Chapter 3

Shirley went to Principal Michele's office and told her she had found nothing. Principal Michele said, "Well, it's three days until the football game, which means you have less than seventy-two hours to solve the case." Shirley said, "I will." Principal Michele said, "When you solve the case, you bring Slimy back to us." Shirley said, "I'll find him." Principal Michele said, "Good. Why are you still here?" Shirley went to the library and did some research. Shirley researched the town's records on one of the library's computers. Shirley said, "Maybe this is a clue. Somebody has recently purchased a flute and a hypnotizing kit. Maybe the perp uses the kit to hypnotize the people and make them give them the animals. But that still doesn't explain how the perp can leave no trace of the crime."

While Shirley was doing her research, she heard somebody playing Mary Had a Little Lamb on the flute. Shirley ignored the music and then heard somebody scream. Shirley got in her car with Principal Michele, drove to where the scream came from, and saw that the cry came from a petting zoo. Shirley said, "Mrs. Fourth, what's wrong?" Mrs. Fourth said, "I heard somebody playing Mary Had a Little Lamb on the flute, and the next thing I know, all my sheep are gone." Shirley thought about Mrs. Fourth's words and took Principal Michele outside the petting zoo. Shirley said, "This is officially strange." Principal Michele said, "How are the abductions strange?" Shirley said, "No, not the abductions, the animals that got abducted." Principal Michele said, "Come again." Shirley said, "Think about it. The flute player first plays Snake Charmer on his flute, and your SNAKE mascot gets kidnapped. The next night, I hear somebody playing See the Rabbit on a flute, and all the RABBITS in a pet store get stolen. And tonight, somebody plays Mary Had a Little Lamb, and guess what, all the SHEEP in the petting zoo just vanished." Principal Michele said, "Wait, are you telling me there's a connection between the songs played at night and these animal kidnappings?" Shirley said, "That's exactly right."

After Shirley convinced Principal Michele, they heard screaming from across town. Shirley drove her car there and saw that somebody had robbed a TV store without breaking in. Shirley said, "Not again." Shirley questioned the owner, Mr. Stump, and he told her that somebody had robbed his TVs a little while after he locked up the shop. Shirley said, "I wonder if I can figure out the connection." Shirley then looked at the store's window and saw "The Finale is Yet to Come" spray-painted on the window. Shirley said, "Come on, Principal Michele, let's go." Shirley drove Principal Michele back to the school. Then they both went to the Computer Lab, and Principal Michele watched Shirley research flute songs about animals. Finally, Shirley said, "Bingo. Only a few songs are left, which probably means the flute player wants to kidnap animals before the big football game." Principal Michele said, "But why?" Shirley said, "I don't know. But I'm going to find out."

Shirley went through the school files and tried to find any students who were expert flute players. Finally, Shirley said, "Here's something. Bingo. Jeanine Nipper won three blue ribbons and five gold trophies on the flute." When Shirley kicked the door open, Jeanine took a history test, and the whole classroom saw her. Shirley said, "Jeanine Nipper, I need you to accompany me." Jeanine got up, put one of her fingers on her chin, and thought about it while walking towards the window. Jeanine opened the window and looked at Shirley. Jeanine said, "My answer is no."

Jeanine jumped out the window and ran off, but Shirley chased after her. Jeanine ran into the art room, and so did Shirley. Jeanine grabbed somebody's clay sculpture and held it up in the air. The owner said, "No, please, I worked hard on that." Shirley said, "Give me the sculpture Jeanine." Jeanine said, "As you wish." Jeanine threw the sculpture and ran out of the art room. Then Shirley dived and caught the statue in her hands before it broke. Shirley gave the sculpture back to the owner and chased after Jeanine. Jeanine ran into the cafeteria, but Shirley grabbed a tray and slid it across the floor. Jeanine looked behind her and saw the tray heading right for her. Then the tray hit Jeanine, and she fell to the ground. Shirley looked down at her. Finally, Shirley said, "End of the line." Shirley took Jeanine to the principal's office for questioning. Shirley set up a tape recorder on the desk and recorded everything Jeanine said. Jeanine said, "I don't know anything about these stolen animals." Shirley said, "But you're still a champion flute player." Jeanine said, "True, but I've been at home practicing all week." Shirley asked, "Do you know how to play animal songs?" Jeanine said, "Of course. Songs about Dogs, Rats, even Cows." Shirley said, "Interesting." Finally, Jeanine said, "May I leave?" Shirley said, "Fine. You're free to go."

Shirley went outside and started to walk to her hotel when she heard somebody playing Turkey in The Straw on the flute. Shirley said, "There's that flute music again. I would like to know where it's coming from." While the flute player played his flute, Shirley got her scooter inside her backpack and followed the music across town. While Shirley was riding, the music kept getting louder and louder. Finally, Shirley saw the music coming from the abandoned library and ran to the front doors. Shirley tried to open the doors, but they were locked tight. Shirley said, "Locked."

Shirley put her ear on the library door and heard the flute music inside. Since the door wouldn't open, Shirley grabbed her wallet and retrieved her library card. Then she used her library card to pick the lock on the door and open it. Shirley said, "Tough one, whoever locked this locked it inside and out." Shirley opened the library doors and heard the flute music when she walked in. Shirley followed the music to a locked door on the second floor with the word "Private" on it. Shirley tried to open the door, but the knob wouldn't budge. Finally, Shirley said, "Locked." Shirley took a hair clip from her hair and put it in the keyhole. Then she picked the lock on the door and opened it. The music stopped after she opened the door and turned on the lights. Shirley investigated the room and saw somebody in a cloak holding a flute with many turkeys behind him. Shirley showed the guy her badge and said, "Shirley Hudson, worldwide girl detective. Your concert is over. Now drop your flute."

The flute player put one of his fingers under his chin and thought about what Shirley had said. Then the flute player put his flute in his pocket, removed an air horn from his other pocket, and blew it. The super loud honk made Shirley cover her ears. The flute player climbed out the window, shut it, and locked it. When Shirley saw that the perp had gotten away, she looked at the ground and saw a small piece of ripped paper. Shirley said, "What's this?" Shirley picked the piece of paper up. Shirley said, "A piece of ripped blank paper. But it won't be blank for very long." Shirley left the library with the piece of paper and saw many police cars by a Hardware Store. Shirley said, "This time, the hardware store got robbed along with a bunch of turkeys. How can one person steal so much stuff so fast and skillfully? Maybe this piece of paper I found will give me the answer."