Elizabeth's San Antonio Sleuthing by Renae Brumbaugh Page A

Do you have it?”
    For a moment, Kate looked dazed, as if she didn’t comprehend. Then understanding dawned, and she began feeling in her pockets. “The recorder! Oh no! When Biscuit jumped off the balcony, I just went after him. I think I left it on the table!”
    The girls ran to the ice cream shop. They took the low, curved steps two at a time, and found a mother with two small boys sitting at their table.
    â€œExcuse me,” Elizabeth approached the woman politely. “My friend and I left something at this table. Did you see a small, round, black device by any chance?”
    The woman shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t see anything,” she said.
    â€œIs this what you’re looking for?” asked one of the boys. He held up the recorder. “I found it in the chair. It’s really cool! I’ve been pushing the buttons.”
    Pushing the buttons? Oh no!
    Elizabeth took the recorder from the boy and smiled. “Thank you,” she told him.
    The girls went down the stairs and found Gary waiting for them at the bottom. “Kate? What man? I think you need to tell me what you’re talking about.”
    Kate sighed, but said nothing. Elizabeth knew her friend was too distraught to think clearly.
    â€œGary, why don’t you come with us? We’re going to talk to my Uncle Dan. We’ll explain everything.” Elizabeth led Kate through the maze of tourists.
    They pushed open one of the sparkly, double glass doors of the hotel and found Uncle Dan waiting for them. “Did you find it?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” she answered. “But there’s no telling what kind of shape it’s in. A little boy had it. He was about James’s age. And he was pushing all the buttons.”
    Uncle Dan pushed the PLAY button, and heard a child’s laughter. Then he heard a woman’s voice saying, “Be careful, Joshua. You don’t want your ice cream cone to fall on the floor.” Then, more laughter.
    Great
, thought Elizabeth. “What are we going to do now?” she asked.
    Kate spoke up, seeming to have gained control of her emotions. “We’re going to find Biscuit! That’s what we’re going to do.”
    Gary put his arm on Kate’s shoulder. “We’ll do all we can to find Biscuit. But first, I think you need to tell me what’s going on.”

    An hour later, a massive search party had been formed. Gary organized the teens from Kate’s youth group into teams, and they were instructed to search the east side of the Riverwalk. Joe, Pedro, and Maria were to search the west side leading to the Alamo. Uncle Dan, Kate, and Elizabeth decided to go through the underground tunnel that led to the mall.
    Before they left, however, Uncle Dan turned to Kate. “I need you to bring all of your spy gadgets. You never know what we might need. I have a couple of gadgets of my own. You go get your equipment, and I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”
    The girls wasted no time. While Kate was piling the gadgets into her backpack, Elizabeth sent a text to the other Camp Club Girls: B ISCUIT MISSING . S EARCHING NOW . P RAY .
    She pressed the SEND button, then did a little praying of her own—out loud, so Kate could hear. “Dear Father, we don’t know where Biscuit is, but You do. Please keep him safe. If those men have him, please don’t let them hurt him. And please help us to find him. Soon.”
    Kate wiped a tear from her cheek and whispered, “Amen.” She zipped up her backpack, and they headed to the lobby. In the elevator, she said, “Elizabeth, I’m scared. I’m really scared. This is even worse than at camp, when Biscuit was missing. Then, he just ran away. This time, I really think he was kidnapped. What if…”
    Elizabeth put her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “We’re not going to think about ‘what if.’ We’ve asked