IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! Three quick, classic cases.

A CHILDISH KIDNAPPING, PART THREE

QUESTIONING MR. WRIGHT

The detective already had a half-idea of what could be going on with this little mystery; still, it would only be good to hear from the accused – he wanted to test Miss Camden's resolve to help the case run smoothly as well. As soon as he opened the door again, any shame he might have felt about leaving her in such a situation dissolved: she was continuing the conversation with the policemen, showing no signs of strain while doing it. She was either a saint or an amazing actress; in any case, thirty percent was not enough compensation for such dirty work.

"Mr. Wright," he called, sustaining the dejected countenance of the man in front of him. It was hard to believe that someone could fake such a genuine looking feeling so well – it was possible, he had seen it with his own eyes in the past, just not common. In this instance, very improbable, although there was always a morbid voice in his head hoping for a more intricate and exciting explanation. "When was the last time you saw Timmy?"

"Yesterday, although you've been told countless times at this point, I imagine. I wanted to bid him goodbye after a long visit, and he started yelling for no apparent reason... to be fair to the child, detective, he's had a troubled life at a very young age... that's what I assumed was the cause, at the time, either that or he had been having a bad day. Besides, I can only imagine how difficult it must be having a stranger in his house, a man of all kinds of people, looking at the terrible experiences he went through."

"Haven't you been visiting the house for some time now? You're hardly a stranger."

He shook his head. "It's nothing, even in the small length of his life. I was ready to be patient for him, for her..." his voice faltered. "Patience is not enough. I should have realized something was off. Maybe that was a cry for help that I would have caught if not for my adult pride. I am, unfortunately, less than a stranger in his life."

Alderton sighed. "Mr. Wright, look at me," he said, and waited for the man to do so. "I do not think you were involved in the disappearance, or that you caused this in any way. What you're doing for this family is remarkable, don't doubt it for a minute. Timmy just needs more time to see that."

"I appreciate your words, detective. However, any second wasted with me would be better spent finding him. His mother has suffered enough."

"No need to worry, friend. It won't take long to find him, no more than a couple of hours, even less if it goes well."

The man's eyes widened in shock. "Less than two hours? Have you found the perpetrator, or where he's being kept?"

"Patience, Mr. Wright, all will be revealed soon enough. Let's get out of here."

CAMDEN AND ALDERTON'S NOTES

Timmy Osborn: the kidnapped boy. He wrote the ransom note, was last seen yesterday by his mother.

Mrs. Osborn: the mother of the victim. Heard Timmy argue with Wright.

Mr. Wright: benefactor, old friend of the deceased husband and father.

Margaret Hardin: young woman who visits the family often, witness to the benefactor's first appearance. Is hiding something, involved in the ordeal?

Mr. Hardin: Margaret's father, has bad temper ! Good Great at surveillance.

REFLECTIONS

Alderton sprinted out of the door, ignoring Mr. Hardin's attempt to talk to him, paying him no attention whatsoever, and finally going to Miss Camden's rescue, from what must have been the closest thing to purgatory that can exist on earth. The policemen were still telling some story, this time he managed to hear enough words to realize that it pertained to a case they had worked on.