The Candy Shop Mystery

Mr. Peabottom was just closing up his candy shop on Dury Lane when he heard a very faint noise coming from the back of the shop ‘Hello?’ he began “is anybody there?” another noise came from closer now “hello? I’m calling the cops!” all of a sudden someone jumped out from behind the shelf containing the chocolates. Mr. Peabottom let out a startled cry. The ‘someone’ grabbed the chair in the corner of the store and hit Mr. Peabottom on the head. The next thing Mr. Peabottom knew, he was lying on the floor of the candy store in broad day light. He stood up “Whoa!” he said as he stumbled to the phone on the counter. He dialed the non-emergency number for the police “He-Hello” “Hello. What seems to be the problem?” said the police man on the phone. “My store was robbed last night” answered Mr. Peabottom “why didn’t you call last night then?” said the police man “Well I was unconscious” responded Mr. Peabottom “So then the robber assaulted you also?” demanded the officer “I guess.” Said Mr. Peabottom “but that’s not why I called you.” “We’ll be right there!” demanded the officer, and then he added “with our best detective!” Mr. Peabottom hung up the phone and let out a heavy sigh “they just never listen do they!?” he said to himself.

About five minutes later Mr. Peabottom spotted about five police cars down the road with an ambulance in tow. When the car stopped in front of the candy store Mr. Peabottom rushed out of the store. “Thank you for coming!” he said to the police man as he stepped out of the car. “You’re welcome” said the police officer “I’m officer Swarzenegger, and this is our best detective Leah Narning.” He said, gesturing to a young girl beside him. Mr. Peabottom stuck his hand out and officer Swarzenegger shook it warmly, Mr. Peabottom directed his hand to Leah. She looked at it and walked right by. Mr. Peabottom recoiled his hand. “She’s a bit hostile” Said a man behind him “Oh!” said Mr. Peabottom a bit startled “Hello” said the man “I’m Garry Libia. I just moved in across the street last week. Leah is…” he paused a little bit “An old family friend.” He chuckled and Mr. Peabottom wondered why.

As Leah searched the candy shop for clues, officer Swarzenegger was asking Mr. Peabottom questions “did you recognize the person who came into your shop last night?” he asked, “no” said Mr. Peabottom, “was anything stolen?” asked the officer “I don’t know!” responded Mr. Peabottom “well then go check!” said officer Swarzenegger and handed Mr. Peabottom two plastic gloves “wear these and your finger prints won’t get on anything!” Mr. Peabottom put on the gloves and started to look around. He was just about to open the cash register when a hand stopped him. Mr. Peabottom looked up and saw Leah “I already looked there” she said “was it empty?” Mr. Peabottom asked “yup!” said Leah “That was all the money I made in a month” said Mr. Peabottom “I was going to take it out today because, before today my bank account was being shut down for some unknown reason.”

Leah decided to change the subject “Did you talk to anybody the day before or after the ‘incident’?” Mr. Peabottom thought a little bit “well, I talked to Garry Libia but he said he just moved in across the street so he couldn’t have a motive.” “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” Said Leah “wait, did you say Garry Libia?” “Ya, why?” asked Mr. Peabottom “no reason. Anyone else?” Mr. Peabottom thought again “Miss. Dickens came into my store, and was mad because I ran out of her favourite chocolate. She said that she would get revenge for that. Man, she’s a crazy lady.” “Are you absolutely sure that, that’s it?” asked Leah “Ummm… No, there was this one young boy, about 17 years old. His name was Tony Nakamura. He was with his girlfriend, who just dumped him. Then he came to vent to me about it.” Said Mr. Peabottom. “Thank-you very much Mr. Peabottom” said Leah.

The next day the store was reopened and Mr. Peabottom was hard at work. Leah was pretending to be a costumer, so she could see what people have to say. “Why weren’t you open yesterday?” demanded Miss. Dickens. “Ummm… I needed a day off.” lied Mr. Peabottom “Well never ever do that again! I need my daily chocolate bar!” continued Miss. Dickens. After about an hour Tony Nakamura came into the shop “so Tony,” asked Mr. Peabottom “how’re you and your ‘girlfriend’ doing?” “We’re doing well now.” Said Tony “well that’s good” said Mr. Peabottom “Bye, Tony” Tony waved to Mr. Peabottom and then left the store.

