives took their Saturday to focus on the case. Of course they didn't tell Mike's grandfather, Pop who owns the B-17 and The Last Chance Diner nearby. They didn't know exactly why they didn't tell anyone about the robbery, but they felt if they kept it to themselves there would be less chance the thief would catch on to them. What they didn't know was that the thief was just going to give it back.

A week later, which was a week before the play, the thief broke in again in the night and returned the journal back to its original place. When the detectives came back after school that day they didn't notice anything until Ben was going through his comics that he placed on the book shelf and only then did he barely even notice. They were so confused. Who takes something only to give it back a week later?

Mike had been studying the journal intently since the robbery and return. He didn't share all the things that he found but he did share some. The detectives thought that there wasn't much to say but Mike was actually on the verge of something he thought was significantly huge. So there in that time and place he decided to keep his fathers secret to himself, it was too dangerous to put his friends in between him and whoever was after his dad. It was his problem. Not theirs.

He had everything lined up the who the what and the time just not the where. So when Winnie came in the bomber (which starting now we don't talk about) he had it all peaced together. Unfortunately for Mike when he was jumping for joy Winnie had figured there was something Mike was hiding from her.

"Mike, I don't think you are screaming and jumping around because of the invitation to the play. What are you keeping from us now? I thought me and you were past that. I guess not. I would have understood why you would have kept this from Ben even Spence, just I thought you would have told me...considering..." Mike was confused. What was Winnie talking about? She literally went from asking a question to getting emotional, this so unlike her...and what did she mean by considering...I don't...she doesn't...does she? Well I can't let her know especially since this and her play better make it seem like I don't know what she is talking about.

"I don't know what you are talking about, but apparently there is something you aren't telling me. Considering? Considering what? You think I have secrets? Well maybe you should check yourself before you accuse me of lying." 

"Oh you think I am the one with secrets well then next time I have a case I am going to solve it myself, and the next time I need help I will go to Spence and Ben because maybe they won't lie to me!"

"Fine if that is what you want then do that. I don't care and besides I am done with you and Ben's childish squabbles. You guys aren't going to last five seconds without me." At this point Mike and Winnie were headed for the door.

"Liers first," Winnie said in a grand bow. Mike was done with whether he was leaving if she grandly let him out or not.

"At least it is better than whatever you are." Mike said with a choke that he covered with a cough. Winnie couldn't believe what had actually happened; she was just trying to make a better relationship with Mike. It wasn't like I was asking him to admit to liking me! Well I am surprised that he hasn't said anything. That is so dumb keeping his feelings from his best friends. More importantly from me! Who does that?! Ugh I don't even know why I like him! He is soooo stuck up! Brags about being smart, is always keeping to himself hiding his feelings from the sun. He is going to go cold...WELL I DON'T CARE! Winnie Screamed inside her raging mind. She didn't know what to think or what to feel now but she was mad so she was going to go with that. AHHHH–

From a distance (as she turned) she could see Mike storming off in the other direction. She could almost feel his frustration from a mile away. She felt slightly guilty. 

I shouldn't have put so much pressure on him, he is going through a lot and I was supposed to be his friend...WELL HE BLEW THAT! THAT LITTLE– 

For a moment she was calm then she blew up again.

Meanwhile Mike was doing the same thing. I suppose the reason the two fight so much is because they are the same. I might be wrong but that is what I think. Anyway Mike was headed downtown. He was going to get supper, go back to the B-17, and then prove himself. He didn't know why he had an urge to prove himself to someone, but if there was anyone who doubted him or his capabilities he would show them! Just in case. 

 Once he finds the Golden Book.

  She'll see. They'll see They all will see...