Helen rolled her eyes.
“We would like to ask for permission to search around the stable for clues,” she explained,
glancing at the lady.
“Oh! Uh … of course! I’m leaving soon to Hong Kong, like always, to visit my family …But … I’m
only the assistant …The boss is... away,” Lydia, the assistant, hesitated, pushing the door even wider.
“Anyways, I have a secret. Camels are so fussy, right? They’ll do anything for you, if you got
the brand ‘Camelicious’, which is a treat!” She explained, heading to a box and sitting down.
Strolling around, Alan and Helen started rummaging the stable.
“Hey! Sister, you just come and take a look at this!” Alan hollered. He discovered a camel
biscuit packet behind a barrel and thrust it into Helen’s bag.
“What’s this doing here?”
“Hmm … how interesting. Look, Alan. I snapped a picture of the big footprints outside. My,
what huge ones!” Helen whispered.
“Let’s go find the suspects!” Alan dashed out, followed by Helen. They started to leave.
“Well, what do you think?” Alan asked, pedaling on his bike.
“Let’s start with the big-footed guys,” suggested Helen.
“Big-footed guys? Perhaps Mr. Sandle, our neighbor? He has enormous feet!” Alan racked his
brains, waiting for Helen’s answer.
Helen explained her whole suspect list.
“We have Mrs. Sandle, our neighbor, Mr. Bokel, our supermarket cashier, and Mr. Cansel, the
window cleaner.”
After a few hours, the two siblings felt terrible. They had already asked Mr. Sandle and Mr.
Bokel where they were the night before and they had alibis.
As they ate at home Alan started to feel restless.
“Now what?” Alan asked, desperate to finish searching for the suspects.
“We haven’t asked Mr. Cansel, the window cleaner yet,” Helen checked her list. Yawning, Alan
stood up.
“Helen, this is hopeless. We should give up,” Alan sighed with frustration, taking off his shoes
and disappearing into the room. Helen also sighed. Her mind got interrupted by sudden laughter.
“Hey, Helen! Check this out!” On his feet were a muddy pair of their dad’s shoes, way bigger
than Alan’s own feet.
“I’m the thief! Catch me!” Making muddy footprints in the house, a big smile showed Alan
was happy. Helen stood there, frozen, realizing anyone could have been the thief.
“Helen?”
“I know it.”
Helen pulled the camel biscuit packet closer to her eyes.
“It’s from … Hong Kong,”
On the other side of the village, Officer Emerson was searching for clues when the two kids
arrived. Helen knocked on the door. Out came Lydia, looking nervous. She nodded hello. Helen
reached into her backpack.
“You mentioned about your treats for the camels, and only you know it,” Helen said. Lydia
nodded again, looking wary.
“You are the only person who knows the secret, and the brand …” she stared at the packet.
“Hong Kong. Your family lived in Hong Kong, so you bought the biscuits there, since you
