Like in any small town, Summer Texas was a quiet place were everyone know each other. Or so they thought. On Tuesday, Beatty Sue was driving past the old McDuck place when she notice police cars all over the place. I wonder what happened Betty thought. She kept driving even though she really wanted to get out and see what was going on.
The next day, it was all over the news that Mr. McDuck had been murdered in his house on Autumn street. The Summer time news headline said "Mr. Bob McDuck shot in own house." Everyone in the small town was who led and wonder who did it. The police were saying that it was just random, but not everyone thought so.
"Well, I would who would kill a man so nice as Mr. McDuck in the first place", said Betty out loud to herself as she ate breakfast and read the paper. Betty Sue was a well known, small time investigator that had grown up loving mysteries. Betty's long time boyfriend, Jacob O' Nielsen walked in as she finished reading the paper. "It is a shame that Mr. McDuck was killed. He was a nice man." Jacob said as he scanned the headlines. Mr. McDuck was one of the nicest people in town. When you needed help he was there for you. He did odd jobs to pay his bills and to help his friends in need. "I think that there is something weird about his death. Something does not add up right." Betty said. Jacob rolled his eyes and said. "There you go again. Looking for a new mystery." Betty slapped his arm. "Hey watch it! No, I think you could be right. It does sound fishy." Jacob sometimes helped Betty on the many mystery's that Betty solved.
Before Betty could answer, the phone rang. "I get it." Betty said as she walked to the phone. "Hello." She said. "Hi, can I speak to Betty Sue please?" A man said on the other side. Betty motioned for Jacob to come closer as she said "This is her. How can I help you?" The man on the phone says "This is Jr, Mr. McDuck's son. I was wondering if you could come to my house at three. I want to talk to you about my fathers death." Betty was surprised, but said yes. A few seconds later she hung up. "Well, how's that for a mystery. I wonder why Jr wants to talk to me?" Betty said, looking at her boyfriend. "All I say is be careful!" Jacob said as he kissed her.
Betty pulled into Jr's drive way at five till three and looked at the crazy colored house. Jr was an artist and his house showed it. His house was one of the most colorful houses in Summer. The door was hot pink, the windows forest green. The house its self was a mix of colors; some that might not have a name. As Betty walked up to the door and knocked, she thought about all the questions she had. A few seconds later the door was opened by a man. He was tall with dark blue eyes and brown hair."Oh, hello. You must be Betty. I am Jr. Please come in." Jr said as Betty walked in. " Thanks for coming so soon. I know my call this morning was a little weird. I am not a good phone talker." Jr was saying with a sheepish look on his face as he walk Betty into the living room.
The living room was just as colorful as the outside of the house, with bright greens, pinks, and blues being the main colors in the room. "Don't worry about. Now, why did you call me last night?" Betty said, sitting on one of the bright chairs in the room. "Well, I wanted someone else working on the case of my father's murder. I know the police are working on it, but I what more info. I have heard that you were a good detective, and was wondering if if you would take the case?" Jr said in a bit of a hurry. "Why don't you tell me about the case before I say yes or no? What happened that day?" Betty said as she looked at Jr's sad, but worried face. "OK, so last Tuesday, about 12:00, Dad had come back from working on Mrs. Well's fence for lunch. When he had not come back in a hour to finish the fence, she called him to see where he was. When no one answered, she called me and asked where Dad was. Well, I thought it was weird that he had not gone back to work, so I walked over to his place. I found the front door open and..." Jr paused for a moment as his dark blue eyes filled with tears.
"You really loved your father, didn't you?" Betty said quietly, realizing the pain he was going though, having just lost her father to a heart attack a year ago. Jr nodded his head. After a few second, he went on. "I did not think it strange that the door was opened, because dad always left it opened on nice days. When I stepped into the house, I saw him dead in the living room, in pool of blood. The police said that the murderer shot him in the head twice." Betty eyes widened a little at the thought of someone shooting kind, old Mr. McDuck in the head in the first. "What did the police say?" Betty asked, after a short pause. "They think it was a random act of violence. Because dad always left the door opened, they think someone saw a good chance and just killed him." Jr replied.
"Well, then were do I come in? It sounds like the police has the case closed." Betty asked. She thought she know the answer, but wanted to make sure. "I don't think this case is so cut and dry. Who would just kill my father for no reason? He was the nicest man on earth." He was on his feet now, pacing the room. "There has to be some other reason for my father's murder. And that is were you come in, Betty." Jr said in a quiet voice. "I need your help in finding the person who killed my father and why."
