Meg Mackintosh and the Mystery at the Soccer Match by Lucinda Landon Page A

retorted.
    â€œCome on, Meg,” Carmen nudged her. “It’s no use arguing with Peter, especially in front of everyone.”

    The light rain made the field slippery and a few moments later Peter slid as he reached for the ball. He collided with his teammate Heather, scraping his wrist and her knee.

    â€œJust a bit of skin,” Peter said through gritted teeth as he pulled off his bloody goalie glove.
    The whistle blew time out and replacements for Peter and Heather ran onto the field. Meg and Carmen were sent back to the sidelines, too.
    â€œHeather,” the Panther coach called out. “Get your knee checked out, and get rid of that gum!”
    â€œOooops,” Heather whispered to Peter.

    On their way to First Aid, Heather and Peter stopped at the awards table. Meg could just hear their conversation from the sidelines.
    â€œTalk about heavy metal,” Peter joked, holding up the award.
    â€œMy dad almost won a medal like this a long time ago,” Heather told Peter.
    Heather’s dad joined them. “The Panthers aresure to win it today,” he boasted as he cracked open a peanut. “Now, Heather, you’ve got to get tough! You want to win that medal, don’t you?”
    â€œI don’t think they should give out awards. It’s not fair for everyone, and feelings get hurt,” said Alex’s mom. “My petition recommends that neither team receive the gold medal. If it were up to me, I’d get rid of it right now!”
    Heather’s dad just gave her a funny look. “We should at least cover the table so the awards don’t get soaked. I’ll go get a blanket from my car,” he volunteered.
    â€œI guess I could hold my umbrella over the table until you get back,” Alex’s mom offered.
    â€œRemember, Heather,” her dad told her as he left for the car, “Be sure to ask your coach if you can get right back in the game.”
    â€œOkay,” said Heather. But once her dad was out of earshot Heather said to Peter, “I don’t want to play anymore. But if we don’t win the medal, my dad will be really disappointed.”
    Heather’s dad returned with the blanket, and the four of them covered the table. Then the two parents went to watch the game with the other spectators while Heather and Peter went on to First Aid.

    Meanwhile the Hawks and Panthers crisscrossed the field. When the halftime whistle blew, the two teams returned to the sidelines. The Hawks were still in the lead — but barely.

    Near the end of the half-time break, the sun came out, and Heather’s dad returned to the uncover the awards table. Suddenly he let out a yell that sounded like it came over a loud speaker.
    â€œThe gold medal is gone!” he cried.

    Meg grabbed her instant camera and rushed to the scene. The famous medal was missing. Its empty case sat in the center of the table. “Just enough rain to leave footprints,” Meg observed. She snapped a photo, hoping to preserve any clues, and grabbed her notebook to make a list.

    HOW MANY CLUES CAN YOU FIND IN MEG’S PHOTO?

    Meg looked up from her notebook and turned to Alex’s mom. “When was the last time you saw the medal?” she asked.

    â€œI’m sure it was there when we covered the table. I think the case was open. Maybe the medal just fell out.” Alex’s mom bit her lip. “It’s got to be here somewhere.”
    â€œI didn’t see it, but I did find this earring,” Meg replied. “It looks like it’s yours.”

    â€œIt
is
mine. I didn’t even know I’d lost it!” Alex’s mom seemed flustered.
    Meg leaned over the table and examined the case, careful not to touch it. “It looks like there are fingerprints on the case,” she said. “Lots of them. How many people touched it?” she asked.
    WHO COULD HAVE PICKED UP THE MEDAL?

    â€œI picked it up,” Carmen said. “Hey,