Leah felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up and gasped “Garry, you’re not supposed to be here!” she hissed, slapping his hand off her shoulder “I know.” Said Garry slyly while rubbing the hand Leah smacked “Garry,” started Leah “did you do it?” “no.” said Garry calmly “do you know who did it?” asked Leah talking in a tone that sounded like she was talking to a baby “yup.” Said Garry flatly “can you tell me who did it?” asked Leah still in the baby voice “nope.” Said Garry and he left. Leah groaned. When Garry said no he meant no… Leah would have to turn on the charm.

“Mr. Peabottom” called Leah “I’m going to go shopping or something!” Leah didn’t know why she always told the middle aged man where she was going. Maybe it was because she felt it was her duty to tell him. Leah walked out the door and across the street, to Garry’s house. She was not happy about having to go there. But she needed to find out what he knew about the robbery. She knocked on the door and waited. No answer. Maybe she would have to come back later; she was just about to walk away when the door opened. She started to turn around when a hand was cupped over her mouth and a firm grip grabbed her left arm and pulled her in the house. “You shouldn’t have come here” said a gruff voice. Leah turned her head just enough, so she could see the hand on her arm. Is that the ring Miss. Dickens was wearing? she thought. The person pulled her through the house roughly and then dragged her down a steep flight of stairs, and sat her down in a wood chair. The person tied Leah to a chair. How the person managed to do this without showing its face is a mystery. But Leah did catch a glimpse of the persons face as it was walking away. It wasn’t Miss. Dickens, it was officer Swarzenegger.

Leah’s eyes took awhile to adjust to the darkness of the basement, but when they did she looked around. There sitting unconscious in a chair was Garry. “Garry!” Leah shout, whispered. Garry groaned. “Garry!” said Leah a bit louder now. “Huh?” said Garry “What happened?” “Hi Garry” Said Leah “oh! Hi, Leah.” “I’m assuming you had no idea who did it and you totally lied to me” said Leah smugly “yup” said Garry tediously “there you go again with the one word answers, you know that’s exactly why I broke up with you so many years ago.” Said Leah. “So many years ago? What are you talking about? It was only last year!” said Garry “shhhhhhh…” snapped Leah “listen!” they both shut up and listened. They heard officer Swarzenegger on the phone up stairs “Ya I got Leah” he said “and Garry? Yes! Okay come pick them up in five minutes. Bye!” “Hey, Garry.” Whispered Leah “is there any way you can pass me that knife on the table?” “I’ll try” said Garry and scooted his chair to the table and grabbed the knife, then scooted the chair back over to Leah. Leah grabbed the knife, put it up the rope and started sawing it “oh!” she gasped as the knife cut through the rope and pierced her skin, she untied her feet and stood up to go untie Garry.

Leah and Garry ran up the stairs to the kitchen “Garry, stay here!” Leah ordered, and called for backup, then ran to the den then she stopped short when she saw officer Swarzenegger. Leah backed up into the kitchen and went around the other side to the door; she dashed out the door and ran to Mr. Peabottom’s candy store “Mr. Peabottom” she yelled “I know who robbed your store!” “You do now. Who is it?” asked Mr. Peabottom anxiously “officer Swarzenegger.” They heard a police siren down the street and ran out of the candy store. The police cars stopped outside the candy store. And rushed into the house “you’re under arrest!” yelled the police men. Officer Swarzenegger cried out in alarm “H-How d-d-did you f-find out?”  “Leah here called us!” said the head police man while he was putting the hand cuffs on Officer Swarzenegger. “That’s what you get for robbing an innocent man” said Leah proudly. The police led Officer Swarzenegger out of the house and Garry put his hand on Leah’s shoulder, Leah dug her head onto Garry’s shoulder.

J !The End! J