CHAPTER 2
Betty was a little shocked at how quiet Jr's voice had become, as he was a big guy. "I see" was said at first. "Please take this case. I need to know more about my father's death. It just doesn't add up right. The police have missed something I know." Jr said looking a Betty pleadingly. "OK. I will take your case. I need to know all you can tell me all you know about your father that might cause someone to murder him." Betty said smiling.
"Well, I know that he was a police officer before I was born. Something happened that made him quiet before I was born and dad did not talk much about those days." Betty made a mental note to check why Mr. McDuck quiet being a police officer. "After he quiet, he went to work as a construction worker. That is what he did up in till he retired two years ago. I don't think that any of his friends would have killed him or any one in this small town. If you know what I mean." Jr said laughing a little to ease the pain of the moment. "OK. That gives me some things to go on. Can I come back tomorrow and look though his papers? It might lead to us to something." Betty said as she rose. "That would be great. Maybe you will have something then. What about one?" Jr was saying as they walk to the door. "Sounds good to me. Oh, is it OK if a my boyfriend helps on this case? He has helped me on many other cases." Betty remembered to ask. Jr said yes and they said good bye.
"So he wants you to solve the murder of his father? Doesn't put much trust in the tow s police force?" Jacob said as they set eating their ice cream an hour later. "That's right. We are going to his house at one and going though Mr. McDuck's stuff to see if their could be a reason for his sudden murder." "Wait, we?" Jacob said in a shocked tone. "Oh, I guess I left that part out. I thought having another set of eyes could solve this mystery faster. Can you so me a favor, please?" Betty said in the most charming voice she could while looking into Jacobs handsome face. "Well...do I have choice? First I am roped into helping you on this mystery and you want a favor? I done think so." Jacob was saying in mock anger. By now they were walking home after siding on the bench in front of the ice cream store a hour. "Yes I will do you favor. Your wish is my command" Jacob said trying not to laugh. "You goof. Ok. Jr said that his father was a police officer before he was born. Something caused him to quiet and to take up a new profession. I am wondering if that has a place I this puzzle. Since you have access to the newspaper I was Hopi g you would look this up for me." They were at their front door and was opening it when Jacob said "Ok. Give me a few days. Do you know if what town he was a police officer in? " Betty thought a moment then said "I think it was Knock that he was working at the time." "Great. That is only a few hours away right?" When Betty nodded her head yes as she set on the olive green couch Jacob said "Then if Mr. McDuck was hiding from something in the past he did not move very far way to hide. Maybe it was not as bad as it sounds." "Let's pray and hope you are right Jacob."
All night Betty was thinking about the cases. Something was missing and she knew what is was. When she woke up she could not put her finger on what was bothering her. Oh well she thought. Its just a new case that was all, but Betty know better. When when she came down thew stairs Jacob was already making breakfast for them "Hey sleepy head. Guess what?! I found so out some stuff already. Mr. McDuck was a drug investigator for Knock police department. That might mean something." Jacob said with a huge smile on his face. "Great. Now we are getting some where. Now maybe old Mr. McDucks things will give us some more clues on the why and who part of the puzzle." Betty said as she helped herself to some pancakes on the stove. "Here is something else that could help us. The old man was involved in a big time drug break; so big that the FBI was came in." Jacob said as Betty looked at him with shock, surprise, and amazement. "Well, well. That does put a new spin on thing. I am now starting to think that this could be drug related. It even could be pay back for cracking up the big drug ring in Knock." Betty said. "Let's not tell Jr about this till we know more about Mr. McDuck's police career. Have you found out why he quite so sudden?" Jacob said no. Just then the door bell rang. Jacob went to get and found a letter taped to the door. "Betty, we have mail." He brought in to the kitchen and opened it. On a white piece of paper and in bold letters, it said
IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU, YOU WILL NOT HAVE BULLETS IN YOUR SKULL LIKE MCDUCK!
CHAPTER 3
At first no one said a thing, then Betty said " How did any one know I was working on this case? I just got it yesterday. Was there any one out side, Jacob?" "There was no one outside when I opened the door. This is weird. There are many possible people who could have sent us that note." Jacob said. Worry was in his voice. "We can ask Jr when we go to his house later." Was all that Betty said.
