The Mystery of the Zorse's Mask by Linda Joy Singleton Page A

“Mrs. Ross is super nice, so she’ll want to help. I’ll talk to her during break.”
    Homeroom is fun now that Becca, Chloe, and Sophia include me in their whispers. As we bend our heads together before class starts, our crescent-moon necklaces shine silvery, and I feel a glow of belonging.
    During my next classes, I can’t focus on anything except the clock. I stare up at the wall and wish the clock hands would speed up to lunchtime.
    Finally, fourth period ends. I race to my locker, spin open the lock, and grab my lunch bag. A whiff of sugary cookies trails along with me as I race through the halls.
    Just as I reach the cafeteria door, a hand grabs my shoulder.
    â€œGotcha!”
    I whirl around to find Becca giggling. “You startled me!” I accuse.
    â€œDid you think I was the shadow dude coming to get you?” she teases.
    I swat her shoulder. But she’s right—that was exactly what popped into my mind.
    â€œCome on, brave spy girl.” Becca tugs me away from the crowd of kids swarming into the cafeteria. “Wait till you hear what I found out from Mrs. Ross. Let’s go somewhere private to talk,” she adds, leading me around the side of the building.
    â€œIs Leo joining us?” I ask, glancing around.
    â€œNo. He texted me that he’s helping Frankie, but he’ll meet us after school at the bicycle rack.”
    â€œSo what did Mrs. Ross say?”
    Becca’s face lights up. “When I told her the fly mask belongs to an elderly woman who is sick, she was really sympathetic and said we could talk to Izzy.”
    â€œGreat!” I say and we high-five.
    â€œThe only problem is that Mrs. Ross doesn’t think her daughter took the mask.” Becca rolls her eyes. “According to her, Izzy is a perfect child who never does anything wrong.”
    â€œThat’s not what Frankie told us.”
    â€œExactly.” Becca nods. “Little kids love to play with things that don’t belong to them. I’m sure Izzy has the mask. The hard part will be getting it from her.”
    â€œMaybe we can trade her one twinkly thing for another.” I point to the yarn flower I’m wearing on my shirt. “I’m sure Sunflower Mary wouldn’t mind if I offered to trade my flower for the mask.”
    â€œOr Izzy might like one of my hair ties.” Becca touches her ponytail, then grits her teeth with determination. “Whatever it takes, I’m not leaving Izzy without the fly mask.”
    I’m determined too, but when the last bell rings, my stomach twists in knots. I’ve had too much time to think of everything that could go wrong. Izzy might refuse to talk to us. She may have lost the mask. She may have thrown it away.
    Becca is waiting at the bicycle rack. While we wait for Leo, she shows me a map on her phone with directions to the Ross house.
    â€œThey live near downtown,” I say, trailing my finger on the map. “We’ll pass Sunflower Mary’s house on the way.”
    â€œI wish we had time to see her sunflower garden,” Becca says. “Mrs. Ross has drama club after school, but her husband knows we’re coming. So all we have to do is get the mask from Izzy and give it to Caleb.”
    Sounds easy, right?
    A few seconds later, Leo rolls up on his gyro-board. Balancing with one foot, he glances nervously over his shoulder. “Is Frankie still following me?”
    â€œWhy would he do that?” Becca asks, with a sharp glance around the school buildings and parking lot. School just let out, so kids are swarming like a human hive.
    â€œI don’t see him,” I say, peering beyond Leo. “And a tall, skinny kid in a green hat would be hard to miss.”
    â€œHe may not be there now, but I spotted him following me,” Leo says.
    â€œWhy would he do that?” I ask.
    â€œIt’s my fault.” Leo hangs his head sheepishly. “I told him I was meeting